06/07/2025
Pulmonology (also known as chest medicine or respiratory medicine) is the branch of medicine that focuses on the respiratory system — including the lungs, airways, and respiratory muscles.
🔬 What Does Pulmonology Cover?
Pulmonologists diagnose and treat conditions that affect:
Lungs
Bronchial tubes
Trachea (windpipe)
Nose and sinuses (in some cases)
Pleura (lining around the lungs)
Diaphragm and chest wall
Pulmonary blood vessels (to an extent)
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🩺 Common Conditions Treated by a Pulmonologist:
Condition Description
Asthma Chronic inflammation and narrowing of the airways.
COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) Includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Often caused by smoking.
Lung Infections Such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, or fungal infections.
Lung Cancer Diagnosis, staging, and sometimes participation in treatment planning.
Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) Group of diseases causing lung scarring (fibrosis).
Sleep Apnea Breathing interruptions during sleep (diagnosed via sleep study).
Pulmonary Hypertension High blood pressure in the lungs' blood vessels.
Pleural Effusion Fluid around the lungs.
Bronchiectasis Damaged, widened airways prone to infection.
Sarcoidosis Inflammatory disease that can affect lungs and other organs.
Respiratory Failure When lungs cannot supply enough oxygen or remove enough carbon dioxide.
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🔧 Diagnostic & Treatment Tools Used:
Chest X-ray / CT scan
Pulmonary function tests (PFTs)
Bronchoscopy
Pleural fluid aspiration / thoracentesis
Sleep studies
Biopsies (via bronchoscopy or CT-guided)
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🏥 When to See a Pulmonologist:
Chronic cough or breathlessness
Wheezing not controlled by medications
Blood in sputum
Recurrent chest infections
Unexplained weight loss with cough
Abnormal lung shadows on
