Helping You Control COPD

Norton Pulmonary Specialists is a leader in treating lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for patients in Louisville and Southern Indiana. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the most common forms of COPD.

The board-certified and fellowship-trained specialists at Norton Pulmonary Specialists have the experience and training to provide a precise diagnosis for COPD and develop a customized plan to head off more serious problems.

Our physicians have access to clinical trials that bring you the latest treatments. We also pursue innovative procedures such as endobronchial lung volume reduction therapy as an alternative to lung volume reduction surgery.

COPD occurs when inflammation obstructs airflow from the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. Though it is not curable, COPD is manageable. If left untreated, COPD can lead to more serious conditions such as heart disease.

When you work with Norton Pulmonary Specialists you work with all of us. Our team of physicians works together and meets every week to discuss every case. We are ready to help you find the best treatment for you to control your COPD symptoms and help you find a better quality of life.

The leading cause of COPD in our area is long-term cigarette smoking. But since about 25% of people with COPD have never smoked, there may be other factors. Secondhand smoke, air pollution and exposure to dust and fumes can play a role.

COPD Treatment

Treatments include medication, therapy and surgery. Sometimes one method will work, and sometimes patients need a combination of treatments. With an entire team working for you, we evaluate your specific condition and recommend a treatment plan that is suited to you.

For some patients with advanced COPD, the interventional pulmonologists at Norton Pulmonary Specialists use an innovative, less invasive alternative to lung volume reduction surgery. Lung volume reduction surgery is sometimes used to remove the most diseased parts of the lung so healthier parts can thrive.

Endobronchial lung volume reduction therapy is a new treatment that frees up the healthier part of your lungs to do their work without major surgery. Our interventional pulmonologists can insert a valve to essentially shut down, rather than remove, diseased lung tissue.

Other treatment steps:

• Quitting smoking is one of the most important steps toward treating COPD. Norton Healthcare offers smoking cessation classes in groups or one-on-one sessions.
• Shortness of breath can make eating difficult. We’ll work with you on an eating plan that meets your nutritional needs.
• Bronchodilators help open your airways and make breathing easier. Some bronchodilators are combined with inhaled steroids.
• Pulmonary rehabilitation can help you stay active.
• Oxygen therapy delivers oxygen through nasal prongs or a mask. Extra oxygen can reduce your COPD symptoms, protect your heart and help you sleep at night.

We meet as a team every week to collaborate on all of our cases, to bring you comprehensive care. When you work with Norton Pulmonary Specialists you work with a team of research specialists, physicians and medical professionals dedicated to finding the best treatment for you.

How COPD Affects Your Lungs

With COPD, less air flows in and out of your airways. In some cases, the airways and air sacs in your lungs have stretched out. The airways may make more mucus than normal and become clogged. Also, the walls between the airways may become thick and inflamed or destroyed altogether.

COPD Symptoms

• Chest tightness
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Mucus production
• Wheezing

Care That’s Convenient for You

• Our staff includes interventional pulmonologists who are trained and experienced in minimally invasive diagnostics and treatment, including robotic-assisted bronchoscopy, meaning you’ll have access to advanced technology for your care.
• We have seven convenient Louisville-area locations: Northeastern Louisville, downtown Louisville, Newburg, Pleasure Ridge Park and Mount Washington, Kentucky; in Southern Indiana, Jeffersonville and Scottsburg.
• We provide pulmonary care and respiratory management of critical care patients at Norton Audubon Hospital, Norton Brownsboro Hospital and Norton Hospital.
• Norton Healthcare’s pulmonary rehabilitation program has three locations in Louisville and is certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation.
• We work as a team with referring physicians, including pediatricians.
• Medicare, Medicaid and most major commercial insurance plans are accepted.

About Norton Pulmonary Specialists

The board-certified and fellowship-trained physicians with Norton Pulmonary Specialists are leaders in caring for Louisville and Southern Indiana patients with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema and other lung diseases.

• More than two dozen board-certified and fellowship-trained physicians with extensive experience specialize in diagnosis and management of all forms of lung diseases and sleep disorders, so you can get the care you need.
• The Norton Pulmonary Specialists team pursues leading-edge treatments, and our specialists are investigators on many clinical trials that give patients access to the latest treatments.
• Our specialists use robotic-assisted bronchoscopy to perform minimally invasive biopsies of the lung, which allows for greater precision during the important diagnostic procedure.  
• Norton Pulmonary Specialists is accredited by the American College of Chest Physicians, the American Thoracic Society, the American College of Physicians and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
• Our providers will give you a precise diagnosis and develop a customized treatment plan for your lung condition, so you can get back to living your best life.
• For asthma, your physician will work with you to develop a written asthma action plan to help you manage your symptoms.
• Medicare, Medicaid and most major commercial insurance plans are accepted.
• Communicate with your provider, manage appointments, refill prescriptions and more anytime from a computer or mobile device with a free Norton MyChart account.
• Norton Pulmonary Specialists is the only site in Kentucky accredited by the Pulmonary Hypertension Association as a Center for Comprehensive Care.