Bronchial Asthma, Symptoms and Treatment

What is asthma? Asthma is a chronic lung disease in which the mucosa lining the bronchial tree becomes inflamed and thickened, decreasing the caliber of the airway and making it difficult for air to pass into the lungs. It is a very frequent disease. In Spain it affects 3-4% of the adult population and 8% … Read more

Pharmacological treatment for smoking cessation

Smoking is a chronic addictive disease. It is the leading preventable cause of death in the world. Healthcare professionals are obliged to treat smokers correctly in order to achieve smoking cessation. Tobacco consumption is the most pernicious addiction in the developed world and is the leading preventable cause of death in Spain. According to recent … Read more

How to know if I have lung cancer

Lung cancer is a malignant tumor that originates in the tissues of the lung, usually in the cells of the bronchial epithelium. It presents 4 differentiated types: Epidermoid Adenocarcinoma Undifferentiated large cell Microcytic or small cell undifferentiated For treatment purposes, these groups are classified into two major groups: small cell lung cancer and non-small cell … Read more

Bronchiectasis or bronchial dilatations: when they occur and how to treat them

Dr. Eva Polverino, pulmonologist at the Hostafrancs Medical Center and at the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, as well as CEO, founder and coordinator at the Italo-Catalan Medical Center ItaCa, explains what bronchiectasis is and how to treat it. These are dilatations of the bronchi that cause coughing and difficulty in breathing, among many other symptoms. … Read more

Everything you need to know about COPD

What is COPD and what are the symptoms? COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and describes a disease secondary to lung damage caused by years of inhaling tobacco smoke. Inhalation of other fumes or vapors can cause the disease, although to a lesser degree. COPD produces an irreversible loss of lung capacity due to … Read more

Advances in the Treatment of Pulmonary Emphysema

The Bronchoscopy and Interventional Pneumology Unit of the Hospital Universitario Fundación Jimenez Díaz is the first hospital in Spain and the one with the most experience in the treatment of pulmonary volume reduction by bronchoscopy using coil and valve implants. What advances have been made in the treatment of pulmonary emphysema? These new treatments are … Read more

Occupational Respiratory Diseases

Occupational lung diseases (OLD) are those whose origin comes from exposure to certain substances in the workplace, according to specialists in Pneumology. The most frequent are gases, fumes, vapors or particles of materials such as silica, coal, asbestos, granite, cereals, organic solvents, powdered paints or animal proteins. Thus, workers in metal sector industries, mining, welders, … Read more

Addressing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is currently the fourth leading cause of death in the world and is estimated to be the third leading cause by 2020, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The main drawback of COPD is that it reduces respiratory capacity, which is normally not recoverable. Smoking is the main and almost … Read more

How Pollution Affects Respiratory Health

“The most basic link we have in common is that we all live on this small planet. We all breathe the same air, we all value our children’s future, and we are all mortal” (John Fitzgerald Kennedy). How does pollution affect respiratory health? Outdoor air contains a range of naturally occurring pollutants, including soil, dust, … Read more