Dr. Douglas Arenberg
Pulmonary Critical Care
Northville, MI
33 years experience male
Locations
University of Michigan Lung Cancer Screening Program
Northville, MI
University of Michigan Health System
Ann Arbor, MI
About
Bio
I am a pulmonologist but my outpatient practice is primarily focused on lung cancer, early detection, staging, diagnosis and risk assessment. I work at the University of Michigan with an outstanding team of radiologists, nuclear radiologists, medical & radiation oncologists, surgeons, and pathologists. This multidisciplinary team is in place to help people through a very difficult and stressful process, the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Pulmonary Critical Care
Critical Care
Languages spoken
English
Doctor Q&A
399 Answers
139 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 43-year-old female asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
Probably not...: All non-calcified nodules can be cancer, but >96% are not. The only way to prove its not cancer is watch it or take it out. For most, watching is b... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 68-year-old male asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
Listen more closely: The medication you shouldn't take before a PET is metformin (Glucophage). It has specific effects on the quality of images, and interpretation of the ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
392 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 29-year-old female asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
You generally don't: 1st, more than 95% of "bronchitis" is viral. Secondly the other 5% probably resolve spontaneously without any therapy. It really does not matter unles... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old male asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
Probably overkill: For nonsmokers, with nodules in that size range, we recommend no further follow-up. If you are smoker, stop smoking. If any follow-up is necessary, 12... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 53-year-old male asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
Zero: A pet scan is only useful when it's negative, because a pet scan that is positive only shows metabolic activity not "cancer". The size resolution of a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
795 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
This is common. : Warfarin (Coumadin) is often held for several days, typically for a procedure. A “bridge” strategy for those at higher risk for recurrence of a clot ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
393 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 54-year-old male asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
Coincidence: Paraseptal emphysema is caused by particulate pollution from combustion of organic materials (tobacco, diesel fumes, woodstoves, etc.). If you have em... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old female asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
Time: Pleurisy is rarely if ever caused by a bacterial infection. It is simply inflammation in the pleura, and antibiotics are unlikely to do anything other... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
Blood "thinners": The very reason they are useful is also their major side effect. They promote dissolution or prevent the formation of clots. Nobody should be surprise... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
Rest, fluids, and...: ...Fever reducers (aspirin, or acetaminphen) . There are two approved drugs that can reduce symptoms, but only if started within ~24 hours of symptoms... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
Usually not: Unless you break a bone when you pass out. Actually the cough that leads to syncope is usually a powerful cough and that can result in pain, but the ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
There can be none: "mucor" is actually several different fungi, and infection is almost restricted to people with impaired immunity, e.g. Immunosuppressive drugs, after ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
Many diseases: Interstitial lung disease (ild) is a term used to describe many different diseases that affect the lung tissue, or alveolar spaces (as opposed to the ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
No...but: Smoking teens grow into smoking adults, and are much more likely to get lung cancer than adults who quit as teens. Once you pick up a cigarette, the c... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
For mild high BP: Diet (no added salt, and cut back on processed foods, eating more fresh produce, fish, lean meats), regular exercise (doesn't have to be intense, dura... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old member asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
No: The bug that causes "legionaire's disease" can be found in all climates. It is not spread from person to person. It has a predilection to occur more... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old member asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
Probably not: There is no evidence of a direct link between lung infection and cancer. Chronic inflammation (eg. Emphysema and, to a lesser degree, chronic bronchi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
No...: "swine flu" refers to the illness caused by a strain of influenza that came from pigs but adapted to be able to cause human disease. Once this occurs... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
You can: But the more effective and safer treatment is a blood thinner (warfarin or enoxaparin for example). "screens" or ivc filters are reserved for when blo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
That depends...: Aspergillus infections are opportunistic. That is, they usually occur in persons with severely compromised bone marrow function (such as just after i... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
Foods?: Avoid any foods that keep you from going to the doctor to get your adrenal insufficiency properly evaluated and treated. In other words none.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
That depends...: I have seen CF patients carry pregnancy to full term. The risk is the same as for anyone with impaired lung function and/or malnutrition (very common ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
No: We haven't actually had a bird flu epidemic recently. There have been sporadic cases around the world. Epidemic influenza is a regular global occurre... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
No: It is a bug that can be found in the environment as well as in water supplies. It is not transmitted from person to person, and usually affects those ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
Short answer...: No. While asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, most exposed individuals don't get lung cancer or any of the other problems linked to asbestos. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old member asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
See a doc: ...Experienced in treating asthma. Most symptoms can be treated with inhaled bronchodilators. Two puffs taken before exercise usually prevents sympto... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
