Asthma is a respiratory ailment that causes the airways to tighten and become lined with too much mucus, which is
nearly always triggered by either allergies or some other environmental factor. It can also be triggered by such
diseases as the common cold, particularly in children. Asthma is a recurring disease, and it is present in 25% of human children living in urban areas.
This has caused a great deal of attention to be drawn to it in recent years.
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is a common fatal bacterial disease that usually targets the lungs. It affects over one third of the world's
population, but only a fraction of those who have contracted the bacteria will develop the disease. It is most prevalent in third-world
countries, but the rate in developed countries is rising. This influx is partially due to the increase in substance abuse and HIV/AIDS.
Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is one of the most influential and well known disorders of the respiratory system.
Lung cancer kills more people each year (3 million) than any other type of cancer. Only 10% of those diagnosed will live for more than five years after
the diagnosis. It is most commonly caused by smoking, whether directly or indirectly. Symptoms of this disease include shortness of breath,
coughing of blood, wheezing, chest pain, and difficulty swallowing.
