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Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD

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Specializes in: Adult Pulmonology and Adult Critical Care
Professional interests include: occupational health issues, bronchoscopy, bronchitis, and more.
1709 Union Avenue
Natrona Heights, PA 15065

Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD is a pulmonologist in Natrona Heights, PA specializing in adult pulmonology and adult critical care. Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD is affiliated with Allegheny Health Network.

View Doctor's Full Profile (724) 671-1002

Office Locations

Allegheny Health Network

1709 Union Avenue
Natrona Heights, PA 15065
(724) 671-1002
(724) 671-1004
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320 E North Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
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490 E North Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
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Some issues Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD can help you with:

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:

  • Allergens (dust mites, pet fur, mold, pollen, grass)
  • Irritants (smoke, pollution, dust, chemicals)
  • Viral infections
  • Physical activity, especially outdoors
  • Certain medications or chemicals in foods (aspirin, sulfites)

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:

  • Brush biopsy, which uses a brush to collect samples.
  • Endobronchial biopsy, which uses the bronchoscope to guide forceps to sample lung tissue.
  • Transbronchial biopsy, which uses forceps and image guidance - such as X-rays, CT scans, or fluoroscopy - to sample lung tissue.
  • Transbronchial fine needle aspiration (TBNA), which uses a small needle to take samples of the lymph nodes or lungs.

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.

Lung Issues

Every cell in the body requires oxygen to function and produces carbon dioxide as a waste product. In order to keep the body's tissues constantly supplied with fresh oxygen and to keep waste from building up, the lungs pump air in and out, even while sleeping or unaware. Unfortunately, diseases and disorders affecting the lungs are some of the most common medical problems afflicting people around the world. Some of the most common lung problems include asthma, COPD, pneumonia, and lung cancer.

Asthma is a chronic disease where swollen, inflamed airways make it hard to breathe. It is often brought on by specific triggers. While asthma is a common condition, affecting millions of people, it can also be serious and even fatal in severe cases. Treatment involves avoiding triggers and using inhaled corticosteroid medications.

COPD, or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, is the name given to two illnesses that both cause difficulty breathing: emphysema and chronic bronchitis. In emphysema, the air sacs of the lungs become damaged, while with bronchitis they become clogged with mucus. COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. It is almost always caused by breathing irritants into the lungs, such as smoking or heavy pollution.

Pneumonia is a lung infection that can be caused by bacteria, a virus, or fungi. Most healthy people recover from pneumonia in a week or two, but for some people pneumonia can be fatal. There are treatments available for pneumonia, but the best treatment is to prevent getting sick in the first place. People who are at risk should make sure they get a flu shot every year. There is also a vaccine available for the type of bacteria that causes pneumonia.

Lung cancer occurs when abnormal cells inside the lung grow into a tumor, destroying healthy tissue. Because it is so difficult to detect lung cancer in early stages when it has few symptoms, it is the deadliest form of cancer, responsible for the most cancer deaths both in the U.S. and worldwide. Most lung cancer is caused by exposure to tobacco smoke, but between 10-15% of cases are not linked to smoking.

Some problems with the lungs are minor and are not cause for concern. However if symptoms have lasted for a month or more, even if they are minor, it is worth checking with a healthcare professional. A cough, shortness of breath, or excess mucus production that lingers for weeks are all worth getting looked at.

Noteworthy Medicare Patient Procedures Performed by Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD in 2023

Click on any procedure below to see further details on volume and pricing among Medicare patients.

Top 10%

By Volume:

inpatient hospital care

In 2023, Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD performed more inpatient hospital care (for patient admitted to hospital) procedures for Medicare patients than 90% of providers in related specialties within Pennsylvania.

Top 25%

By Affordability:

lung diffusion capacity test
lung volume test
pulmonary function test
pulmonary testing

In 2012, Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD had a list price for lung diffusion capacity test (DLCO), lung volume test, pulmonary function test (PFT), and pulmonary testing that was lower than the list prices billed to Medicare by 75% of providers in related specialties within Pennsylvania. Actual amounts paid by patients can vary widely depending on a number of factors, including insurance coverage. A lower list price, however, might mean lower fees when paying without insurance.

