Do you have a lung problem?
Over 35 million Americans have a chronic lung disorder. There are many symptoms that may indicate a lung disorder. Our specialists have extensive experience diagnosing all types of lung orders. Here are some of the common symptoms they
see:
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Sore throat
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness
- Fluid in the lungs
- Coughing up blood
- Snoring problems
- Recurrent or persistent lung infection
- Uncontrolled edema
Diagnosing Lung & Respiratory Tract Problems
Our specialists will first conduct a general review of the patient’s medical history. They will look for hereditary diseases affecting the lungs. They will check for exposure to toxins such as tobacco smoke, asbestos, auto exhaust and coal
mining fumes. They will then review the patient’s history for any autoimmune diathesis, a tendency to suffer from a particular medical condition that might predispose the patient to certain pulmonary conditions and diseases.
Our specialists then use both physical diagnostics and advanced diagnostic tools to help determine specific pulmonary conditions and diseases.
- Physical diagnostics – This can include inspection of the hands for signs of cyanosis or clubbing, chest wall and respiratory rate; palpation of the cervical lymph nodes, trachea and chest wall movement; percussion of the lung fields for
dullness or hyperresonance; and auscultation of the lung fields for diminished or unusual breath sounds.
- Advanced diagnostics – This can include pulmonary function testing, ultrasound-guided thoracentesis, bronchoscopy and chest imaging.
Diagnosing Breathing Disorder Problems
After conducting a general review of the patient’s medical history and performing physical diagnostics during a comprehensive examination, our physicians can turn to a wide array of leading-edge tools and techniques to pinpoint breathing
problems. These include:
- In-office pulmonary function testing – Measures the lungs’ capacity to hold air, to move air in and out and to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide.
- In-office ultrasound-guided thoracentesis – Evaluates excess fluid between the two membranes that envelop the lungs.
- Bronchoscopy – Enables the doctor to view the breathing passages and diagnose lung disease through a lighted tube called a bronchoscope.
- Transbronchial biopsy – A procedure in which the bronchoscope is inserted through the nose or mouth to collect multiple specimens of lung tissue.
- Transtracheal needle aspirations – Used to obtain tracheal sputum samples for microbiology or cytology.
- Chest imaging – Provides a good outline of the heart and major blood vessels and usually can reveal a serious disorder in the lungs, the adjacent spaces or the chest wall.
- Lung volume determination – A measurement of the volume of air the lungs may contain at various points in the respiratory cycle.
- Diffusion capacity testing – Assesses the ability of the lungs to exchange gases.
- Preoperative assessments – Used to determine if patients scheduled for lung surgery are still in need of the procedure and can safely undergo it.
- Thorough workplace evaluations – To check for toxic exposure including mold, asbestos, silica, dust, chemicals or any other noxious inhalations.
To learn more about our advanced diagnostic capabilities or to schedule a consultation with our doctors, call 678-493-2527 today.
