Respiratory illnesses are illnesses that make it challenging to breathe. They range from mild to severe complications of the lungs and other breathing organs. Respiratory illnesses can impact the upper or lower respiratory system. Symptoms will vary. 

AFC Urgent Care Boulder can treat all respiratory illnesses. As long as your symptoms aren't severe, our providers can recommend treatment to speed up your recovery. Learn more about the common respiratory illnesses treatable at AFC Boulder.

Asthma

Asthma is a chronic respiratory illness that involves the inflammation, swelling, and extra mucus in the tubes that move air to the lungs. The result is difficulty breathing, coughing, wheezing while breathing, and a general feeling of suffocation.

The specific cause of asthma is not known. When the resulting feeling of suffocation and difficulty breathing worsens, the asthmatic patient is said to have an asthma attack. Triggers are what exacerbate the symptoms that lead to asthma attacks. Asthma triggers could be allergies from allergens such as molds, pets, dust, waste from pets, etc.

Other non-allergen triggers include inhaling chemicals, tobacco smoke, fumes from air pollution, some specific medications, breathing in cold air, etc.

Symptoms include; a feeling of suffocation, tightness in the chest, wheezing, whistling when you breathe, coughing, etc.

COPD

COPD is short for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a canopy term for some lung diseases. Chronic bronchitis and Emphysema are two popular conditions that result in COPD.

Chronic bronchitis is the swelling of the lining of the bronchial tubes. These tubes aid in the movement of air from the alveoli of the lungs alveoli, also known as the air sacs. A common symptom of chronic bronchitis is regular coughing and mucus daily. 

Emphysema is a health condition that involves the destruction of the air sacs at the extreme of the lungs' bronchioles due to excessive exposure to irritating fumes. The bronchioles are the lung's smallest air passages.

General symptoms for COPD include:

• Cough with mucus that may be clear, white, or green
• Heavy breathing
• Wheezing
• A feeling of suffocation especially following tedious physical activities
• Fatigue
• Inflammation in the feet and legs
• Loss of weight

COPD is a disease that progresses over time. However, it can be treated. People suffering from COPD can control the symptoms and ensure a better quality of life if they manage the condition properly. Failure to manage the condition properly puts the patient at the risk of other associated diseases such as lung cancer, heart disease, etc.

Bronchitis

Bronchitis is a lung disease that involves the swelling of the bronchial tubes, which transports air to and from the lungs. There are two types:

Acute bronchitis: this type of bronchitis is commonly caused by viral and bacterial attacks. It usually appears after an upper respiratory infection. 

Chronic Bronchitis: This is the swelling of the bronchial tubes. It is the irritation of the bronchial tubes that cause mucus to build up in the airway. This mucus and the swelling block oxygen inhalation and exhalation of carbon dioxide.

It is one of the major types of lung diseases known under the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease group. The other major type of COPD is Emphysema. 

Symptoms include:

• Exhaustion
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Pain in the chest
• Cough

 Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a lung infection. It is caused by a viral, bacterial, or fungal attack in one or both lungs. The infection usually results in the swelling of the alveoli, the lung's air sac. These air sacs collect fluid or pus, which makes breathing a challenge.

While fungal pneumonia is contracted from the environment and is not contagious, viral and bacterial pneumonia can be spread by taking airborne droplets from the cough of an infected person.

 This infection can be mild or life-threatening. It is usually life-threatening for people with weak immune systems and infants.

Symptoms include the following:

• Chest pain during coughs
• Production of phlegm during coughs
• Tiredness
• Fever
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Feeling of suffocation