Diagnosis and Treatment for Lung Disease

South Texas Health System McAllen provides diagnosis and treatment for lung disease. We’ll help you understand pulmonary disease and how it affects your body so you can learn new ways to improve your activities of daily living, better manage your condition and increase your strength and endurance. Treatment and rehabilitation are always individualized and emphasize exercise and education.

Get a Physician Referral

To find a doctor for lung and respiratory care, call the South Texas Health System Reserve and Learn line at 800-879-1033.

Bronchial Thermoplasty

Bronchial thermoplasty is a minimally invasive surgical procedure performed at South Texas Health System McAllen that may provide relief to those suffering from severe asthma.

Learn more about Bronchial Thermoplasty →

A Lung Cancer Screening Could Save Your Life

Schedule yours today! Early detection can significantly improve your chances of surviving lung cancer.

Schedule a Lung Cancer Screening

Lung Disease

There are many types of lung diseases. People who suffer from lung disease have difficulty breathing. Lung disease can refer to many disorders that affect the lungs such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, infections like influenza, pneumonia and tuberculosis, lung cancer and other breathing problems.

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic bacterial infection that can infect the lungs. There are three ways to describe the stages of TB.

  • Exposure: When a person has been in contact with another person who has TB
  • Latent TB infection: When a person has TB bacteria in their body
  • TB disease: The person has symptoms of an active infection

A physician will administer a TB test to determine if you have tuberculosis. Treatment for tuberculosis can include specific medications and may include short-term hospitalization.

Emphysema

Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease involving damage to the air sacs in the lungs. As a result, your body does not get the oxygen it needs. Emphysema makes it hard to catch your breath. You may also have a chronic cough and have trouble breathing during exercise.

The most common cause is cigarette smoking. If you smoke, quitting can help prevent you from getting the disease. If you already have emphysema, not smoking might keep it from getting worse. Exposure to air pollution, such as chemical fumes, can also cause an obstruction of airflow, leading to the development of pulmonary emphysema. Treatments include inhalers, oxygen, medications and sometimes surgery to relieve symptoms and prevent complications.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lung, usually caused by an infection. The most common causes are bacteria, viruses and fungi. People with pneumonia may have difficultly breathing and have a cough and fever. Chest X-rays are taken to determine what is wrong. Antibiotics are used if bacteria are the cause, whereas rest and drinking fluids may help with viral pneumonia. It is easier to prevent pneumonia than to treat it. To ensure the best chance of not developing the illness, wash your hands frequently and wear a mask when cleaning dusty or moldy areas.

Influenza

Influenza, or the flu, is a respiratory infection caused by a number of viruses, which enter the body through the nose or mouth. People can mistake the flu for other illnesses. Symptoms of flu are body aches, chills, cough, fever, headache and sore throat. Compared to the flu, a cold rarely cause a fever or headache. The flu also doesn’t cause an upset stomach.

Getting a flu shot or nasal spray vaccine can decrease your risk for becoming infected. According to the American Lung Association, the best time to get the vaccine is in September or October, as the flu season lasts through March.