Frequently Asked Questions

Pulmonary medicine is a subspecialty of internal medicine that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the respiratory tract. A pulmonologist has expertise in the evaluation of patients with breathlessness, cough, wheezing, and chest tightness, as well as abnormalities of the chest x-ray, chest CT scan, and other chest imaging studies.

We treat problems related to the airways, lung tissues and the blood vessels of the lungs, among those the most frequents are:

• Asthma
• Emphysema
• Chronic Bronchitis
• Sarcoidosis
• Occupational Lung Disease
• Pneumonia
• Lung Cancer and Tumors
• Pulmonary Hypertension
• Respiratory Failure
• Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a multidimensional continuum of services directed to persons with pulmonary disease and their families, usually by an interdisciplinary team of specialists, with the goal of achieving and maintaining the individual’s maximum level of independence and functioning in the community.

Exercises are a very important part of the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program, they include specific stretching exercises, regimens on different equipment, and the use of free weights.

Another important tool is patient education, which is directed at issues such as breathing control, medication usage, equipment, anatomy and physiology of lung disease, the benefits of exercise, relationships and intimacy with lung disease, nutrition, support services, managing anxiety and depression, smoking cessation, and tips on self-management of lung disease.

It is a specialty of medicine that is dedicated to diagnosing and treating sleep/wake disorders.

A sleep physician is trained to deal with disorders like Sleep Apnea, Narcolepsy, Insomnia, Restless Leg Syndrome, Parasomnias, and Circadian Rhythm Disorders, and others.

When normal sleep patterns are disrupted for an extended period of time, a person is said to have a sleep disorder. Symptoms such as fatigue, excessive sleepiness, and mood changes may appear but often the sleep disorder is not diagnosed because symptoms are dismissed as being caused by something else or just getting a bad night’s sleep. Sleep disorders, if left untreated, can give rise to other health problems.

Your doctor will evaluate your symptoms and conduct a complete physical examination. If your doctor suspects that you have a sleep disorder he may suggest a sleep study. A sleep study records body and brain activity either while the patient is asleep or while awake, depending on the type of testing that is being conducted.

It is a potentially serious disorder in which breathing stops several times when sleeping. The main types of sleep apnea are:

Obstructive sleep apnea, very common, that happens when the muscles of the upper airways get too relaxed causing obstruction, which is initially manifested by snoring. Central sleep apnea, less common, the brain is not sending signals to the respiratory muscle to initiate the breathing.

• Loud snoring
• Episodes in which you stop breathing during sleep — which would be reported by another person
• Gasping for air during sleep
• Awakening with a dry mouth
• Morning headache
• Difficulty staying asleep (insomnia)
• Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia)
• Difficulty paying attention while awake
• Irritability

An acute disease appears suddenly and lasts for a short amount of time. This is different from chronic diseases, which develop gradually and remain for months on end. Some examples include the influenza virus and the common cold.

Acute diseases can include these common symptoms:

• Fever
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Sneezing
• Earache
• Diarrhea
• Runny nose
• Nausea
• Rash
• Headache

So, what causes chronic diseases in the first place? While there are many factors, one of the main issues is unhealthy behaviors such as:

• Inactivity
• Poor nutrition
• Heavy alcohol use
• Using tobacco

By changing these habits, you can greatly decrease your chances of developing some of these chronic illnesses.

It can be a challenge to know exactly what constitutes a healthy diet or what exercise plan is right for you. Your doctor can discuss foods you should eat, as well as foods you should avoid. Plus, we can recommend exercise regimes that are right for your needs and abilities. This will help you maintain a healthy weight and lower the risk of chronic diseases. We can even help you find programs that will aid you in quitting bad habits, like smoking and heavy drinking.

Turn to your internist to have your chronic disease diagnosed and treated, and you can see your quality of life drastically improve. Don’t hesitate - if you think you may be suffering the symptoms of a chronic disease, schedule an appointment today.

Some of the most common symptoms of depression include:

• Increased anxiety
• Poor concentration
• Sadness
• Loss of energy
• Problems sleeping
• Loss of interest
• Feel helpless or hopeless
• Decreased self-worth
• Poor or increased appetite
• Avoiding people, even family or close friends
• Difficulty functioning at school or work
• Increased guilt
• Physical pain
• Decreased libido
• Thoughts of suicide or death
• Self-harming

If you experience four or more of these symptoms throughout most of the day for two weeks in a row, it’s time to talk to your doctor about whether you are suffering from depression.

Also referred to as preventive medicine, the purpose of these medical services is to take proper measures to ensure that a patient remains free of the physical and mental disorders that can be brought on by genetics, environmental factors, and your lifestyle.

Millions of people die from illnesses that could have been prevented, such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Our goal is to to help you arm yourself with both knowledge and quality medical care, even while you’re healthy, to prevent these illnesses from developing.

Internal medicine is the specialty of preventing, diagnosing and treating a host of different diseases and disorders. Whether you are healthy and interested in preventing illness or already sick, your internist is here to care for you.

Your internist has gone through years of schooling and training to acquire the clinical expertise to treat a spectrum of health issues. Internists diagnose new symptoms and can help treat you if you’ve been coping with a chronic disease.

Some of the common issues that your internist addresses include:

• Overall wellness and prevention of disease
• Treatment of illness, including multiple illnesses at a time
• Women’s health
• Substance abuse
• Mental Health

While an internist may be your primary care physician, they are different from a family physician, who treats whole families with members of all ages. Internists focus on treating and diagnosing adults specifically.

Some internists are generalists, which means they can diagnose and treat an array of health problems. Other internists may take on a subspecialty, including:

If you are having multiple health issues or are taking medications, the first person you’ll want to turn to for the proper medical care is a general internist, who can address all of your concerns.

The goal of an internal medicine physician is to solve problems and figure out not only the cause of a disease, but the proper treatment to restore your quality of life. Anyone can benefit from internal medicine, from those dealing with minor upper respiratory infections to those with chronic conditions like diabetes. Contact us to learn more about how an internal medicine physician can give you the care you deserve to live a long and healthy life.

• Overall wellness and prevention of disease
• Treatment of illness, including multiple illnesses at a time
• Women’s health
• Substance abuse
• Mental Health
• Allergies and Immunology
• Cardiology
• Critical care
• Endocrinology
• Gastroenterology
• Hematology
• Infectious diseases
• Oncology
• Nephrology
• Pulmonology
• Rheumatology
• Sports medicine

Some of the preventive services we offer include:

• Mammography
• Hormone therapy
• Reproductive disorders (e.g. polycystic ovarian syndrome)
• Osteoporosis
• Heart Disease
• Bladder Health
• Pap Smears and Regular Gynecological Checkups
• Immunizations