In this section
- Alpha-1 Antitrypsin
- Asbestosis
- Asthma
- Bronchiectasis
- Bronchitis
- Chronic Cough
- Common Cold
- COPD
- Croup
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Hantavirus
- Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
- Influenza
- Lung Cancer
- Pandemic Flu
- Pertussis
- Pleurisy
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Pulmonary Hypertension
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
- Sarcoidosis
- Sleep Apnea
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
- Tuberculosis
- Work Related Asthma
- Vaccinations and Lung Disease
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin deficiency is an inherited disorder that can cause lung or liver disease. Many people with Alpha-1 can develop emphysema (also known as COPD), a long-term lung disease and are more susceptible to bronchiectasis.
Asbestosis
Asbestosis is a chronic (long-term) lung disease caused by breathing in asbestos fibres. Asbestos is a heat-resistant mineral that used to be common in insulation, vinyl floor tiles, cement, brake linings and other products. If you breathe a lot of asbestos fibres over a long time it can cause scarring in the lungs and shortness of breath.
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic lung disease that affects the airways within the lungs. With asthma, the airways are extra-sensitive to certain triggers that cause the airways to narrow due to swelling of the airway, constriction of the muscles around the airways (bronchoconstriction),or both.
Bronchiectasis
When you have bronchiectasis, your airways (bronchial tubes) are damaged.
Bronchitis
Bronchitis means swelling in your air passages (bronchi). Bronchi are the air passages that connect your windpipe (trachea) with tiny air sacs (alveoli) in your lungs. The air sacs are where your body absorbs the oxygen you breathe in.
Chronic Cough
It is normal to cough occasionally, especially if you have a cold, flu or allergies.
Common Cold
The common cold is probably the most common respiratory (breathing) disease. Many different viruses can cause a cold; over a hundred cold viruses (rhinoviruses) have been identified so far.
COPD
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a lung disease that includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
Croup
Croup is a viral infection that causes swelling in the throat and vocal cords (larynx). Croup commonly affects children under five because their airways are smaller and more prone to swelling. One of the tell-tale signs of croup is a loud, "barky" cough that is worse at night.
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Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common, fatal genetic disease affecting young Canadians. Cystic fibrosis mainly affects people's lungs and digestion.
Hantavirus
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome is a rare but serious lung disease spread by deer, mice and other wild rodents. Hantavirus is found in the saliva, urine and droppings of infected rodents.
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a type of lung disease that results in scarring (fibrosis) of the lungs for an unknown reason.
Influenza
The flu is a highly contagious illness caused by the influenza virus.
Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is cancer that starts in the lungs. Cancer is a disease where cancer cells grow out of control, taking over normal cells and organs in the body.
Pandemic Flu
A flu pandemic is an outbreak of a new kind of flu (influenza) that passes easily from one person to another around the world. This page explains what a flu pandemic is and how you can prepare for it.
Pertussis
Pertussis – also known as whooping cough – is a contagious infection of the respiratory tract (breathing tubes). It causes severe coughing that can last for weeks. People with pertussis often make a loud “whooping sound” when they inhale after coughing.
Pleurisy
Pleurisy is an inflammation of the pleura. The pleura is a two layered membrane that both encloses the lung and lines the chest cavity.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia (nu-MO-ne-ah) is swelling (inflammation) of one or both lungs that is usually caused by an infection.
Pulmonary Embolism
Pulmonary embolism happens when one or more of your arteries in your lungs gets blocked by a blood clot, fat or tumour.
Pulmonary Hypertension
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a disease where you have abnormally high blood pressure in the blood vessels of your lungs (pulmonary arteries).
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is a virus that infects the lungs and airways (breathing passages).
Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis (“sar-koy-do-sis”) is a disease that causes swelling in the cells in different organs of your body.
Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is a serious breathing problem that interrupts your sleep.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden and unexplained death of an infant who is younger than one year old. SIDS seems to strike without warning, usually in babies who seem perfectly healthy.
Even though the number of SIDS cases has dropped in the last 10 years, it's still the leading cause of death in infants between one month and one year.
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious disease caused by breathing in a bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Work Related Asthma
Asthma is a chronic (life time) disease that makes your lungs very sensitive and hard to breathe.