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Home Health covid

Long Term COVID Symptoms and Other Good Reasons to See a Pulmonologist

02/15/2023
in All Trending Articles, Coronavirus, Health
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Table of Contents

  • Breathing is underrated 
  • Who needs to see a pulmonologist?
  • What makes a good pulmonologist?
  • When an old school mentality combines with outstanding skills
  • Long Term COVID Symptoms
  • The bottom line
Views: 1,729

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by Leslie Farin

Breathing is underrated 

Eve Ensler, the American playwright and performer once said,

“I wake up every day and I think, I’m breathing! It’s a good day!”
I love this quote that reminds us to be grateful. The vast majority of us take breathing for granted. It happens naturally, day in and day out, requiring little conscious thought. Unless you are someone for whom every breath is a struggle, that is. For an individual with respiratory issues, breathing is a chore. It’s exhausting. Fortunately, there are doctors, pulmonologists, who specialize in helping people with serious or chronic issues involving the lungs, airways, chest wall and breathing.

Who needs to see a pulmonologist?

Many people go their whole life without a visit to a pulmonologist. Primary care doctors can handle our mild or short-term conditions, such as a cough associated with allergies or a cold. If the problem persists, the logical next is an appointment with an allergist or an ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT). It usually isn’t until the issues continue for more than eight weeks or become severe that you need a referral to a board certified pulmonologist. Diseases commonly evaluated and treated by this type of  specialist include asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), emphysema, lung cancer, interstitial and occupational lung diseases and pulmonary hypertension.

long term covid19 symptoms

What makes a good pulmonologist?

Recently, I visited with Howard Mintz, M.D, FCCP, PLLC, a Dallas based lung and sleep disorder specialist with 39 years experience. I asked him for his opinion about what makes a good pulmonologist. His response made a lot of sense. He said,

“A good pulmonologist must first and foremost be a good internal medicine physician.  It’s essential to have the skills and knowledge to treat the “whole” person, not just the organ.”

This perspective is one I greatly appreciate. Our body parts do not function independently, and it’s important to consider the whole picture. Unfortunately, sometimes it seems as though physicians focus entirely on just their one piece.  Dr. Mintz added, 

“Pulmonologists must also be able to communicate clearly with the patient, their family, their referring physician and other members of the healthcare team. Once a care plan is in place, everyone must work together to achieve the best results.”

When an old school mentality combines with outstanding skills

In the rapidly changing world of medicine, Dr. Mintz seems to have somewhat of an “old school” philosophy. He remains a solo practitioner who provides thorough and compassionate patient care in his office. He values his relationships with his patients and their families, and does not back down from the difficult situations. In fact, he welcomes them, and receives referrals from internists, family practitioners, cardiologists and rheumatologists, often for the most complicated cases. 

Dr. Mintz’s practice itself is not at all old-school; it’s extremely progressive. He relies on the most recent medical research to treat his patients. Additionally, he works diligently to provide accurate diagnoses through comprehensive histories and physical exams, followed by state of the art diagnostic testing.

A caring and thorough bedside manner combined with exceptional skill and expertise is exactly what I look for in a pulmonologist. The cases this type of specialist sees in the office are complex, I want both these qualities in my doctor.

Long Term COVID Symptoms

Though pulmonologists treat a wide variety of respiratory illnesses, COVID is the one that receives the most attention in our chaotic world these days. During the first few months of the pandemic, as the world struggled to stop the spread of the virus, hospitals did their best to cope with the influx of cases. Now, fewer individuals are in the hospital, but pulmonologists see increasing numbers of post Covid19 patients in their offices with post infectious complications. 

Many Covid survivors report long term symptoms, proving the virus stays with patients long after their CDC recommended two week self-isolation ends. These “Long-haulers” experience a prolonged shortness of breath, cough and profound fatigue, among other issues, for months. Dr. Mintz sees patients who say they feel like they have a flu that just won’t go away.

Dr. Mintz has concerns that the pandemic might lead to a significant surge in the number of people battling lasting illnesses and disabilities. It’s well-known viral infections can lead to chronic illness. However, because the disease is so new, no one knows exactly what to expect long term. Preliminary studies show the virus can injure multiple organs in addition to the lungs, such as the heart, immune system and brain. For that reason, it’s important not to delay treatment. Older people and those with multiple serious medical conditions are the most likely to experience lingering symptoms, but even young, otherwise healthy people can feel unwell for some time after infection. You don’t need to have had a serious case of the virus to have long term issues; they show up in patients who experienced mild cases as well. It appears, unfortunately, that a negative Covid19 test does not necessarily mean full recovery. 
 
Celebrities that went public about their long-term covid19 symptoms to help others include Gwyneth Paltrow, Alyssa Milano and Prince Charles.

The bottom line

Difficulty breathing is uncomfortable, tiring, and possibly a sign of a serious lung condition. If you have symptoms that are serious or stay with you for an extended period of time,  consult a pulmonologist to make sure you are not facing a bigger health issue. How do you know what to look for in a pulmonary specialist? As per Dr. Mintz, 

“It’s important to find an experienced and compassionate pulmonologist who loves the practice of medicine and makes detailed care a priority. You want a specialist who is not only an excellent clinician, but also understands that anxiety and depression often accompany debilitating lung diseases that require long term care. In cases where patients are hospitalized with acute Covid19, PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) might also be a factor.” 

 

howard mintz, MD

Dr. Mintz is a board certified pulmonary specialist who has been in private practice since 1982. He brings compassion, skill and exceptional experience into his relationship based practice as a lung and sleep disorder specialist. His previous experiences include positions at Walnut Hill Medical Center as both the Chief of Staff and Director of the ICU, and he was on staff for over thirty years at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas. Currently, he is on staff at Medical City Dallas. Dr. Mintz also ran the first long term ventilator facility in Dallas at Kindred Hospital. 

A Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians and a member of the Dallas County Medical Society and the Texas Medical Association, Dr. Mintz was named among the top doctors in Dallas in D Magazine for many consecutive years. He’s also included among the Texas Super Doctors and Castle Connolly Top Doctors.

Learn more about Dr. Mintz 

Howard Mintz, MD, PLLC

 

 

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