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Respiratory disease can take many different forms and can be either chronic (prolonged) or acute (short-term). UVa's pulmonary experts can diagnose and treat virtually any respiratory condition in adults and children. Below are two examples of UVa's leading-edge approach to respiratory disease. Sleep Apnea - Of the many types of sleep disorders, sleep apnea is one of the most common, and can lead to other medical conditions if left untreated. For example, physicians have identified a correlation between sleep apnea -- which is characterized by a cessation or decrease in breathing during sleep -- and chronic daytime fatigue, attention deficit in children and cardiovascular disease. If you are concerned that you or a loved one has sleep apnea, it is important to talk to a physician. UVa's Sleep Disorders Center -- the first sleep lab in the region -- is staffed by a multidisciplinary team of board-certified physicians in sleep medicine, pulmonary medicine, pediatrics and internal medicine. Get the facts about sleep apnea. Asthma - Pediatric asthma is a concern for many children and their parents. UVa's Pediatric Clinic now offers the NIOX Nitric Oxide Test System, a newly FDA-approved test UVa physicians helped develop to measure the amount of exhaled nitric oxide. Because asthmatics often have higher than normal levels of nitric oxide, this test is a useful tool in accurately managing asthma. In addition, the NIOX test -- which is also available to adults -- may rule out other conditions with asthma-like symptoms and help determine the proper dose of medicine to prescribe. |
