Athens Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine Blog

COVID-19 STATEMENT

Wed, 18 Mar 2020 14:48:33 GMT

An important message to our patients about COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

Dear Patients & Families,

Athens Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine is committed to the health and safety of our patients, staff, and community. As we continue to closely monitor the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, we want to assure you that we are taking necessary precautions to ensure your safety as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and local authorities. As an added precaution, we ask that you please assist us by doing the following during your visit to our locations:

ALL PATIENTS and STAFF will go through a verbal screening process upon entering our buildings, before entering the waiting rooms. Screening questions will relate to: If you have traveled outside the U.S. or any area with active coronavirus cases; If you are currently experiencing any flu-like symptoms such as fever, body aches or cough; or if you have been in contact with anyone who has been diagnosed with the coronavirus
NO companions/caregivers will be allowed inside with patients.
ANY PATIENT experiencing any of the above symptoms or who has been in contact with anyone with the above symptoms will not be permitted to enter our building and we will gladly reschedule his/her appointment to a later date.
ALL PATIENTS and STAFF will be required to sanitize their hands with disinfectant supplies provided at the point of entry into our buildings.
In the coming days, Athens Pulmonary will reschedule all routine follow-up appointments . If you have a scheduled, essential appointment, please plan to keep this appointment unless you are experiencing symptoms like fever, cough, congestion, sore throat, runny nose or shortness of breath.
Please arrive on time for your appointment, rather than too early in an effort to minimize the amount of time you will spend in our waiting room. In addition, if you are limiting your exposure to the public or would like to reschedule your appointment for any other reason, we will be happy to do that and, if necessary, provide refills by request. If you are a patient who is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please call our office (706) 549-5560 to speak with our Triage Nurse. We will continue to diligently monitor developments and update our patients and staff accordingly. you have any other questions about your visit or scheduling a visit, contact our office directly.

In addition to the regulations, the following measures have been put in place at our facility:

Our medical office spaces are continuously cleaned as part of our normal course of business, and we will maintain rigorous standards including cleaning and disinfecting high-touch, high-traffic areas.
Our offices are stocked with quality hand soap and disinfectant supplies.
We are ensuring that our employees have the information they need to stay healthy. Employees not feeling well in any regard will not be allowed in the workplace.
Limiting the amount of contact that our patients have with shared objects can help reduce the spread of certain infections, including COVID-19. Therefore, we have removed all magazines, books and other reading material from our waiting areas and exam rooms

When a Caregiver is necessary, we will limit the number of Caregivers to one. Patients and caregivers will be screened at the entrance doors. Athens Pulmonary prides itself in the commitment to maintain a safe environment for both our employees and patients while continuing to deliver the best medical care possible. We want to thank you for the trust you have placed in our providers and staff and appreciate your help and support in helping us with the safety measures we have put into place.

If you think you may have been exposed to coronavirus or are experiencing symptoms, please call 866-460-1119.

PLEASE NOTE: Our office does not provide testing for COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

Best Regards,

The Providers and Staff at Athens Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine

Things you should know:

According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention: “For most of the American public, who are unlikely to be exposed to this virus at this time, the immediate health risk from COVID-19 is considered low.”
The CDC is now recommending that anyone who has traveled to a Level 3 country – even if they don’t have any symptoms – to self-isolate for 14 days. As of March 9, 2020, these countries include China, Iran, Italy and South Korea. Instructions for self-isolation are on the CDC website .
For the large majority of patients who may have flu-like symptoms, testing for Coronavirus is still not necessary. There are many reasons why someone may have fever, cough, shortness of breath. If you have severe symptoms that are getting worse, go to an emergency room and mask yourself as soon as you can.
The interim guidance in the following link is for staff at local and state health departments, infection prevention and control professionals, and healthcare personnel who are coordinating the home care and isolation of people with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection, including persons under investigation |Interim Guidance for Implementing Home Care of People Not Requiring Hospitalization for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Athens Pulmonary patients and visitors: FAQ

Family members and caregivers:

Family and caregivers (and patients who have symptoms of COVID-19) will not be permitted inside the clinic. The CDC outlines recommendations for how to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus in homes and residential communities here.

Are patients screened for respiratory symptoms?

Yes, all patients will be screened for symptoms of respiratory illness at the entrance of the clinic.

Should I wear a mask in the clinic?

You should wear a mask in the clinic only if directed to do so by staff.

Infection Control:

Athens Pulmonary has extensive and thorough infection control procedures, and we will do everything we can to ensure the health and safety of our community. We have protocols and systems in place to keep all patients, visitors and healthcare workers safe.

