Breathe in, breathe out. If you have trouble breathing or are worried about a lung condition, we’re here to help you every step of the way. From preventive care and beyond, our pulmonology team is skilled in screening, rehabilitation and treating chronic lung diseases. We treat both children and adults.
Adult lung and breathing conditions we treat:
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Chronic coughing
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD)
- Emphysema
- Interstitial lung disease including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
- Lung cancer
- Lung nodules
- Occupational lung disease
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Shortness of breath
- And more
Lung cancer screening program
If you’re a current or former smoker, you’re at risk for lung cancer. It’s recommended that you have a yearly lung cancer screening if you:
- Are age 50-77
- Have at least a 20 pack-year smoking history
- Are currently smoking or quit within the past 15 years
Studies have shown that annual screening with low dose CT can find lung cancer early when it is easier to treat and more likely to be cured.
Your health and well-being are very important to us. If you meet the above criteria, we encourage you to make an appointment with your health care provider to discuss the importance of annual lung cancer screening and follow-up care.
Signs of lung disease
Don't ignore these warnings
Lung diseases—like asthma—may have warning signs. Paying heed to them could alert you about a problem early, when treatment is most likely to be effective.
Below are some common warning signs of lung disease.
Chronic cough: Coughing helps clear irritants from your airways and lungs. So coughing now and then is OK. But a cough that lasts a month or more is a problem.
Wheezing: Wheezing or whistling when you breathe indicates something is narrowing or even blocking your airways. It's one of the symptoms of asthma—and could even point to lung cancer.
New wheezing or wheezing that occurs with other symptoms like coughing or shortness of breath is a cause for concern.
Chronic mucus: Your airways make mucus as a defense against infections or irritants. But mucus production that lasts a month or longer is a cause for concern.
Shortness of breath: Being out of shape can make you short of breath. But breathlessness also can signal a lung or heart condition. It's one of the symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Shortness of breath that is unexpected based on the activity and your health is a cause for concern. So is breathing trouble that is persistent or gets in the way of your daily activities.
Chest pain: Chest pain can be caused by a number of serious conditions, including lung cancer and heart attacks.
Chest pain is a reason to get emergency medical care.
Coughing up blood: This includes reddish mucus. The blood could be coming from your lungs or somewhere in your upper respiratory tract. It can be a sign of tuberculosis or lung cancer.
Coughing up blood is a cause for concern.
Get help: If you have any of these signs, it's time to call your doctor. Take a drive over to the Lungs topic center to learn more about keeping your lungs healthy.
Sources: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology; American Cancer Society; American Lung Association
Reviewed 10/6/2022
Sources
- American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology." https://www.aaaai.org/Conditions-Treatments/asthma.
- American Cancer Society. "Signs and Symptoms of Lung Cancer." https://www.cancer.org/cancer/lung-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-symptoms.html.
- American Heart Association. "Tuberculosis Symptoms and Diagnosis." https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/tuberculosis/symptoms-diagnosis.
- American Heart Association. "Warning Signs of a Heart Attack." https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/warning-signs-of-a-heart-attack.
- American Lung Association. "COPD Symptoms and Diagnosis." https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/copd/symptoms-diagnosis.
- American Lung Association. "Cough." https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/warning-signs-of-lung-disease/cough.
- American Lung Association. "Shortness of Breath." https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/warning-signs-of-lung-disease/shortness-of-breath.
- American Lung Association. "Warning Signs of Lung Disease." https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/warning-signs-of-lung-disease.
- Chest Foundation. "Dyspnea (Shortness of Breath)." https://foundation.chestnet.org/lung-health-a-z/shortness-of-breath/.
Learn more about lung cancer screening.
Helping kids breathe easier
Kids want to run and play outside. But sometimes issues like asthma or other respiratory illnesses get in the way of having fun. The ability to breathe easily should never be taken for granted. When issues arise, our pediatric pulmonology team can help.
Pediatric pulmonary conditions we treat:
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Cough
- Noisy breathing
- Congenital anomalies
- Cystic fibrosis
- Chronic lung diseases
- Recurrent pneumonia
- Sleep-disordered breathing
- Technology-dependent pulmonary services
- And more
Let us help you breathe easier
To learn more or make an appointment, find a pulmonologist or call 888.396.3729.
Videos
- Hazen Jay H Tuck, MD: Pulmonology video
- Robert Cook, MD: Sleep medicine video
- Dr. Shoberg, pediatrics: Sarah Enke testimonial