Pulmonary medicine focuses on the respiratory system, which includes the lungs and other organs that help the lungs to function. This system enables a person to breathe. Pulmonary medicine specialists treat a range of lung and airway disorders, such as pneumonia, bronchitis, cancer and sleep disorders.
Cigarette smoking is responsible for a majority of lung and airway disorders, and up to a third of all heart disease deaths in the United States. Long-term exposure to secondhand smoke also raises the risk of pulmonary problems and of heart and cardiovascular disease. Further, according to the American Cancer Society, cigarette smoking is the single most preventable cause of premature death in the United States, and smokers at high risk for developing:
- Lung and other cancers
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Respiratory illnesses
Virtua pulmonary medicine specialists perform diagnostic procedures and provide individualized treatments for patients with pulmonary diseases and disorders, including pneumonia, COPD ( chronic bronchitis and emphysema), asthma, lung cancer and lung disease . Procedures and diagnostics include:
- Biopsy
- Bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage
- X-ray and CT scans
- Scintigraphy
- Sleep studies
- Spirometry
- Thoracentesis
- Transbronchial needle aspiration
- Lung transplant management
- Minimally-invasive surgery
- Oxygen therapy
- Lung surgery
- Ventilation
Additionally, for patients with pulmonary disease who suffer from related sleep disorders, Virtua’s SleepCare Centers provide state-of-the-art sleep facilities. Here, sleep specialists perform sleep studies that assess heart rate, brain waves, breathing, oxygen levels, and more. Virtua doctors then are able to provide comprehensive consultation, testing, and treatment of identified sleep problems.