Post-Pneumothorax Surgery: Risks, Exercise, and Lifestyle Tips
After surgery for pneumothorax Hello Dr. Yang: What are the potential complications after surgery for pneumothorax? What types of exercises are recommended, and is smoking allowed? How can recurrence be prevented? Does pneumothorax cause shortness of breath?
Dr. Ding Liangwen Reply:
Hello, due to system issues a few days ago, I am responding to your question now. First, I believe you are referring to spontaneous pneumothorax. Generally, during the first occurrence of spontaneous pneumothorax, surgery is not necessarily required; however, after the second occ...[Read More] Post-Pneumothorax Surgery: Risks, Exercise, and Lifestyle Tips
Understanding Lung Tumors: Are They Mostly Benign or Malignant?
Lung tumor Hello Doctor: My father has been experiencing persistent coughing and initially sought treatment for a cold. By chance, he went to a hospital in Taichung where an X-ray revealed a dark spot. He was subsequently admitted for a CT scan, which confirmed the presence of a ...
Dr. Guo Lucheng Reply:
Lung tumors often present with symptoms similar to a cold, such as productive cough, until a persistent cough lasts for more than three weeks, at which point a chest X-ray should be considered. It is only after the X-ray that issues may be identified, and upon discovering a tumor...[Read More] Understanding Lung Tumors: Are They Mostly Benign or Malignant?
Understanding Suspected Nodules in the Left Upper Lung Lobe
Suspected small nodule in the left upper lobe? Dear Dr. Yang, I have a line in my school health check report dated September 8th that I would like to ask about. What does it mean? Is it malignant? What are the possible causes for the small nodules observed in my lung lobes on t...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello, Miss Pei-Chi. The small nodule in your lungs could potentially be a blood vessel, a scar left from a previous inflammation, or an early stage of certain tumor lesions (including benign or malignant tumors). Considering your age, the likelihood of a malignant tumor is very ...[Read More] Understanding Suspected Nodules in the Left Upper Lung Lobe
Deciding Between Intubation and Tracheostomy for Elderly Patients
Intubation or not? Dear Dr. Jiang, I would like to seek your advice regarding my grandmother's condition. She is currently 78 years old and has a history of hypertension. Two months ago, she suffered from severe herpes zoster (commonly known as shingles) in her abdomen, whi...
Dr. Jiang Zhenyuan Reply:
Basically, if a patient has been intubated for more than two weeks, recommending a tracheostomy is a reasonable course of action. The benefits include: 1. It can reduce airway resistance. 2. It facilitates suctioning, which can actually alleviate the patient's suffering. How...[Read More] Deciding Between Intubation and Tracheostomy for Elderly Patients
Understanding Left Chest Pain: Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis
Left chest pain This week, I have been experiencing pain in my left chest (a dull ache, sometimes accompanied by sharp pain, and at its worst, it feels like a squeezing pain) that lasts for about 3 to 5 minutes. However, this symptom started a year ago and has been intermittent o...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello, the pain in your left chest could potentially be related to issues with the heart or lungs. However, since the pain is intermittent, it is less likely to be associated with heart disease or pulmonary conditions. I recommend getting a chest X-ray to rule out any heart or lu...[Read More] Understanding Left Chest Pain: Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis
Understanding Chest Pain: Causes, Symptoms, and When to Seek Help
May I ask the doctor? For the past three months, I have been experiencing sharp chest pain. The pain occurs at irregular times throughout the day, several times a day, and does not localize to a specific point. It seems to be in the chest cavity, affecting both the front and back...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
JACKEY: Hello, your chest pain symptoms have essentially been ruled out by chest X-ray and 24-hour electrocardiogram tests, indicating no issues with your lungs or heart. Neuralgia is a more likely diagnosis, which may be related to your poor sleep quality. I recommend that you r...[Read More] Understanding Chest Pain: Causes, Symptoms, and When to Seek Help
Understanding Aspergillosis: Symptoms, Transmission, and Treatment Insights
Aspergillosis Hello Dr. Chang, my friend is Japanese and was supposed to visit Taiwan, but due to illness, he cannot make the trip. The illness is called ASPERGILLOSIS, which I found out in Chinese is 麴菌病. It is an infection of the lungs, and I have never heard of such a strange ...
