Breathing Disorders

WHAT ARE BREATHING DISORDERS?

Any restriction in your breathing can greatly affect your daily living and quality of life. There are many medical conditions that may be the cause. In our office, we diagnose breathing disorders by performing non-painful pulmonary function tests, to determine the best course of treatment. Common breathing disorders that we diagnose and treat include:

COPD – Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive disease that makes it hard to breathe and worsens over time. Also know as cigarette smokers’ lung disease, COPD can cause coughing (producing large amounts of mucus), wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and other symptoms. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are forms of COPD.

Asthma – A common long-term inflammatory disease, asthma affects the airways, making them swollen, inflamed, and narrow. Symptoms include coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath, with a range in severity. Although asthma cannot be cured, with proper treatment it can be controlled.

Bronchitis – An inflammation of the bronchial tube lining, bronchitis may be acute or chronic. Acute bronchitis is very common, often develops from a cold or respiratory infection, and improves within a short time without lasting effects. Chronic bronchitis is a more serious condition and constant irritation/inflammation that is often due to smoking.

Pulmonary Fibrosis – A respiratory disease that occurs when lung tissue becomes damaged and scarred, pulmonary fibrosis can cause serious breathing issues. The lung scarring may be caused by a myriad of factors, and in most cases the cause is not known. Pulmonary fibrosis causes irreparable damage but symptoms can be eased by proper medications and therapies.

Shortness of Breath – Medically known as dyspnea, shortness of breath can be a frightening sensation. Often described as an intense tightening in the chest, people experiencing dyspnea often feel that they are not getting adequate oxygen when they breathe. Strenuous exercise, obesity, and temperature extremes can cause dyspnea in a healthy person, but outside of those factors it may be the sign of medical problem. Most cases are due to disorders such as asthma, pneumonia, lung disease and more.

SYMPTOMS OF BREATHING DISORDERS

– Shortness of breath
– Frequent coughing
– Wheezing
– Chest congestion
– Chest discomfort
– Throat tightness
– Noisy breathing
– Strenuous breathing
– Production of mucus

TREATMENT

If you are suffering from any type of breathing disorder or difficulty, it is important to see a physician to determine the cause. Find out how you can breathe more easily and feel better by contacting our office today, to schedule an appointment.