Have there been any COVID-19 exposures at Athens Pulmonary?

At this time, Athens Pulmonary has not had a positive case of COVID-19.

How can I prevent the spread of COVID-19?

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent exposure:

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick
Put distance between yourself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in your community. This is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.
Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care. Learn what to do if you are sick.
Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update

Wed, 11 Mar 2020 11:15:12 GMT

As your healthcare provider, we are doing everything we can to ensure the safety of our patients, staff and visitors. From the beginning of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak, we’ve been working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other agencies to stay up to date with the latest information.

If you have recently traveled to areas where there are ongoing outbreaks of COVID-19 and develop fever with cough, shortness of breath or gastrointestinal issues within 14 days of your travel, or if you have had contact with someone who is suspected to have COVID-19, please stay home and call your provider’s office.

For now, here are some things you should know:

According to the CDC: “For most of the American public, who are unlikely to be exposed to this virus at this time, the immediate health risk from COVID-19 is considered low.”
The CDC is now recommending that anyone who has traveled to a Level 3 country – even if they don’t have any symptoms – to self-isolate for 14 days. As of March 9, 2020, these countries include China, Iran, Italy and South Korea. Instructions for self-isolation are on the CDC website here.
For the large majority of patients who may have flu-like symptoms, testing for Coronavirus is still not necessary. There are many reasons why someone may have fever, cough, shortness of breath or gastrointestinal issues. If you have severe symptoms that are getting worse, go to an emergency room and mask yourself as soon as you can.
If you are concerned that you may have been exposed to Coronavirus, please call our office and we will advise you of the next step.

In addition, if you are limiting your exposure to the public or would like to reschedule your appointment for any other reason, we will be happy to do that and, if necessary, provide refills by request. If you have any other questions about your visit or scheduling a visit, contact us through the patient portal or call the office directly.

Finally, we all should be vigilant about the spread of germs – especially during cold and flu season. The best ways to protect yourself and those around you are to:

Practice Respiratory Etiquette: Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then throw it in the trash can. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your bent elbow.
Practice Hand Hygiene: Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with 60% to 95% alcohol.
Take Environmental Health Action: Routinely clean frequently touched surfaces and objects like cellphones, keyboards and doorknobs.
If you have not received a flu shot, while it won’t protect from COVID-19, it is your best protection for the flu.

We are doing all we can to keep you and everyone in our communities safe and healthy.

Sincerely,

Athens Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sat, 29 Feb 2020 12:15:11 GMT

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder that is estimated to impact 20 million adults in the United States. Unfortunately, according to the best estimates, approximately 80% of these patients remain undiagnosed.

What is obstructive sleep apnea syndrome?

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a condition where your breathing stops for short spells when you are asleep. The word apnea means without breath, that is, the breathing stops. In the case of OSAS, the breathing stops because of an obstruction to the flow of air down your airway. The obstruction to the airflow occurs in the throat at the top of the airway.

You may also have episodes where your breathing becomes abnormally slow and shallow. This is called hypopnoea. Because there can also be these episodes of hypopnoea, doctors sometimes use the term obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnoea syndrome.

What happens in people with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome?

When we sleep, the throat muscles relax and become floppy (like other muscles). In most people, this does not affect breathing. If you have OSAS, the throat muscles become so relaxed and floppy during sleep that they cause a narrowing or even a complete blockage of the airway.

When your airway is narrowed and the airflow is restricted, at first this causes snoring. If there is a complete blockage then your breathing actually stops (apnea) for around 10 seconds. Your blood oxygen level then goes down and this is detected by your brain. Your brain then tells you to wake up and you make an extra effort to breathe. Then, you start to breathe again with a few deep breaths. You will normally go back off to sleep again quickly and will not even be aware that you have woken up.

Sometimes, the airway can just partially collapse and can lead to hypopnoea. Breathing becomes abnormally slow and shallow. If this happens, the amount of oxygen that is taken into your body can be halved. Hypopnoea episodes also usually last for around 10 seconds.

If someone watches you, he or she will notice that you stop breathing for a short time, and then make a loud snore and a snort, perhaps even sound as if you are briefly choking, briefly wake up, and then get straight back off to sleep.

It is quite common for many of us to have the odd episode of apnea when we are asleep, often finishing with a snort. This is of no concern. In fact, some people when they sleep have periods of 10-20 seconds when they do not breathe. However, people with OSAS have many such episodes during the night. For the diagnosis of OSAS you need to have at least five episodes of apnea, hypopnoea, or both events per hour of sleep. However, there are different levels of severity of OSAS (mild, moderate or severe). People with severe OSAS can have hundreds of episodes of apnea each night.

