Our Prima CARE team of skilled healthcare professionals takes pride in serving patients throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island. By providing our community with access to comprehensive health services ranging from primary to specialty care, we strive to promote the health and well-being of every individual.
Today, we’re excited to showcase our Plymouth Avenue location in Fall River, MA. This facility offers a broad range of services and amenities, including primary care and pulmonary medicine. Our knowledgeable staff provides personalized care that meets the needs of each and every patient, making sure they get the most out of their visit. Learn more about what we offer at our Plymouth Ave location in this month's blog post!
Breathe Easy with Prima CARE
Your ability to breathe impacts how your entire body functions, making healthy lungs a crucial element of your overall well-being. At Prima CARE, our pulmonary specialists are dedicated to providing the highest quality of care for those struggling with respiratory illnesses.
Our Plymouth Avenue location is staffed with experienced pulmonologists, or lung specialists, who are available to provide comprehensive evaluation and treatment options for a variety of lung conditions and issues. The respiratory system can be complex, but working with a pulmonary specialist can help you manage your condition, reduce symptoms, and protect your health in the long run.
Our team has experience treating a variety of lung diseases, including:
- Asthma: A chronic lung disease that causes the airways to become inflamed and narrowed. This inflammation can trigger a range of symptoms, including wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. These symptoms can be mild and infrequent, or severe and persistent, and can vary from person to person. Asthma can be triggered by a variety of factors, such as allergens, pollution, exercise, stress, or respiratory infections. Proper treatment can help alleviate symptoms and allow people with asthma to lead active and healthy lives.
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): An umbrella term used to describe progressive lung diseases, such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. COPD is often caused by smoking or long-term exposure to other lung irritants, such as air pollution, chemical fumes, or dust. Symptoms of COPD can include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. Unfortunately, there is no cure for COPD, but proper treatment can slow the progression of the disease, relieve symptoms, and improve quality of life.
- Lung cancer: A type of cancer that begins in the lungs, most often caused by smoking, but other factors such as genetics, exposure to radiation, air pollution, or occupational hazards can also increase the risk of developing the disease. Treatment typically depends on the type and stage and may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of these options. Early detection and prompt treatment can improve the chances of survival and can help to manage symptoms, allowing for a better quality of life.
- Respiratory infection: A viral or bacterial infection that affects the lungs. These infections can include a range of illnesses, such as the common cold, flu, pneumonia, bronchitis, and tuberculosis, among others. Treatment for respiratory infections may include rest, fluids, over-the-counter medications for symptomatic relief, and in some cases, prescription medication.
- Cystic fibrosis: A genetic disorder that affects the lungs and other organs. It is caused by a mutation in a gene that causes an imbalance of salt and water in the body, resulting in thick, sticky mucus that builds up in the lungs and other organs. Common symptoms of cystic fibrosis include persistent coughing, wheezing, chest pain, shortness of breath, poor growth or weight loss, salty-tasting skin, and nausea or vomiting. While there is currently no cure for cystic fibrosis, early diagnosis, and treatment can slow its progression and improve quality of life.
- Obstructive sleep apnea: A sleep disorder that causes breathing to stop and start repeatedly throughout the night. It is caused by a blockage in the upper airway, which can be due to collapsed or narrow airways, enlarged tonsils, or excess tissue in the throat or tongue. The blockage can cause a person to snore loudly, wake up frequently or gasp for air during the night. Treatment typically involves the use of a CPAP machine, which delivers pressurized air to keep the airways open during sleep.
- Pulmonary hypertension: A type of high blood pressure that affects the arteries in the lungs. This condition occurs when the arteries that carry blood from the heart to the lungs become narrowed, leading to increased pressure and making it harder for the heart to pump blood through the lungs. Pulmonary hypertension can lead to heart failure over time if left untreated, reducing the effectiveness of treatment. The goal of treatment is to reduce the pressure in the pulmonary arteries and alleviate the symptoms.
- Interstitial lung disease: A group of disorders that cause inflammation and scarring in the lungs. This scarring, known as pulmonary fibrosis, thickens and stiffens the lung tissue, making it difficult for oxygen to pass into the bloodstream and reducing the amount of oxygen available to the body. Symptoms of interstitial lung disease can include shortness of breath, persistent dry cough, fatigue, weight loss, and chest pain. Treatment for ILD depends on the type and severity of the disease.
We’re here to provide the resources, information, and support you need to make informed choices about your lung health and overall well-being. Our lung doctors are dedicated to helping each patient understand their condition and develop a personalized plan of care that meets all of their unique needs.
What Our Plymouth Avenue Team Can Do For You
In addition to connecting you with an expert lung doctor, our Plymouth Avenue office also offers expert family and internal medicine care. Our family doctors focus on preventive care and helping patients stay healthy, while also providing a wide range of services for when illness strikes.
Our team can provide diagnosis and treatment of acute illnesses, such as fevers and colds, as well as management of chronic conditions. Our office also offers a variety of other services, including:
- Wellness exams for children and adults
- Immunizations
- Review/renew prescription medication
- Patient education on lifestyle modifications to improve their overall health
Find Us Across Fall River
Whether you're looking for a new primary care doctor or want to see a pulmonologist, Prima CARE is here to help. With offices across Massachusetts and Rhode Island, including a few other locations in Fall River, we have a team of dedicated doctors and specialists ready to serve you. r
We’re committed to providing quality care for every patient, from preventive services to diagnostics and beyond. Our pulmonary and family medicine experts are here to help you manage your health and give you all the resources you need for a healthier and more fulfilling life.
Make an appointment at our Prima CARE Plymouth Avenue lung center today to start breathing easy! Give us a call at (508) 679-4239 to schedule. We look forward to treating you!
