Advanced Treatment for Pneumoconiosis

Norton Pulmonary Specialists is a leader in treating lung conditions such as pneumoconiosis for patients in Louisville and Southern Indiana. These conditions, including black lung disease, are caused by inhaling mineral dusts, chemicals or fibers that irritate the lungs.

The board-certified and fellowship-trained specialists at Norton Pulmonary Specialists have the experience and training to provide a precise diagnosis of pneumoconiosis. We’ll provide a customized plan to manage your pneumoconiosis symptoms and prevent any further damage, helping you live an active and healthy life.

While dusts are the most common workplace cause of pneumoconiosis, there are other causes, such as gluten that enters the lungs of an allergic cook. The levels of irritant needed to cause pneumoconiosis typically are confined to the workplace where inadequate or no personal protection equipment is used.

Typical environmental levels of these irritants aren’t sufficient to cause pneumoconiosis.

Pneumoconiosis Symptoms

Some patients have no symptoms or experience a cough or shortness of breath.

Pneumoconiosis can make it difficult for oxygen to transfer from the lungs to the bloodstream. Low oxygen levels (hypoxemia) can occur while active or constantly if pneumoconiosis progresses.

Hypoxemia doesn’t always cause shortness of breath, and recognizing the symptom is important to prevent putting stress on the heart, brain and other organs.

Pneumoconiosis Treatment

While there is no cure for pneumoconiosis, we can treat the disease to limit further lung damage, manage symptoms and improve your quality of life.

Inhaled medications and pulmonary rehabilitation are the most common treatments. Norton Healthcare’s pulmonary rehabilitation program is certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation.

We’ll prescribe oxygen for patients with hypoxemia and help smokers quit. Smoking combined with pneumoconiosis can increase your chances of getting cancer.

Care That’s Convenient for You

• Our staff includes interventional pulmonologists who are trained and experienced in minimally invasive diagnostics and treatment.
• We have seven convenient Louisville-area locations: Northeastern and downtown Louisville; Newburg; Pleasure Ridge Park; Mount Washington, Kentucky; Jeffersonville, Indiana; and Scottsburg, Indiana.
• We provide pulmonary care and respiratory management of critical care patients at all four Norton Healthcare adult-service hospitals: Norton Audubon Hospital, Norton Brownsboro Hospital, Norton Hospital and Norton Women’s & Children’s 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 have an open line of communication with referring physicians, including pediatricians, to provide the most comprehensive care possible.
• Communicate with your provider, manage appointments, refill prescriptions and more anytime from a computer or mobile device with a free MyNortonChart

About Norton Pulmonary Specialists

The board-certified and fellowship-trained physicians with Norton Pulmonary Specialists, formerly Chest Medicine Associates and Kentuckiana Pulmonary Associates, are leaders in caring for Louisville and Southern Indiana patients with asthma, 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.
• The Norton Pulmonary Specialists team pursues leading-edge treatments as part of its pioneering heritage. Our specialists are investigators on many clinical trials that give patients access to the latest treatments.
• 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.
• Your physician will work with you to develop a written asthma action plan to help you manage your symptoms.