No: Exposure to someone with active TB does not make you infectious. You can only spread TB to othrs if you yourself actively have tuberculosis. If you w... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 22-year-old member asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
Yes: The treatment is effective, more so now than in the past, but the bug can persist especially if your immune system is not intact.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 50-year-old member asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
Ask your sleep doc: They should be able to some up, with a mask, head strap and CPAP combo that you can wear comfortably.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years agoMerged
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
Also...: Adding to dr. Noga's comments. If surgery is not an option, radiation therapy is standard treatment for (thoroughly staged) stage ii lung cancer. Che... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
No...: Not unless you use it as a weapon. "inhalers" deliver many different types of medications; mostly bronchodilators and steroids. Used properly, they ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old member asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
None...: ...Even non-smokers get lung cancer. For people having the genetic machinery to get lung cancer (which isn't everybody), smoking increases the chances... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
It may: Sstudies have shown that influenza virus can persist in a viable form on "fomites" (door handles, keyboards, telephones etc., ), for up to 8 hours. T... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
Nicotine is powerful: As powerful as heroine in promoting dependence, and some of us are wired so that we are more likely to become addicted after just a couple cigs. Add t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
Spasm: A hiccup is a sudden involuntary contraction of the diaphragm. They can happen if the phrenic nerve (the one that innervates the diaphragm) is irritat... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old female asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
See your doctor: Nodules in the lung a very common, almost always benign, but depending on your age, family history, smoking history, and the appearance of the nodules... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 23-year-old member asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
See your doctor: A chest x-ray is usually a good idea for persistent cough, and its probably going to be normal. Three most common causes of the cough you describe are... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
Cancer: Specifically lung cancer, but perhaps others, in which a specific mutation is present. For now it is only used for people with metastatic lung cancer... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 55-year-old female asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
No: Benign lung nodules are present on ct scan in a large minority of the population, perhaps even more than 50% in some areas, and depending upon how you... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
Some questions can't: ...Be answered in an online forum like this. I assume your doctor has sat down with you to discuss the results of your mri? If you can't understand yo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
What do you mean: ...By natural? The best diet is to eat foods that your great grandmonther would recognize. Fresh produce, whole grains, meats in moderation. Here is ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 92-year-old member asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
Could be sleep apnea: But you need to see a doctor. The internet is a great place to answer some questions like "what is "sleep apnea?" or "what is cheyne-stokes breathing?... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 17-year-old male asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
Need more info: Doctors need to see you and take a fuller history than is permitted here. You could have nothing, or you could have asthma, chronic allergies, or any ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old male asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
Bronchitis?: I would need more history, such as how long this has been going on, but this sounds like you could have chronic (or acute) bronchitis. You should tell... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
That depends: Its a tool used to diagnose (rarely to treat) lung diseases from pneumonia in people with suppressed immunity, to lung cancer, to many obscure lung d... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
Yes: Its the same tobacco you get in a cigarette, without the benefit of a filter. Any combustion product that you intentionally inhale into your lungs is... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
See your doctotr: This can be a serious problem and can be helped with psychiatric expertise.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
Lots of things: Most chest pain of the sort you describe comes either from the chest wall (ribs, sternum) or the lining of the lungs (the pleura). The lungs have no p... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 18-year-old male asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
Fluid overload?: Can't give you an accurate answer without knowing more history, etc. But it sounds like some fluid overload. This would resolve on its own in an othe... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. Douglas Arenberganswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 33 years experience
No: Sweating is a natural adaptive response to regulate body temperature. We sweat every day of our lives whether we realize it or not, and we don't get p... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
8
Recommendations
676
Thank you notes
Aug 1, 2013
An outstanding lung cancer specialist.
Nov 13, 2012
HealthTap member
Nov 30, 2012
please help me doctor.please.my hasband is 35 years old.his spirometry answer is:
slight restrictive shape of curve.
moderate expiratory flow limitation.
further examination for extrathoracic flo...Read More
HealthTap member
I have no cough just the speckled phlegm. I did ask doctor. Several of them and they all said NO they don't think is cancer. Thank you so much I just get nervous sometimes and needed a bit of reassura...Read More
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer or tip was very helpful! Thank you, I'm having a facelift and wanted to know how long I should quite before procedure... Thanks again for the fast answer!
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! Thank you. I did a spirometry and they told me it was COPD I just hope ai dont have idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Most of the symptoms are there
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
University of Illinois College of Medicine, IL
Graduated 1990MD
Residency
University of Michigan
Completed 1993
Awards
Americas Best Doctor, Best Doctors
Henry Christian Award for Excellence in cancer research, American Federation for Medical Research
Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians
Affiliations
International association for the study of lung cancer
American Thoracic Society
American college of Chest Physicians
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