respiratory disease

Definition of respiratory disease

respiratory disease

(RES-pih-ruh-TOR-ee dih-ZEEZ)
A type of disease that affects the lungs and other parts of the respiratory system. Respiratory diseases may be caused by infection, by smoking tobacco, or by breathing in secondhand tobacco smoke, radon, asbestos, or other forms of air pollution. Respiratory diseases include asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, pneumonia, and lung cancer. Also called lung disorder and pulmonary disease.

Source: NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms