Matt Maslonka

Hello, thank you for reaching out about this important aspect of healthcare for your mother. Nicotine from cigarettes is one of the most addictive substances known and can trigger incredible urges that are very difficult to curb even with extensive knowledge regarding their detrimental effects. Thankfully there are many various ways to combat these urges and treatment options to help people stop smoking. Personally I am not a proponent of Chantix (as the side effects can be severe and sometimes are more serious than smoking itself), however there is a medication that does have good results and when used with nicotine replacement therapy (such as patches or gum). This medication is called Zyban (another name is "Wellbutrin" or "Bupropion"). The correct way to ensure the most success is to utilize this along with complete cessation of all triggers and potential options to relapse. Basically get rid of all cigarettes, lighters, ash trays, or anything that may allow someone to want to smoke (i.e. alcohol). I also recommend my patients get set up with their local state's quit line in order to keep them accountable to someone during the process. Your primary care provider can offer more information regarding these resources and I hope that your mother can be successful in quitting smoking, especially if COPD has already been diagnosed. Beyond the lungs, smoking can cause many different negative changes in the body from cardiovascular disease to sleep disorders. Keep trying to stay positive when reinforcing that she stop smoking as this has been proven to be more beneficial than negative comments. Thanks again for your questions and take care.

Regards,

Dr. Maslonka

Hello, thank you for reaching out regarding your asthma therapy. However, without known what type of treatment you have already been offered makes answering this inquiry very difficult. Maybe with some more information I can be of assistance? What have you been prescribed and how severe is your asthma?

Thank you,

Dr. Maslonka

Hello, thank you for reaching out regarding the potential serious complications of asthma. The simple answer is yes, obstructive lung diseases like asthma can cause you to hold onto air over time and create hyperinflatted lungs that are more fragile and increasingly sensitive to collapsing. Although rare and usually only in severe cases does this risk actually cause which is termed a "pneumothorax" or collapsed lung. Just one of the many reasons why correct and diligent therapeutic interventions are important in this disease. I hope this answers your question.

Regards,

Dr. Maslonka

Hello, I'm sorry to hear about your symptoms and pleuritic chest pain secondary to bronchiectasis. This is a frustrating condition for both the patient and provider as often it is a progressive disease that continues to worsen over time, especially when multiple organisms colonize the lungs. The best way to reduce further inflammation and to break the viscious cycle is to either eradicate the organisms with aggressive antibiotics, or to constantly clear the secretions that are formed in order to decrease the risk that these organisms take hold and cause further damage. Pulmonary rehabilitation is a great option to manage secretions and also improve symptoms. Your Pulmonologist should be able to refer you to a local center that offers this service. Infectious disease specialists can also get you on the right antibiotics based upon your specific resistance profiles with sputum cultures of your colonized organisms. I hope this answer helps!

Regards,

Dr. Maslonka

Hello, I'm glad that you reached out regarding your sister's diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis. The answer is yes, there are many options to limit complications and reduce further progression of fibrotic changes in this disease. However, each patient has a different risk of progression and also it depends on which stage of the disease you are in (early management vs late stage disease being more difficult to treat). Medications such as antifibrotics are shown to reduce the speed at which this disease affects the lungs, depending on the specific cause of the fibrosis. Additionally, programs such as pulmonary rehabilitation can offer symptomatic benefit and also reduce the risk of added breathing difficulties. Any pulmonologist should be able to point you in the right direction regarding what can be offered and I would recommend that your sister be proactive in starting these therapies sooner than later, with monitoring of function with serial pulmonary function tests so that any changes can be identified as soon as possible. I hope this answers your question.

Regards,

Dr. Maslonka

Vaping is known to cause potential changes in the lungs similar to COPD/asthma which can present as discomfort when taking in a deep breath and is sometimes described as a dull pressure sensation. My recommendation is to limit vaping and also to practice deep breathing exercises in order to open up the lower portions of the lungs that tend to become too efficient and close off like an accordion when not being inflated often with deep "belly breathing". Aerobic exercise can also open the lungs and keep them from closing off. I hope this helps!

Regards,

Dr. Maslonka

Hello, I'm sorry to hear about the issues with your husband's shortness of breath. The good news is that it appears serious causes have been sequentially checked off and ruled out, however, I agree that a CT scan (and particularly one with contrast to rule out a blood clot) would be appropriate at this time. Additionally, there is a detailed study called a Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test or "CPET" that is used in cases such as these to pinpoint causes of shortness of breath when typical common causes have been negative. A cardiologist or pulmonologist can order this and interpret the results. It helps differentiate between the heart, lungs, and possible muscular causes for refractory shortness of breath. I hope this helps answer your question and also wish your husband the best in his future studies.

Regards,

Dr. Maslonka

I'm sorry to hear about your episode of pneumonia. The simple answer is yes, each infection can cause progressive changes to the lungs that become more difficult to "bounce back" and can have additive damages further making your asthma more severe. Being aggressive about inhaler therapies and also working up potential triggers to your asthma (in order to avoid these in the future) are important ways to prevent additional episodes going forward. One of the best ways to fight further pneumonia risk is to get vaccinated each year for influenza and to have your pneumonia vaccination (just his June the CDC updated its guidelines with a newer vaccine with more coverage called "prevnar 20"). I would recommend you speak with your primary care provider or pulmonologist to ensure that you have the latest version of this vaccine. Beyond these measures always make sure to limit any sick contacts and to frequently wash your hands during the winter months to prevent potential spread of infections. Hope this answers your question.

Regards,

Dr. Maslonka