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1. What is a Pulmonologist?
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.
2. What type of respiratory problems can a Pulmonologist treat?
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.
3. When do you need to visit a Pulmonologist?
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.
4. What tests wil a Pulmonologist do for a check up?
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.
5. What is the difference between a Pulmonologist and chest surgeon?
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.
Pulmonologists are the medical doctors who are specialized in diagnosing and treating medical conditions related to the respiratory system. They deal with diseases like pneumonia, chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), emphysema, lung cancer, and asthma, etc.
A 5-year medical degree [MBBS] that is recognized by the General Medical Council and a 2-year foundation course of general training are the basic requirements for an individual to be a doctor. However, following are the specialties or extra qualifications required to be a Pulmonologist:
Yes, Pulmonologists can perform a bronchoscopy. Bronchoscopy is done for direct visualization of the tracheobronchial tree for any abnormalities. This procedure can be done in an operating room under general anesthesia. This procedure is also used to retrieve the foreign bodies in airways.
Individuals who are suffering from any of the following medical conditions or diseases should consult Pulmonologist:
Following are the few procedures performed by a Pulmonologist to diagnose a respiratory disease:
Children should visit Pulmonologists for regular checkups as they are prone to pulmonary diseases as their immune system is yet to develop completely. Most common diseases that affect children are asthma, recurrent pneumonia, cystic fibrosis, and bronchiolitis, etc.
Coughing up blood is called hemoptysis. If an individual is suffering from hemoptysis, then he/she should seek immediate medical attention. The cause of hemoptysis is confused between the blood from lung alveoli or from the intestinal tract. Hemoptysis is most commonly caused by bronchi (lung airways) infections.
Pneumonia can have symptoms that range from mild to severe. Following are some of the common signs and symptoms: