ATS Breathe Easy

Interstitial Lung Abnormality (ILA) and Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) are often detected using CT scans and other imaging. But the definition of ILAs and how abnormalities are found throughout a patient's clinical journey continues to grow and improve. Host Eddie Qian, MD, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, discusses the importance of spotting ILAs and diagnosing ILDs earlier for better patient outcomes with experts Anna Podolanczuk, MD, Weill Cornell Medical Center, and Joe Mammarappallil, MD, Duke University.
This episode is sponsored in part by Boehringer Ingelheim.
Read "Approach to the Evaluation and Management of Interstitial Lung Abnormalities: An Official American Thoracic Society Clinical Statement": https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/10.1164/rccm.202505-1054ST

We all know that sleep is important, but how much can eight hours really do for us? Turns out, a good night’s rest does more than restore our energy; restful sleep helps regulate weight, blood sugar, and even blood pressure. Ding Zou, MD, PhD, and Mio Kobayashi Frisk, MD, of the University of Gothenburg, studied how conditions like sleep apnea and insomnia affect hypertension, with those getting less sleep having higher instances of elevated blood pressure levels. Host Patti Tripathi discusses their study, what solutions exist for better sleep, and what future studies may look like.
Read the paper: https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/abs/10.1513/AnnalsATS.202501-080OC

Apply to be featured at the 2026 Respiratory Innovation Summit. The deadline to apply is Feb. 13.
The Respiratory Innovation Summit (RIS) is an event that unites the innovators, investors, clinicians and advocacy groups who are leading the charge to create powerful new treatments for diseases of the lungs and airways. This meeting historically attracts 400+ global leaders representing all facets of the respiratory industry, including representatives from start-ups, business development, venture capital, government, academia and clinical medicine. 
Among those innovators is Maria Artunduaga, MD, MPH, founder of Samay. In this episode, she talks about her experiences in medicine, why she decided to found her company, and the importance of spaces like RIS for inventors and visionaries like her. Patti Tripathi hosts.

Regulation is key to keeping our air clean, which in turn keeps us healthy. But the Trump Administration has been cutting funding and attempting to slash important clean air rules that jeopardize the planet and our health. What do these policy changes mean, and how can organizations help fight back? Part of the answer is going to federal courts. Nicholas Nassikas, MD, Harvard Medical School, and Andrew Mergen, Harvard Law School, discuss the legal actions the ATS has taken to oppose rollbacks of essential Clean Air Act rules with host Gary Ewart, MHS, chief of advocacy and government relations for the American Thoracic Society.

The "One Big Beautiful Bill" passed as HR1 is projected to dramatically cut Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Host and Air Health Our Health podcast creator Erika Moseson, MD, MA, speaks with Texas-based pediatric pulmonologist Shade Afolabi, MD, about how these potential cuts could lead to devastating consequences, including children being unable to access medical care, soaring medical debt for families, worsened health outcomes for adults and children, instability in the healthcare workforce and more.