Pulmonology
Pulmonary Care accepts self-referrals! Call (765) 935-8943 today. No physician order needed!
Pulmonology
We care for patients with any kind of breathing difficulty. By its definition, providing pulmonary care is to provide care for everything related to breathing.
A Pulmonologist can provide assistance or relief for any difficulties related to breathing.
This includes evaluation and treatment for:
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
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.
Symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness or pain
- Wheezing when exhaling
- Trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath, coughing, or wheezing
- Coughing or wheezing attacks that are worsened by a respiratory virus, such as a cold or the flu
Recurring Bronchitis
Chronic Cough
A chronic cough is a cough that lasts eight
weeks or longer in adults. A chronic
cough is more than just an annoyance. A
chronic cough can interrupt your sleep and leave you feeling exhausted. Severe cases of chronic cough can cause
vomiting, lightheadedness and even rib fractures. While it can sometimes be difficult to
pinpoint the problem that's triggering a chronic cough, the most common causes
are tobacco use, postnasal drip, asthma and acid reflux. Fortunately, chronic cough typically
disappears once the underlying problem is treated.
A chronic cough can occur with other signs and symptoms, which may include:
- A runny or stuffy nose
- A feeling of liquid running down the back of your throat (postnasal drip)
- Hoarseness
- Wheezing and shortness of breath
- Heartburn or a sour taste in your mouth
- In rare cases, coughing up blood
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is
a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the
lungs. Symptoms include breathing
difficulty, cough, mucus (sputum) production and wheezing. It's typically caused by long-term exposure
to irritating gases or particulate matter, most often from cigarette
smoke. People with CPD are at increased
risk of developing heart disease, lung cancer and a variety of other
conditions. Emphysema and chronic
bronchitis are the two most common conditions that contribute to COPD. These two conditions usually occur together
and can vary in severity among individuals with COPD.
COPD symptoms often don't appear until significant lung damage has occurred, and they usually worsen over time, particularly if smoking exposure continues. Signs and symptoms of COPD may include:
- Shortness of breath, especially during physical activities
- Wheezing
- Chest tightness
- Chronic cough that may produce mucus (sputum) that may be clear, white, yellow, or greenish
- Frequent respiratory infections
- Lack of energy
- Unintended weight loss (in later stages)
- Swelling in ankles, feet or legs
Complex Lung Diseases Such as Pneumoconioses
Emphysema
Emphysema is a lung condition that causes shortness of breath. In people with emphysema, the air sacs in the lungs (alveoli) are damaged. Over time, the inner walls of the air sacs weaken and rupture - creating larger air spaces instead of many small ones. This reduces the surface area of the lungs and, in turn, the amount of oxygen that reaches your bloodstream. When you exhale, the damaged alveoli don't work properly and old air becomes trapped, leaving no room for fresh, oxygen-rich air to enter. Most people with emphysema also have chronic bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis is inflammation of the tubes that carry air to your lungs (bronchial tubes), which leads to a persistent cough. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are two conditions that make up chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Smoking is the leading cause of COPD. Treatment may slow the progression of COPD, but it can't reverse the damage.
You can have emphysema for many years without
noticing any signs or symptoms. The main
symptom of emphysema is shortness of breath, which usually begins gradually. You may start avoiding activities that cause
you to be short of breath, so the symptom doesn't become a problem until it
starts interfering with daily tasks.
Emphysema eventually causes shortness of breath even while you are at
rest.
Lung Nodules & Masses
Pneumonia
Pneumonia
is an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs. The air sacs may fill with fluid or pus
(purulent material), causing cough with phlegm or pus, fever, chills, and
difficulty breathing. A variety of
organisms, including bacteria, viruses and fungi, can cause pneumonia. Pneumonia can range in seriousness from mild
to life-threatening. It is most serious
for infants and young children, people older than 65, and people with health
problems or weakened immune systems.
The signs and symptoms of pneumonia vary from mild to severe, depending on factors such as the type of germ causing the infection, and your age and overall health. Mild signs and symptoms often are similar to those of a cold or flu, but they last longer. Signs and symptoms of pneumonia include:
- Chest pain when you breath or cough
- Confusion or changes in mental awareness (in adults age 65 and older)
- Cough, which may produce phlegm
- Fatigue
- Fever, sweating and shaking chills
- Lower than normal body temperature (in adults older than 65 and people with weak immune systems)
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
- Shortness of breath
Pulmonary Edema
Pulmonary edema is a condition caused by excess fluid in the lungs. This fluid collects in the numerous air sacs in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. In most cases, heart problems cause pulmonary edema. But fluid can accumulate for other reasons, including pneumonia, exposure to certain toxins and medications, trauma to the chest wall, and visiting or exercising at high elevations.
Pulmonary edema that develops suddenly (acute
pulmonary edema) is a medical emergency requiring immediate care. Pulmonary
edema can sometimes be fatal, but the outlook improves if you get treated
quickly. Treatment for pulmonary edema varies depending on the cause but
generally includes supplemental oxygen and medications.
