Dr. Lara Wittine, MD

Dr. Lara Wittine, MD is a Pulmonology specialist at AdventHealth Medical Group Neuroscience in Tampa, FL, dedicated to empowering patients with proactive, comprehensive pulmonary care. She is registered with The Florida Board of Medicine and practices under the Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice). Your pulmonologist is your primary partner in creating a long-term health plan, coordinating crucial screenings like lung cancer detection, and proactively managing chronic respiratory conditions to ensure your lungs and overall wellness thrive for years to come. She serves individuals of all ages seeking proactive respiratory health management and lung cancer prevention. Dr. Wittine is not currently accepting new patients, but you can call (813) 615-7725 to inquire about waitlists or future openings.

Dr. Wittine, a fellowship-trained physician with board certifications in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine, brings over 10 years of dedicated experience in pulmonary care. She earned her medical degree from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine in 2012 and is Board Certified in Sleep Medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine. As the Medical Director of the AASM-accredited AdventHealth Tampa Sleep Center, she provides a wide array of consultative, diagnostic, and therapeutic services for adult sleep-related disorders, emphasizing the importance of sleep for overall health. Dr. Wittine's compassionate, unyielding care, rooted in high-quality, evidence-based practice, is tailored to each patient's unique needs, empowering them to achieve optimal health. She is passionate about the benefits of sleep and advocates for this nationally in a leadership role at the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). Dr. Wittine provides consultations primarily in English.

A key part of the WePrevent mission is building your personalized prevention roadmap. Dr. Lara Wittine is a vital partner in this journey, focusing on proactive strategies to protect and enhance your long-term health.

By working together, you and Dr. Lara Wittine can create a clear, actionable plan to address your unique risk factors and health goals.

A proactive approach to health involves understanding and managing potential risks. Dr. Lara Wittine provides expert care for a range of conditions, focusing on early detection and effective management to support your long-term wellness. Common areas of focus include:

• Wheezing: Preventative healthcare includes paying attention to your body. Wheezing warrants a doctor's visit to determine the cause and begin appropriate treatment to avoid further issues.
• COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease): Protecting your lungs from damage, particularly through avoiding smoking and managing respiratory infections, is key to preventing or delaying the onset of COPD.
• Bronchitis: While some cases of bronchitis are viral and unavoidable, good respiratory health practices, such as regular handwashing and avoiding secondhand smoke, can still lessen the risk of acquiring the condition and its severity.
• Chronic Pulmonary Heart Diseases (incl. Pulmonary Hypertension): Protecting your heart and lungs from chronic diseases starts with understanding your risks and taking steps to reduce them – early diagnosis is key for better long-term outcomes.
• Pulmonary Embolism: Managing risk factors such as prolonged immobility or certain medical conditions helps reduce your chances of developing a pulmonary embolism, a potentially deadly blood clot in your lungs.
• Pulmonary Edema: By proactively addressing risk factors like heart failure and high blood pressure, you can take steps to avoid developing pulmonary edema and its life-threatening consequences.
• Pulmonary Hypertension: Regular medical checkups, including screenings if you're at risk, can lead to the early detection of pulmonary hypertension, making it possible to start treatment sooner and prevent irreversible damage.
• Pulmonary Insufficiency: Pulmonary insufficiency can lead to serious health problems, but regular monitoring and early intervention through preventive care can help you manage the condition and maintain your quality of life.
• Asthma: Regular check-ups with your doctor are crucial for preventing severe asthma episodes. Through proactive monitoring and adjustments to your treatment plan, you can keep your asthma under control.
• Hypoxemia: Preventing hypoxemia involves addressing risk factors like smoking and pollution, ensuring early detection through regular lung health assessments.
• Asphyxia and Hypoxemia: Preventing asphyxia and hypoxemia means reducing your risk factors like smoking and air pollution, emphasizing the critical role of preventive measures in maintaining good respiratory health.
• Sleep Related Hypoxemia: Regularly monitoring your oxygen levels during sleep can help prevent the long-term health problems associated with sleep-related hypoxemia, such as heart and lung complications.

This list highlights some common health concerns and is for informational purposes only. The best way to understand your personal health and create a prevention plan is to schedule a consultation. Accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment plans are developed based on individual patient evaluations.

