E-Cigarettes: What’s all the puff about?
You see Electronic Cigarettes everywhere: restaurants, movie theaters, parks, malls, even in your neighbor's hands. Over the past few years, electronic cigarettes have become a sought after product of the tobacco industry. They're branded as a better alternative to smoking regular cigarettes because they use a battery-charged heating element to turn the nicotine cartridges to vapor versus smoke, claiming to mitigate the harmful chemicals inhaled. However, the question remains, are we replacing...
Epworth Sleepiness Scale
Understanding the Epworth Sleepiness Scale Obstructive sleep apnea is a breathing disorder associated with sleep that fragments and disrupts sleep in a way the leads to excessive daytime sleepiness and nonrestorative sleep. Most people seek medical attention for their sleep disorder because of their bed partner complains of their snoring, sleep disruption, or daytime sleepiness. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale is a useful tool to assess the dgree of daytime sleepiness. Scores...
Sleep Apnea and Body Mass Index
Sleep apnea is largely a symptom of weight gain and obesity. Therefore, as our population gains weight, we are seeing more and more obstructive sleep apnea. The body mass index (BMI) is a common medical term that gives a numerical value to an to a persons weight. This number is calculated based on overall weight and height of a specific patient. If a person has a BMI great than 25, they...
Arizona Center for Chest Diseases: Symptoms and Tips for Sleep Apnea Patients
As leading Arizona pulmonary doctors, the physicians at Arizona Center for Chest Diseases are one of the valley experts in sleep apnea. Waking up in the morning and feeling unrested or excessively tired despite a full night sleep may be an indication of a sleep related breathing disorder known as sleep apnea. People who suffer from sleep apnea are unaware that their sleep is disrupted or fragmented by excessive snoring that...
Arizona Center for Chest Diseases shares some facts about Valley Fever (a.k.a. “Cocci pneumonia”)
Knowledge of Valley Fever is important to Arizona Center for Chest Disease patients. Valley Fever targets the lungs and is only found within the Southwest region of the United States including Arizona. We would like to educate our clients on the effects of valley fever infection. Valley Fever is an infection caused by a fungus, Coccidioides immitis, found predominantly in the low desert areas of the southwest United States (Arizona, New...
Bronchiectasis in Adults
Arizona Center for Chest Diseases reviews the treatments of bronchiectasis Bronchiectasis, not to be confused with bronchitis, is a condition of chronic cough and daily mucus production. These symptoms are a result of injury and chronic inflammation of segments of the bronchial tree. The inflamed bronchi become dilated and loose the ability to effectively clear secretions or mucous from the airway. The retained mucous perpetuates the inflammation and becomes a source...
Pulmonary Hypertension
Arizona Center for Chest Diseases releases treatment and overview of Pulmonary Hypertension Pulmonary Hypertension is a disease process resulting in increased blood pressure within the vascular bed that provides blood flow to the lungs (via Mayo Clinic) . As the blood pressure within the lungs becomes progressively elevated, it places a strain on the right side of the heart. This leads to all the symptoms of shortness of breath, limited exertional...
Managing your COPD
At Arizona Center for Chest Diseases we know that emphysema, chronic bronchitis, or COPD can have significant impact on your quality of life. We want to help our patients manage their COPD and associated symptoms in a way that optimizes their level of function and minimizes their limitations. Education— At Arizona Center for Chest Diseases we believe that education is the first step to more fulfilled life. Education is essential to...
Asthma Management
Arizona Center for Chest Diseases understands the illnesses our patients deal suffer. Asthma is something some of our patients live with. Asthma management is essential for our patients . Arizona Center for Chest Diseases would like to discuss the aspects of asthma management. COMPONENTS OF ASTHMA MANAGEMENT The successful management of Arizona Center for Chest Diseases's patients with asthma includes four components: Asthma patients need routine monitoring of symptoms and lung function Patients need to...