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Dr. Christine Chan, MD is a pulmonologist in Sugar Land, TX specializing in pulmonology (lung & respiratory disease), internal medicine (adult medicine) and general practice. Dr. Christine Chan, MD is affiliated with Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital and Houston Methodist.
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic lung disease where the tissue and airways of the lungs become extremely sensitive to certain substances. When these substances are breathed in, the lungs become inflamed. The muscles around the airways tighten and squeeze the lungs, and passages within the lungs swell and tighten. The airways themselves produce mucus, which further clogs the tightened, swollen airways. A person having an asthma attack finds it very difficult to breathe, and a severe attack can even be fatal.
Asthma affects people of all ages, but people with asthma are most often diagnosed as children. Symptoms can include wheezing, a tight feeling in the chest, shortness of breath, and coughing. Some people have mild symptoms all the time, and some people have no symptoms at all, but everyone with asthma is susceptible to occasional severe attacks or flare-ups of symptoms when they are exposed to triggers. Triggers vary widely but can include:
Treatment for most asthma patients involves three steps. Patients learn what their asthma triggers are and avoid them. They take a daily control medication, usually an inhaled corticosteroid, to reduce inflammation in the lungs. Also, they have rescue medication with them at all times to take in case of a severe attack. These quick-acting inhaled medications relax the muscles around the airways and allow the lungs to open up for air.
There is no cure for asthma, but with treatment it should not interfere with daily life and activities.
Bronchoscopy
Bronchoscopy is a procedure in which a thin tube with a camera, called a bronchoscope, is inserted in the mouth or nose and slowly advanced to the lungs. This allows doctors to see the respiratory tract, which includes the throat, larynx (voice box), trachea (windpipe), bronchi (airways), and lungs. Doctors may recommend those who have or show signs of lung problems - for example, lung cancer or difficulty breathing - to undergo a bronchoscopy.
In performing a diagnostic bronchoscopy, doctors may only wish to visualize the respiratory tract, or doctors may also collect samples of tissue or fluid. The samples can help diagnose patients' conditions or, if patients have cancer, they can be used for staging purposes. One method for sample collection is bronchoalveolar lavage. In a bronchoalveolar lavage, doctors inject saline (salt water) through the bronchoscope and then suction it out of the airways. The washout collected is tested for lung disorders. Doctors can also insert a biopsy tool to collect tissue or mucus samples. The following are biopsies that can be performed by bronchoscopy:
For visualization, bronchoscopy can be done alone, or it can be combined with ultrasound. Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) allows real-time imaging of the airway and is used for diagnosing and staging lung cancer, as well as for determining where the cancer has spread. EBUS can be performed with TBNA, a procedure known as endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA).
Doctors can also use bronchoscopy as a treatment for lung problems. For example, if a foreign body is trapped in the airway, doctors can insert forceps through the bronchoscope to remove it. If the airway has become narrowed - which may occur if patients have an infection, cancer, or some other inflammatory issue - bronchoscopy can be used to place a device called a stent in the area of constriction. The stent will keep the airway open, allowing the patient to breathe properly.
During a bronchoscopy, patients will be given medication (sedative) to help them relax. If it is only a diagnostic bronchoscopy, patients will be kept awake, but if the bronchoscopy is for therapeutic purposes, patients will be put to sleep by general anesthesia. After the procedure, patients will need to stay in the hospital for a few hours. They will not be able to eat or drink for about 2 hours. Some patients may experience discomfort, such as a sore throat or pain while swallowing. Throat lozenges and gargling may help alleviate these symptoms, which should go away after a few days. Patients will need to have someone drive them home once their doctor determines that they are ready.
She completed residency at New York University (NYU) Affiliated Hospitals.
