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Dr. Kar-Ming Lo, MD

(46 Ratings)

Specializes in: Adult Pulmonology, Sleep Medicine and Adult Critical Care

Northeast Ohio Medical University (1996)

Professional interests include: emphysema, lung issues, asthma, and more.

9500 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44195

(216) 444-6503

Dr. Kar-Ming Lo, MD is a pulmonologist in Akron, OH specializing in adult pulmonology, sleep medicine and adult critical care. He graduated from Northeast Ohio Medical University in 1996 and has 28 years of experience. Dr. Kar-Ming Lo, MD is affiliated with Hillcrest Hospital, Cleveland Clinic and Cleveland Clinic Main Campus.

Office Locations

Address:

224 W. Exchange Street Suite #380
Akron, OH 44302

Address:

6770 Mayfield Road Mail Code Hc
Mayfield Heights, OH 44124

Address:

9500 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44195

Some issues Dr. Kar-Ming Lo, 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.

**Gender**
Male	220
Female	263

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	335
Black	137
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	138
From 75 to 84	144
85 and over	128
Less than 65	73

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	67
Stroke	14
Ischemic Heart Disease	69
Depression	37
Chronic Kidney Disease	56
Asthma	22
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	28
Heart Failure	58
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	52
Diabetes	48
Dementia	29
Cancer	19

airway management	63
catheterization	21
doctor visit	156
hospital care	1029
inpatient care	1029
pulmonary testing	31
sleep study	91
tracheal (windpipe) procedures	10

**Gender**
Male	343
Female	376

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	505
Black	191
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	11
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	243
From 75 to 84	206
85 and over	138
Less than 65	132

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	71
Stroke	16
Ischemic Heart Disease	68
Depression	42
Chronic Kidney Disease	61
Asthma	22
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	29
Heart Failure	61
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	54
Diabetes	48
Dementia	29
Cancer	18

airway management	29
catheterization	17
doctor visit	94
hospital care	686
inpatient care	686
pulmonary testing	77
sleep study	49

**Gender**
Male	608
Female	574

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	866
Black	252
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	26
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	384
From 75 to 84	352
85 and over	234
Less than 65	212

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	67
Stroke	15
Ischemic Heart Disease	66
Depression	44
Chronic Kidney Disease	59
Asthma	34
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	32
Heart Failure	58
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	52
Diabetes	51
Dementia	25
Cancer	19

airway management	16
doctor visit	108
hospital care	769
inpatient care	769
sleep study	35

**Gender**
Male	267
Female	328

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	434
Black	142
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	181
From 75 to 84	176
85 and over	157
Less than 65	81

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	71
Stroke	15
Ischemic Heart Disease	64
Depression	37
Chronic Kidney Disease	65
Asthma	57
Osteoperosis	14
Atrial Fibrilation	30
Heart Failure	62
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	56
Diabetes	48
Dementia	30
Cancer	20

airway management	19
doctor visit	162
hospital care	659
inpatient care	659
sleep study	51

**Gender**
Male	246
Female	301

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	419
Black	104
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	184
From 75 to 84	165
85 and over	115
Less than 65	83

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	67
Stroke	12
Ischemic Heart Disease	55
Depression	42
Chronic Kidney Disease	56
Asthma	25
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	30
Heart Failure	56
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	56
Diabetes	44
Dementia	29
Cancer	17

doctor visit	242
hospital care	584
inpatient care	584

**Gender**
Male	213
Female	236

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	350
Black	84
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	157
From 75 to 84	126
85 and over	119
Less than 65	47

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	74
Stroke	14
Ischemic Heart Disease	59
Depression	36
Chronic Kidney Disease	66
Asthma	18
Osteoperosis	13
Atrial Fibrilation	31
Heart Failure	61
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	56
Diabetes	45
Dementia	32
Cancer	19

doctor visit	242
hospital care	533
inpatient care	533
pulmonary testing	29

**Gender**
Male	227
Female	284

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	387
Black	108
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	183
From 75 to 84	156
85 and over	121
Less than 65	51

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	12
Ischemic Heart Disease	55
Depression	40
Chronic Kidney Disease	64
Asthma	19
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	31
Heart Failure	56
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	52
Diabetes	47
Dementia	31
Cancer	24

doctor visit	167
hospital care	357
inpatient care	357

**Gender**
Male	223
Female	229

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	329
Black	100
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	167
From 75 to 84	154
85 and over	91
Less than 65	40

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	15
Ischemic Heart Disease	53
Depression	35
Chronic Kidney Disease	62
Asthma	17
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	31
Heart Failure	56
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	45
Diabetes	48
Dementia	29
Cancer	18

doctor visit	431
hospital care	925
inpatient care	925
pulmonary testing	39

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Kar-Ming Lo, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Kar-Ming Lo, MD treated as a pulmonologist in Akron, OH were hospital care, inpatient care, sleep study and pulmonary testing.

airway management	31
catheterization	20
doctor visit	192
hospital care	702
inpatient care	702
pulmonary testing	42
sleep study	56
tracheal (windpipe) procedures	10

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Kar-Ming Lo, MD.

**Gender**
Male	234
Female	259

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	111
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	362
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	0
Other	3

**Age**
75 to 84	147
85 and over	110
Less than 65	71
65 to 74	163

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Kar-Ming Lo, MD From 2013 - 2021

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Kar-Ming Lo, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, chronic kidney disease and ischemic heart disease.

Hypertension	60
High Cholesterol	56
Stroke	11
Ischemic Heart Disease	48
Depression	31
Chronic Kidney Disease	48
Asthma	21
Osteoporosis	9
Heart Failure	46
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	42
Diabetes	37
Atrial Fibrillation	24
Cancer	15
Dementia	23

Education & Training

Dr. Kar-Ming Lo, MD graduated from Northeast Ohio Medical University in 1996. He completed residency at Rush University Medical Center. He is certified by the Internal Medicine - Sleep Medicine Internal Medicine - Critical Care Medicine Internal Medicine - Pulmonary Disease and has a state license in Ohio.

Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University (1996)

Residency: Rush University Medical Center (1999)

Board Certification: Internal Medicine - Sleep Medicine Internal Medicine - Critical Care Medicine Internal Medicine - Pulmonary Disease

Licensed In: Ohio

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Kar-Ming Lo, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Hillcrest Hospital

Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic Main Campus

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Kar-Ming Lo, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 46 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Kar-Ming Lo, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Akron, OH.

Overall Rating

(46 Ratings)

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Kar-Ming Lo, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Pfizer Inc.	$647 ELIQUIS $598	CHANTIX $33	PAXLOVID $16
Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc.	$161 OPSUMIT MACITENTAN $131	VELETRI EPOPROSTENOL $30
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.	$158 BREO $95	ANORO $33	TRELEGY ELLIPTA $17	INCRUSE $13
Jazz Pharmaceuticals Inc.	$143 Xyrem $143
Inspire Medical Systems, Inc.	$116 Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation System $116
Other	$417 Esbriet $68	SYMBICORT $58	Prolastin-C $43	Yupelri $41	OFEV $31	Other $175

**Types of Payments**
Food and Beverage	$1,582
Education	$60

Biography

Dr. Kar-Ming Lo specializes in adult critical care, sleep medicine, and adult pulmonology. Dr. Lo has a 5.0 out of 5 star average patient rating. These areas are among his clinical interests: emphysema, bronchitis, and bronchoscopy. He is affiliated with Hillcrest Hospital and Cleveland Clinic Main Campus. Dr. Lo attended Northeast Ohio Medical University for medical school and subsequently trained at Rush University Medical Center for residency.