Croup, the common cold and chronic asthma are among the childhood illnesses and medical conditions that can cause your little one to develop labored breathing.

Attributing shortness of breath to old age is a common misconception and could be dangerous if it delays medical evaluation of this important symptom. Smoking and alcohol abuse increase the risks for conditions that cause difficulty breathing, as do the use of some over-the-counter pain medications.

Lung crackles are abnormal breath sounds heard with a stethoscope during a physical exam. Crackling in the lungs usually reflects a buildup of fluid, mucus or pus in the small airways. This is commonly due to lung disease, such as pneumonia or another respiratory disorder.

Breathing with an "open throat" means breathing with the muscles of the throat relaxed. This allows for faster air flow, which can be a help in athletic and musical endeavors. Most people breathe with a "closed throat."

Psoriasis is a chronic condition that causes reddish-colored, scaly dry patches on your skin. Psoriasis is not contagious and usually not painful, although severe cases lead to arthritis.

Some regions of the United States have more allergens than others. According to Asthmacapitals.com, more than 20 million American children and adults live with asthma, of which common allergens can trigger attacks. Asthmacapitals.

Your body follows a circadian rhythm, a series of sleep-wake cycles that are regulated by your brain. In some individuals, this preset system is faulty, which can cause sleep problems, fatigue and even depression. Melatonin is a hormone in your body that works to help regulate your internal rhythm.

Shortness of breath or breathing problems involves difficult breathing unrelated to the intensity of physical activity. Breathing problems after a workout may be a side effect of medication, a symptom of a health problem or an indication of stress or anxiety.

If you have breathing difficulties, such as asthma or bronchitis, you may find it necessary to use a nebulizer. There are several of these on the market that you can purchase, but if you don't have a medical plan that covers such purchases, it may be far more cost effective to make your own.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, a nebulizer changes liquid medicine into fine droplets (in aerosol or mist form). These machines are available in a portable variety or powered by compressed air and plugged into an electrical outlet.

Mucus plug, the excessive secretion of slippery substance produced by the cells lining the airways of the lungs, is a result of various respiratory conditions that exhibit mucus hypersecretion.

Whether it’s labeled as hay fever, seasonal allergies or allergic rhinitis, the symptoms are miserable and include a runny nose, eyes and dry cough. Certain foods can trigger or worsen these allergies, but results vary from person to person.