- ArthritisMedical conditions that may also cause lung damage include: sarcoidosis, Sjorgen’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, dermatomyositis, polymyositis, and mixed connective tissue disease. In some cases, the cause of the disease is not known.
- FibromyalgiaThere are a variety of causes of a sleep disorder. The inability to breathe well can make sleeping difficult. This can be through allergies, a cold, or any other type of respiratory infection. Stress and/or anxiety have an impact on sleep. It can be difficult for someone struggling with stress and anxiety to fall asleep or stay asleep. This may be characterized by sleepwalking, sleep talking, or nightmares. Pain of any type can also make it very difficult to sleep. Some of the most types of chronic pain are: back pain, headaches, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, or fibromyalgia.
- SinusitisSinus drainage is also frequently known as acute sinusitis. This occurs when the cavities that is around the nasal passages become swollen and inflamed. This area is also called the sinuses. When this occurs, then there is a problem with drainage and mucus will begin to build up in this area. Sinus drainage is usually caused by a cold or an allergy. The sickness usually goes away within 10 days.
- Medical Weight LossIf you are experiencing any symptoms, such as: chest cold, chest pain, congestion, coughing, coughing up blood, daytime sleepiness, flu, sinus drainage, shortness of breath, snoring, weight loss, and wheezing. When these symptoms occur, there may be an underlying pulmonary problem occurring. To feel better fast, consult with your pulmonologist.
- Nutritional CounselingPulmonary rehabilitation may help to improve your condition through education, nutritional counseling, breathing techniques, physical exercise, and continued counseling and support through your physician’s office.
- Ear InfectionsThere are many complications that are associated with allergies. In cases of severe allergies, you are at a risk of anaphylaxis. Foods, medications, and stings are the most common causes of anaphylaxis. If you have an allergy, you are also at a risk for having asthma too. Oftentimes, allergies will cause an asthma flare up, and it will be very difficult to breathe. You are at a risk for contracting sinusitis, ear infections, or lung infections if you have hay fever or asthma.
- Sleep DisordersSleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder in which you may stop breathing. You may have sleep apnea if you snore loudly and feel tired even after you have gotten a full night of sleep. There are a few different types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, and complex sleep apnea syndrome.
- Emergency CareIf you have severe shortness of breath that is unexplained and causes you to not be able to function, or is accompanied by chest pain, fainting, or nausea, then you will want to call 911 or go to the emergency room. These signs are typically common with a heart attack or pulmonary embolism.
- Constipation
- ElectrocardiogramChest pain does not always mean that you are having a heart attack, however, that is typically the first thing that is tested for. After this, they will likely check for a collapsed lung or a clot in the lungs. Some of the first tests that you will go through are an electrocardiogram (ECG), which will show if you are having a heart attack. Blood tests may also be ordered to check for proteins in the blood that are typically found in the heart muscle. A chest x-ray will allow for the physicians to see the lungs and the heart. This may show signs of a collapsed lung or pneumonia. A computerized tomography (CT) scan can show a pulmonary embolism or can help rule out aortic dissection.
- Bronchitis
- Urinary IncontinenceIn some cases, coughing can be vigorous and can cause other problems. The most common problem with coughing is the lack of quality rest that is caused from coughing. In more serious cases, headaches, broken ribs, and urinary incontinence are associated with coughing. Having a chronic cough can be exhausting and be disruptive for sleep patterns. Whooping cough is another factor to consider when dealing with a chronic cough. Pertussis, or whooping cough, is typically vaccinated against as a child, but in some cases, that immunity can wear off and you can still be at risk for this sickness. This is characterized by an uncontrollable cough.
- PneumoniaPulmonary Associates Research is a thriving research department with a multitude of adult and pediatric participants. This department has conducted many inpatient and outpatient clinical research trials specializing in pulmonary and critical care medicine. Some of the trials have explored conditions including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD ), acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis (AECB), community acquired pneumonia (CAP), hospital acquired pneumonia (HAP), sepsis, adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis. These studies are currently conducted from our West Mobile, Midtown and Spring Hill offices.
- ImmunizationsOn top of handling symptoms of COPD, a patient may also experience other symptoms. Respiratory infections are common in those with COPD. These infections may include the cold, the flu, or pneumonia. You should receive the flu vaccination in an effort to stop these complications.
- GlaucomaIn most cases, there is no lasting effect of sarcoidosis and most people may not even realize that they have this disease. In some cases, there are various long-term problems that may occur. If pulmonary sarcoidosis goes untreated, then there may be permanent lung scarring which will make it very difficult to breathe. Sarcoidosis can also lead to cataracts or glaucoma in your eyes, and in some cases, inflammation in your eyes can eventually lead to blindness. Sarcoidosis also affects how your body handles calcium, which means that you could have kidney failure. Granulomas in your heart can lead to abnormal heartbeats and various other heart problems, which will sometimes lead to death. In very rare cases, some people will have problems with their nervous systems when the granulomas form on the brain or spinal cord.
