Lung Care

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Treating Diseases of the Lungs and Respiratory System

Millions of Americans are currently living with chronic lung diseases and pulmonary disorders. The health of your lungs, or lung care, and respiratory tract can have a significant impact on your overall health.

At Northern Nevada Health System, we have providers who specialize in diagnosing, treating and preventing diseases affecting the lungs and respiratory system. They are board certified in Pulmonary Medicine and Internal Medicine and provide advanced care for a wide range of conditions. These conditions include asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, lung infections, pneumonia, influenza and others.

Our providers provide the following services to help diagnose and treat lung and respiratory diseases:

Lung CT Scan

A lung CT scan, or chest CT scan, is a painless imaging test that takes detailed pictures of your lungs. The images can show the size and shape of your lungs and how they are positioned in your chest.

A CT scan can help a doctor determine the cause of symptoms such as shortness of breath or chest pain. They can also help detect if you have a tumor, excess fluid around the lungs, lung damage or other lung diseases or conditions. These include a pulmonary embolism, emphysema, tuberculosis, or pneumonia.

Learn More about Lung CT Scan

Pulmonary Function Test

A Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) is a breathing test used to evaluate your ability to move air in and out of your lungs. It measures how effectively oxygen enters your body and can help show how well your lungs are working. Your doctor may recommend a PFT if you have asthma, COPD, emphysema, or restrictive lung disorder.

Learn More about Pulmonary Function Test

Other Diagnostic Tests

We can perform other diagnostic tests as well, including a bronchoscopy, chest fluoroscopy, ultrasound, or X-ray. These tests are used to help find the cause of a problem or to evaluate how well your lungs, diaphragm and other parts of your chest are working. They can also be used to obtain mucus or lung tissue samples.

Our Team

Aleem Surani, MD and Aaron Viray, MD are pulmonologists who specialize in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of lung and respiratory disease. They are board certified in Pulmonary Medicine, Critical Care and Internal Medicine. Drs. Surani and Viray provide advanced care for a wide range of conditions. They are supported by Carrie Yamamoto, APRN.

Lung and Respiratory Health Tips

Northern Nevada Health System is dedicated to helping patients prevent disease. Consider these tips to help you stay healthy:

  • No smoking! A leading cause of lung cancer and COPD, smoking narrows the airways and causes chronic inflammation.
  • Exercise. Heart-pumping aerobic exercise and breathing techniques can help improve lung function.
  • Avoid air pollution. This includes secondhand smoke, chemicals and poor outdoor air quality. Have your home tested for radon, too.
  • Fight off infection. Be sure to frequently wash your hands, don’t forget that flu shot and practice good dental hygiene.
  • Don’t skip checkups. Schedule well visits with your doctor. If you have lung or respiratory issues, you may want to see a respiratory system physician.

If you need a referral to a physician at Northern Nevada Health System, call our free physician referral service at 775-356-6662.