BURBANK, Calif., April 20 /PRNewswire/ -- The Institute for Better Breathing (IBB) announced today the creation of Southern California’s first “Cough Center” designed to help people struggling with emphysema, chronic bronchitis or other chronic coughs they just can’t shake.
Chronic cough, which may indicate Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), includes several related conditions that limit the ability of an individual to exhale. Combined, these conditions kill over 100,000 Americans each year, making it the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and the second leading cause of disability. Despite these statistics, a surprisingly few number of “Cough Centers” exist nationally.
“A cough that persists for more than three weeks should be evaluated by a physician who specializes in airway and breathing disorders,” said James Roach, M.D., a board-certified pulmonologist at the Burbank-based Institute for Better Breathing. “Occasional coughing can be normal, but it can also be a symptom of something more serious like asthma, acid reflux disease, post nasal drip or even lung cancer.”
According to Dr. Roach, most causes of chronic cough can be effectively treated once the cause is known. The new “Cough Center” at the IBB provides diagnosis and treatment for all causes of chronic cough.
“Our physicians are specialty trained to seek out the root causes of chronic coughs, and we’ve equipped them with the diagnostic and therapeutic equipment to perform all of the necessary tests here in the office,” said Dr. Roach. “There really is no reason for someone to struggle with an ongoing cough when the cause can be readily found and treatment instituted after appropriate testing.”
The Institute for Better Breathing is a group pulmonary practice that, in addition to chronic cough, also specializes in asthma, sleep diseases, nasal congestion, and snoring. Osteoporosis is also a focus due to its high incidence in patients with lung disease. Its offices are located in Burbank and Glendale. Information on the institute may be obtained by calling 818-842-1327 or by visiting http://www.instituteforbetterbreathing.com/.
Institute for Better Breathing
CONTACT: Ross Goldberg of Kevin Ross Public Relations, +1-818-597-8453,for Institute for Better Breathing