Healthy Lungs Are Important

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States for men and women, taking more lives than breast, prostate and colorectal cancers combined. Use this page to find out more about your lungs and how to keep them healthy. 


About Your Lungs

The average adult takes 15 to 20 breaths a minute – over 20,000 breaths a day. Your respiratory system, which includes the nose, throat, windpipe (trachea) and lungs, brings air into the body when you breathe. In the lungs, the oxygen from each breath is transferred to the bloodstream and sent to all the body's cells as life-sustaining fuel.  Keeping your lungs healthy is an important part of an overall healthy lifestyle. (American Lung Association)

4 Dangerous Factors that Affect Your Air Quality

 1. Household Products

 2. Combustion Products (Stoves, Heaters)

 3. Environmental Tobacco Smoke

 4. Mold & Mildew Contaminants

Lung Disease Warning Signs: What You Need to Know

If you have any of these symptoms, let your healthcare provider know as soon as possible.

Chronic Cough - A cough that you have had for a month is chronic.  This is an important early symptom.  It tells you something is wrong with your respiratory system.
Shortness of Breath - Shortness of breath that doesn’t go away after exercising, or that you have after little or no exertion, is not normal.  Labored or difficult breathing – the feeling that it is hard to breathe in or breathe out - is also a warning sign.
Chronic Mucus Production - Mucus, also called sputum or phlegm, is produced by the airways.  It is a defense response to infections or irritants.  If your mucus production has lasted a month, this could indicate lung disease.
Wheezing - Noisy breathing or wheezing is a sign that something unusual is blocking your lungs’ airways or making them too narrow.
Coughing up Blood - If you are coughing up blood, the blood may be coming from your lungs or upper respiratory tract.  Whatever the source of the blood, it is a sign of a health problem.
Chronic Chest Pain – Unexplained chest pain that lasts for a month or more – especially if it gets worse when you breathe in or cough – can also be a warning sign.

(American Lung Association) 

Let Us Help: Our Services

If you have any of the symptoms above or would like to schedule an appointment to make sure your lung health is in good shape, contact our featured pulmonologist, Dr. Bassam Hashem.

Featured Pulmonologist:

Bassam Hashem, MD

Specialties

  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Pulmonary Disease
  • Sleep Medicine

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     For a complete list of our Pulmonary Disease specialists, click here.

      

    ProHealth Care's Regional Cancer Center developed the Center for Lung / Thoracic Care to help patients fight and prevent lung disease.  

  • Sophisticated diagnostic capabilities, including PET/CT scans and superDimension
  • Advanced lung surgery, including VATS (video-assisted thorascopic surgery)
  • Radiation oncology, including the revolutionary CyberKnife technology
  • Medical oncology, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy and drug therapy
  • Second opinion program , providing convenience and peace of mind from meeting all the specialists involved -- such as cardiothoracic surgeons, pulmonologists and oncologists -- in each patient's care during one visit.  Patients receive their individual treatment plan at the conclusion of this same one-day appointment.

    • Find Out More

    To find out more about your lung health, or to schedule an appointment to examine your lung health contact our Physician Referral Specialist at (262) 928-2745 or 1-800-544-2745.

    You can also find out more about lung disease or lung cancer by using our online health encyclopedia.