Pleurisy
|
|
- Pleurisy Overview
- Pleurisy Causes
- Pleurisy Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- Treatment
- Self-Care at Home
- Medical Treatment
- Next Steps
- Follow-up
- Prevention
- Outlook
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
- Viewer Comments: Pleurisy (Pleuritis) - How Was Diagnosis Established
Pleurisy Overview
The pleura is a two layered sac that holds the lungs and separates them from the chest wall, diaphragm, and heart. Pleurisy results from an inflammation of this sac.
The pleura that lines the inside of the chest is called the parietal pleura. The pleura that covers the lungs is called the visceral pleura. If you are healthy, the pleura is separated by a thin layer of fluid. This lets the lungs expand and contract easily during breathing. The inflammation that occurs with pleurisy can cause pain with breathing and may even cause a large amount of fluid to collect in the pleural sac.
Pleurisy can go away on its own or worsen so that fluid has to be drained from around the lungs. Some people develop scar tissue called adhesions after they have pleurisy. They then have chronic pain or shortness of breath.
Next: Pleurisy Causes »
Viewer Comments & Reviews
Pleurisy (Pleuritis) - How Was Diagnosis Established
How was the diagnosis of your pleurisy (pleuritis) established?
Women's Health
Find out what women really need.
From WebMD
Lung Disease/COPD Resources
- 6 Places Germs Lurk in Your Home
- COPD Health Check: Assess Yourself
- COPD Tips: How to Use Your Inhaler
Featured Centers
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
Pleurisy
Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) »
Lupus Overview
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), or lupus, is an autoimmune disease in which a person's immune system attacks various organs or cells of the body, causing damage and dysfunction. Lupus is called a multisystem disease because it can affect many different tissues and organs in the body. Some patients with lupus have very mild disease, which can be treated with simple medications, whereas others can have serious, life-threatening complications. Lupus is more common in women than men, and for reasons that are not precisely understood, its peak incidence is after puberty.
While lupus is a chronic illness, it is characterized by periods when the disease activity is minimal or absent (remission) and when it is active (relapse or flare). The outlook for patients with lupus today is much better than years ago because of greater awareness and more accurate tests leading to earlier diagnosis and treatment as well as more effective...
Read What Your Physician is Reading on eMedicine
Pleural Effusion »
Approximately 1 million pleural effusions are diagnosed in the United States each year.
