- Occupational and Environmental Lung
Disease (i.e. “9/11 Syndrome”) - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
Disease (COPD) - Pulmonary Arterial
Hypertension - Asthma
- Lung Cancer
- Chronic Cough
- Bronchiestasis
- Sarcoidosis
- Shortness of Breath – unknown origin
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
COPD is a disease which includes either one or the combination of two major breathing disorders: emphysema and chronic bronchitis. COPD usually affects men and women over 40 with a history of smoking. An estimated 16 million Americans have COPD. COPD is associated with the following symptoms: breathlessness, chronic cough (with or without mucus), frequent clearing of the throat, chest tightness, wheezing, and loss of appetite.
Emphysema
- The walls of the alveoli (air sacs at the end of the bronchiole tubes) lose their flexibility and stretch and tear like an old rubber band.
- The broken `own walls create large air spaces that trap air in the lungs and are unable to transfer oxygen to the bloodstream
- This irreversible condition means that you will have difficulty exhaling the air from your lungs
Chronic Bronchitis
- Irritants such as smoe or cigarette smoke lead to the producTion of thick mucus and pus, which clog the airways, triggering repeated episodes of bronchitis
- The cilia are hair-like structures in our bronchioles (small air passages in the lungs) that, when working normally, move inhaled particles out of the lungs
- Smoking damages cilia so that they are unable to remove mucus. This is one reason you cough; it helps move the mucus along.
Asthma is a chronic disease which is associated with inflammation of the bronchial tubes, or airways. When your airways are inflamed, or swollen, they become very sensitive to things you might be allergic to or find irritating. A strong reaction might occur with your airways becoming narrower, making it more difficult to breath. Less airflow to the lungs causes symptoms such as wheezing (a whistling sound when you breathe), chest tightness, coughing, and trouble breathing, especially at night and in the early morning.
Occupational and Environmental Lung Disease (i.e. “9/11 Syndrome”)
We investigate and treat patients who have been exposed to the harmful air of 9/11 in excess, or who often come in contact with breathing hazards.
Our center specializes in the early diagnosis of lung cancer. We also work at prevention of lung cancer through our smoking cessation program.
Through the use of many tests such as upper airway evaluation, allergy testing, and pulmonary function test, our center specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic cough.
Shortness of Breath – unknown origin
Our center has comprehensive cardiopulmonary exercise equipment which is rarely seen even in hospitals. This test, along with other high-end technology in our office such as the pulmonary function test, body box plethysmography will help us treat your difficult to diagnose shortness of breath.
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
