Managing Your Respiratory Health
Our Pulmonology services focus on improving respiratory health and enhancing the quality of life for patients with chronic and acute lung conditions. We offer comprehensive management for chronic respiratory diseases like asthma and COPD, tailoring treatment to help you breathe easier. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and spirometry are conducted to assess lung health, while our team provides education on the use of inhalers and nebulizers to maximize treatment effectiveness.
For patients struggling with smoking addiction, we offer smoking cessation counseling to support healthier lifestyles. We also assess and manage oxygen therapy needs, ensuring that every patient receives the right level of support. Our pulmonary care extends to evaluating and treating respiratory infections, including pneumonia, tuberculosis, and Coccidiomycosis (Valley Fever), as well as addressing sleep apnea and other sleep-related breathing disorders.
Additionally, we specialize in managing occupational lung diseases and conditions like chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and pulmonary fibrosis, offering the expertise needed to navigate these complex health concerns. Our goal is to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care for every aspect of your respiratory health.
Pulmonology specialists provide a range of services related to respiratory health, including:
- Management of chronic respiratory conditions (e.g. COPD, asthma)
- Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and spirometry
- Smoking cessation counseling
- Education on inhaler and nebulizer use
- Oxygen therapy assessments
- Pulmonary infection evaluation and management, including Coccidiomycosis
Conditions treated by pulmonology specialist
Bronchial Asthma
Asthma is a condition in which your airways narrow and swell, and may produce extra mucus. This can make breathing difficult and trigger coughing, a whistling sound (wheezing) when you breathe out, and shortness of breath.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
An ongoing lung condition caused by damage to the lungs. COPD is most often caused by long-term exposure to irritating smoke, fumes, dust, or chemicals.
Valley Fever
Valley fever is a fungal infection. Coccidioides (kok-sid-e-OI-deze) organisms are the cause. Also called San Joaquin Valley fever, it can cause symptoms such as a fever, cough, and tiredness.
Emphysema
Emphysema is a long-term lung condition that causes shortness of breath. Over time, the condition damages the thin walls of the air sacs in the lungs called alveoli. In healthy lungs, these sacs stretch and fill with air when you breathe in.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common sleep-related breathing disorder. People with obstructive sleep apnea repeatedly stop and start breathing while they sleep. These breath pauses are known as apneas.
Pulmonary Embolism
A pulmonary embolism is a blood clot that blocks and stops blood flow to an artery in the lung. In most cases, the blood clot starts in a deep vein in the leg and travels to the lung. Rarely, the clot forms in a vein in another part of the body.
Pulmonary Fibrosis
Pulmonary fibrosis is a lung disease that occurs when lung tissue becomes damaged and scarred. This thickened, stiff tissue makes it harder for the lungs to work properly. Pulmonary fibrosis worsens over time. Some people can stay stable for a long time, but the condition gets worse faster in others.
Pulmonary Nodules
Lung nodules are small areas of tissue in the lungs that are denser than normal lung tissue. They usually do not cause symptoms, and most are scars from past lung infections. Although a lung nodule can be cancerous, the majority are not.
Respiratory Failure
Respiratory failure is a condition where there’s not enough oxygen or too much carbon dioxide in your body. It can happen all at once (acute) or come on over time (chronic). Many underlying conditions can cause it. Acute respiratory failure is life-threatening.
Smoking Cessation
Nicotine dependence happens when your body craves nicotine, and you can’t stop using it. For some people, using any amount of smoked tobacco can quickly lead to nicotine dependence.
Chronic Bronchitis
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the lining of your bronchial tubes. These tubes carry air to and from your lungs. People who have bronchitis often cough up thickened mucus, which can be discolored.
Tuberculosis (TB)
TB is a serious, contagious infectious disease primarily affecting the lungs. While the bacteria can remain inactive in the body without symptoms, active TB causes severe coughs, weight loss, and fever.
Additional conditions
- Respiratory infections (e.g., pneumonia, tuberculosis)
- Occupational lung diseases
FAQs
What Symptoms Should Prompt Me to See a Pulmonary Specialist?
Symptoms like chronic cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, or unexplained fatigue should be evaluated.
What Types of Lung Conditions Do You Treat?
We manage asthma, COPD, chronic bronchitis, post-COVID-19 respiratory issues, and other lung diseases.
