Commentary and Observations from
the Medical Front Lines
Sign up to receive posts from The Exchange
CATEGORIES
Latest Pulmonary Medicine Articles on PCE's The Exchange
Dietary Sodium Restriction in Patients With Heart Failure
Posted By: 
Ben Taylor, PA-C, PhD, DFAAPA
July 08, 2022
There are about 6.2 million adults in the United States living with heart failure (HF), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is well known that in patients with HF, high sodium intake can lead to frequent exacerbations, and, for years, sodium and fluid restrictions to prevent fluid overload and adverse outcomes have been first-line nonpharmacologic strategies recommended for patients with HF by several expert guidelines—even without national consensus. While restr... Continue Reading
Filed under: Cardiometabolic, Pulmonary Medicine
Bleeding Risk with Apixaban and Systemic Fluconazole Use
Posted By: Ben Taylor, PA-C, PhD, DFAAPA
July 06, 2022
We, as healthcare professionals, are aware that we must check for drug interactions in our patients taking multiple medications. In the specific setting of a... Continue Reading
Filed under: Cardiometabolic, Pulmonary Medicine
Severe and Difficult-to-Treat Asthma in Children
Posted By: 
Amanda Michaud, MMS, PA-C
March 11, 2022
Among children with asthma, approximately 5% have severe disease. The American Thoracic Society (ATS) criteria for severe asthma in children includes treatme... Continue Reading
Filed under: Allergy/Immunology, Pulmonary Medicine
A New Biologic on the Horizon for Severe Asthma
Posted By: Amanda Michaud, MMS, PA-C
July 09, 2021
There are currently 5 available monoclonal antibody treatments for patients with moderate to severe asthma, all of which target immunoglobulin E (IgE) or typ... Continue Reading
Filed under: Allergy/Immunology, Pulmonary Medicine
My Experience With COVID-19 – An NP’s Perspective, Part 2
Posted By: 
Martha Kingman, FNP-C, DNP
February 05, 2021
In my previous post, I wrote about becoming ill with COVID-19 and how the initial symptoms impacted me. In this post, I'll be discussing home care tips that... Continue Reading
Filed under: Infectious Diseases, NPs & PAs, Pulmonary Medicine
My Experience With COVID-19 – An NP’s Perspective, Part 1
Posted By: Martha Kingman, FNP-C, DNP
February 02, 2021
Even as an NP practicing 20 years in a pulmonary clinic, I was not prepared for how ill I became when I contracted COVID-19 just after Christmas 2020. ... Continue Reading
Filed under: Infectious Diseases, NPs & PAs, Pulmonary Medicine
Management of Severe T2-High Asthma
Posted By: Amanda Michaud, MMS, PA-C
December 04, 2020
Many patients with asthma have type 2 inflammation. Type 2 inflammation, also known as T2-high asthma, is driven by presence of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-... Continue Reading
Filed under: Allergy/Immunology, Pulmonary Medicine
Protecting Patients From Unsafe Air Quality
Posted By: 
Mary Knudtson, DNSc, NP, FAAN
September 09, 2020
With all of the fires raging in California, many other areas far from them are experiencing poor air quality too. Poor air quality can have both long- and sh... Continue Reading
Filed under: Public Health, Pulmonary Medicine
Asthma Q&A With Dr Kurtis Elward: Part 2
Posted By: 
Kurtis S. Elward, MD, MPH
June 30, 2020
PCE recently held our Series 1 Live Stream events. During the Live Streams, attendees have the chance to ask expert faculty specific questions, though we oft... Continue Reading
Filed under: Allergy/Immunology, Pulmonary Medicine
Asthma Q&A With Dr Kurtis Elward: Part 1
Posted By: Kurtis S. Elward, MD, MPH
June 26, 2020
PCE recently held our Series 1 Live Stream events. During the Live Streams, attendees have the chance to ask expert faculty specific questions, though we oft... Continue Reading
Filed under: Allergy/Immunology, Pulmonary Medicine
Silent Hypoxia in COVID-19 Patients
Posted By: Mary Knudtson, DNSc, NP, FAAN
May 12, 2020
Emergency rooms in New York are finding COVID-19 pneumonia in some patients who have no shortness of breath. Clinicians have reported that when they did x-ra... Continue Reading
Filed under: Infectious Diseases, Pulmonary Medicine
Asthma and COVID-19
Posted By: Mary Knudtson, DNSc, NP, FAAN
May 05, 2020
The early data on mortality from COVID-19 infections are showing that asthma is not one of the top risk factors. The top ten COVID-19 comorbidities (in rank... Continue Reading
Filed under: Infectious Diseases, Pulmonary Medicine
Quitting Smoking When You Already Have Lung Cancer: Does It Matter?
Posted By: 
Beth Sandy, MSN, CRNP
January 21, 2020
Many patients feel that once they develop lung cancer, it is pointless to quit smoking. Smoking is one of the toughest addictions to break, and with the adde... Continue Reading
Filed under: Oncology/Hematology, Pulmonary Medicine, Substance Abuse
Better Sleep Linked to Reduced Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke Risk
Posted By: Ben Taylor, PA-C, PhD, DFAAPA
January 10, 2020
We all know that sleep is crucial for heart health. Research has shown that regardless of a person's age, weight, smoking habits, and exercise l... Continue Reading
Filed under: Cardiometabolic, Preventive Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine
Managing Patients With Suspected Vape-Related Lung Problems
Posted By: 
Debra A. Danforth, DNP, APRN, FAANP
December 03, 2019
We have been hearing about more and more cases of lipoid pneumonia linked to marijuana oils in e-cigarettes. According to the CDC, as of November 2019, there... Continue Reading
Filed under: Infectious Diseases, Public Health, Pulmonary Medicine
Multi-agency Information for Patients and Providers: e-Cigarette, or Vaping, Product Use Associated Lung Injury (EVALI)
Posted By: 
Susanne J. Phillips, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
November 26, 2019
By now, we have all heard the news concerning the dangers of e-cigarettes and vaping and have likely received a myriad of updates in our ever-growing e-mail... Continue Reading
Filed under: Public Health, Pulmonary Medicine
Management of Patients with Suspected EVALI
Posted By: Ben Taylor, PA-C, PhD, DFAAPA
November 05, 2019
Over the last several years there has been a dramatic spike in individuals vaping, and we have witnessed the associated injuries—including bur... Continue Reading
Filed under: Health Policy and Trends, Pulmonary Medicine
Procalcitonin Levels in the Management of COPD Exacerbations
Posted By: Ben Taylor, PA-C, PhD, DFAAPA
May 10, 2019
The use of procalcitonin-based protocols to guide the decision to administer antibiotics has been evaluated in infections of different origins and settings.... Continue Reading
Filed under: Infectious Diseases, Pulmonary Medicine
Anticoagulants and Recurrent Thrombosis
Posted By: Ben Taylor, PA-C, PhD, DFAAPA
February 11, 2019
The other day a student asked me, "If a patient is taking a blood thinner for a previous venous thromboembolism (VTE), is it still possible for them to get a... Continue Reading
Filed under: Pulmonary Medicine