Dr. Zhang Zhengda Reply:
Aspergillosis typically occurs in the lungs, particularly in cavitary lesions, and is associated with symptoms such as cough and hemoptysis. In Taiwan, it is commonly found in lesions caused by pulmonary tuberculosis and is not easily transmitted from person to person.[Read More] Understanding Aspergillosis: Symptoms, Transmission, and Treatment Insights
Understanding Chest Pain: Causes, Symptoms, and When to Seek Help
Chest pain Hello Dr. Zhou, I have recently been experiencing a feeling of tightness in my chest, as if it is being compressed inward, accompanied by a tingling sensation (my back also feels tingly). There is a sense of pressure, and my breathing feels labored, especially when the...
Dr. Zhang Zhengda Reply:
Ms. Lin: You are experiencing chest tightness, difficulty breathing, and a feeling of pressure. If your electrocardiogram (ECG) results are normal, this condition may be related to various factors such as a cold, poor sleep, anxiety, stress, or excessive physical exertion. There ...[Read More] Understanding Chest Pain: Causes, Symptoms, and When to Seek Help
When Does the Pulmonology Clinic Open? Understanding Lung Health Concerns
When does the pulmonary medicine department have outpatient clinics? I would like to inquire about the outpatient schedule for your pulmonary medicine department. Which doctor specializes in lung diseases? What does it mean to have phlegm accumulation in the lungs, and could this...
Dr. Zhang Zhengda Reply:
In response to gogo06072001: As you described, this condition may be "bronchiectasis." In healthy individuals, bronchial secretions are automatically cleared by the ciliary epithelium of the bronchi and are swallowed into the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, they do n...[Read More] When Does the Pulmonology Clinic Open? Understanding Lung Health Concerns
Understanding Spontaneous Pneumothorax: Treatment Options and Concerns
Pneumothorax Hello, doctor. I have a question I would like to ask you, and I hope you can guide me. I am currently 22 years old, weighing 60 kg, and standing 175 cm tall. I am a student. From mid-last year to the end of last year, I experienced three episodes of spontaneous pneum...
Dr. Jian Shuntian Reply:
Mr. Ignorance: Hello! 1. There is no medication to treat pneumothorax; surgical intervention is required. 2. Spontaneous pneumothorax usually has no specific cause, but there are a few precautions to consider: <1> Avoid smoking. <2> Avoid actions that increase intrath...[Read More] Understanding Spontaneous Pneumothorax: Treatment Options and Concerns
Is There a Link Between Bronchiectasis and Long-Term Smoking?
Is bronchiectasis related to long-term smoking? Is bronchiectasis related to long-term smoking? I learned from medical news that the new drug "Oxis Turbuhaler" is now covered by health insurance in Taiwan. Can I request my doctor to prescribe this medication during my v...
Dr. Zhang Zhengda Reply:
1. Bronchiectasis is caused by inflammation and subsequent damage to the bronchi in the lungs, and it can also be congenital. It is not directly related to smoking. However, patients with bronchiectasis should refrain from smoking to prevent further deterioration of bronchial fun...[Read More] Is There a Link Between Bronchiectasis and Long-Term Smoking?
Understanding Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Causes and Treatments
What is respiratory distress syndrome? Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is a condition characterized by difficulty in breathing due to inadequate oxygenation and ventilation. It is commonly seen in premature infants due to the lack of surfactant in the lungs, but it can also o...
Dr. Zhou Ziguang Reply:
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) refers to an acute inflammatory process affecting a large area of lung tissue, which can be caused by various factors (including infectious and non-infectious causes; originating from the lungs themselves or from other organs). Common ca...[Read More] Understanding Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Causes and Treatments
Understanding Tuberculosis: Risks, Treatment, and Management for Patients
Pulmonary tuberculosis Hello, Doctor. A few days ago, my friend had a physical examination and found some abnormalities in his lungs. I will detail the X-ray findings for you: there are patchy, linear, and small nodular shadows visible in both upper lung fields, with some unclear...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Dear Ms. Xiao Teng, I would like to respond to your inquiries as follows, hoping it will be helpful for you and your friends. 1. Your friend has a history of tuberculosis, and chest X-rays can show residual scars (calcifications and fibrotic lines). To determine if the findings...[Read More] Understanding Tuberculosis: Risks, Treatment, and Management for Patients
Navigating Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis: A Family's Struggle for Answers
Pulmonary tuberculosis Dear Dr. Jiang, I have a lot of content to share, and I appreciate your time in reading it, as I am unsure of what to do and need more advice. My father was diagnosed with tuberculosis around March of this year. The doctor mentioned that he has drug-resist...
