Dr. RS Chatterji

A: A doctor who is specialized in diagnosis and treatment of respiratory system diseases is called as pulmonologist. The respiratory system include the airway (all organs that carry air to lungs from body's outside environment), the lungs and the muscles for respiration.

A: Pulmonologists can treat lung or airway inflammation, blocked lung airways, damage to lung alveoli and lung diseases occurred due to inhalation of dust chemical or smoking, genetic diseases of the lung like cystic fibrosis, tuberculosis, asthma, bronchitis.

A: You should visit a pulmonologist if you are facing breathing difficulties, having cough from a long time, have blood or mucus in cough, sudden weight loss due to unknown reasons and have severe breathing problem while doing daily activities or exercising.

A: Pulmonologists will perform different tests depending up on your problem. These may include CT scan, chest ultrasound, chest X-ray, pulse oximetry test, pleural biopsy, bronchoscopy (to examine airway), breathing test (pulmonary function test) to check functioning of lungs and sleep study to detect sleep disorder.

A: Pulmonologists will diagnose and treat respiratory system related disorders but if you are having a serious lung disease then you will be referred to chest surgeon to remove affected lung part or for a lung transplant.