Residency: New York University (NYU) Affiliated Hospitals
Dr. Christine Chan, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:
Dr. Christine Chan, MD appears to accept the following insurance providers: CIGNA Open Access, United Healthcare PPO, United Healthcare POS, United Healthcare HMO, United Healthcare EPO, Blue Choice PPO, Blue Choice POS, First Health PPO, Aetna POS, Aetna QPOS, Aetna Workers' Compensation, Golden Rule, Best Doctors, Aetna Select, Aetna EPO, Trustmark , Aetna PPO, Aetna HMO, CIGNA Network, Aetna Affordable Health Choices, Aetna Signature Administrators, CIGNA PPO, CIGNA POS, CIGNA HMO, CIGNA EPO, Aetna Medicare PPO, CIGNA Choice Fund, CIGNA Indemnity, AARP, Medicare Advantage, Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO, Blue Cross Blue Shield POS, Blue Cross Blue Shield EPO, Coventry PPO, HealthSpring, US Family Health Plan, Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, United Healthcare, Medicare, Humana, Cigna, Molina Healthcare, WellPoint, Aetna Open Access, United Healthcare Community Plan (AmeriChoice), Humana Medicare Advantage PPO, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, CIGNA Network Open Access, PHCS PPO, MultiPlan PPO, Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS), Aetna APCN Plus Multi-Tier HM Tier 2, GeoBlue, BCBS PPO GUIDESTONE, TRS-Care Standard ALT B II Group 485006, TRS-Care Standard ALT B I Group 485005, Community Health Choice PREMIER Gold, TRS-ActiveCare Fully Insured Plan-South Texas Region Group 295430, TX Annual Conf of UMC-UMR, Aetna Student Health, TRS-Care Standard ALT A II Group 485003, TRS-ActiveCare Primary Group 385003, Aetna Transplant, DEVOTED DUAL PLUS GREATER HOUSTON, DEVOTED CORE GREATER HOUSTON HMO, TRS-Care Standard Group 485000, UnitedHealthOne, TRS-Care Standard ALT A I Group 485002, Community Health Choice PREMIER Silver, Blue Essentials Access, TRS-ActiveCare Fully Insured Plan-West Texas Region Group 295781, UMR, TRS-ActiveCare 2 Group 385002, DEVOTED EXTRA GREATER HOUSTON (HMO), HAA Preferred Partners (International), Aetna Common Spirit Minimum Value Plan, BCBS PPO Wespath, Aetna Health Network, Aetna Managed Choice / Elect Choice, United Health Integrated Services, Aetna Meritain Hlth/Aetna Premier Care (APCN), Olympus Managed Care (International), DEVOTED PREMIUM (PRIME) GREATER HOUSTON (HMO), Aetna Medicare HMO Prime, Aetna Choice POS / Open Choice, Aetna Signature Administrators Allied Benefits, Blue Edge, Blue Essentials, Aetna International, Aetna Medicare Dual Complete Plan (HMO D-SNP), Aetna TX Pref Plus II Network, Blue Cross Blue Shield FEP Federal Employee Plan, DEVOTED GIVEBACK GREATER HOUSTON (HMO), TRS-Care Standard CMED Group 485001, TRS-ActiveCare HD Group 385000, TRS-ActiveCare Primary Plus Group 385001, Aetna Signature Administrators TX Annual Conf of UMC and Aetna Premier Care Network.
According to our sources, Dr. Christine Chan, MD accepts the following insurance providers:
Dr. Christine Chan, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.99 out of 5 stars based on 25 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Christine Chan, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Sugar Land, TX.
Dr. Christine Chan specializes in general practice and pulmonology (lung & respiratory disease). Patient ratings for Dr. Chan average 5.0 stars (out of 5). Her areas of expertise include the following: pleural effusion (water on the lungs), bronchiectasis, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. She can take several insurance carriers, including Trustmark, Aetna EPO, and Blue California. Her training includes a residency program at a hospital affiliated with New York University (NYU). She is professionally affiliated with Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. According to Doctor.com, new patients are welcome to contact Dr. Chan's office in Sugar Land, TX.
