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Asthma Action Plan
Every person who has asthma should have an asthma action plan. This is a written guide. It gives you detailed instructions for how to manage your asthma. Your doctor will work with you to develop a custom plan for your specific needs.
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Asthma Medicines
Asthma is a lung disease that can make your breathing difficult. There are three main categories of medications for managing asthma. They are medicines for long-term control, for quick relief and for managing allergic responses.
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Asthma Triggers
"Asthma is a lung disease that can make your breathing difficult. The symptoms of asthma can worsen when you are exposed to certain things in the environment. These are called asthma triggers, and they can vary from person to person.
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Asthma: Reducing Triggers in the Home
Many of the most common triggers of asthma can be found in the home. If you or your child has asthma, you can take a few simple steps to reduce these triggers.
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Asthma: Tests and Diagnosis
Not everyone experiences asthma the same way. Symptoms vary from person to person. And, your symptoms can change from one asthma episode to the next. A doctor can diagnose asthma with an exam and some simple tests.
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Bronchoscopy
This procedure lets your doctor see the inside of your lungs. It's done with a lighted viewing device we call a "bronchoscope." Bronchoscopy can help your doctor get a better look in your lungs than we can see with an x-ray or scan. And, simple procedures can be done through the scope.
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CT Scan (Computed Tomography; CAT Scan)
This scan lets doctors see inside your body by taking x-ray images from many angles. These are combined to show clear cross-section slices of parts of your body. A CT scan shows much more than a typical x-ray. It can show cancer and other problems.
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Electronic Cigarettes (E-Cigs; Vaping)
These smoking devices heat liquid nicotine to create a vapor. You inhale this vapor into your lungs. Nicotine in the vapor enters your bloodstream. It stimulates your body, activating reward circuits in your brain.
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Incentive Spirometry for COPD
You have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We say "COPD." One of the ways we manage it is with an "incentive spirometer." It's a simple device that exercises your lungs. Let's see how it works.
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Living With Asthma
You've been diagnosed with asthma and have some concerns. Will it keep you from doing the activities you enjoy? Well, breathe easy. With your doctor's help, you can control your asthma. You just have to learn to manage it properly.
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Living With COPD
If you've been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, you may be facing some new challenges. But you can live a full life with COPD. You just have to take steps to manage your condition properly.
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MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
This scan lets doctors see inside your body without using radiation. Instead, MRIs use magnets and radio waves. An MRI shows clear views of your soft tissues. It can show cancer and other problems.
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Nebulizers and Inhalers
If you have a lung condition such as asthma or COPD, your doctor may decide to treat you with a medicine that you breathe into your lungs. You will inhale it with either a nebulizer or an inhaler device. These devices have some important differences.
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Oxygen Therapy
This treatment gives you extra oxygen to breathe. We use it for lung conditions. It helps with COPD, pneumonia and asthma. We also use it for other conditions that affect oxygenation of your blood, like heart failure. It's not a cure for these problems. But it helps you feel less breathless. It may help you stay more active. You need a prescription for this therapy.
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Peak Flow Meter Use
A peak flow meter is a handheld device that measures how well your lungs are working. It shows how fast you can push air out of your lungs when you exhale. This measurement can be useful for asthma patients. It can help you decide how to treat your asthma symptoms. It can help you recognize when it's time to seek medical advice.
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PET Scan (Positron Emission Tomography)
This scan lets doctors see inside your body. A PET scan is different from an MRI or a CT scan, because it shows how your organs and systems are working. It can give doctors a clear view of some types of cancer cells, which show up brightly
on a PET scan. It can also help doctors diagnose other disorders throughout your body.
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Pneumonia: Preventing Reinfection
If you have recently recovered from a bout of pneumonia, you can take a few simple steps to reduce your chances of getting it again.
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Pneumonia: Recovery
Recovering from a bout of pneumonia can be difficult. Your recovery may take days or several weeks depending on your age, your overall health and the seriousness of your infection. Follow these few simple guidelines to regain your health as quickly as possible.
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Pneumonia: Treatment
Pneumonia is a common infection of the lungs. It can be serious, and it can cause you to be hospitalized. The options used to treat you will depend on your age, your overall health and the severity of your infection.
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Pulmonary Artery Catheterization (PAC)
You may need a pulmonary artery catheter to see how well your heart and lungs are working. It is often used for people in intensive care. It can help patients with heart issues, severe burns, organ failure or other serious problems.
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Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs)
This is a range of tests that show how well your lungs are working. We use them to check the health of your lungs, and to monitor lung conditions and treatments. Let's look at some of the different tests.
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Radon Exposure and Your Health
Radon is a gas that comes up through the ground. You can't see it or smell it. But when you're exposed to it, especially for many years, it can be harmful. It's a leading cause of lung cancer.
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Secondhand Smoke
You've heard that secondhand smoke is unhealthy. You know it's best to avoid it. But how bad is it, really? Let's take a few minutes to learn about this danger.
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Smoking and Your Health
We all know cigarette smoking is bad for you. We know it hurts your lungs. But did you know it can hurt you in other ways, too? Let's learn about the ways smoking affects your body.
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Stress and Relaxation Tips for Managing COPD
You have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (we say "COPD"). It can make you feel stressed and anxious about the future. This can lead to depression. So let's look at some ways to relax and lower your stress.
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Tracheostomy Care
A tracheostomy helps you breathe. But the tracheostomy tube, which goes through the hole in your neck and into your windpipe, needs to stay clean and clear. Let's learn how to care for it properly.
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Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) Prevention
Spending long hours in a bed or a chair can increase your risk for venous thromboembolism, commonly called "VTE." This is a type of blood clot that can form in a vein in your leg and then travel to your lungs. It can be fatal. It's important to follow the advice of your healthcare provider so you can prevent this dangerous condition.
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What Does a Pulmonologist Do?
A pulmonologist is a doctor who specializes in caring for the lungs. They find and treat lung problems. They also work with you and your primary doctor to manage long-term lung conditions.