OSAS is classified as:

Mild OSAS - between 5-15 episodes an hour.
Moderate OSAS - between 16-30 episodes an hour.
Severe OSAS - more than 30 episodes an hour.

So, if you have OSAS, you wake up many times during the night. You will not remember most of these times but your sleep will have been greatly disturbed. As a consequence, you will usually feel sleepy during the day. Daytime sleepiness in someone who is a loud snorer at night is the classic hallmark of someone who has OSAS.

Who gets obstructive sleep apnea?

OSAS can occur at any age, including in children. However, it most commonly develops in middle aged men who are overweight or obese. It is thought that as many as 4 in 100 middle aged men and 2 in 100 middle aged women develop OSAS.

Due to the fact that the airway has an increased tendency to narrow more than normal, the following factors increase the risk of developing OSAS, or can make it worse.

Overweight and obesity. Particularly if you have a thick neck as the extra fat in the neck can squash the airway.
Drinking alcohol in the evening. Alcohol relaxes muscles more than usual and makes the brain less responsive an apnea episode. This may lead to more severe apnea episodes in people who may otherwise have mild OSAS.
Enlarged tonsils.
Taking sedative drugs such as sleeping tablets or tranquilisers.
Sleeping on your back rather than on your side.
Having a small or receding lower jaw (a jaw that is set back further than normal).
Smoking.
You may also have a family history of OSAS.

What are the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea?

People with OSAS may not be aware that they have this problem as they do not usually remember the waking times at night. It is often a sleeping partner or a parent of a child with OSAS that is concerned about the loud snoring and the recurring episodes of apnea that they notice.

One or more of the following also commonly occur:

Daytime sleepiness. This is often different to just being tired. People with severe OSAS may fall asleep during the day with serious consequences. For example, when driving, especially on long monotonous journeys such as on a motorway. A particular concern is the increased frequency of car crashes involving drivers with OSAS. Drivers with OSAS have a 7-12 increased risk of having a car crash compared to average. You should not drive or operate machinery if you feel sleepy.
Poor concentration and mental functioning during the day. This can lead to problems at work.
Not feeling refreshed on waking.
Morning headaches.
Depression.
Being irritable during the day.
Some people with OSAS find that they get up to pass urine frequently during the night. Less common symptoms also include night sweats, reduced sex drive, and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.
People with untreated OSAS also have an increased risk of developing high blood pressure. Having high blood pressure can increase your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. People with untreated OSAS may also have an increased risk of developing problems with blood sugar regulation.

How is OSAS diagnosed?

Epworth Sleepiness Scale

If you have daytime tiredness, sometimes a questionnaire is used to measure where you are on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. This helps to gauge the level of sleepiness that you feel during the daytime. A high score indicates that you may have a sleeping disorder such as OSAS.

Tests to confirm OSAS

If you have symptoms that suggest OSAS, or a high score on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, your GP may refer you to a specialist for tests. There are various types of test that can be done whilst you sleep. The ones done may be determined by local policies and availability of equipment. For example:

Your airflow may be measured while you sleep by using a probe placed under your nose.
A sensor may record snoring volume and body movement whilst you sleep.
The oxygen level in your blood can be monitored by a probe clipped onto your finger.
Breathing can be monitored and recorded by the use of special belts placed around the chest and abdomen.
A video of you sleeping may be helpful.
You may be asked to spend a night in hospital for the tests to be done. However, some of the tests may be done in your own home from equipment supplied by the specialist. The information gained from the tests can help a specialist to firmly diagnose or rule out OSAS.
Your doctor will usually check your blood pressure. (OSAS is associated with high blood pressure.) They may also suggest other tests to exclude other causes of your sleepiness. For example, a blood test can check for an underactive thyroid gland.

What is the treatment for OSAS?

General measures - Things that can make a big difference include:

Losing some weight if you are overweight or obese.

Not drinking alcohol for 4-6 hours before going to bed.

Not using sedative drugs.

Stopping smoking if you are a smoker.

Sleeping on your side or in a semi-propped position.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) - This is the most effective treatment for moderate or severe OSAS. It may be used to treat mild OSAS if other treatments are not successful. This treatment involves wearing a mask when you sleep. A quiet electrical pump is connected to the mask to pump room air into your nose at a slight pressure. The slightly increased air pressure keeps the throat open when you are breathing at night and so prevents the blockage of airflow. The improvement with this treatment is often very good, if not dramatic.

