Whether you need a test to find out why you’re short of breath, help managing a chronic respiratory condition, or emergency breathing treatments, Humboldt General Hospital will provide you with the highest-quality care, close to home.
Our respiratory therapy expertise
Our team is made up of highly trained, board-certified and licensed respiratory therapists who work under the guidance of medical doctors. We have many collective years of experience, and we stay up-to-date on the latest advances in respiratory care. Our services are available for people of all ages and include:
Outpatient pulmonary testing. If you have signs or symptoms of a breathing problem—such as an ongoing cough, fatigue, or shortness of breath—your doctor might want you to have a diagnostic breathing test. Our team performs a variety of tests to help diagnose conditions such as COPD, asthma, or bronchitis.
We also perform tests your doctor may use to monitor the results of your treatment or to find out if you would benefit from supplemental oxygen therapy.
Here are some of the tests we offer:
Signs of lung disease
Don't ignore these warnings
Lung diseases—like asthma—may have warning signs. Paying heed to them could alert you about a problem early, when treatment is most likely to be effective.
Below are some common warning signs of lung disease.
Chronic cough: Coughing helps clear irritants from your airways and lungs. So coughing now and then is OK. But a cough that lasts a month or more is a problem.
Wheezing: Wheezing or whistling when you breathe indicates something is narrowing or even blocking your airways. It's one of the symptoms of asthma—and could even point to lung cancer.
New wheezing or wheezing that occurs with other symptoms like coughing or shortness of breath is a cause for concern.
Chronic mucus: Your airways make mucus as a defense against infections or irritants. But mucus production that lasts a month or longer is a cause for concern.
Shortness of breath: Being out of shape can make you short of breath. But breathlessness also can signal a lung or heart condition. It's one of the symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Shortness of breath that is unexpected based on the activity and your health is a cause for concern. So is breathing trouble that is persistent or gets in the way of your daily activities.
Chest pain: Chest pain can be caused by a number of serious conditions, including lung cancer and heart attacks.
Chest pain is a reason to get emergency medical care.
Coughing up blood: This includes reddish mucus. The blood could be coming from your lungs or somewhere in your upper respiratory tract. It can be a sign of tuberculosis or lung cancer.
Coughing up blood is a cause for concern.
Get help: If you have any of these signs, it's time to call your doctor. Take a drive over to the Lungs topic center to learn more about keeping your lungs healthy.
Sources: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology; American Cancer Society; American Lung Association
Reviewed 11/1/2020
- Pulmonary lung function.
- 6-minute walk.
- Arterial blood gasses.
Our respiratory team also provides many of the tests doctors at HGH use to help diagnose or manage various heart conditions.
No matter what test you need, we will provide clear instructions to help you prepare. And your results will be available to your doctor promptly.
Sleep studies. Sleep studies are available through the Respiratory Department. A sleep study can help you and your provider find out if you have a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea.
Learn more about our sleep services.
Inpatient and emergency treatments. When patients in our hospital need respiratory care, we are there. We can provide everything from medications to ventilator management.
And we provide immediate care to those who need it in our Emergency Department. For example, we treat people who are experiencing a flare-up of their asthma, COPD, or other lung condition.
Our approach
Whatever treatment or test we're providing, our focus is on you. As a smaller community hospital, we are able to take the time to give you the personalized care you deserve.
Education is also a part of what we do. We want to help you feel and breathe your best.
How to make an appointment for a respiratory study
You will need a referral from your doctor to use our outpatient testing services.
To learn more or to schedule a test, please call 775.623.5222, ext. 1556.