--- title: "Lungs and breathing Guides — Doctor-Reviewed | HealthAnswers" description: "Clear guides to lung and breathing conditions, including asthma, COPD and chest infections — the causes of breathlessness and cough, tests and treatments." url: https://healthanswers.co.uk/topics/lungs-and-breathing/ robots: noindex --- # Lungs and breathing Guides — Doctor-Reviewed | HealthAnswers Health topic Breathing problems range from short-lived chest infections to long-term conditions such as asthma and COPD. These guides explain what may be causing a cough, wheeze or breathlessness, and the tests and treatments that can help. ## Conditions - [Asthma](https://healthanswers.co.uk/conditions/asthma/) A plain-English guide to asthma — symptoms, triggers, treatment and recognising an asthma attack. - [Bronchiolitis](https://healthanswers.co.uk/conditions/bronchiolitis/) Bronchiolitis is a viral chest infection in babies and children under 2, often RSV. Most recover at home. Call 999 if they are working hard to breathe. - [Bronchitis](https://healthanswers.co.uk/conditions/bronchitis/) Acute bronchitis is a chesty cough after a cold — why antibiotics are rarely needed, what helps recovery, and when to see a GP. - [Chest infection](https://healthanswers.co.uk/conditions/chest-infection/) A plain-English guide to chest infections — bronchitis and pneumonia symptoms, home care, and when to see a GP urgently. - [COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)](https://healthanswers.co.uk/conditions/copd/) A plain-English guide to COPD — symptoms, causes, how it is managed and when to seek help. - [COVID-19](https://healthanswers.co.uk/conditions/covid-19/) COVID-19 often feels like a cold or flu. Stay at home while you have a fever or feel too unwell. Severe breathing difficulty is 999. Check current NHS advice. - [Croup](https://healthanswers.co.uk/conditions/croup/) Croup causes a barking cough in young children. Steam is not NHS-recommended. Call 999 if they are struggling to breathe or going blue or grey. - [Cystic fibrosis](https://healthanswers.co.uk/conditions/cystic-fibrosis/) Cystic fibrosis — inherited lung and digestive disease, newborn screening, daily treatments, and NHS specialist centre care. - [Flu (influenza)](https://healthanswers.co.uk/conditions/flu/) Flu comes on fast with fever, aches and exhaustion. Learn how it differs from a cold or COVID-19, who needs the vaccine, and when to call 999. - [Long COVID](https://healthanswers.co.uk/conditions/long-covid/) Long COVID means symptoms lasting weeks after COVID-19 — fatigue, brain fog and breathlessness are common. How the NHS assesses it and when to see a GP. - [Lung cancer](https://healthanswers.co.uk/conditions/lung-cancer/) Lung cancer — symptoms, who should seek chest X-ray, diagnosis, staging, and NHS treatment including surgery and immunotherapy. - [Pneumonia](https://healthanswers.co.uk/conditions/pneumonia/) A plain-English guide to pneumonia — symptoms, treatment, recovery, and when to seek urgent medical help. - [Pulmonary embolism](https://healthanswers.co.uk/conditions/pulmonary-embolism/) Pulmonary embolism — blood clot in the lung, symptoms including breathlessness and chest pain, emergency treatment, and NHS prevention of recurrence. - [RSV (respiratory syncytial virus)](https://healthanswers.co.uk/conditions/rsv/) A plain-English guide to RSV — symptoms in babies and adults, home care, and when to seek medical advice. - [Sleep apnoea](https://healthanswers.co.uk/conditions/sleep-apnoea/) Obstructive sleep apnoea explained — snoring, breathing pauses, daytime tiredness, diagnosis with sleep studies, CPAP treatment, and links to weight and heart health. - [Tuberculosis](https://healthanswers.co.uk/conditions/tuberculosis/) Tuberculosis (TB) — symptoms, latent vs active infection, testing, NHS treatment, and when to seek urgent help. - [Whooping cough](https://healthanswers.co.uk/conditions/whooping-cough/) Whooping cough causes coughing bouts that can last weeks. Babies can be very unwell. Use 111 or a GP. Call 999 if they turn blue or cannot breathe. ## Symptoms - [Cough](https://healthanswers.co.uk/symptoms/cough/) Most coughs are viral and settle in about 3 weeks. Coloured mucus does not automatically mean antibiotics. Call 999 for severe breathlessness, chest pain or blue lips. See a GP if a cough lasts over 3 weeks, or you have blood, weight loss or voice change. - [Shortness of breath](https://healthanswers.co.uk/symptoms/shortness-of-breath/) Sudden severe breathlessness is 999. Ongoing breathlessness that limits what you used to do needs a GP. This page cannot tell anxiety from a clot. - [Snoring](https://healthanswers.co.uk/symptoms/snoring/) Snoring happens when relaxed throat tissues vibrate during sleep and is often harmless, but breathing pauses and daytime sleepiness can mean sleep apnoea. - [Wheezing](https://healthanswers.co.uk/symptoms/wheezing/) Wheezing is a whistling sound caused by narrowed airways, usually from asthma, chest infections or allergies. Severe or sudden wheezing needs urgent treatment. ## Treatments and medicines - [COVID-19 vaccine](https://healthanswers.co.uk/treatments/covid-19-vaccine/) The COVID-19 vaccine reduces the risk of serious illness from coronavirus; NHS eligibility, booster timing and common side effects explained. - [Flu vaccine](https://healthanswers.co.uk/treatments/flu-vaccine/) The flu vaccine is an annual jab that reduces your risk of flu and its complications, offered free on the NHS each autumn to people at higher risk. - [Inhalers](https://healthanswers.co.uk/treatments/inhalers/) Inhalers deliver asthma and COPD medicine straight to the lungs — reliever inhalers act fast, preventer inhalers are taken daily, and technique matters. - [Prednisolone](https://healthanswers.co.uk/treatments/prednisolone/) Prednisolone is an oral steroid that suppresses inflammation in asthma, arthritis and autoimmune conditions; long courses need tapering and monitoring. ## Tests and screening - [X-ray](https://healthanswers.co.uk/tests/x-ray/) An X-ray uses low-dose radiation to image bones and some tissues, quickly detecting fractures, chest infections and joint disease in most cases.