lungs

What is Spiriva (tiotropium bromide), and what is it used for? Spiriva HandiHaler is a prescription medicine used each day (a maintenance medicine) to control symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Spiriva HandiHaler helps make your lungs work better for 24 hours. Spiriva HandiHaler relaxes your airways and helps keep them open. You may start …

Pulmonary hypertension definition and facts Pulmonary hypertension is elevated pressure in the pulmonary arteries that carry blood from the lungs to the heart. Pulmonary hypertension is abnormally elevated pressure in the pulmonary circulation. The classification of primary and secondary pulmonary hypertension has been reclassified, and now is based on the main underlying disease or condition, symptoms, and treatment options for …

What is popcorn lung (bronchiolitis obliterans)? Readers Comments 2 Share Your Story Popcorn lung is a serious and irreversible condition in which the tiny air sacs in the lungs become scarred and constricted, which results in no air movement or O2 – CO2 exchange in the lungs. Other names for popcorn lung are bronchiolitis obliterans and obliterative bronchiolitis. Can e-cigarettes …

What is alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor-injection, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor (Prolastin-C) is a prescription medicine used to treat alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency. AAT deficiency is a genetic disorder in which abnormally low levels of the protein AAT allow certain enzymes to attack healthy tissues, especially the lungs. Over time, significant lung damage occurs, and patients …

What is dornase alpha, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Dornase alpha is an inhaled drug for treating cystic fibrosis, a lung disease which is the most common fatal genetic disease in developed countries. The lungs continually secrete fluid into the airways to keep them moist. In cystic fibrosis, the fluid becomes thick because the amount of water …

What is Orkambi? What is Orkambi used for? Orkambi is a combination of two drugs, lumacaftor and ivacaftor (Kalydeco) and is used for treating cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited disease that affects the secretory glands, including the mucus and sweat glands. Cystic fibrosis mostly affects the lungs, pancreas, liver, intestines, sinuses, and sex organs. Cystic fibrosis is …

What is cefaclor, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Cefaclor is a semi-synthetic (partially man-made) oral antibiotic in the cephalosporin family of antibiotics. The cephalosporin family includes cephalexin (Keflex), cefuroxime (Zinacef), cefpodoxime (Vantin), cefixime (Suprax), cefprozil (Cefzil) as well as many injectable antibiotics. Like other cephalosporins, cefaclor stops bacteria from multiplying by preventing bacteria from forming the walls …

What is pirfenidone (Esbriet)? What is pirfenidone used for? Pirfenidone (Esbriet) is a prescription medicine used to prevent and improve lung function in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a type of serious lung disease in which the lung progressively develops scar tissue. The mechanism of action of pirfenidone is not understood. Scientists believe that pirfenidone prevents lung damage by inhibiting the production …

What is varenicline (Chantix)? What is Chantix used for? Varenicline is an oral drug that is used to promote cessation of smoking. It competes with nicotine from cigarettes for binding to nicotine receptors in the brain. Although varenicline stimulates nicotine receptors like nicotine, it blocks the stronger stimulation by nicotine. Therefore, smokers do not experience the full effect of smoking …

What is Breo Ellipta? What is Breo Ellipta used for? Breo Ellipta for oral inhalation is a combination of fluticasone and vilanterol and is used for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Fluticasone is a man-made steroid of the glucocorticoid family which is related to the naturally-occurring steroid hormone, cortisol or hydrocortisone, produced by the adrenal glands. Glucocorticoid steroids have …