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Your risk of pneumonia may be higher because of your age, environment, lifestyle habits, and other medical conditions.

Your doctor will diagnose pneumonia based on your medical history, a physical exam, and test results. Sometimes pneumonia is hard to diagnose because your symptoms may be the same as a cold or flu. You may not realize that your condition is more serious until it lasts longer than these other conditions.

Mitral valve prolapse is a condition in which the flaps of the mitral valve are floppy, or prolapsed, which can prevent the seal from forming, which results in a backflow of blood in the left atrium as blood is pumped through the heart.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is caused by repeated exposure to environmental substances that cause inflammation in the lungs when inhaled. Substances include: bacteria, fungi or molds, proteins, or chemicals.

Pneumonia occurs when certain bacterial, viral, and fungal infections cause inflammation in the air sacs, or alveoli, of the lungs. Some of the more common causes in the United States include Streptococcus pneumoniae or pneumococcus bacteria, the influenza or flu virus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Signs and symptoms vary between acute, subacute, and chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis and may include flu-like illness including fever, chills, muscle or joint pain, or headaches; rales; cough; chronic bronchitis; shortness of breath; anorexia or weight loss; fatigue; fibrosis of the lungs; or clubbing of fingers or toes. Complications of chronic disease may include irreversible lung damage, permanently reduced lung function, pulmonary hypotension, or heart failure.

A blood and bone marrow transplant is currently the only cure for some patients who have sickle cell disease. After early diagnosis, your doctor may recommend medicines or transfusions to manage complications, including chronic pain. Babies who have sickle cell disease may see a hematologist, a doctor who specializes in blood diseases such as sickle cell disease.

La hemoglobina anormal, llamada hemoglobina S, causa la anemia de células falciformes.

Heart inflammation can be caused by infections, particularly from viruses or bacteria; medicines; or damage to the heart’s tissue or muscle from autoimmune diseases, medicines, environmental factors, or other triggers.

Your doctor may diagnose overweight and obesity based on your medical history, a physical exam that checks your body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference, and tests to rule out other medical conditions.