Whatever caused your lung failure — disease, cancer, injury, COPD, or ARDS — you dodged a potentially life-threatening situation and are now undergoing treatment.
At Rockland Thoracic & Vascular Associates, we’re known throughout New York and New Jersey as the premier treatment facility for all types of lung failure. Our team of experienced, board-certified specialists uses the most advanced technology and techniques to preserve your lung health and slow the progression of your condition.
We’re not only concerned about your diagnosis, but your prognosis as well. We’re with you every step of the way, helping you live the most productive and comfortable life possible despite your lung condition.
Lung failure is a serious health problem that changes your life forever, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make the most of it. Here’s what to expect.
Ongoing treatments
Depending on the cause and severity of your lung failure, your treatment may include:
- Over-the-counter cough suppressants
- Prescription medications
- Bronchodilators
- Steroids
- Antibiotics
- Antifibrotics
- Blood thinners
- Vasodilators
- Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)
- Lung-volume reduction surgery
You can expect to need some type of treatment for the rest of your life. Whichever one you’re on, it’s critical that you take your treatment seriously and never miss a dose or treatment.
Doctor visits
If you’re living with lung failure, we’re going to get to know one another very well. And while we wish it were under happier circumstances, we love seeing our patients often and monitoring their treatment.
It’s important that you come in for all your scheduled screenings and checkups to make sure there aren’t any red flags that need attention.
Lifestyle changes
Once your lungs have been compromised, you’re going to have to be much more diligent about your health. That means:
- Smoking is out of the question
- Avoid secondhand smoke, too
- Prevent respiratory infections by washing your hands well and avoiding sick people
- Get all relevant vaccines (pneumonia and flu)
- Sleep well
- Change the air filters in your home and office regularly
- Stay calm and avoid stress
The best way to optimize your life after lung failure is to stay as healthy as possible, which includes eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise, as long as you’re medically cleared to do so.
Don’t do it alone
Lung failure can be scary, but you don’t have to face it alone. In fact, we don’t advise it. It takes a team of medical professionals to give you the proper care to address your lung problems and a support team at home to help you cope with the bad days and help you celebrate the good.
If you’re looking for the kind of lung care team that treats you like family, schedule a consultation at any one of our five Rockland Thoracic & Vascular Associates locations in New York and New Jersey today.
Our friendly staff is ready to meet you and get you started, so contact us today to book an appointment. Our offices are located in Pomona, Goshen, Fishkill, and the Washington Heights section of Manhattan, as well as Englewood, New Jersey.