Pulmonology

Narcolepsy What is narcolepsy? Narcolepsy is a brain disorder that makes you feel sleepy most of the time. People with narcolepsy sometimes fall asleep all of a sudden, even when they don’t expect to. They can even fall asleep while they are in the middle of activities, such as eating, talking, or driving. People usually […]

Sleep Study What is a sleep study? A sleep study is a test that measures how well you sleep and checks for sleep problems. For some sleep studies, you stay overnight in a sleep lab at a hospital or sleep center. In other cases, your doctor can give you a portable sleep monitor to use

Obstructive sleep apnea What is obstructive sleep apnea? Obstructive sleep apnea, or “OSA,” is a condition that makes you stop breathing for short periods while you sleep. People with OSA do not know they stop breathing when they are asleep. But they do sometimes wake up startled or gasping for breath. They also often hear

Harmful health effects of smoking Why should I worry about smoking? Smoking is extremely bad for your health. It can cause health problems you have to deal with throughout your life. It can also shorten your life. Smoking has harmful effects on the health of people around you, too, including children. People get addicted to

Quitting smoking What are the benefits of quitting smoking? Quitting smoking can dramatically improve your health and help you live longer. It lowers your risk of heart disease, lung disease, kidney failure, cancer, infection, stomach problems, and diabetes. Quitting smoking can also lower your chances of getting osteoporosis, a condition that makes your bones weak.

Breathing Tests What is lung cancer screening? This means checking the lungs for early signs of cancer in people who have no symptoms of lung cancer. The goal of screening is to find lung cancer early, before it has a chance to grow, spread, or cause problems. Doctors suggest screening for certain people who are

COPD What is COPD? This is a lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. In people with COPD, the airways (the branching tubes that carry air within the lungs) become narrow and can be clogged with mucus. The air sacs can also get damaged. This makes people feel out of breath and tired. COPD

Breathing Tests What is chronic bronchitis? Bronchitis is irritation in the bronchi, which are the tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. It causes a cough that brings up mucus (phlegm). In people with chronic bronchitis, this cough lasts for 3 months or longer for 2 or more years in a row.

Breathing Tests What are breathing tests? These are tests that measure how well your lungs are working. They are also called “pulmonary function tests” (“PFTs”). Specifically, breathing tests measure: How much air you can breathe in and out of your lungs How fast you can breathe the air out of your lungs How much oxygen

Asthma What is asthma? This is a condition that can make it hard to breathe. Asthma symptoms can be mild or severe. They can come and go. An asthma “attack” is when symptoms start suddenly. This happens when the airways in the lungs become more narrow and inflamed. Asthma can run in families. What are