Dr. Hassan Karimi Bencheqroun, M.D.

A chest X-ray is best to detect pneumonia compared to bronchitis. It may not show bronchitis. I would expose a 14-year-old to radiation for suspicion of bronchitis.

The presence of nodules merely means that we found something that isn't supposed to be there. In general, they could mean anything from scar tissue, to something you inhaled that is now there and minding its own business, to potential cancer, to pneumonia. Not every nodule should be biopsied. In fact many aren't. The characteristics of that nodule (big or small, blurry or well defined, etc.) do offer a suggestion of what it might be. But it's usually up to the doctor and the patient to discuss the best method to arrive to a conclusion. Some nodules need to to be followed and others may be concerning and need a biopsy. At the end of the day, it's a case-by-case basis.

There are several types of pulmonary hypertension. To date, there is no cure for most of them. Only the one caused by multiple clots in the lungs, can get better if the clots are surgically removed (very difficult surgery). Otherwise, medications have changed radically the way one lives with this disease and in most cases slow it down, if not stop it in its tracks. Medications are also getting better every day, and the medical community gets a better in using the combination of medications. Hang in there. There may be a breakthrough soon enough.

When it comes to ventilator support, the reason for which one needs it plays a role in either it's permanent or not. In the case of your sister, a pneumonia is usually a reversible condition with the proper treatment, unless other conditions are present as will. Chances are with time, the lung capacity would improve and she would need the ventilator less and less. Hang in there.

It was unclear from the question whether the breast cancer spread to her lungs. But there are some things that can be done. A fan in someone's face can help according to a study.
Also, morphine is not just a pain pill. It also modifies the body's response and perception to breathlessness. So low-dose morphine can help. Meditation has tremendous power to reduce the symptoms. Breathing treatments (via Nebulizer machine) can assist. Walking and light exercise keeps the body active. Also, make sure an X-ray is done to see if there is fluid around the lung, which can restrict the lung capacity to expand, and that manifests as shortness of breath.

I hope this helps

Dear Former Smoker,

Congratulations on your new baby, and being smoke-free for so long. It speaks so much of your tenacity and desire to live healthier and provide that for your children. Rest assured that the lungs do reward you when you quit smoking. I'd be lying if I said they would look like never smoker lungs, but their function improves over the years to close to that of
someone who has never smoked. Of course, this also depends on many factors such as the length of time one smoked in the past, whether there is any damage or scarring already done, but as a general rule, you can expect to have more breath capacity, more ability to self-clean your lungs from the debris of everyday breathing, and if you get a cold or bronchitis, you have much more ability to fight it off than if you were still smoking. I hope this helps answer your question.