If CPAP works, (as it does in most cases) then there is an immediate improvement in sleep. Also, there is an improvement in daytime wellbeing as daytime sleepiness is abolished the next day. Snoring is also reduced or stopped. The device may be cumbersome to wear at night, but the benefits are usually well worth it. Comments like "I haven't slept as well for years" have been reported from some people after starting treatment with CPAP.

Lifelong treatment is needed. Sometimes you can have problems with throat irritation or dryness or bleeding inside you nose. However, newer CPAP machines tend to have a humidifier fitted which helps to reduce these problems.

Mandibular advancement devices

The mandible is the lower jaw. There are devices that you can wear inside your mouth when you sleep. They work by pulling the mandible forward a little so that your throat may not narrow as much in the night. These devices look a bit like gum shields that sports-people wear. Although you can buy these devices without a prescription, it is best to get one properly fitted by a dentist if one is recommended. These devices work well in some cases. They tend to be used in mild OSAS or in people who are unable to tolerate CPAP treatment.

Surgery

Surgery is not often used to treat OSAS. However, sometimes an operation may be helpful to increase the airflow into your airway. For example, if you have large tonsils or adenoids, it may help if these are removed. This is more commonly done in children with OSAS. If you have any nasal blockages, an operation may help to clear the blockage.

What is Asthma?

Sat, 29 Feb 2020 12:15:11 GMT

Asthma is a condition that can make it hard to breathe. Asthma does not always cause symptoms. But when symptoms occur, they can be scary. Asthma attacks happen when the airways in the lungs become narrow and inflamed. Asthma can run in families.

What are the symptoms of asthma?

Asthma symptoms can include:

Wheezing or noisy breathing
Coughing
A tight feeling in the chest
Shortness of breath

Symptoms can happen each day, each week, or less often. Symptoms can range from mild to severe. Although it is rare, an episode of asthma can sometimes even lead to death.

Is there a test for asthma?

Yes. Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and have you do a breathing test to see how your lungs are working.

How is asthma treated?

Asthma is treated with different types of medicines. The medicines can be inhalers, liquids, or pills. Your doctor will prescribe medicine based on how often you have symptoms and how serious your symptoms are. Asthma medicines work in one of two ways:

Quick-relief medicines stop symptoms quickly — in 5 to 15 minutes. Almost everyone with asthma has a quick-relief inhaler that they carry with them. People use these medicines whenever they have asthma symptoms. Most people need these medicines 1 or 2 times a week—or less often. But when asthma symptoms get worse, more doses may be needed. Some people can feel shaky after taking these medicines.
Long-term controller medicines control asthma and prevent future symptoms. People with frequent asthma symptoms take these one or two times each day.

It is very important that you take all the medicines the doctor prescribes, exactly how you are supposed to take them. You might have to take medicines a few times a day. You might not feel a medicine working, but that does not mean it is not helping you.

Asthma that is not treated with the right medicines can damage the lungs. Plus, not taking your medicines correctly can cause symptoms to get worse and even require a trip to the hospital.

What is an asthma action plan?

An asthma action plan is a list of instructions that tell you:

Which medicines to use each day at home
Which medicines to take if your symptoms get worse
When to get help or call 9-1-1

If you have frequent or severe asthma symptoms, your doctor might suggest that you have an asthma action plan. If so, you and your doctor will work together to make one. As part of your action plan, you may need to use something called a “peak flow meter.” Breathing into this device will show how your lungs are working. Your doctor will show you the right way to use your inhaler and peak flow meter.

Should I see a doctor or nurse?

Yes. Call 9-1-1 for an ambulance if you have a severe asthma attack and your symptoms:

Get worse or
Do not improve after using a quick-relief medicine

What are some triggers of asthma?

Dust
Mold
Animals, such as dogs and cats
Pollen and plants
Cigarette smoke
Getting sick with a cold or flu (that’s why it’s important to get a flu shot)
Exercise
Stress

If you need asthma medicine every day, you should see your doctor every 6 months or more often.

Can asthma symptoms be prevented?

Yes. You can help prevent your asthma symptoms. You can stay away from things that cause your symptoms or make them worse. Doctors call these “triggers.” If you know what your triggers are, avoid them as much as possible. Some common triggers include:

If you can’t avoid certain triggers, talk with your doctor about what you can do. For example, exercise can be good for people with asthma. But you may need to take an extra dose of your quick-relief inhaler medicine before you exercise.

What if I want to get pregnant?

If you want to get pregnant, talk to your doctor about how to control your asthma. Keeping your asthma well-controlled is important for the health of your baby. Most asthma medicines are safe to take if you are pregnant