Pulmonology / Chest Medicine

Pulmonology / Chest Medicine

Pulmonology is a field of medicine that focuses specifically on diagnosing and treating disorders of the respiratory system. Pulmonologists is a specialists that diagnose and treat conditions that affect the respiratory system in men and women, as well as children. Pulmonologists have expertise in the following types of respiratory disorders: Infectious, Structural, Inflammatory & Autoimmune. Pulmonologists treat everything from asthma to tuberculosis. The respiratory system includes the organs that help you breathe. The three major parts of this system are the airway, the lungs, and the respiratory muscles. The airway includes the: Nose, Mouth, Pharynx, Larynx, Trachea, Bronchi, Bronchioles, Alveoli.

Conditions pulmonologists commonly treat include:

• Asthma
• Bronchiectasis, a condition that involves inflammation and excess mucus
• Bronchitis, which happens when you have inflamed lower airways
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which causes an airflow blockage
• Emphysema, which happens when the alveoli in your lungs are damaged
• Interstitial lung diseases, which affect the space and tissue within the lung
• Occupational lung diseases, which can occur due to the inhalation of dusts, chemicals, or proteins
• Obstructive sleep apnea, which causes your breathing to slow or stop entirely when you’re sleeping

If you’re having any unusual symptoms, you should meet with your primary care doctor. They will perform a medical exam and assess your overall condition. They may refer you to a pulmonologist if you:

• Have difficulty breathing
• Have a persistent cough
• Regularly cough up blood or mucus
• Smoke
• Have unexplained weight loss
• Have trouble exercising due to breathing problems