Lung & Respiratory Blog

Why do I still smoke? How can I quit? These are questions that most smokers ask themselves almost daily. We are all familiar with the hazards of smoking, but there is still nothing easy about quitting.  The fear of developing lung cancer, strokes, heart disease, emphysema, and other lung diseases often doesn’t do enough to help people quit because nicotine is an addiction. 
 

Victoria Edwards, MD, Deaconess Clinic Owensboro

What's the difference between a cold or the flu?  How should you treat symptoms to feel better fast?  And when is it time to seek medical care?  

Daniel Holland, DO, Deaconess Clinic Lynch Road

Is it too late for a flu shot?  What about the nasal spray?  How can you conveniently get the shot?  Get answers to these from family medicine physician Dr. Daniel Holland.

It's time to get your flu shot.  Find out the facts--and the myths-- about flu vaccines from Deaconess Clinic family medicine physician Dr. Holland.

Jason White, MD, & Shannon Vickers, NP, Deaconess Clinic Allergy
 
Many people know they have allergies because at of sneezing, itching and other symptoms that make miserable (especially if they happen at the same time each year). However, figuring out what allergens are the problem can be a guessing game without testing.  Winter can be a great time for allergy testing. 

Raghav Gupta, MD, FCCP
Medical Director, COPD

Get the basic explanations of COPD--how it can be prevented, diagnosed and treated; and get tips on managing COPD—particularly in the winter.
 

David Ryon, MD, Deaconess Pulmonary and Critical Care
 
As a doctor specializing in lung diseases, I have seen the negative outcomes resulting from tobacco use. Many patients ask me if “vaping” is better than cigarettes. I tell them the answer is complex.
 

Jugesh Cheema, MD, Radiologist, Evansville Radiology
Jessica Waggoner, BSN, RN, Deaconess Cancer Services Nurse Navigator

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, killing more Americans than breast, prostate and colon cancer combined. Fortunately, there is a screening tool available for those at risk for lung cancer, but many people don’t take advantage of this option.

Todd Wannemuehler, MD, Deaconess Clinic ENT
 
As an ENT (ear/nose/throat specialist, also called an otolaryngologist), with specialized training in sinus care, I’ve seen many patients with ongoing and chronic sinus issues, so I know the misery that sinus problems can cause.

Kathryn Ekstrom, MD, Pediatrics & Internal Medicine, Deaconess Clinic Morganfield

I don’t know about you, but I don’t have time to be sick with the flu.  A week or more of serious body aches, coughing, fever, etc. is not how I want to spend my time. Be prepared by getting your flu vaccine before flu season starts! 

Dr. Anna Dauer, Medical Director, Deaconess Palliative Care

Here at Deaconess, people make decisions on others’ behalf every single day. Sometimes the situation is sudden, such as after a car crash. In other situations, a family member has been in a gradual decline. But in all circumstances it can be a difficult time, so having the right information, with the desired decision-makers, is crucial.

Dr. Anna Dauer, Deaconess Palliative Care Medical Director, and Andrea Lantz, LCSW, Palliative Care Clinical Social Worker

Perhaps you’ve heard the term “palliative care” but weren’t sure what it meant. Palliative care is specialized medical care for people with chronic illnesses, focusing on providing patients with relief from the symptoms, pain and stress of a chronic illness regardless of the diagnosis. The overall goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family.
 

Brian Wellington, DO, Deaconess Clinic Henderson- Starlite

Congestive heart failure, or CHF, is a very common, serious chronic condition and it’s a factor in 1 in 9 deaths. It's important to understand how your heart should work properly, and what happens when it doesn’t. 
 

Amanda Bohleber, MD, Medical Director, Deaconess Clinic

A doctor—and mom—shares her tips for choosing the right care at the right time at the right place.

Ankita Bahuva, MD, Internal Medicine, Deaconess Clinic Downtown

Your doctors’ appointments are an important and valuable time to connect with your doctor, share your perspective and information, and learn from your doctor’s expertise.  The best appointments happen when patients are very prepared.
 

Ankita Bahuva, MD, Internal Medicine, Deaconess Clinic Downtown

Chronic fatigue is a condition that causes someone to be extremely tired—to the point that they can’t function in their daily life.  It is also often misunderstood.
 

Jim Hays, Deaconess Home Medical Equipment, and Tom Fite, R.Ph, Manager, Deaconess Family Pharmacy

Recent national disasters have caused many people to give more thought to emergency preparedness.  As September is Emergency Preparedness Month, it’s a great time to be thinking about being disaster ready.
 

Mohammed Allaw, MD Internal Medicine, Deaconess Clinic Gateway Professional Building

Cancer screening recommendations can be confusing for many people--in my 20 years of practicing primary care medicine for adults, thousands of patients have had questions about various cancer screenings. 

In this article, I’ll focus on breast, prostate, lung, colon and skin cancer screenings.

James Gutmann, MD, Family Medicine, Deaconess Clinic
 
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a lesser-known respiratory disease but is every bit as dangerous and difficult to manage as asthma.  COPD is an umbrella term for a grouping of specific symptoms that are incurable but manageable with appropriate treatment and lifestyle adjustments.


 

Mary Gaffney, RN and Nurse Navigator at the Chancellor Center for Oncology​

According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women. Each year, more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined.  An annual test for lung cancer intended for long-term smokers (Low dose CT) is now offered by Deaconess Hospital and can help detect lung cancer at its earliest, most-treatable stages.