Dr. Andrew Thua Thang Ngo, MD is a family medicine practitioner in Brea, CA specializing in family medicine. He graduated from St. Louis University School of Medicine. Dr. Andrew Thua Thang Ngo, MD is affiliated with St. Joseph Health (Northern California, Southern California, and West Texas/Eastern New Mexico), St. Jude Heritage Brea - Primary Care Suite 200 and PROVIDENCE MEDICAL FOUNDATION.
955 West Imperial Highway Suite 200
Brea, CA 92821
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.
Depression
Everyone knows what it feels like to get the blues once in a while. But depression is a serious illness that is more severe than a bad day and lasts much longer. Symptoms of depression stop a person from being able to function and enjoy daily activities for weeks or months at a time. It can happen to anyone, and it isn't something that people can control by force of will or "snap out of it."
Some common symptoms of depression include:
We don't yet know what causes depression, but it's thought that it is a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and social influences. Because of this, the most effective treatments for depression combine medication with psychotherapy. Therapy, especially cognitive-behavioral therapy, can be extremely helpful in resolving the negative thoughts and feelings that come with depression. It gives patients new tools that they can use themselves to cope when their depression is making them feel down.
Some of the common medications used to treat depression include antidepressants such as SSRI's (Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft) or atypical antidepressants (Cymbalta, Wellbutrin). It's important to remember that these medications have different effects on everybody, and no one medication works right for everyone. Patients may have to try a couple before finding the one that works just right for them. If the first medication they try doesn't work, they should talk to their doctor about trying something else. In extreme cases where medication is not enough, electro-convulsive therapy and hospitalization may be the answer to keeping a severely depressed person safe.
Depression is a difficult illness to deal with, but it is more common than believed and there are many people who can help. With the right treatment, individuals with depression can get back to fully enjoying life again.
Joint Injections
A joint is any area of the body where two bones connect. Due to injury or disease, the space between the two bones can sometimes become swollen and inflamed, which leads to pain and a loss of mobility. Injection and aspiration are two tools that physicians use to treat joint pain locally without needing to perform surgery.
Both injection and aspiration are techniques that involve inserting a needle connected to a syringe directly into the joint. Aspiration involves the removal of excess fluid, and injection is the placement of medication directly into the joint space via the needle. Both procedures may be performed at the same time. In both cases a local anesthetic may be used, the skin will be cleaned and disinfected, and then the needle will be inserted. In some cases, especially if the injection or aspiration is in a large and deep joint such as the hip or spine, ultrasound may be used to guide the needle to the exact location desired.
In some cases, irritation to the joint can cause fluid to build up so significantly that the joint hurts and can no longer move well. Aspiration removes some of the excess fluid and relieves the pressure. In addition, aspiration can be used to provide a sample of joint fluid if it needs to be examined microscopically for the presence of white blood cells, bacteria, or crystal formations.
Certain injuries and diseases that affect joints are inflammatory in nature, such as rheumatoid arthritis, tendonitis or gout. These diseases may be helped by the local injection of anti-inflammatory medications directly into the affected joint. In this case, corticosteroids such as methylprednisone are usually used. Relief from the pain may be felt right away and may last for weeks or even months.
In some cases, such as with osteoarthritis, the cartilage buffer between the two bones wears down and pain comes from bones rubbing against each other. In this case, injection of a lubricating agent such as hyaluronic acid may be beneficial. It provides a slippery cushion between the bones to relieve pain that can last for months.
Dr. Andrew Thua Thang Ngo, MD graduated from St. Louis University School of Medicine. He completed residency at PIH Health. He is certified by the Board Certification: Family Medicine and has a state license in California.
Medical School: St. Louis University School of Medicine
Residency: PIH Health
Board Certification: Board Certification: Family Medicine
Licensed In: California
Dr. Andrew Thua Thang Ngo, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:
Dr. Andrew Thua Thang Ngo, MD appears to accept the following insurance providers: Aetna PPO, Anthem Blue Cross HMO, Health Net HMO, SCAN Medicare Advantage, Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO, Cigna HMO, Vivity by Anthem Blue Cross, United Healthcare Medicare Advantage, Anthem Blue Cross PPO, Health Net PPO, Cigna PPO, Health Net Medicare Advantage, Blue Shield of CA Medicare Advantage, HealthSmart (Interplan) PPO, Blue Shield of CA HMO – Trio, Coventry/First Health PPO, United Healthcare HMO, Blue Shield of CA HMO, Blue Shield of CA PPO, Providence Medicare Advantage, Health Net - TriCare, Choice /Humana PPO, US Family Health Plan - TriCare, Anthem Blue Cross Medicare Advantage, Anthem Blue Cross Medicare PPO, Multiplan PPO, Aetna HMO, Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO, United HealthCare PPO, CIGNA PPO, Aetna Medicare PPO, CIGNA HMO, Medicare Advantage, MultiPlan PPO, United Healthcare PPO, Coventry PPO, United Healthcare HMO, Blue Shield of California, Aetna, First Health PPO, US Family Health Plan, United Healthcare, Anthem Blue Cross HMO, Humana, Anthem Blue Cross PPO, TRICARE, Anthem, Health Net PPO, Health Net HMO, HealthSmart, Providence, Aetna PPO, Aetna HMO and Insurance Plan.
According to our sources, Dr. Andrew Thua Thang Ngo, MD accepts the following insurance providers:
Dr. Andrew Thua Thang Ngo, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars based on 88 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Andrew Thua Thang Ngo, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Brea, CA.
Dr. Andrew Ngo is a physician who specializes in family medicine. He has received a 4.5 out of 5 star rating by his patients. Dr. Ngo's areas of expertise include diabetes, nail fungus, and depression. He is professionally affiliated with St. Joseph Health (Northern California, Southern California, and West Texas/Eastern New Mexico). He can take several insurance carriers, including Anthem, Blue California, and HealthSmart. Yext reports that Dr. Ngo is accepting new patients at his office in Brea, CA. He is a graduate of St. Louis University School of Medicine. Dr. Ngo speaks Spanish.