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD treated as a pulmonologist in Natrona Heights, PA during 2012 were hospital care, inpatient care and catheterization.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD for Medicare patients.

catheterization 16
hospital care 218
inpatient care 218

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD treated as a pulmonologist in Natrona Heights, PA during 2013 were hospital care, inpatient care and catheterization.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD for Medicare patients.

catheterization 15
hospital care 248
inpatient care 248

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD.

Gender
Male 77
Female 127
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 180
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 49
From 75 to 84 58
85 and over 62
Less than 65 35

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD in 2013

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 68
Stroke 24
Ischemic Heart Disease 69
Depression 39
Chronic Kidney Disease 58
Asthma 19
Osteoperosis 16
Atrial Fibrilation 33
Heart Failure 63
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 56
Diabetes 54
Dementia 23
Cancer 21

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD treated as a pulmonologist in Natrona Heights, PA during 2014 were hospital care, inpatient care and tracheal (windpipe) procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD for Medicare patients.

hospital care 247
inpatient care 247
tracheal (windpipe) procedures 12

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD.

Gender
Male 109
Female 94
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 181
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 62
From 75 to 84 55
85 and over 56
Less than 65 30

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD in 2014

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 73
Stroke 25
Ischemic Heart Disease 75
Depression 40
Chronic Kidney Disease 65
Asthma 16
Osteoperosis 18
Atrial Fibrilation 44
Heart Failure 69
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 55
Diabetes 53
Dementia 21
Cancer 17

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD treated as a pulmonologist in Natrona Heights, PA during 2015 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD for Medicare patients.

hospital care 179
inpatient care 179

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD.

Gender
Male 172
Female 174
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 314
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 90
From 75 to 84 76
85 and over 108
Less than 65 72

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD in 2015

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 71
Stroke 20
Ischemic Heart Disease 71
Depression 42
Chronic Kidney Disease 64
Asthma 29
Osteoperosis 14
Atrial Fibrilation 40
Heart Failure 60
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 53
Diabetes 50
Dementia 23
Cancer 18

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD treated as a pulmonologist in Natrona Heights, PA during 2016 were hospital care, inpatient care and catheterization.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD for Medicare patients.

catheterization 19
hospital care 287
inpatient care 287

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD.

Gender
Male 82
Female 101
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 155
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 59
From 75 to 84 38
85 and over 59
Less than 65 27

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD in 2016

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 73
Stroke 25
Ischemic Heart Disease 71
Depression 41
Chronic Kidney Disease 69
Asthma 55
Osteoperosis 15
Atrial Fibrilation 39
Heart Failure 64
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 54
Diabetes 51
Dementia 34
Cancer 19

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD treated as a pulmonologist in Natrona Heights, PA during 2017 were hospital care, inpatient care, pulmonary testing and tracheal (windpipe) procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD for Medicare patients.

bronchoscopy 13
catheterization 13
doctor visit 32
hospital care 455
inpatient care 455
pulmonary testing 22
tracheal (windpipe) procedures 15

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD.

Gender
Male 116
Female 107
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 194
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 87
From 75 to 84 43
85 and over 50
Less than 65 43

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD in 2017

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 65
Stroke 22
Ischemic Heart Disease 67
Depression 39
Chronic Kidney Disease 66
Asthma 14
Osteoperosis 10
Atrial Fibrilation 41
Heart Failure 62
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 59
Diabetes 52
Dementia 37
Cancer 22

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD treated as a pulmonologist in Natrona Heights, PA during 2018 were hospital care, inpatient care and pulmonary testing.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 164
hospital care 1330
inpatient care 1330
pulmonary testing 108

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD.

Gender
Male 127
Female 141
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 250
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 102
From 75 to 84 71
85 and over 51
Less than 65 44

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD in 2018

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 69
Stroke 7
Ischemic Heart Disease 60
Depression 37
Chronic Kidney Disease 56
Asthma 17
Osteoperosis 15
Atrial Fibrilation 35
Heart Failure 58
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 63
Diabetes 46
Dementia 28
Cancer 15

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD treated as a pulmonologist in Natrona Heights, PA during 2019 were hospital care, inpatient care and pulmonary testing.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 195
hospital care 1044
inpatient care 1044
pulmonary testing 142

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD.

