Respiratory Inspirations: A Cleveland Clinic Lungs, Allergy, Critical Illness and Infectious Disease Podcast

In this episode of Respiratory Inspirations, experts from the Infectious Disease and Pulmonary Medicine departments at Cleveland Clinic join to discuss nontuberculous mycobacteria or NTM. The doctors explain the basics of what NTM is, who is most susceptible to nontuberculous mycobacterial infection and when to suspect infection. They cover testing and diagnosis, the side effects of involved medications and emphasize how treatment should be a shared decision between the patient and their physician.

In this episode of Respiratory Inspirations, three experts from the Cleveland Clinic Respiratory Institute discuss the effect climate change has on our health. They explain how rising temperatures, wildfires and other natural disasters can affect all people across the country – even if you live states away from the devastation. They also offer advice on how to stay healthy during times when air quality is poor and ways listeners can make a difference in our changing environment.

Eduardo Mireles, MD, director of the Medical Intensive Care Unit and vice-chair of the Department of Critical Care Medicine at Cleveland Clinic, joins this episode of Respiratory Inspirations to cover all things mechanical ventilation. Dr. Mireles starts with the basics of what mechanical ventilation is and the different ventilators used, then explains why someone may need one. He also describes how ICU teams work together to ensure the comfort and safety of patients on ventilators.

Eosinophilia happens when the body produces an unusually high number of eosinophils – one of the white blood cells that support your immune system. Fred Hsieh, MD joins this episode of Respiratory Inspirations to discuss eosinophilic disorders. He covers the common causes of a high eosinophilic count, such as allergies or a parasitic infection, what testing is done and the treatment options available.

Did you know approximately 25 million people in the U.S. have asthma? Still, it often goes undiagnosed. In this episode of Respiratory Inspirations, three experts from Cleveland Clinic’s Respiratory Institute cover all things asthma: from symptoms and triggers to diagnosis and treatment plans.

Francisco Almeida, MD, MS, director of the Fibrosing Mediastinitis Center at Cleveland Clinic, and Atul Mehta, MD join this episode of Respiratory Inspirations to cover all things fibrosing mediastinitis. Listen to learn the symptoms and causes of this condition and why it’s so common in Ohio, Missouri and the Mississippi Valley region. Dr. Almeida and Dr. Mehta also explain what to expect as a patient of the Fibrosing Mediastinitis Center and what the future holds for treatment.

Are military burn pits the Agent Orange of today? And what other exposures lead to deployment-related lung disease? In 2022, Congress passed legislation to ensure that U.S. military personnel exposed to dangerous toxins from burn pits have their medical bills covered for any resulting diseases. In this episode, experts Dr. Maeve MacMurdo and Dr. Neha Solanki discuss the importance of investigating deeply to diagnose and treat formerly deployed military with respiratory health concerns.

Dr. Kimberly Gifford, a primary care pediatrician at Cleveland Clinic Childrens, joins this episode of Respiratory Inspirations to discuss respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, specifically in children. She explains what RSV is, how it affects the body and the signs and symptoms parents should look out for.

Whether spending the day in an office, on the road or in a coal mine, today’s workers are exposed to a variety of substances that can harm lung function. Dr. Maeve MacMurdo, the director of the Occupational Lung Disease Clinic at Cleveland Clinic, provides an overview of the types of irritants and substances on the job that can lead to lung disease. She covers everything from occupational asthma to black lung disease and offers guidance on how workers can keep themselves safe, what companies are required to do, and the role occupational lung disease physicians play.

In this episode, Dr. James Stoller, chairman of the Education Institute at Cleveland Clinic, explains what Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency is, the effect it has on the body and what testing is available for diagnosis. He shares that shortness of breath is the most common symptom of the deficiency and encourages listeners to ask their physician about pulmonary function testing if this is a symptom they have experienced for a prolonged period of time. He stresses the importance of testing if a family member has received a diagnosis and explains the steps that can be taken to minimize the decline in lung function associated with the deficiency.