Diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract can result from viral/bacterial infections and in some cases can cause serious, long-lasting conditions, but testing early can significantly help to fight off these types of illnesses.
Respiratory infections are difficult to avoid and we are all highly vulnerable to catching them. By testing yourself using our Respiratory Panel Panel(RPP) test, you can receive a fast and accurate diagnosis of your respiratory illness. RPP testing analyzes your specimen sample to discover genetic material within pathogens of viruses and bacteria to help you and your healthcare provider understand which specific respiratory illness you are suffering from.
Our genetics testing lab is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on the campus of Louisiana State University within the Pennington Biomedical Research Center. Your testing kit, which includes free, pre-paid shipping, will be overnight shipped to our lab for processing upon completion of the Nasopharyngeal(nose) swab test. This process takes less than a day to run your sample and have your results distributed to yourself as well as your healthcare provider.. Once you have your results, your provider can then select the most useful treatment plan to alleviate your symptoms and eliminate your illness.
Respiratory infections cause short-term or long-term illnesses that affect every living person and can occur considerably often. There are 2 types of respiratory diseases(infectious and chronic) which appear in either the upper or lower respiratory tract. These types of diseases can range from mild cases to severe, life-threatening cases. Viral/bacterial infections that cause respiratory illness come in many different forms and there are many ways in which a respiratory illness can start.
As our bodies adjust to environmental changes, such as seasonal changes resulting in temperature decreases, we become more vulnerable to attacks on our respiratory tracts from ingesting viruses and bacteria. Numerous viruses and strains of bacteria become stronger in cold conditions at the same time our immune systems typically become slightly weakened.
In an effort to avoid cold weather, we often spend more of our time inside than we do outside during the colder parts of the year. In doing so, we tend to spend more time around those in our living space who may be infected and can potentially spread their illness to others. Being inside more often also means we are inhaling more circulated air which can contain viruses and bacteria rather than fresh, uncirculated air. Infections of the upper respiratory tract are often less severe and include common cold, influenza, and sinus infection, just to name a few. Infections of the lower respiratory tract tend to be more severe than upper respiratory infections and include bronchitis, broncholitis, influenza, and pneumonia. In some cases, infections of the respiratory tracts can ultimately result in chronic, long-term respiratory conditions such as COPD, Chronic Bronchitis, Lung Cancer, and several other diseases which are much more serious and sometimes fatal.
Throughout each year, during the fall and winter months especially, we are all at risk of developing a respiratory infection at any given time. Studies have shown that the average person comes down with a viral/bacterial infection of the upper respiratory tract around 2 times per year. Upper respiratory infections can at times lead to lower respiratory infections, which are more severe and can sometimes cause death. Harmful viruses and bacteria that can attack the respiratory tracts are usually hard to spot until it is too late and are also highly contagious.
Being around someone who is sick with illnesses such as the common cold, flu, bronchitis, pneumonia, sinus infection, and several other conditions significantly increases one's risk of catching a viral/bacterial infection. Over the cooler times of the year when the temperatures drop, viruses and bacteria thrive, putting us at increased risk of respiratory infections as our bodies adapt to the change in weather conditions. Risk can also increase as we move into our older years.
Over time, the human aging process can result in a decline in both mind and bodily functions. Of these functions, one of the most important is our immune system function and the ability to fight off diseases. When our immune system becomes weakened, viruses and bacteria can attack harder on our respiratory tracts as these are less protected than in those of us with a strong and fully-functioning immune system.
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