Lung Conditions Specialist
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Good Neighbor Clinic
Family Practice and Urgent Care located in Los Angeles, CA
Smoking tobacco, vaping, breathing in toxins and pollution, and developing bacterial and viral infections, including COVID-19, are some of the top causes of lung conditions. At Good Neighbor Clinic, physicians have extensive experience helping patients with lung problems. We offer pulmonary testing, chest X-rays, COVID-19 testing, and lung cancer screening. You can also receive high-quality lung disease treatments that improve your ability to breathe. To schedule an appointment, call the office in Los Angeles, California, or use the online booking feature today.
Lung Conditions Q&A
What are the different lung conditions?
Lung conditions include many possible problems. When you visit Good Neighbor Clinic with lung symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, wheezing, and chest pain, they perform a thorough exam and take chest X-rays when needed.
There are three primary categories of lung diseases:
Airway diseases
The most common conditions affecting the airways are asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
Lung tissue diseases
Some diseases cause scarring and inflammation that prevent the lungs from working normally. Two examples include pulmonary fibrosis and sarcoidosis.
Lung circulation diseases
Blood vessel problems block the blood flowing through your lungs, which interferes with taking in oxygen and eliminating carbon dioxide. Pulmonary hypertension is a type of high blood pressure that affects blood flow in your lungs and heart.
What should I know about lung cancer?
Cigarette smoking is by far the top cause of lung cancer. However, nonsmokers also get lung cancer from exposure to secondhand smoke, air pollution, radon, asbestos, and other dangerous substances.
When lung cancer reaches an advanced stage, it causes symptoms such as:
- A new cough that doesn’t improve
- Existing cough that gets worse
- New wheezing
- Cough that produces blood
- Shortness of breath
- Hoarseness
- Fatigue
- Chest pain
- Unexplained weight loss
If lung cancer spreads, you can develop many symptoms, ranging from back pain and headaches to dizziness and seizures.
When should I have lung cancer screening?
The best way to determine if you need lung cancer screening is to have your Good Neighbor Clinic provider evaluate your risk factors and determine when to have an initial screening.
As a general guideline, the American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends yearly lung cancer screening for people who are 55-74 years old and who meet the following criteria:
- Currently smoke
- Quit smoking in the past 15 years
- Smoked two packs a day for 15 years
- Smoked one pack a day for 30 years
The ACS also recommends that anyone who needs lung cancer screening gets help to quit smoking.
Can I get COVID-19 testing?
COVID-19 causes serious lung problems such as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (lung failure), and infections that spread into the bloodstream. It’s important to protect your lungs and get testing after exposure to COVID-19 or if you develop symptoms.
Good Neighbor Clinic offers same-day COVID-19 testing. Your provider performs the test by taking a swab from your throat or nasal cavity. The results of some tests come back in 15 minutes, while others can take a few days.
If you have trouble breathing or develop an ongoing cough, call the Good Neighbor Clinic or book an appointment online today.
