Pulmonary illness refers to disorders and diseases of the lungs. At NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health, our board-certified doctors provided the highest level of pulmonary care, including pulmonary critical care, for our patients. Our staff includes pulmonary specialist physicians, pulmonary fellows, a pulmonary nurse clinician, and a pulmonary function technologist.
We care for patients with a variety of illnesses, including:
- Bronchial Asthma: Commonly called asthma, bronchial asthma is a chronic condition that affects children and adults. There are several types of asthma and causes, including allergies, environmental factors, genetics, and respiratory conditions. Patients experience a wide range of disease severity, attack triggers, and frequency of attack.
- Bronchiectasis: Bronchiectasis is a condition that causes the permanent widening of airways and makes the respiratory tract more prone to infection. It often occurs as a result of an existing condition, including cystic fibrosis. Symptoms include cough with a lot of mucus, repeated colds, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
- Chronic Bronchitis: Chronic bronchitis causes inflammation of the breathing airways or tubes (bronchi). It can be caused by asthma, emphysema, tuberculosis, or upper respiratory infection. Symptoms include chronic cough, wheezing, mucus, and chest discomfort. Chronic bronchitis is a form of COPD.
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Lung disease that causes breathing problems due to blockage of airways. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including smoking, or being exposed to second-hand smoke or pollution. Symptoms include frequent coughing, excess mucus production, shortness of breath, and inability to take a deep breath.
- Emphysema: Lung condition that weakens and ruptures the lungs. It causes persistent shortness of breath and is often associated with smoking, second-hand smoke exposure, and pollution. Emphysema is a form of COPD.
- HIV- and AIDS-related Pulmonary Disorders: Many patients living with HIV and AIDS develop lung-related illnesses, including pulmonary pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP), pulmonary hypertension, and others.
- Interstitial Lung Disease: Interstitial lung disease is a category of chronic lung diseases that cause inflammation and scarring(pulmonary fibrosis) and makes it difficult for the lung to get enough oxygen.
- Lung Cancer: Lung cancer is cancer that begins in the lungs. The highest risk factor for developing lung cancer is smoking. Quitting smoking greatly reduces one’s risk of getting lung cancer. Symptoms include new and persistent cough, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, and losing weight without trying.
- Pleural Diseases: Pleural diseases are those that occur in the chest (pleural) cavity that surrounds the lungs. There are several types of pleural diseases and different causes, including chest trauma (e.g., surgery), congestive heart disease, and pneumonia.
- Pneumonia: Infection that inflames one or both lungs. Mild infection can feel similar to a cold or flu but last longer. More severe symptoms include chest pain, cough, fatigue, fever or low temperature, and shortness of breath.
- Pulmonary Hypertension: Pulmonary hypertension occurs when the blood vessels that carry blood to the lungs have an increase in pressure. Symptoms included shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain or pressure, swelling, dizziness, or lightheadedness. Pulmonary hypertension can develop on its own or with an existing disease.
- Tuberculosis: Often referred to as TB, tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria that spreads between people through coughs and sneezes. It can affect many parts of the body in addition to the lungs. Symptoms include a persistent cough for more than three weeks, blood with coughing, chest pain, unintentional weight loss, and fatigue.
There are many treatments available and lifestyle choices that can help patients manage, and in some cases, cure pulmonary diseases. Our expert team of pulmonary specialists can diagnose and work with you to assess and treat your condition and any secondary complications and help improve your quality of life.
At South Brooklyn Health, we use the highest quality tools to diagnose lung disease, including spirometry, which determines lung function by measuring how much air you can breathe out. We also measure blood oxygen saturation via an Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) blood test and oxygen saturation via a pulse oximeter placed on your finger.
Our nurse clinician provides education to ensure patients know and understand the correct techniques for using inhalers and nebulizers. We also provide vaccination for the prevention of respiratory infection and skin testing for the detection of tuberculosis infection.
If necessary, we can refer patients for sleep studies to assess sleep disturbances that may be related to lung function or bronchoscopy, a procedure in which a doctor can look closely at your lungs and air passages via a small camera attached to a long thin tube inserted through the nose or mouth.
For more information about Pulmonary services or to schedule an appointment, please call: 1-844-692-4692.