Tuberculosis (AKA TB)

Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection of the lungs. It can spread either through the air or by drinking something contaminated with the bacteria, for example, milk. It affects people of all ages and animals as well. It eats into your lungs and arteries and often surrounding organs. People feel tired, sweat, and usually have weight loss at the onset of the disease. Sometimes they’re coughing up blood because the disease had eroded into an artery.
The occurrence of tuberculosis used to be an epidemic because the crowded living conditions and infected cows spurred the spread of the disease. Soon a vaccine was made that greatly reduced the spread of TB. It consisted of weakened TB cells that couldn’t take a hold on someone but enough for the person to gain an immunity. In the 1940s and 50s and drug was formulated that also really helped cure the disease.
Tuberculosis is one of the greatest diseases to affect mankind. Most people who are actually infected don’t even suffer. The germ usually is surrounded by defensive cells until it is locked up in a hard, calcified lump called a tubercule. These can be seen in the lungs by x-ray. But no one really needs to fear TB anymore. Chances are you have had the vaccine and there are drugs and surgeries that reasonably cure TB.

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Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs by an organism. Often the organism is bacterial but it can also be fungal or viral. Viral pneumonia does occur sometimes but usually any viral infection just weakens the lungs so the bacteria can take over. Fungal infection can occur when a patient with depressed resistance to disease inhales contaminated dust. Fungal disease often spreads very quickly and can be lethal.
The symptoms of pneumonia start with headaches and a tired, run-down feeling. Later fever breaks out and sore throats and muscles may occur. As the disease progresses, coughing becomes the major symptom. Sometimes blood is coughed up in the sputum. Pneumonia is the leading cause of death among AIDS patients, but in regular patients it is usually not fatal. Recovery can be quick with the help of antibiotics.
Another note is that you may have had pneumonia lately. I had it, I think. The doctor diagnosed me with a sinus infection but I think he was wrong. Also the medicine he gave me didn't do anything. I had a fever and was very lethargic for about a week. Many other people had symptoms just like that so I think that there was maybe a mini-epidemic of pneumonia lately.

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Asthma

Asthma is a chronic disease with symptoms of shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing. It is caused by a contrition of the bronchial air passage ways by muscle, and swelling of bronchial mucosa. Asthma seems to be hereditary, affects all races, and is equally present in males and females. The release of histamine and acetylcholine seems to play a role in triggering asthma attacks. Histamine is released in response to an allergic reaction. Attacks can last from one half hour to an hour. The way to often cure an attack is to inhale or inject epinephrine, otherwise known as andrenaline. This widens the airways and inhibits the mucus glands. The way to prevent attacks (maybe not a predisposition to asthma) is to stay away from what ever causes the allergic reaction. Established asthmatics can have attacks because of changes in temperature or humidity, exertion, emotional stress, strong odors, or smoke.