Breathing Easier with Timely Bronchiectasis Care
Have you been coughing every day for months — or even years? Is your cough often accompanied by mucus or blood? Do you experience shortness of breath or wheezing? Is it accompanied by chest pain? Has the skin under your fingernails gotten thicker, causing your fingernails and toenails to curve downward? If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, you may be suffering from a lung condition called bronchiectasis. In honor of World
What is the Difference Between Healthspan and Lifespan? And Why is Good Lung Health Important for Each?
Lifespan is a term familiar to many, as it indicates the total number of years a person lives. The average lifespan was 76.60 years for Americans in 2021, 72.81 years for the world. A term perhaps less familiar is healthspan, or the total number of years a person remains healthy, active, and breathing well – that is to say, free from disease. The average healthspan is an estimated ten years less
Common Respiratory Issues in Older Adults FAQ
1A. Is asthma treated in older adults the same way it’s treated in children and young adults? Asthma can occur at any age. Older adults experience asthma, but are more likely to be underdiagnosed and undertreated. The CDC estimates that over 2 million persons 65 years old or greater have asthma, which is expected to rise to greater than 5 million by 2030. Asthma in the elderly is complicated by the fact
COPD Treatment: Are Inhaled Corticosteroids Effective?
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD for short) is an umbrella term that includes and describes progressive lung diseases. Lung diseases that fall under the COPD umbrella include emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and non-reversible asthma. What causes COPD varies; it is commonly caused by long-term smoking, but non-smokers can also develop COPD if over-exposed to lung-damaging irritants. In rare cases, COPD is caused by a condition called Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD). COPD cannot be
How to Know if You Have COPD
One of the most common questions I get as a pulmonary specialist is “How do I know if I have COPD?” Before I get into that, let me explain exactly what it is. What is COPD? COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which is a fancy way of saying it’s a recurring lung disease that includes affects the lungs and causes reduced airflow, which makes it hard to breathe. Also, is progressive,