Taking proactive steps is central to long-term health. Dr. Lara Wittine offers a range of key preventive screenings and services designed to provide crucial insights into your health and support your well-being:

• Arterial Blood Gas Test (ABG): As a step towards preventing serious lung complications, this simple blood test assesses your blood's oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, helping your doctor understand your respiratory health.
• Bronchoprovocation Test: By proactively checking your airway responsiveness, the bronchoprovocation test helps uncover potential problems like asthma before they become serious, paving the way for better management.
• Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP): CPAP is a proactive treatment for sleep apnea, helping to restore normal breathing patterns during sleep and promoting better health.
• Home Sleep Study: Proactively address potential breathing issues during sleep with a home sleep study, which helps diagnose sleep apnea and other sleep-disordered breathing problems.
• Lung Diffusion Capacity Test: This test is a simple yet powerful tool to proactively monitor your lung function. It measures how well your lungs transfer oxygen, aiding in the prevention and management of respiratory problems.
• Pulmonary Function Test: A pulmonary function test is a proactive step to understand your lung capacity and identify any underlying conditions that might need attention before they worsen.
• Sleep Study: Protect your lungs and heart by scheduling a sleep study – it's a simple test that can uncover hidden sleep disorders impacting your overall health and well-being.

Service availability can change, and not all services listed may be appropriate for every patient. For a comprehensive understanding of all available services and to create your personalized screening plan, please schedule a consultation.

All medical services are provided in accordance with the standard scope of practice for Pulmonology in Florida.

Dr. Lara Wittine is dedicated to partnering with Caregivers to achieve their unique health objectives. The following examples illustrate how a proactive approach can make a tangible difference in a Patient's life:

• Recognizing the early signs of wheezing and promptly seeking guidance allowed a patient to develop a personalized plan to manage their condition, significantly reducing the risk of future respiratory problems. This proactive approach provided the patient with peace of mind and empowered them to live a healthier life.
• By proactively managing respiratory health through avoidance of irritants and regular check-ups, a patient significantly reduced their risk of developing COPD, gaining confidence in their long-term lung health.

These scenarios are illustrative examples of positive health outcomes. Individual results may vary and depend on many factors specific to each patient. She will work with you to define and achieve your personal health goals.

Here are answers to some common questions about proactive Pulmonary care with Dr. Lara Wittine:

What is a Pulmonologist?

A pulmonologist is a medical specialist who diagnoses and treats diseases of the respiratory system, including the lungs, airways, and breathing muscles. They are experts in conditions like asthma, COPD, lung cancer, and sleep apnea.

I have a long history of smoking. Should I be screened for lung cancer?

Lung cancer screening with a low-dose CT scan is recommended for certain high-risk individuals, often based on age and smoking history, as a crucial preventive measure for early detection. Scheduling a consultation with Dr. Lara Wittine to discuss your specific eligibility is advised.

What is the role of a pulmonologist in the ICU?

Dr. Wittine and many pulmonologists are also board-certified in Critical Care Medicine. They lead the ICU team in managing the most critically ill patients, specializing in life-support and complex conditions.

What is a sleep study (polysomnography)?

A sleep study, or polysomnography, is the gold standard test for diagnosing sleep apnea. It's an overnight study performed in a comfortable sleep lab, monitoring brain waves, heart rate, breathing patterns, and oxygen levels to assess sleep quality and identify breathing disturbances.

What is pulmonary fibrosis?

Pulmonary fibrosis is a serious condition where lung tissue thickens and scars over time, making breathing difficult. While the scarring can't be reversed, early diagnosis by a specialist like Dr. Lara Wittine is key to starting treatments that can slow the disease's progression.

Can you help me quit smoking?

Yes, quitting smoking is the single most important step for lung health. Dr. Wittine can provide evidence-based support, including counseling and prescribing medications that can double or triple your chance of quitting successfully.

What is a pulmonary function test (PFT)?

A pulmonary function test (PFT) is a series of breathing tests that measure lung function, similar to an EKG for your lungs. It helps Dr. Wittine diagnose conditions like asthma and COPD, assess their severity, and monitor how well treatments are working.

What is the difference between asthma and COPD?

Asthma, often starting in childhood and linked to allergies, typically has reversible airway obstruction with medication. COPD, usually caused by smoking and developing later in life, involves permanent lung damage.

AdventHealth Medical Group Neuroscience at Tampa
3000 Medical Park Dr Ste 510
Tampa FL 33613
Phone: (813) 615-7725

Dr. Lara Wittine, MD is regulated by the Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice) in Florida and is licensed by The Florida Board of Medicine.

National Provider Identifier (NPI): 1245307941

Registration can typically be verified through The Florida Board of Medicine website or by direct inquiry.

The information on this profile, provided by weprevent.org, is for general informational purposes and to help you connect with preventive health partners. It does not constitute direct medical advice from the physician named. Pulmonology like Dr. Lara Wittine are skilled in helping patients create proactive health plans. For urgent or life-threatening emergencies, please call 911 or visit the nearest emergency department. It is always recommended to maintain open communication with your pulmonology about all aspects of your health and your personalized prevention plan.