Common symptoms and conditions
- Asthma
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Emphysema
- Lung cancer
- Chronic cough
- Chronic bronchitis
- Interstitial lung disease/pulmonary fibrosis
- Wheezing
- Dyspnea
- Chest pain
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Sleep-reduced breathing disorders
- Tuberculosis
- Obstructive sleep apnea
Understanding chronic lung disease
Many of the symptoms we treat are related to COPD, a non-reversible condition involving constriction of the airways, causing difficulty breathing or discomfort. COPD is technically a group of lung diseases that include emphysema, chronic bronchitis and severe forms of asthma like refractory (non-reversible) asthma.
According to the American Lung Association, about 85% to 90% of all COPD cases are caused by cigarette smoking. Other risk factors include:
- Exposure to air pollution
- Breathing secondhand smoke
- Working with chemicals, dust and fumes
- A genetic condition called Alpha-1 deficiency
- A history of childhood respiratory infection
Because COPD is most often caused by environmental factors, the best defense against it is early prevention and living a healthy lifestyle. However, even though COPD isn’t completely curable, management and relief can be found with treatment and lifestyle changes.
Treatment
Our pulmonary medicine department uses the most advanced technology to diagnose and treat a wide range of lung diseases.
Testing and screening
- Lung cancer screening: Low-dose computerized tomography scan (CT Scan) and endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)
- Pulmonary function tests: Test the health of your lungs using non-invasive devices that measure lung volume, capacity, rates of flow and gas exchange
- Sleep studies (polysomnography): Diagnose sleep disorders by recording your brain waves, blood oxygen level, heart rate and breathing, as well as eye and leg movement
Rehabilitation and management
- Bronchial thermoplasty: a safe and effective treatment for patients with severe asthma.
- Pulmonary rehabilitation program
- Treatment for sleep apnea and other sleep-related breathing disorders
Care and treatment
At Optum, our pulmonology team works in close coordination with your primary care physician and other specialists to provide you with complete and personalized care.
To find a pulmonologist near you, visit our Providers page.
Contact us if you have any questions