Patient Education
Welcome to the Pulmonary Institute’s Patient Education Library!
We invite you to explore our comprehensive list of resources and educational materials designed to help teach you about the various pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine conditions treated by our practice. Simply click on a topic below to learn more.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your condition or treatment, please feel free to contact the Pulmonary Institute in Orlando, Florida, at (407) 219-5936. To request an appointment, use our secure request an appointment online form.
This information is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It should not be used in place of an individual consultation, examination or the medical advice of your doctor. This information should not be relied upon to determine a diagnosis or course of treatment
Find Educational Topics
OR use our A-Z listing of topics below:
Did You Know?
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Allergies
An allergic reaction occurs when the immune system overreacts to a normally nonthreatening substance. There are many types, causes, and symptoms of allergic reactions. Different areas of the body can be affected depending on the allergic trigger. Some allergic reactions ... Read More
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Anaphylaxis & Anaphylactic Shock
Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction with rapid onset of symptoms. Anaphylaxis usually occurs in people after they are exposed to a substance they are severely allergic to such as foods, medications, and insect stings. It has been estimated that up to 15% ... Read More
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Asthma
Asthma is a lung disease. Asthma causes the breathing tubes in the lungs to temporarily narrow. People with asthma have difficulty breathing air in and out of their lungs. An allergen or irritant in the environment usually triggers an asthma flare-up. ... Read More
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Bronchitis
Bronchitis is a condition of inflammation of the large air passages in the lungs. It occurs when the mucous lining in the airways becomes irritated and swollen. Cigarette smoking, air pollution, and upper respiratory infections are common causes of bronchitis. ... Read More
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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an irreversible lung condition. Diseases classified as COPD cause swelling of the large airways in the lungs, which obstructs or blocks the flow of air. Symptoms of COPD include shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, ... Read More
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Common Cold
Colds are a very common medical condition. There are over two hundred viruses that can cause the common cold. The viruses are easily transmitted from person to person. Coughing, sneezing, a sore throat, and a runny nose are typical cold ... Read More
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Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure or CPAP (pronounced “see – pap”) is a treatment used for breathing problems where mild air pressure flows constantly into the patient’s mouth and/or nose to keep airways open. A machine works in conjunction with a ... Read More
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Emphysema
Emphysema is a lung disease. The condition of emphysema makes it difficult to exhale air and empty the lungs when breathing. In turn, the lungs are unable to completely fill up with fresh air when inhaling. This leads to a ... Read More
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Environmental Allergy
Runny noses, itchy watery eyes, and sneezing bother many Americans with environmental allergies, especially during pollen season. While outdoor allergies from grass, weeds, and trees may be seasonal, indoor allergies from dust mites and pet dander can cause problems all ... Read More
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Flu and Flu Shots
The flu is a respiratory disease that affects the nose, throat, and lungs. The influenza virus type A, B, or C causes it. The flu is very contagious. Symptoms include fever, chills, body aches, cough, and a lack of energy. ... Read More
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Hoarseness
Hoarseness can make it sound like you have a “frog in your throat.” Your voice may sound rough and change throughout the day. In most cases, hoarseness is not the sign of a serious problem and is easily treated by ... Read More
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Insect Sting Allergy
Itching and swelling from insect stings annoy millions of Americans each year. For some people, stings from certain insects can cause allergic reactions. While most stinging insects do not cause an allergic reaction, honeybees, yellow jackets, hornets, wasps, and fire ... Read More
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Lung Cancer
Lung cancer occurs when cells in the lung grow abnormally out of control and form tumors. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. Smoking causes the majority of lung cancer cases. Early stages of ... Read More
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Medication Allergy
Many people have experienced unwanted side effects of medications, but an allergic reaction to a medication is not the same thing as a side effect or adverse effect. An allergic reaction is an immune system response that can be mild ... Read More
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Obesity & Sleep: Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome (OHS)
People with significant obesity are at risk for developing obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS). OHS results when the body does not receive enough oxygen and does not eliminate enough carbon dioxide while breathing during sleep. OHS can cause extreme daytime sleepiness ... Read More
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Pediatrics - Asthma
Asthma is a lung disease. Asthma causes the breathing tubes in the lungs to temporarily narrow. People with asthma have difficulty breathing air in and out of their lungs. An allergen or irritant in the environment usually triggers an asthma ... Read More
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Pneumonia
Pneumonia can be a serious life-threatening illness that needs medical attention. Pneumonia results from germs that cause an infection in the lungs. Many people with pneumonia are treated with prescription medication at home, but others require more intensive treatment and a ... Read More
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Sinusitis
Sinusitis is a fairly common condition. It can develop following a cold, upper respiratory infection, or allergic reaction. Environmental irritants, certain medical conditions, and structural abnormalities can contribute to sinusitis. Sinusitis causes pressure and pain in the head and face. It can ... Read More
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Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a common and under-diagnosed sleep disorder. It causes repeated episodes of stopped breathing (apneic episodes) and startling or gasping for air during sleep. People with sleep apnea frequently do not realize that they have it. The consequences ... Read More
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Sleep Deprivation
Everyone may experience sleep deprivation at one time or another but ongoing sleep deprivation can lead to serious problems. Sleep deprivation causes excessive daytime sleepiness and decreases your ability to perform your regular activities. Ongoing sleep deprivation can lead to ... Read More
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Snoring
Snoring is very common among adults. During sleep, the airway muscles in the throat relax. As you breathe in, the airway vibrates, making noise. Snoring frequently results from turbulent airflow and narrowing in the nose or throat that creates noise ... Read More
Copyright © 2025 - iHealthSpot Interactive - www.iHealthSpot.com
This information is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It should not be used in place of an individual consultation or examination or replace the advice of your health care professional and should not be relied upon to determine diagnosis or course of treatment.
The iHealthSpot patient education library was written collaboratively by the iHealthSpot editorial team which includes Senior Medical Authors Dr. Mary Car-Blanchard, OTD/OTR/L and Valerie K. Clark, and the following editorial advisors: Steve Meadows, MD, Ernie F. Soto, DDS, Ronald J. Glatzer, MD, Jonathan Rosenberg, MD, Christopher M. Nolte, MD, David Applebaum, MD, Jonathan M. Tarrash, MD, and Paula Soto, RN/BSN. This content complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. The library commenced development on September 1, 2005 with the latest update/addition on February 16, 2022. For information on iHealthSpot’s other services including medical website design, visit www.iHealthSpot.com.
