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

• Norton Pulmonary Specialists is recognized by the Pulmonary Hypertension Association as an accredited Pulmonary Hypertension Care Center — the only one in Kentucky. This distinction highlights our physicians’ expertise in pulmonary hypertension, especially pulmonary arterial hypertension, and their commitment to improving care and outcomes for patients with this life-threatening condition.
• 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.