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Dr. Karen A. Hardy, MD is a pediatric pulmonologist in Walnut Creek, CA specializing in pediatric pulmonology and general pediatrics. She graduated from University of Toledo College of Medicine. Dr. Karen A. Hardy, MD is affiliated with Stanford Medicine Children's Health, Brown and Toland Physicians, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, Sutter Health, John Muir Health, California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC), LPCH MEDICAL GROUP DIV OF LUCILE and John Muir Memorial Hospital.
106 La Casa Viaduct Suite 100
Walnut Creek, CA 94598
1100 Van Ness Avenue 7th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94109
3700 California Street Suite B555
San Francisco, CA 94118
6121 Hollis Street Suite 2
Emeryville
6121 Hollis Street Suite 2
Emeryville, CA 94608
725 Welch Road
Palo Alto, CA 94304
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.
Dr. Karen A. Hardy, MD graduated from University of Toledo College of Medicine. She completed residency at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Affiliated Hospitals. She is certified by the Pediatric Pulmonology, American Board of Pediatrics, Pediatrics, American Board of Pediatrics and has a state license in California.
Medical School: University of Toledo College of Medicine
Residency: University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Affiliated Hospitals
Board Certification: Pediatric Pulmonology, American Board of Pediatrics, Pediatrics, American Board of Pediatrics (2023)
Licensed In: California
Dr. Karen A. Hardy, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:
Dr. Karen A. Hardy, MD has a high overall rating with an average of 4.0 out of 5 stars based on 1 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Karen A. Hardy, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Walnut Creek, CA.
These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Karen A. Hardy, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.
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$237
ZENPEP $206 |
$31 |
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$117
KALYDECO $38 |
SYMDEKO $37 |
ORKAMBI $16 |
$27 |
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$114
Bethkis $100 |
Pertzye $15 |
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$102
TOBI $77 |
XOLAIR $25 |
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$53
NON-PRODUCT $29 |
V512 $24 |
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$299
ZENPEP $67 |
PERTZYE 16000 250 CAPS $31 |
Pegasys $22 |
The Vest System Model 105 Home Care $19 |
BEXSERO $19 |
Other $142 |
| $684 | |
| $239 |
Dr. Karen A. Hardy, MD has received 30 research payments totaling $242,190.
Dr. Karen Hardy specializes in pediatric pulmonology and general pediatrics. Dr. Hardy obtained her medical school training at the University of Toledo College of Medicine and performed her residency at Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland and a hospital affiliated with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Areas of expertise for Dr. Hardy include cystic fibrosis (CF) and asthma. Her professional affiliations include California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC), UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, and Brown and Toland Physicians. According to Brown and Toland Physicians, new patients are welcome to contact Dr. Hardy's office in San Francisco, CA.
