肺科经常提出问题
什么是肺科医生？
一个pulmonologist是专门诊断和治疗呼吸系统疾病和疾病的医生，包括：
- autoimmune disorders
- 癌症治疗
- 传染性疾病
- inflammation
- 结构问题
尽管在谈论肺病学时通常首先想到肺，但呼吸系统是由多个部分组成的，包括：
- bronchial tubes
- 膜片
- lungs
- mouth and nose
- 窦
- 喉咙（咽）
- 语音箱（喉）
- windpipe (trachea)
肺科医生s treat several kinds of respiratory conditions, including:
- acute bronchitis：伴随着咳嗽和粘液的炎症
- 哮喘: a condition that causes inflammation and the narrowing of your airways
- 慢性阻塞性肺疾病（COPD）：一组肺部疾病，难以呼吸
- Covid-19-19肺炎: a condition that causes severe breathing problems and lung failure
- 囊性纤维化: a condition that produces mucus buildup in your airways and lungs
- 间质性肺部疾病：几种导致肺疤痕和僵硬的情况
- 肺癌: a type of cancer that can start in or spread to your lungs
- pneumonia: a respiratory infection that causes fluid buildup in your lung’s air sacs
- 肺动脉高压：高血压会影响肺动脉
- 结核病（TB）：肺的细菌感染
肺科医生进行了几项测试，包括用于诊断和了解您正在遇到的呼吸系统问题的成像测试。这些测试包括：
- blood tests：用于检查血液的氧气水平的测试
- bronchoscopy：一种看着肺部和气道内部的设备
- chest ultrasound: imaging that examines the organs and structures in your chest
- CT scans：肺和呼吸系统的诊断图像
- spirometry: a test that measures how well your lungs work
除了测试和成像外，肺科医生还执行几种可以帮助改善肺功能的程序。一些常见程序包括：
- airway ablation：打开空气通道的程序
- biopses: the collection of a tissue sample for disease screening
- 肺卫生: a procedure that clears fluid and mucus buildup from your lungs
For many minor concerns or symptoms of the respiratory system, you’ll receive care from your primary care physician (PCP). Your PCP will usually refer you to a pulmonologist if you’re experiencing the following:
- 定期产生血液或粘液的咳嗽
- 持续或恶化的咳嗽
- 呼吸困难
- unexplained weight loss
根据症状的严重程度，肺科医生可能会将您转介给专门治疗病情的肺外科医生。