Gender
Male 149
Female 180
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 316
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 139
From 75 to 84 86
85 and over 61
Less than 65 43

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD in 2019

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 66
Stroke 10
Ischemic Heart Disease 58
Depression 39
Chronic Kidney Disease 47
Asthma 17
Osteoperosis 15
Atrial Fibrilation 31
Heart Failure 50
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 55
Diabetes 37
Dementia 22
Cancer 18

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD treated as a pulmonologist in Natrona Heights, PA during 2020 were hospital care, inpatient care and pulmonary testing.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 82
hospital care 934
inpatient care 934
pulmonary testing 109

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD.

Gender
Male 160
Female 165
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 295
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 129
From 75 to 84 86
85 and over 55
Less than 65 55

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD in 2020

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 70
Stroke 11
Ischemic Heart Disease 52
Depression 34
Chronic Kidney Disease 49
Asthma 14
Osteoperosis 12
Atrial Fibrilation 26
Heart Failure 44
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 51
Diabetes 39
Dementia 24
Cancer 16

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD treated as a pulmonologist in Natrona Heights, PA during 2021 were hospital care, inpatient care and pulmonary testing.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 113
hospital care 739
inpatient care 739
pulmonary testing 125

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD.

Gender
Male 133
Female 165
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 280
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 143
From 75 to 84 74
85 and over 38
Less than 65 43

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD in 2021

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 75
Stroke 10
Ischemic Heart Disease 52
Depression 34
Chronic Kidney Disease 49
Asthma 16
Osteoperosis 13
Atrial Fibrilation 25
Heart Failure 47
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 53
Diabetes 40
Dementia 18
Cancer 17

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD treated as a pulmonologist in Natrona Heights, PA during 2022 were hospital care, inpatient care and pulmonary testing.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 145
hospital care 515
inpatient care 515
pulmonary testing 76

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD.

Gender
Male 109
Female 156
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 250
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 106
From 75 to 84 69
85 and over 44
Less than 65 46

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD in 2022

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 75
Stroke 18
Ischemic Heart Disease 39
Depression 33
Chronic Kidney Disease 32
Asthma 24
Osteoperosis 17
Atrial Fibrilation 34
Heart Failure 42
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 56
Diabetes 37
Dementia 13
Cancer 21

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2022

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD treated as a pulmonologist in Natrona Heights, PA were hospital care, inpatient care, pulmonary testing and catheterization.

bronchoscopy 13
catheterization 15
doctor visit 121
hospital care 563
inpatient care 563
pulmonary testing 97
tracheal (windpipe) procedures 13

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2022

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD.

Gender
Male 112
Female 128
Ethnicity
Black / African American 0
Asian / Pacific Islander 0
Non-Hispanic White 219
Native American / Alaskan Native 0
Hispanic 0
Other 0
Age
75 to 84 59
85 and over 53
Less than 65 39
65 to 74 87

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD From 2012 - 2022

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, ischemic heart disease and chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension 68
High Cholesterol 64
Stroke 15
Ischemic Heart Disease 55
Depression 34
Chronic Kidney Disease 50
Asthma 20
Osteoporosis 13
Heart Failure 50
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 50
Diabetes 41
Atrial Fibrillation 31
Dementia 22
Cancer 16

Education & Training

He completed residency at West Penn Hospital. He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine - Critical Care Medicine American Board of Internal Medicine - Pulmonary Disease and has a state license in Pennsylvania.

Residency: West Penn Hospital

Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine - Critical Care Medicine American Board of Internal Medicine - Pulmonary Disease

Licensed In: Pennsylvania

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Allegheny Health Network

Ratings & Reviews

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Christopher George Pastor, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

Payments by Company
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. $11 STIOLTO
$11
Types of Payments
Food and Beverage $11

Biography

Dr. Christopher Pastor's medical specialty is adult critical care and adult pulmonology. Areas of expertise for Dr. Pastor include exercise induced asthma, lung mass, and lung cancer. He is professionally affiliated with Allegheny Health Network. Dr. Pastor studied medicine at Temple University School of Medicine.