Common Respiratory Diseases & Treatment Options

Respiratory diseases affect the lungs and airways, leading to breathing difficulties, coughing, and other respiratory symptoms.

Respiratory Diseases FAQ

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What are respiratory disorders?

Respiratory disorders are lung diseases, which are diseases or disorders that can affect respiratory function, the ability to breathe, and how well the lungs work. Lung disease is the third-leading cause of death in the U.S., and lung disease and other breathing problems are leading causes of death in infants.

What are the most common respiratory diseases?

The most common respiratory diseases are asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, tuberculosis, bronchitis, and pneumonia. Some respiratory diseases are acute, like an infection that will get better with treatment, while others are or become chronic and need to be managed.

What are the symptoms of a respiratory disease?

Many respiratory diseases share symptoms, such as long-term cough. Certain symptoms are specific to one disease or another. For example, night sweats tend to occur in people with tuberculosis. Tuberculosis may be suspected if you've lived or recently traveled to a place where TB spreads.