- Cataracts
- Eye ExamA chest x-ray will be able to see lung damage and any change in lymph nodes. A computerized tomography (CT) scan may also be requested so that the physician can see a better picture of your heart and lungs. If sarcoidosis is believed to have affected the heart of the central nervous system, then you may also want to have a positron emission tomography (PET) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Blood tests may be administered to check the health of your kidneys and liver. To see if your eyes have been affected by this disease, your physician may send you to an eye doctor for a proper eye exam. A lung function test may also be used to measure the lung volume and amount of oxygen that is being delivered to the blood. A small biopsy of the lung may be taken too.
- Female Infertility
- Pregnancy
- Internal Medicine
- EndoscopyThere are other non-medication related treatments that may also be recommended for you based on severity. There are some surgical procedures that may help, which include: endoscopy and lavage, a feeding tube, lung transplant, oxygen therapy, or nasal polyp removal.
- Lung CancerLung disease is defined as any problem in the lungs that makes the lungs not work properly. There are three main types of lung diseases: airway diseases, lung tissue diseases, and lung circulation diseases. Many lung diseases may even include a combination of the three of these. Our pulmonologists are experts in the field of pulmonary disease. They are able to diagnose many conditions, such as: asthma, bronchitis, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, dyspnea, emphysema, lung cancer, pleural effusion, pleurisy, pneumonia, pulmonary edema, pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, sarcoidosis, sleep apnea, and tuberculosis. If you believe that you are experiencing symptoms of lung disease, then you will want to schedule an appointment with our physicians as soon as possible. The best way to treat lung disease is to diagnose and treat it immediately.
- Multiple SclerosisToo much soda can cause: weakened bones, rotten teeth, obesity, elevated blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia), slow digestion which blocks nutrient absorption, dehydration, and cancer risk – the caramel coloring may contain a possible carcinogen known as 4-methylimidazole. Diet sodas contain aspartame which can cause: seizures, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, emotional disorders, metabolic syndrome and lower your good cholesterol level, high-density lipoproteins (HDL), and increase cravings.
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Diabetes Care
- UltrasoundTo prepare for your endobronchial ultrasound, ask your physician for specific instructions as they vary between patients. In some cases, you will need to have a blood test done before the procedure. You may need to fast for a few hours before the procedure as well. Your physician will review your medications with you and let you know if you need to make any changes. If you are on a blood-thinning medication, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, you may need to stop. This procedure will be an outpatient procedure, which means that you can go home on the same day, but you will need to arrange for someone to drive you home as you will be recovering from the anesthesia or other medications.
- MRIOther imaging tests include a computerized tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to check more into the heart and lungs. This will provide your physician with a clearer picture of what exactly is going on. A pulmonary function test will see how much air your lungs can hold. You may be asked to also complete a sleep test to watch for oxygen levels and other factors while you sleep. In more extreme cases, your physician may ask for an open-lung biopsy, where they will remove a small sample from your lungs to check for a secondary cause of pulmonary hypertension. While a true diagnosis may be difficult, it is important to try.
- X-Rays
- Computed TomographyIf a mass on the lungs is suspected, a computed tomography (CT) scan may be recommended to provide more precise information. During a CT scan, imaging equipment rotates around the patient taking x-ray images in thin cross sections called slices. These slices are then combined to create a 2-D or 3-D image.
- ChemotherapyThere are also a variety of drugs that can harm your lungs too. These drugs include: chemotherapy drugs, heart medications, antibiotics, or anti-inflammatory drugs. These drugs do not include all of them in each category, but are only certain types.
- Radiation TherapyRadiation therapy can be used before or after surgery and is often combined with chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is typically used after surgery to get rid of any remaining cancer cells in the body.
- LesionsPositron emission tomography (PET) scans provide information about lesions by evaluating the function and structure of a specific organ or tissue. Patients receive a tiny amount of a short-acting radioactive substance through an IV, and then lie still while a painless scanner slowly moves over the area of concern, providing information about specific anatomy and how well cells and tissues are working.
- Back Pain
- AllergiesYour physician will begin by asking what your symptoms are and what seems to trigger them. The physician will also feel around for any tenderness and look inside of your nose. If symptoms tend to be brought on by allergies, then your physician will recommend allergy testing. Allergy testing will allow you to know what to avoid. Imaging tests, nasal endoscopy, or sinus cultures will all help to see any other underlying conditions that may be the cause of sinus drainage.