Lungs and breathing

Conditions (16)

Acute Bronchitis — Bronquitis aguda

Acute bronchitis is a short-term inflammation of the bronchial tubes, which carry air to the lungs.

Asthma — Asma

Asthma is a chronic lung condition where the airways become inflamed and narrow, making it hard to breathe.

Chronic Bronchitis — Bronquitis crónica

Chronic bronchitis is a long-term inflammation of the bronchial tubes characterized by a productive cough lasting at least three months per year for two or more consecutive years.

COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) — EPOC (Enfermedad Pulmonar Obstructiva Crónica)

COPD is a progressive lung disease that makes it increasingly difficult to breathe.

COVID-19 — COVID-19

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

Emphysema — Enfisema

Emphysema is a chronic lung disease in which the air sacs, called alveoli, are damaged and enlarged, reducing the lung's ability to exchange oxygen.

Influenza (Flu) — Influenza (Gripe)

Influenza, commonly called the flu, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses.

Lung Cancer — Cáncer de pulmón

Lung cancer is a malignant tumor that starts in the lungs and is one of the leading causes of cancer death in the United States.

Pleural Effusion — Derrame pleural

Pleural effusion is the buildup of excess fluid between the two layers of tissue that surround the lungs, called the pleura.

Pneumonia — Neumonía

Pneumonia is an infection of one or both lungs where the air sacs fill with fluid or pus.

Pneumothorax (Collapsed Lung) — Neumotórax (pulmón colapsado)

Pneumothorax occurs when air leaks into the space between the lung and chest wall, causing the lung to collapse partially or completely.

Pulmonary Embolism — Embolia pulmonar

A pulmonary embolism (PE) is a blockage in one or more arteries in the lungs, usually caused by a blood clot that travels from the legs or elsewhere in the body.

Pulmonary Fibrosis — Fibrosis pulmonar

Pulmonary fibrosis is a serious lung disease in which the lung tissue becomes scarred and thickened, making it harder for lungs to work properly.

Respiratory Failure — Insuficiencia respiratoria

Respiratory failure occurs when the lungs cannot maintain adequate levels of oxygen in the blood, or cannot remove enough carbon dioxide.

Sleep Apnea — Apnea del sueño

Sleep apnea is a condition in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep.

Tuberculosis (TB) — Tuberculosis (TB)

Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis that primarily affects the lungs.

Symptoms (6)

Chest Tightness — Opresión en el pecho

Chest tightness is the feeling that your chest is being squeezed, pressed, or constricted.

Cough — Tos

A cough is a reflex action that clears your airway of mucus, irritants, or foreign particles.

Rapid Breathing — Respiración rápida

Rapid breathing, medically called tachypnea, means breathing faster than normal.

Shortness of Breath — Dificultad para respirar

Shortness of breath, also called dyspnea, is the feeling that you cannot breathe in enough air or that breathing takes extra effort.

Sleep Apnea Symptoms — Síntomas de apnea del sueño

Sleep apnea symptoms include loud snoring, gasping or choking during sleep, waking up frequently during the night, morning headaches, dry mouth on waking, excessive daytime sleepiness despite a full night of sleep, and difficulty concentrating.

Wheezing — Sibilancias

Wheezing is a high-pitched whistling or squeaking sound made when you breathe, usually heard most clearly when breathing out.

Anatomy (5)

Bronchi — Bronquios

The bronchi are two large air passages that branch off the bottom of the trachea — the windpipe — and carry air into the right and left lungs.

Pharynx — Faringe

The pharynx is the muscular tube at the back of your throat that connects your nose and mouth to your esophagus (food pipe) and larynx (voice box).

Pleura — Pleura

The pleura is a thin two-layered membrane — a smooth, slippery lining — that wraps around each lung and also lines the inside of the chest wall.

Sinuses — Senos paranasales

The sinuses are hollow, air-filled spaces inside the bones of your face and skull.

Trachea — Tráquea

The trachea, commonly called the windpipe, is a tube about four to five inches long that runs from the back of your throat down into your chest.

Procedures (5)

Laser Therapy — Terapia láser

Laser therapy uses focused beams of light energy to treat a variety of medical and dermatological conditions.

Nebulizer Treatment — Tratamiento con nebulizador

A nebulizer treatment converts liquid medication into a fine mist that you inhale directly into your lungs through a mask or mouthpiece.

Oxygen Therapy — Oxigenoterapia

Oxygen therapy delivers supplemental oxygen to patients whose blood oxygen levels are too low to support normal body function.

Respiratory Therapy — Terapia respiratoria

Respiratory therapy is care provided by a licensed respiratory therapist to evaluate, treat, and manage patients with breathing disorders and cardiopulmonary conditions.

Thoracentesis — Toracocentesis

Thoracentesis is a minimally invasive procedure in which a thin needle or tube is inserted through the chest wall into the space between the lungs and the chest wall (the pleural space) to remove excess fluid.

Tests (3)

Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) — Gases en sangre arterial

An arterial blood gas (ABG) test measures the levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and pH in blood drawn directly from an artery — usually the radial artery in your wrist.

Pulse Oximetry — Oximetría de Pulso

Pulse oximetry is a quick, painless test that measures how much oxygen your blood is carrying.

Spirometry — Espirometría

Spirometry is a simple breathing test that measures how much air you can breathe in and out, and how fast you can exhale.

Maternity and children (3)

Croup — Crup

Croup is a viral infection of the upper airway that causes a distinctive barking cough, hoarse voice, and a high-pitched noisy breathing sound called stridor when your child inhales.

Pediatric Asthma — Asma pediátrica

Pediatric asthma is a chronic lung disease that causes the airways to swell and narrow, leading to wheezing, coughing (especially at night), chest tightness, and shortness of breath.

RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) — VRS (Virus Sincitial Respiratorio)

RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) is a very common respiratory virus that infects almost all children by age 2.

Medications (2)

Antiviral — Antiviral

Antivirals are medications that fight viral infections by slowing or stopping the virus from multiplying in the body.

Bronchodilator — Broncodilatador

Bronchodilators are medications that relax and open the airways in the lungs, making it easier to breathe.

Emergency care (2)

Intubation — Intubación

Intubation is the placement of a flexible tube (endotracheal tube) through the mouth or nose down into the airway (trachea) to help a patient breathe.

Oxygen Saturation — Saturación de oxígeno

Oxygen saturation (SpO2) measures the percentage of hemoglobin in your blood that is carrying oxygen.

Other areas of the glossary

• Heart and circulation — Corazón y circulación
• Digestive system — Sistema digestivo
• Brain and nerves — Cerebro y nervios
• Mental health — Salud mental
• Reproductive health and pregnancy — Salud reproductiva y embarazo
• Bones, joints and muscles — Huesos, articulaciones y músculos
• Blood and immune system — Sangre y sistema inmunitario
• Hormones, diabetes and metabolism — Hormonas, diabetes y metabolismo
• Skin, hair and nails — Piel, cabello y uñas
• General care: tests, procedures and medicines — Atención general: pruebas, procedimientos y medicamentos