Frequently Asked Questions

You might need to see a specialist when your breathing problems are complex or when it’s not clear what’s causing them.
If you have any of these symptoms, consider asking your family doctor if you should see a specialist:

• A cough that’s severe or has lasted more than three weeks
• Chest pain or tightness
• Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting
• Difficulty breathing, especially while you’re exercising
• Fatigue
• Wheezing
• Repeated colds or bronchitis that impacts your breathing
• Problems controlling your asthma or identifying what triggers it

When you meet with a pulmonologist, he will ask you questions regarding your lung health. The more he knows about your specific ailments, the faster he can help you. He will conduct tests to accurately diagnose the condition, then create a treatment plan to help you manage or overcome your respiratory issue.

A pulmonologist can treat many breathing-related conditions, including:

• Asthma
• Cystic fibrosis (an inherited disease in which mucus builds up in the lungs and other organs)
• COPD (also sometimes called emphysema or chronic bronchitis in which breathing problems worsen over time)
• Lung cancer
• Pulmonary fibrosis (in which the lung’s tissues become damaged and scarred)
• Tuberculosis
• Work-related lung diseases (such as those affecting workers exposed to asbestos or coal dust)

They can use and interpret exams and tests to help determine a lung-related diagnosis. These may include the following:

• CT scan to get detailed images of the bones, muscles, fat organs, and blood vessels in your chest
• chest fluoroscopy, an X-ray test to see how well your lungs are functioning
• chest ultrasound to examine the organs and other chest structures
• pleural biopsy to remove a small tissue sample from the pleura, which is the membrane that surrounds your lungs
• pulmonary function test, a breathing test to see how well your lungs are working
• pulse oximetry test to determine the oxygen saturation level in your blood
• thoracentesis to remove and sample fluid from around your lungs
• chest tube to remove air or fluid from around your lungs
• bronchoscopy to examine your airway and determine if you have any issues in your trachea, lower airways, throat, or larynx
• sleep study to help diagnose sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea

A pulmonologist will diagnose and treat conditions that affect the lungs and respiratory tract whereas a chest surgeon specializes in surgical procedures of the heart, lungs, esophagus, and other chest organs.

A pulmonologist may conduct pulmonary function tests to measure lung size and airflow. They also help to check how well you breathe and how effectively your lungs can bring oxygen to the rest of your body. He or she may also test for lung disorders by measuring the lungs’ capacity to hold and move air and to absorb oxygen.

Yes, you can visit a pulmonologist to quit smoking as he will prescribe you some medication that will help you to quit. Nicotine patch, nicotine gum, and lozenges may be advised.

A pulmonologist’s clinic is absolutely safe as he takes extra care like frequent sanitization and hygiene. All the staff are fully vaccinated and everyone is tested and special kits are suggested for those with COVID positive reports.