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

Are you tired of a cough that just won’t go away? Chronic cough is defined as a cough lasting more than eight weeks; however, many patients will suffer months or even years before being referred for specialized care. In this episode, Drs. Taliercio and Ghobrial review some of the recognizable signs of chronic cough. They discuss the importance of finding a provider who will take the time to listen...

In this special episode from our Respiratory Exchange “Respiratory Syncytial Virus” series, Dr. Gregory Poland, distinguished investigator at Mayo Clinic and founding director of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group, explains the different types of immunity and what vaccines really prevent. In addition, he discusses the nuances of immunizing against RSV during pregnancy, the need for booster...

ICU delirium is a very common consequence of an ICU stay and critical illness, especially in very sick patients. Patients who develop delirium often appear confused, have difficulty paying attention, and may become aggressive or withdrawn. Dr. Heather Torbic discusses risk factors, diagnosis and treatment for delirium, and emphasizes the role that friends and family can play in helping patients wi...

Sepsis is a life-threatening medical emergency caused by the body's overwhelming reaction to an infection. Two Critical Care and Emergency Medicine physicians join this episode of Respiratory Inspirations to cover all things sepsis. They explain what sepsis is and how it is a leading cause of death in hospitals worldwide. They also cover what Cleveland Clinic is doing to reduce sepsis mortali...

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a lung injury that happens when fluids build up in small air sacs of the lungs, preventing your lungs from filling up with air. In this episode of Respiratory Inspirations, two doctors from the Department of Critical Care Medicine at Cleveland Clinic break down the causes, symptoms and treatments of ARDS.

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a program designed to help people with a chronic lung disease, such as COPD or cystic fibrosis, learn how to breathe easier and improve their quality of life. Debasis Sahoo, MD, is the director of pulmonary rehabilitation at Marymount Hospital and South Point Hospital. Dr. Sahoo joins the Respiratory Inspirations podcast to explain how pulmonary rehabilitation works, th...

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a medicine used to reduce the chances of getting HIV infection from sex or injection drug use. Three experts from the Department of Infectious Disease at Cleveland Clinic join this episode of Respiratory Inspirations to discuss PrEP and other tools for HIV prevention.

Tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) happens when your main airway and the airways leading to your lungs close more than they should, affecting your ability to breathe. Thomas Gildea, MD joins this episode of Respiratory Inspirations to talk about TBM and excessive dynamic airway collapse (EDAC). He explains how the large airway works, what happens when it’s not working well and how he diagnoses TBM/EDAC....

Experts in critical care and pulmonary medicine join this episode of Respiratory Inspirations to discuss the Medical Oncology Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Cleveland Clinic. The doctors explain why this specialized ICU exists, who it serves and what to expect if you or a loved one are in the medical oncology ICU.

Experts in pulmonary and critical care medicine from Cleveland Clinic join this episode of Respiratory Inspirations to discuss opioids and lung health. The doctors explain how opioids can affect the respiratory system, the signs someone might be experiencing breathing problems due to opioids and the precautions that should be taken to keep your lungs healthy if you are prescribed opioids.

Immunotherapy is a newer form of therapy for cancers. While immunotherapy is revolutionizing the management of many cancers, there can be unintended consequences and side effects associated with the therapy. In this episode of Respiratory Inspirations, two experts in pulmonary and critical care medicine at Cleveland Clinic discuss the side effects of immunotherapy including immune checkpoint inhib...

Adi Gerblich, MD is a physician in the department of critical care medicine at Cleveland Clinic, as well as the division chief of pulmonary medicine at Hillcrest Hospital. Dr. Gerblich joins this episode of Respiratory Inspirations to talk about virtual ICU rounding. He starts by describing the ICU environment and the types of communications used between the ICU team and a patient’s family. Dr. Ge...

Maja Babic, MD joins this episode of Respiratory Inspirations to cover everything you need to know about bone and joint infections. Dr. Babic explains why a team approach is needed for the diagnosis and treatment of bone and joint infections and how the team works together to care for the patient. She also covers topics such as diabetic foot infections, septic joints and prosthetic joint infection...

Sudhir Krishnan, MD is the medical director of the ECMO team in the critical care department at Cleveland Clinic. He joins this episode of Respiratory Inspirations to discuss everything you need to know about ECMO. Listen in to learn what ECMO is, why and how it is used and how patients are chosen to undergo ECMO. Dr. Krishnan also covers common concerns and shares what family members can expect i...

Eduardo Mireles-Cabodevila, MD, director of the Medical Intensive Care Unit at Cleveland Clinic, joins this episode of Respiratory Inspirations to discuss the details of respiratory support and therapy in the ICU. Dr. Mireles kicks things off by explaining the role of a respiratory therapist and how to become one. He goes on to explain the processes and devices used by the care team to help ICU pa...

Steven Mawhorter, MD and Pooja Cerrato, Pharm. D. of the Cleveland Clinic Pre-Travel Clinic join this episode of Respiratory Inspirations to cover everything you need to know about staying healthy during international travel. They explain why it’s important to set up a travel health consultation before your trip and everything you can expect to learn during your individualized, pre-travel clinic v...

Umur Hatipoglu, MD, COPD expert and the director of respiratory therapy at Cleveland Clinic, joins this episode of Respiratory Inspirations to talk about the use of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) strategies for people with COPD and high carbon dioxide levels, or hypercapnia. Dr. Hatipoglu explains why COPD can lead to high carbon dioxide levels and the negative effects hypercapnia can have on your...

Could food allergies become a thing of the past? Jaclyn Bjelac, MD, Associate Director of the Food Allergy Center of Excellence at Cleveland Clinic, joins this episode of Respiratory Inspirations to discuss early oral immunotherapy – a form of therapy being used to cure food allergies in children. Dr. Bjelac explains exactly what early OIT is, what food allergies can be treated with the therapy an...

Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) is the term used to describe the collection of physical, mental and emotional symptoms that persist after a patient has been in the intensive care unit (ICU). Michelle Biehl, MD, director of the Post-ICU Recovery Clinic at Cleveland Clinic, discusses the symptoms, risk factors and likelihood of PICS occurring in a patient. She explains the important role family...

Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep-breathing disorder that occurs when muscles in the throat relax and block air flow to the lungs during sleep, interrupting normal breathing. Sleep experts Loutfi Aboussouan, MD and Reena Mehra, MD join this episode of Respiratory Inspirations to discuss all things obstructive sleep apnea: from symptoms and testing to diagnosis and treatment.

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 medic...

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 qu...

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 h...

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 availa...

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.