“Breathe! You are alive.” – Thich Nhat Hanh, Zen Buddhist Monk

When it comes to dealing with a chronic illness, a basic understanding of the anatomy (structure), physiology (function) and pathophysiology (disease) will go a long way. Our hope is that this information will help you better understand your condition, as well as provide you with the necessary vocabulary and context for more meaningful communication with your doctor and other health care professionals. Throughout this site, we will explain how various factors affect your breathing and what you can do to improve not just your breathing, but also your life.