Depending on the cause,
pulmonary edema signs and symptoms may appear suddenly or develop over time. Sudden (acute) pulmonary edema signs and
symptoms:
- Extreme shortness of breath or difficulty breathing (dyspnea) that worsens with activity or when lying down
- A feeling of suffocating or drowning that worsens when lying down
- Wheezing or gasping for breath
- Cold, clammy skin
- Anxiety, restlessness or a sense of apprehension
- A cough that produces frothy sputum that may be tinged with blood
- Blue-tinged lips
- A rapid, irregular heartbeat (palpitations)
Pulmonary Embolism
Pulmonary embolism is a blockage in one of the pulmonary arteries in your
lungs. In most cases, pulmonary embolism is caused by blood clots that travel
to the lungs from deep veins in the legs or, rarely, from veins in other parts
of the body (deep vein thrombosis). Because the clots block
blood flow to the lungs, pulmonary embolism can be life-threatening. However,
prompt treatment greatly reduces the risk of death. Taking measures to prevent
blood clots in your legs will help protect you against pulmonary embolism.
Pulmonary embolism symptoms can vary greatly, depending on how much of your
lung is involved, the size of the clots, and whether you have underlying lung
or heart disease. Common signs and symptoms include:
Shortness of breath. This symptom typically appears suddenly
and always gets worse with exertion.
Chest pain. You may feel like you're having a heart attack. The pain
is often sharp and felt when you breathe in deeply, often stopping you from
being able to take a deep breath. It can also be felt when you cough, bend or
stoop.
Cough. The cough may produce bloody or blood-streaked sputum.
Other signs and symptoms that can occur with pulmonary
embolism include:
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Lightheadedness or dizziness
- Excessive sweating
- Fever
- Leg pain or swelling, or both, usually in the calf caused by a deep vein thrombosis
- Clammy or discolored skin (cyanosis)
Pulmonary Hypertension
Pulmonary hypertension is a type of high blood pressure
that affects the arteries in your lungs and the right side of your heart. In one form of pulmonary hypertension, called
pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), blood vessels in your lungs are
narrowed, blocked or destroyed. The damage slows blood flow through your lungs,
and blood pressure in the lung arteries rises. Your heart must work harder to
pump blood through your lungs. The extra effort eventually causes your heart
muscle to become weak and fail. In some
people, pulmonary hypertension slowly gets worse and can be life-threatening.
Although there's no cure for some types of pulmonary hypertension, treatment
can help reduce symptoms and improve your quality of life.
The signs and symptoms of pulmonary hypertension develop slowly. You may
not notice them for months or even years. Symptoms get worse as the disease
progresses. Pulmonary hypertension symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea), initially while exercising and eventually while at rest
- Fatigue
- Dizziness or fainting spells (syncope)
- Chest pressure or pain
- Swelling (edema) in your ankles, legs and eventually in your abdomen (ascites)
- Bluish color to your lips and skin (cyanosis)
- Racing pulse or heart palpitations
Respiratory Failure
Shortness of Breath
Few sensations are as frightening as not being able to get enough air. Shortness of breath — known medically as dyspnea — is often described as an intense tightening in the chest, air hunger, difficulty breathing, breathlessness or a feeling of suffocation.
Very strenuous exercise, extreme temperatures, obesity and higher altitude
all can cause shortness of breath in a healthy person. Outside of these
examples, shortness of breath is likely a sign of a medical problem. If you have unexplained shortness of breath,
especially if it comes on suddenly and is severe, see your doctor as soon as
possible.
Sleep Disorders Such as Sleep Apnea, Parasomnias & Narcolepsy
Obstructive sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder. It causes
breathing to repeatedly stop and start during sleep. There are several types of sleep apnea, but
the most common is obstructive sleep apnea. This type of apnea occurs when your
throat muscles intermittently relax and block your airway during sleep. A
noticeable sign of obstructive sleep apnea is snoring. Treatments for obstructive sleep apnea are
available. One treatment involves using a device that uses positive pressure to
keep your airway open while you sleep. Another option is a mouthpiece to thrust
your lower jaw forward during sleep. In some cases, surgery may be an option
too.
Signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea include:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Loud snoring
- Observed episodes of stopped breathing during sleep
- Abrupt awakenings accompanied by gasping or choking
- Awakening with a dry mouth or sore throat
- Morning headache
- Difficulty concentrating during the day
- Experiencing mood changes, such as depression or irritability
- High blood pressure
- Nighttime sweating
- Decreased libido
Request An Appointment
-
Asthma in adults is a fairly common issue. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute more than 17 million adults in the United States have asthma. Many...Read More
-
Causes of asthma: Your guide to asthma risk factors and triggers
Asthma is a condition that causes your airways to swell and produce extra mucus making it difficult to breathe according to Jason Casselman D.O. with Reid Allergy....Read More -
Better breathing techniques for COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung disease that makes breathing difficult and according to the American Lung Association (ALA) it affects millions of...Read More