Compare 3 pulmonologists in Waterford, Durham. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
The first visit includes a review of your symptoms, smoking history, environmental exposures, and current medications. The pulmonologist will listen to your lungs and may order pulmonary function tests (PFTs), which measure how well your lungs move air and exchange oxygen. PFTs involve breathing into a mouthpiece in various patterns. You may also need imaging or a bronchoscopy depending on your symptoms.
Duke Health dominates the local market. If your insurance covers Duke, it simplifies referrals and records. If not, Duke Regional Hospital and community health centers offer broader insurance acceptance.
See a pulmonologist for a chronic cough lasting more than eight weeks, shortness of breath that worsens over time, COPD management, severe or hard-to-control asthma, recurrent pneumonia, abnormal chest imaging (nodules, masses, scarring), coughing up blood, occupational lung exposures (asbestos, silica), or sleep-disordered breathing that a sleep study has confirmed.
Office visit copay: $30-75 · Pulmonary function test: $150-500 · Chest CT: $300-3,000 · Bronchoscopy: $1,500-5,000
The Research Triangle's pharmaceutical and biotech concentration means Durham residents sometimes have access to clinical trials not available elsewhere. Ask your Duke provider about trial eligibility for chronic conditions.
Pulmonologists manage moderate to severe asthma, perform pulmonary function testing, and develop treatment plans that reduce flares and keep your airways open.
COPD is a progressive lung condition most commonly caused by smoking. Pulmonologists prescribe inhalers, pulmonary rehabilitation, and oxygen therapy to slow progression and improve quality of life.
Loud snoring, gasping during sleep, and daytime exhaustion may indicate obstructive sleep apnea. Pulmonologists order sleep studies and manage CPAP therapy or other treatments.
A cough that lasts more than eight weeks has a cause, whether it is acid reflux, postnasal drip, asthma, or something else. Pulmonologists work through the differential to find and treat it.
Pulmonary fibrosis and other interstitial lung diseases cause progressive scarring of the lungs. Pulmonologists manage these complex conditions with medication and monitoring to slow disease progression.
Pulmonology visits are covered as specialist visits. PFTs and imaging require prior authorization in many plans. Inhalers can be expensive, with brand-name combination inhalers costing $200 to $500 per month without insurance. Ask about generic alternatives and manufacturer copay programs. Pulmonary rehabilitation is covered by Medicare and most insurance plans with a physician order.