Pulmonology

Helping You Breathe Better

Respiratory illnesses can affect every aspect of your lifestyle. Sanford Pulmonology is here to help. Contact our specialists if you experience wheezing, a cough that won’t go away, a change in your cough or shortness of breath during normal activities. Our pulmonologists provide expert care for respiratory and sleep disorders.

We partner with our patients to guide them through their care—from diagnosis to treatment to disease management. Many pulmonology issues are chronic, meaning they’re long-term or frequently reoccurring illnesses. Our expert pulmonologists will work with you to help you manage your condition and find treatments that work the best for you.

Lung and Sleep Conditions

Pulmonology specialists provide care for a variety of lung and sleep disorders. If you suffer from chronic respiratory distress, see our experts for long-term relief.

We treat:

Asthma: A chronic lung condition that makes it hard to breathe when a person is exposed to certain triggers. While there is no cure for asthma, your pulmonology expert will help you create a plan to avoid triggers. You will also get medications that reduce your symptoms.

Chronic bronchitis: Bronchitis describes any inflammation of the breathing tubes. It can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term). Your pulmonologist will provide treatments that address the causes and symptoms of the disease.

COPD: Sanford pulmonologists mainly treat three chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD). These include asthma, chronic bronchitis and pulmonary emphysema.

Cystic fibrosis: This genetic condition affects several organs, including your respiratory system. Cystic fibrosis increases your risk of reoccurring respiratory infections. These infections cause long-term damage to your lungs. Sanford Health’s pulmonologists are leaders in cystic fibrosis treatment, and our organization has been designated a Cystic Fibrosis Care Center.

Lung cancer: This includes all cancers that start in the lungs. There are two main types of lung cancer. They are non-small cell lung cancer (the most common) and small cell lung cancer.

Pulmonary emphysema: A chronic lung condition caused by damaged air sacs (alveoli). There is no way to repair damaged lung tissue, but your pulmonologist will help you live more comfortably while experiencing minimal side effects.

Sleep disorders: If you have issues getting enough sleep, talk to your primary care doctor. You may be referred to a pulmonary medicine specialist.

Our Pulmonology Diagnostic Tools and Treatments

We use pulmonary function tests (PFTs) to diagnose lung disorders. These noninvasive tests look at how your lungs function and how well they’re doing their job. There are two types of PFTs: spirometry and plethysmography.

There are several treatment options for pulmonary diseases. You and your pulmonologist will choose the best options for you and your lifestyle.

Patients with COPD can look into the pulmonary rehab program. This exercise program teaches patients how to breathe better and prevent further damage to their lungs. Patients will exercise for two hours about three times a week for a month.