Atelectasis

Cough
A cough is a common reflex action that aims to clear the throat of mucus or foreign irritants. Coughing to clear the throat is typically an infrequent action, although there are a number of other conditions that can cause more frequent bouts of co  More »
HLCMS

Chest Pain
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), chest pain is one of the most common reasons that people ages 15 and older visit the emergency room. In 2008, about nine percent of all ER visits were related to chest pain. (More »
HLCMS

Shortness of Breath
Breathing difficulties make you feel as though you cannot get enough air. Mild breathing problems, such as fatigue following an aerobics class, are not a concern. Frequently occurring shortness of breath or sudden, intense breathing difficulty ma  More »
HLCMS

Pain
Pain is a universal human experience. The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) defines pain as "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in terms of such damage...  More »
Gale Encyclopedia of Neurological Disorders

Lung Diseases
Lung abscess is an acute or chronic infection of the lung, marked by a localized collection of pus, inflammation, and destruction of tissue.  More »
HLCMS

Administration of anesthesia
The loss of feeling or sensation. It may be accomplished without the loss of consciousness, or with partial or total loss of consciousness. Anesthesiology is a branch of medical science that relates to anesthesia and anesthetics. The anesthetist i...  More »
Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood and Adolescence

Chest X-Ray
An X-ray is an imaging test that uses small amounts of radiation to produce pictures of the organs, tissues, and bones of the body. When focused on the chest, it can help spot abnormalities or diseases of the airways, blood vessels, bones, heart,  More »
HLCMS

History and Physical Exam
The health status of populations and of individuals is assessed for many reasons. Assessing needs for care helps guide the allocation of resources— diagnostic assessments guide treatment, prognostic assessments contribute to planning, and assessin...  More »
Gale Encyclopedia of Public Health

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is a non-surgical treatment that provides a steady flow of air to the lungs through the nose. Nasal CPAP is often prescribed for those with obstructive sleep apnea, a sleep disorder that dis  More »
HLCMS

Physiotherapy of Chest
Chest physical therapy (CPT) is the term for a group of treatments designed to improve respiratory efficiency, promote expansion of the lungs , strengthen respiratory muscles, and eliminate secretions from the respiratory system .  More »
Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health

Albuterol
ALBUTEROL (al BYOO ter ole) is a bronchodilator. It helps open up the airways in your lungs to make it easier to breathe. This medicine is used to treat and to prevent bronchospasm.  More »
GOLD

Acetylcysteine inhalation
ACETYLCYSTEINE (a se teel SIS teen) is a drug that loosens and thins mucus in the lungs. It is used to make breathing easier in patients with bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, emphysema, tuberculosis, or other lung problems. It is also used after an ac...  More »
GOLD

Metaproterenol
METAPROTERENOL (met a proe TER e nole) is a bronchodilator. It helps open up the airways in your lungs to make it easier to breathe. This medicine is used to treat and to prevent bronchospasm.  More »
GOLD

Dornase alfa
DORNASE ALFA (DOOR nace AL fa) breaks up lung congestion in patients with cystic fibrosis. It is used to improve how well the lungs work. This medicine also decreases the risk of getting a lung infection.  More »
GOLD

Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infection in one or both lungs. The infection may be caused by fungi, bacteria, or viruses. Pneumonia causes inflammation in your lung's air sacs, also referred to as alveoli. The alveoli fill with fluid or pus, making it d  More »
HLCMS