Pulmonology

Pulmonary Hypertension What is pulmonary hypertension? Pulmonary hypertension (“PH”) is high blood pressure in the blood vessels that carry blood to the lungs. When this happens, the heart has to work harder. This causes symptoms like trouble breathing and feeling very tired. It can happen to adults and children. What are the symptoms of PH? […]

Pneumonia What is pneumonia? Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that causes coughing, fever, and trouble breathing. It is a serious illness, especially in young children, people older than 65, and people with other health problems. Pneumonia can be caused by bacteria, viruses, and other germs. What are the symptoms of pneumonia? Common symptoms

Pleural Effusions What is pleural effusion? This is a buildup of fluid around the lungs. It affects the space between the outside of the lungs and the inner chest wall. This is called the “pleural space”. Heart failure is the most common cause of pleural effusion. Other possible causes include infection, cancer, or other health

Thoracentesis What is thoracentesis? Thoracentesis is a procedure to get a sample of fluid from the space around the lungs. A doctor uses a needle to remove the fluid. The area around the lungs is called the “pleural space.” If fluid builds up in the pleural space, the lungs do not have as much room

Lung Cancer What is lung cancer? Lung cancer happens when normal cells in the lungs change into abnormal cells and grow out of control. There are different types of lung cancer. Some types grow much faster than others. In the US, lung cancer is the biggest cause of death from cancer. What are the symptoms

Pulmonary nodule What is a pulmonary nodule? A pulmonary nodule, also called a lung nodule, is a “spot” on the lungs seen on a chest X-ray or CT scan. These are imaging tests that create pictures of the inside of the body. If there is only 1 spot, it’s called a “single” (or “solitary”) pulmonary

Bronchoscopy What is a diagnostic bronchoscopy? A bronchoscopy is a procedure done to look at the airway and lungs. “Diagnostic” means it is being done to check for the cause of a problem. Bronchoscopy is done with a special tool called a “bronchoscope”. This is a thin tube with a camera on the end. It

Good sleep hygiene What is sleep hygiene? “Sleep hygiene” is the term doctors use for habits that help you get good-quality sleep. Good-quality sleep means getting sleep that is long enough and is restful. The things we do throughout the day and before bed can affect how well we sleep. Sometimes, we do things that

Insomnia What is insomnia? This is a problem with sleep. People with insomnia have trouble falling or staying asleep, or they do not feel rested when they wake up. Insomnia is not about the number of hours of sleep a person gets. Everyone needs a different amount of sleep. Short-term insomnia is when a person

Restless Leg Syndrome What is restless legs syndrome? Restless legs syndrome, or “RLS,” is a condition that causes strange sensations in the legs. If you have RLS, you probably have the urge to move your legs at night. This can make it hard to get comfortable and fall asleep. In some cases, RLS happens on