Pulmonology is a field of medicine that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory diseases. Doctors who have studied pulmonology are called pulmonologists. Most of the conditions and disorders of the respiratory system can be treated by the primary care physicians and doctors specializing in internal medicine.

However, when the patient has an unusual and complicated respiratory disease, seeking treatment from a pulmonologist is vital. The subspecialties of pulmonology are mentioned as follows:

• Interstitial lung disease: focuses on disorders of the lung characterized by prolonged inflammation and scarring

• Interventional pulmonology: focuses on the treatment of airway disorders, pleural diseases, and lung cancer

• Neuromuscular disease: deals with lung disorders resulting from failure in the respiratory muscle

• Obstructive lung disease: focuses on the conditions caused by the obstruction or narrowing of the airways

• Lung transplantation

• Sleep-related breathing problems

• Pediatric pulmonology

Pulmonology is a branch of medicine that deals with all diseases of the lungs, airways, and respiratory muscles. It includes asthma, bronchitis, interstitial lung disease, COPD, and sleep apnea.

A pulmonologist is a doctor specializing in the diseases affecting the respiratory system. They play a vital role in the treatment of various types of respiratory diseases – infectious, structural, inflammatory, neoplastic, and autoimmune.

Some conditions start with the respiratory system but eventually affect other organs of the body. In some cases, the pulmonologist has to deal with the cardiovascular system as well. Therefore, you might also see pulmonologists working with cardiologists while diagnosing patients. They also oversee patients who require a life support system or manual ventilation.

Feeling winded or short of breath is normal during exercise or strenuous physical activity. But if your breathing issues are persistent and making you feel light-headed or dizzy, it may be an indication of something serious. In such conditions, it’s better to visit your primary care doctor or consult with a pulmonologist as soon as possible.

A simple cough due to cold or allergies shouldn’t get you worried. Your first step should be to consult a primary care doctor, and then visit an allergist or ENT specialist if problems persist. They will refer you to a pulmonologist if the cough is severe and has continued for more than three weeks.

The following symptoms can be associated with a lung condition, and their occurrence may require you to consult a pulmonologist.

• Pain or tightness in the chest

• Dizziness or lightheadedness

• Trouble in breathing during exercise

• Fatigue

• Wheezing

• Recurring or chronic bronchitis or colds

• Asthma that has unidentified triggers or isn’t well-controlled

There are many respiratory diseases that a pulmonologist can treat. They include:

o Asthma: A condition in which your airways inflame and narrow down. It produces abnormal amounts of mucus as well. Patients with asthma have trouble breathing.

o COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease): The term is used to describe a group of lung diseases, including chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and refractory asthma.

o Emphysema: Emphysema is a lung disorder in which the air sacs in the lungs are damaged. Gradually, the walls of the air sac weaken and rupture. As a result, the surface area of the lungs is reduced, and less amount of oxygen reaches the bloodstream.

o Chronic bronchitis: People with emphysema are likely to have chronic bronchitis as well. Chronic bronchitis is characterized by inflammation of the bronchial tubes, causing a persistent cough.

o Cystic fibrosis: It is an inherited disease affecting the lungs as well as the digestive system. In cystic fibrosis, sticky and thick mucus builds up in your body that can clog the lungs and pancreas.

o Interstitial lung disease or ILD: It is a group of diseases that scar and stiffen your lungs. Examples of some ILDs are Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis.

o Tuberculosis: A bacterial infection of the lungs.

o Obstructive sleep apnea: This condition causes your breathing to start and stop during sleep intermittently.

o Pulmonary hypertension: This means there’s high blood pressure in the arteries of your lungs.

o Lung cancer: Cancer that originates in the lungs that can cause lung failure if left untreated.

If you are facing breathing problems, frequent coughing that does not resolve for many weeks, or you are coughing blood then you can visit any of the best lungs hospital in India to meet a pulmonologist. The specialist will understand your symptoms and order tests to diagnose your problem. Depending on the problem, treatment for the condition is prescribed. A detailed treatment plan would be given to help cope with chronic problems.

Sleep apnea is a condition leading to snoring and having problems related to breathing while asleep. Abruptly waking up and gasping for breath is a common symptom. It can affect quality of life causing sleepiness and fatigue during the daytime. A pulmonologist can treat sleep apnea by prescribing a device known as a CPAP machine that delivers air pressure, while preventing snoring and apnea.