Respiratory issues are conditions involving any part of the respiratory system that affect your ability to breathe properly. This includes everything from your nose and throat to your lungs.
These issues can be caused by viruses, bacterial infections, allergies, or chronic conditions, such as asthma and COPD. Regardless of the cause, they often lead to fatigue, discomfort, and make everyday activities feel more difficult than they should be.
Common respiratory conditions, such as asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), require proper treatment to relieve symptoms, prevent complications, and support long-term health.
At Internal Medicine & Primary Care of Sebastian (IMPCS), Dr. Edeck Pierre understands how disruptive respiratory issues can be. We provide timely evaluations, accurate diagnoses, and personalized treatment plans to help you breathe easier and feel better day by day.
Upper respiratory infections (URIs) affect the nose, sinuses, throat, and voice box and are among the most common reasons people seek medical care during seasonal changes or flu outbreaks. These infections can range from mild colds to more complex illnesses that require medical attention.
Symptoms of upper respiratory infections include:
At IMPCS, we provide prompt, attentive care for a wide range of upper respiratory infections. We carefully evaluate your symptoms to determine the cause and severity of your infection and guide you toward the most effective treatment plan. Here are some common URIs we treat.
Common colds and influenza (flu) are viral infections that affect the upper respiratory tract. While these conditions share many symptoms, the flu typically hits harder and lasts longer.
Our provider will evaluate your symptoms and overall health status to determine whether you are dealing with a cold, flu, or something more serious like bronchitis, pneumonia, or even COVID-19.
If influenza is diagnosed, you may be prescribed antiviral medication to shorten the duration and severity of your symptoms.
Strep throat is a bacterial infection caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria. It often comes on suddenly with a severe sore throat, pain when swallowing, fever, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck.
We offer quick and effective treatment using antibiotics when necessary. Prompt care is essential to prevent complications such as rheumatic fever or kidney issues.
Sinus infections occur when the lining of the sinuses becomes inflamed. These infections can lead to pressure around the face or eyes, nasal congestion, headache, and postnasal drip. Sinus infections can be viral, bacterial, or related to allergies, and treatment depends on identifying the underlying cause.
We will assess the cause and severity of your sinus issues to determine whether your infection is acute or chronic and tailor your treatment accordingly. This might include nasal sprays, saline rinses, decongestants, or antibiotics when needed.
For those who experience frequent sinus infections, we work with you to identify contributing factors, such as allergies or environmental triggers, and create a plan to reduce recurrence and improve long-term sinus health.
Laryngitis is inflammation of the larynx (voice box), most often caused by a viral infection, excessive voice use, or exposure to irritants like smoke. It can lead to hoarseness, voice loss, sore throat, and a dry cough.
Most cases of laryngitis are temporary and can resolve with rest, proper hydration, and home care. However, if your symptoms persist, we can assess your condition to rule out more serious causes, like vocal cord strain or chronic inflammation.
Pneumonia is a serious respiratory infection that causes inflammation in the air sacs of one or both lungs. These air sacs normally help oxygen move from the lungs into the bloodstream, but in the case of pneumonia, they can fill with fluid or pus, making it harder to breathe and get the oxygen your body needs.
Common symptoms of pneumonia include:
Pneumonia can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi, and the severity of the illness can vary based on your overall health, the type of infection, and how quickly treatment begins.
Some people may experience ‘walking pneumonia,’ a milder bacterial infection with symptoms that resemble a cold. Others may become severely ill very quickly. Pneumonia is especially dangerous for people with weakened immune systems, such as older adults, young children, and patients with chronic medical conditions.
At IMPCS, we are experienced in diagnosing and managing pneumonia across a wide spectrum of severity. Your care begins with a comprehensive evaluation, which may include:
Once diagnosed, our provider will create tailored treatment plans based on the cause of your infection and your overall health. Treatment options may include:
If you are in a higher-risk group, we take additional precautions to ensure your treatment is both effective and safe, minimizing the risk of complications.
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes—the airways that carry air to and from your lungs. It often develops after a cold or respiratory infection and is characterized by a persistent cough that may produce mucus.
Symptoms of bronchitis may include:
Since many of these symptoms resemble the common cold, people often do not realize they have bronchitis until the cough lingers longer than expected or becomes more severe and uncomfortable. Unlike a cold, bronchitis symptoms can last up to three weeks, sometimes longer in severe cases.
The condition is classified into two types:
If you have had a productive cough that lasts at least three months a year for two consecutive years, you may be experiencing chronic bronchitis.
We provide expert evaluation to determine the type and cause of your bronchitis, whether it is a one-time infection or part of a chronic issue. Most cases of acute bronchitis are viral and do not require antibiotics. The treatment focuses on symptom relief and overall health improvement.
Your personalized treatment plan may include:
If you are dealing with chronic bronchitis, we will work closely with you to develop a long-term management plan tailored to your needs. This may include lifestyle guidance as well as inhaled medications to open the airways.
Our goal is to help you manage symptoms effectively, reduce flare-ups, and monitor for complications, such as recurring infections.
COPD is a progressive lung condition that makes it difficult to breathe due to irreversible damage and inflammation in the lungs and airways. This damage blocks airflow and reduces the lungs’ ability to exchange oxygen efficiently, which can significantly make it harder to breathe and make simple activities feel exhausting.
COPD commonly includes two main conditions:
Both conditions reduce airflow and contribute to difficulty breathing and often occur together in people with COPD. COPD is most commonly caused by long-term exposure to irritants such as cigarette smoke, air pollution, or chemical fumes.
COPD develops gradually, so early signs are often mistaken for aging or other illnesses.
Symptoms of COPD include:
Many people with COPD also experience exacerbations—periods when symptoms suddenly become worse. Prompt care during these periods is critical to prevent complications.
At IMPCS, we understand how life-altering COPD can be. However, with the right care and management, it is a highly manageable condition.
We focus on early detection and long-term management of COPD. We provide ongoing care and expert management to help you control your symptoms, avoid complications, and maintain your independence.
Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition that affects the airways in your lungs, causing them to become inflamed and narrowed. This narrowing makes it harder to move air in and out of the lungs and can lead to symptoms like coughing and shortness of breath.
Symptoms of asthma can vary from person to person, but common signs include recurring episodes of:
While the exact cause of asthma is not fully understood, exposure to various irritants and allergens can trigger symptoms. Some common triggers include:
When exposed to a trigger, the airways can overreact, becoming swollen and producing excess mucus, which makes breathing even more difficult.
Asthma is a long-term condition, but with the right care, it can be well-managed. At Internal Medicine & Primary Care of Sebastian, we provide expert, personalized asthma care to help you:
Your individualized treatment plan may include:
We work closely with you to identify your specific asthma triggers and help you manage them. With the right support, most people with asthma can live symptom-free.
When breathing becomes difficult, it can interfere with your daily life, making even simple tasks like walking, sleeping, or talking feel exhausting.
Whether you are dealing with asthma, bronchitis, COPD, or other respiratory issues, our experienced primary care provider, Dr. Pierre, delivers expert care to help you breathe easier and feel better.
To schedule a consultation, please call (772) 783-2436 or book an appointment online today.
If you experience symptoms requiring immediate attention, we also provide acute care appointments within 48 hours to ensure you receive prompt evaluation and treatment.
7955 Bay St Suite 2
Sebastian, FL 32958
Monday - Friday | 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday | Available by Appointment
