Pulmonary conditions affect the lungs. There are several types of lung conditions treated at O2 Pulmonary & Sleep Group, including:
COPD
COPD is an acronym that stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is an inflammatory disease, which means swelling in your airways makes it difficult to breathe. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, wheezing, cough and excess sputum. This condition results from long-term exposure to irritating gases, particularly cigarette smoke.
COPD is an umbrella term for several different conditions that include chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
Asthma
Asthma makes breathing difficult by narrowing your airways. Symptoms of asthma include shortness of breath, wheezing, and a whistling sound when you breathe.
Bronchiectasis
Bronchiectasis occurs when infection or other condition scars and thickens your airway, which traps mucus in your airway. This creates an environment where bacteria can easily grow. Bronchiectasis can cause repeated lung infections, and each infection causes more damage to your airway. Over time, your lungs lose their ability to move air in and out; this can deprive your organs of the oxygen they need to function well.
Pulmonary Hypertension
Pulmonary hypertension is high blood pressure in the blood vessels that carry blood from your heart to your lungs. This hypertension hardens and narrows the blood vessels, which makes it more difficult for your blood to flow to your lungs. Pulmonary hypertension makes your heart work harder to push blood, and this extra effort can weaken your heart’s muscles and eventually lead to heart failure.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a type of lung infection that often starts as a head cold and moves into the lungs.
Interstitial Lung Disease
Interstitial lung disease is a group of conditions that cause inflammation or scarring of the lungs, which makes it difficult to draw oxygen-rich air into the lungs.
Bronchitis
Bronchitis is a condition where the mucus membranes lining the bronchial tubes, which connect your lungs to your windpipe, become inflamed and produce too much mucus.
Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis is another inflammatory disease but one that starts as tiny grain-like bumps that can grow large enough to interfere with how the lungs function.
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that strikes mainly the lungs.
Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is an uncontrolled growth of cells in the lung. It is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States.
Lung Nodules
Lung nodules are small growths in the lung that are usually non-cancerous. A
Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosis usually begins with a comprehensive physical exam and a chest X ray. Other testing may be helpful, including a pulmonary function test that evaluates how well the lungs work. Other tests, such as thoracentesis, can help determine an underlying cause for the lung problem.
Treatment varies by condition. Antibiotics help resolve infections and other medications can open airways to improve symptoms. Smoking cessation is usually necessary for each of these lung conditions as tobacco smoke causes damage and worsens symptoms.
Schedule a Pulmonary Exam
For more information on pulmonary conditions, call O2 Pulmonary & Sleep Group at 214-919-0757 or contact us online to schedule a pulmonary exam.