Dr. Jiang Zhenyuan Reply:
Dear Ms. Hsiao-Yu, Your letter shows how much you care about your father's condition, which is truly touching. Based on your description, your father's various discomforts are common symptoms seen in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. I hope that adherence to the pr...[Read More] Navigating Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis: A Family's Struggle for Answers
Essential Guide to Respiratory Care for COPD Patients After Tracheostomy
I want to find a respiratory care center? Hello Dr. Lee, I would like to ask you a few questions and would appreciate your explanations: 1. My grandfather has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and underwent a tracheostomy over a month ago. He has a lot of sputum, so...
Dr. Li Yanxian Reply:
1. Excessive sputum production is a common issue in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). If the force of coughing is insufficient and external assistance is frequently needed, such as suctioning, chest percussion, or postural drainage, these interventions s...[Read More] Essential Guide to Respiratory Care for COPD Patients After Tracheostomy
Does Drinking Green Tea After Smoking Increase Health Risks?
Smoking followed by drinking..? Dear Doctor: Does drinking green tea after smoking cause greater harm to the body? If I drink 250cc to 500cc of plain water, can it slightly reduce the harm and help eliminate harmful substances through urine? Thank you!
Dr. Jian Linzhen Reply:
1. Drinking green tea after smoking does not show any evidence of enhancing the harmful effects of carcinogens in cigarettes on the body. 2. The carcinogens in cigarettes can enter the bloodstream through the mucous membranes of the mouth and lungs; therefore, theoretically, drin...[Read More] Does Drinking Green Tea After Smoking Increase Health Risks?
Understanding Abnormal White Blood Cell Counts and Lung Health
Polycythemia or anemia? Hello, I would like to ask what conditions are associated with leukocytosis (high white blood cell count) or leukopenia (low white blood cell count)? Is there a connection between chronic sputum accumulation and cough in the lungs and abnormal white blood ...
Dr. Jian Linzhen Reply:
1. An elevated white blood cell count is often due to infection or inflammatory responses in the body, serving as a mechanism for combating foreign infections. Conversely, a low white blood cell count can reduce the body's resistance to external bacteria, making it more susc...[Read More] Understanding Abnormal White Blood Cell Counts and Lung Health
Understanding Infectious Risks of Open Tuberculosis in Patients
None Hello, doctor: The family member is a patient with open pulmonary tuberculosis and is currently undergoing treatment. 1. Is the patient's sputum or oral secretions still infectious? 2. If so, how long can the tuberculosis bacteria survive in the air after being expelled...
Dr. Jiang Zhenyuan Reply:
1. Patients with open pulmonary tuberculosis indicate that Mycobacterium tuberculosis is still present in their sputum. Typically, the coughing of tuberculosis patients can release droplets containing the bacteria, and patients with tuberculous laryngitis can also spread the bact...[Read More] Understanding Infectious Risks of Open Tuberculosis in Patients
Understanding Lung Adenocarcinoma: Diagnosis and X-Ray Limitations
Regarding lung adenocarcinoma? Hello Doctor: I would like to ask you if lung adenocarcinoma is easy to diagnose. If an X-ray shows no issues, does that mean there is no possibility of having lung cancer? Thank you, Doctor.
Dr. Jiang Zhenyuan Reply:
Lung adenocarcinoma often occurs in the outer lobes of the lungs. In its early stages, lung adenocarcinoma may not present obvious symptoms, but it can often be detected through a chest X-ray. A normal chest X-ray does not rule out the possibility of cancer, but the likelihood is...[Read More] Understanding Lung Adenocarcinoma: Diagnosis and X-Ray Limitations
Understanding Tuberculosis: Diagnosis, Transmission, and Symptoms Explained
Suspicion of pulmonary tuberculosis? Hello, doctor: 1. Can an X-ray definitively determine if someone has tuberculosis (TB) of the lungs? 2. A few months ago, my family member was diagnosed with mild open pulmonary tuberculosis and was hospitalized for treatment. They have now...
Dr. Jiang Zhenyuan Reply:
Hello, Xiao Xiang: I am glad to receive your letter. 1. X-rays are an important tool for diagnosing tuberculosis (TB). Although X-rays have some limitations, most lesions can be visualized. However, to confirm the diagnosis, sputum tests are still necessary. 2. After treatmen...[Read More] Understanding Tuberculosis: Diagnosis, Transmission, and Symptoms Explained