Photo Credit: Wix Cystic fibrosis is an autosomal recessive disorder, causes by mutations in the CFTR gene. It affects approx. 105,000 people worldwide. Before CFTR modulators were developed to treat cystic fibrosis, patients with CF rarely survived beyond their 20’s. With the advent of these transformative therapies patients with CF live well into their 60’s and 70’s. While CFTR modulators offer hope to 90% of the patients, many still are unable to benefit. About 10% of pati

The Many Benefits of Physical Activity Physical activity is an important component of a healthy lifestyle and provides benefits for all people, regardless of age. Staying active can improve physical health, support mental well-being, and make everyday activities easier. Regular movement can also reduce the risk of several serious health conditions. Benefits for the Heart and Lungs Consistent physical activity strengthens the heart muscle and improves its ability to pump blood

Fig 1: Classification of high altitude illnesses1 Imagine gearing up for the climb of a lifetime on Mount Everest (8,848 m) or even Kilimanjaro (5,895 m),2 and just as you make it to base camp, you begin to experience severe headaches, dizziness, and nausea within hours of your arrival. This is the experience of millions of people traveling to high altitudes annually for tourism, sport, and work.3 What happens at high altitude To understand what happens at high altitude, w

Image Link: https://guysandstthomasspecialistcare.co.uk/conditions/sarcoidosis/ If you've been diagnosed with sarcoidosis or your healthcare provider suspects you may have it, you may wonder what it is and how it affects your lungs. Although sarcoidosis can involve different parts of the body, it most commonly affects the lungs and nearby lymph nodes. What Is Sarcoidosis? Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease in which tiny clusters of immune cells, called granulomas, form in

Image Credit: https://int.livhospital.com/how-to-interpret-spirometry-with-bronchodilator-results/ If you've been scheduled for pre- and post-bronchodilator spirometry, also known as “reversible bronchodilator testing,” you may wonder why you'll be asked to repeat the breathing test after using an inhaler. This common pulmonary function test helps your healthcare provider evaluate how well your lungs work and whether certain medications improve your breathing. What Is Pre- a

By Bridget Fox What is lung cancer screening? Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) is an imaging technique used to view the structures and organs in the body while using a low dose of radiation (2). This scan is used for lung cancer screening because it can show any abnormal features in the lungs, such as masses that may be cancerous. The CDC describes the process as a short scan that takes only a few minutes, where you lie down on a table while a machine uses a small amount o

Image Credit: Drugs.com What Are Pulmonary Function Tests? Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs) are a set of breathing tests used to evaluate how well your lungs take in air, move it out, and diffuse oxygen throughout the body. They help healthcare providers understand lung performance and identify conditions that may affect breathing. These tests are often used in both routine checkups and specialty clinics. What PFTs Measure Rather than focusing on one single number, PFTs provid

By: Nesredin Hassen Yesuf LinkedIn | Email Introduction Sighing is something we all do. Often, we do not think about it. It is a deep breath in and a long breath out. We usually sigh when we feel relieved, frustrated, or tired. Sighing also helps keep our lungs working properly. Even though we sigh all the time, scientists are still learning exactly how important it is. Sighing connects how our lungs work to how we feel. Understanding sighing helps us see how the body keeps t

Introduction Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) harboring mutations in the Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (ERBB2 or HER2) represents a distinct and historically challenging clinical subset, accounting for approximately 2–4% of all NSCLC cases. While the therapeutic landscape has recently evolved with the approval of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) like trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd), an effective, brain-penetrant, and tolerable oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) h

Introduction Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is a progressive, life-threatening disorder characterized by high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs. For years, standard treatments acted primarily as vasodilators—opening up blood vessels to improve flow. However, these therapies often managed symptoms without addressing the underlying structural changes in the pulmonary vessels. Sotatercept (marketed as Winrevair) represents a fundamental shift in this therapeutic

Introduction Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat forms of cancer, characterized by rapid growth and early metastasis. For decades, patients who progressed after initial platinum-based chemotherapy faced poor prognoses and limited treatment options, often relying on older chemotherapy agents with modest efficacy and high toxicity. This landscape shifted significantly on November 19, 2025, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

A Vulnerable Airway Lining: Where Asthma Begins Asthma begins in the thin lining of the airways, which normally acts like a protective shield against allergens, pollution, smoke, and other irritants. In people with asthma, this protective layer becomes weakened and “leaky.” The tiny connections between airway cells loosen, allowing irritants to slip through more easily. When this happens, the airway lining sends out distress signals -called alarmins- that alert the immune sy

What is Pulmonary Hypertension? Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) is a disease in which the blood vessels connecting the heart and the lungs develop high blood pressure. This can lead to fluid congestion in the lungs and dysfunction of the right side of the heart, known as Right Heart Failure. Symptoms of Pulmonary Hypertension Symptoms of PH vary from person to person, but commonly include the following: Shortness of Breath (worse with exercise or lying flat) Fatigue Dizziness/lig

In recent years, the world has watched skies turn orange from California to Canada, Australia to Greece. The smell of burning forests, once a distant problem, now drifts into cities thousands of miles from the flames. Wildfire smoke has become one of the most visible and dangerous signs of a warming planet and it’s reshaping the way we think about air, health, and preparedness. A Growing Global Threat Wildfires are not new, but their frequency, size, and intensity have increa

Pulmonary Failure Pulmonary failure (respiratory failure) happens when the lungs cannot provide sufficient oxygen to the body or cannot remove carbon dioxide properly . This can lead to serious complications if let untreated including brain damage , organ failure and even death . Due to this pulmonary failure is considered a medical emergency . How does Pulmonary Failure develop ? Pulmonary failure can develop due to many different illnesses or injuries such as: Severe lun

Did you know cystic fibrosis was first discovered in the pancreas? In 1938 Dr. Dorothy Anderson, an American pathologist coined the term “cystic fibrosis of the pancreas” based on autopsies of children dying of malnutrition, due to failure of the pancreas. The children in those days did not survive long enough to develop lung disease. What is Cystic Fibrosis (CF)? Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder caused by mutation in the gene that codes for the cystic fibrosis trans

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is a rare condition characterized by high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries. The pulmonary arteries are the blood vessels that carry blood from the right side of the heart to the lungs. The increased blood pressure can cause blood to back up in the right side of the heart. The right ventricle stretches like a water balloon, crowding out the left ventricle, making that smaller and less effective at pumping blood. A backup of blood

Introduction Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are emerging as the fastest-growing class of novel drugs in oncology. While the concept itself is not new, they are gradually reshaping the landscape of cancer treatment. For lung cancer, the therapeutic landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past decade—evolving from chemotherapy alone to the addition of targeted therapies and immunotherapies. Now, ADCs are also becoming a significant new option for lung cancer

By Sherry Ainsworth, MSN, RN, ARNP What is COPD? COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) refers to a group of lung problems that...

What is cystic fibrosis? Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance...