Click to view COVID-19 Resource Center (Vaccine, Testing, and Information) Section Menu Home Services Pulmonology Pulmonology The Pulmonary Medicine department at Wise Health System treats a wide variety of conditions. We provide the most advanced technology to care for patients in both the outpatient and hospital settings, including the Critical Care Unit. Conditions Treated Asthma Asthma is a disorder that causes the airways of the lungs to swell and narrow, leading to wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. Bronchial Thermoplasty is an FDA-approved bronchoscopic procedure for the treatment of severe persistent asthma. Bronchitis Bronchitis is a respiratory disease where the mucus membranes lining the lungs’ bronchial passages become inflamed. Symptoms include coughing spells, often accompanied by phlegm and breathlessness. There are two forms of bronchitis: acute and chronic. Acute bronchitis typically lasts from one to three weeks. Chronic bronchitis lasts at least 3 months of the year for two years in a row. Asthmatics also can develop a form of bronchitis, known as asthmatic bronchitis. Chronic Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common lung diseases. It makes it difficult to breathe. There are two main forms of COPD: Chronic bronchitis, which involves a long-term cough with mucus. Emphysema, which involves destruction of the lungs over time. Most people with COPD have a combination of both conditions. Lung Cancer Lung cancer starts when abnormal cells grow out of control in the lungs. Lung cancer and smoking often, but not always, go hand in hand. There usually are no signs or early symptoms of lung cancer. As lung cancer stages advance, lung cancer symptoms may include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and bloody mucus. Treatment for lung cancer can include surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation. Lung Nodules Lung nodules are quite common, and are found on 1 in 500 chest x-rays, and 1 in 100 CT scans of the chest. A lung nodule is defined as a “spot” on the lung that is 3 cm (about 1 1/2 inches) in diameter or less. Most lung nodules are noncancerous (benign). However, some lung nodules may be cancerous – either early-stage lung cancer or metastatic cancer that has spread to the lungs from another site in the body. It is important to work with your doctor to determine the cause. When lung cancer is caught early and is still small, there is a greater chance that it can be cured. Pulmonary Fibrosis Pulmonary fibrosis is the formation or development of excess fibrous connective tissue (fibrosis) in the lungs. It is also described as “scarring of the lung”. While pulmonary fibrosis may be a secondary effect of other diseases, it can also appear without any known cause. It causes the lungs to become scarred and stiffened. This stiffening may make it increasingly difficult to breathe. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a very common virus that leads to mild, cold-like symptoms in adults and older healthy children. It can be more serious in young babies, especially to those in certain high-risk groups. RSV is the most common germ that causes lung and airway infections in infants and young children. Most infants have had this infection by age 2. Outbreaks of RSV infections most often begin in the fall and run into the spring. Sinusitis Sinusitis refers to inflammation of the sinuses that occurs with a viral, bacterial, or fungal infection. The sinuses are air-filled spaces in the skull (behind the forehead, nasal bones, cheeks, and eyes) that are lined with mucus membranes. Healthy sinuses contain no bacteria or other germs. Usually, mucus is able to drain out and air is able to circulate. When the sinus openings become blocked or too much mucus builds up, bacteria and other germs can grow more easily. The classic symptoms of acute sinusitis in adults usually follow a cold that does not improve, or one that worsens after 5 to 7 days of symptoms. Wise Health System is committed to leading the growth and development of health care services in our area and providing quality, specialized care for you and your family. 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