A pulmonologist diagnoses and treats conditions that affect the respiratory system.

Pulmonologists treat everything from asthma to tuberculosis. They have expertise in the following types of respiratory disorders:

  • infectious
  • 结构
  • inflammatory
  • 肿瘤，这意味着与肿瘤有关
  • autoimmune

在某些情况下，他们的专业知识扩展到心血管系统。某些疾病，例如肺血管疾病，可能首先影响呼吸系统，但仍会影响身体的其他部位。

A pulmonologist may work in their own office or as part of a multidisciplinary practice. They can also work in hospital settings, particularly intensive care units.

Pulmonology is the field of medicine that focuses specifically on therespiratory system. The respiratory system includes the organs that help you breathe.

The respiratory system

该系统的三个主要部分是气道，lungs，和respiratory muscles.

The airway includes the:

  • 鼻子
  • mouth
  • throat, which is also known as the pharynx
  • 语音盒，也称为喉
  • windpipe, which is also known as the trachea
  • bronchi, or passageways in the lungs
  • 肺中的细支气管，甚至较小的通道
  • alveoli, or air sacs in the lungs

You use several muscles during respiration. The most notable is thediaphragm. The other muscles are categorized in groups, including the:

  • Intercostal muscles.These are many different groups of muscles that run between the ribs and help form and move the chest wall. Theintercostal musclesaid in the mechanical aspects of breathing by helping expand and shrink the size of the chest.
  • Accessory muscles.Accessory muscles assist but do not play a primary role in breathing. Using these muscles while at rest is often interpreted as a sign of respiratory distress.

呼气是一个被动过程，因为肺的弹性特性。在强迫呼气过程中，使用呼气肌肉，其中包括腹壁和一些肋骨笼子。

Pulmonology subspecialties

肺病的亚专业包括：

  • interstitial lung disease，which is a group of conditions that affect the space and tissue within the lungs
  • interventional pulmonology, which uses multidisciplinary care to treat airway disorders,lung cancer，和pleural diseases (which affect the pleura, the membrane that surrounds your lungs)
  • 肺移植as well as management before and after surgery
  • 神经肌肉疾病，是指导致呼吸肌衰竭的疾病
  • obstructive lung disease, which involves airway narrowing orobstruction
  • sleep-disordered breathing

肺科医生通常治疗的疾病包括：

To become a pulmonologist, you must earn a four-year college degree. From there, you must complete a four-year medical school program. You must then complete a three-year training program, or residency, in internal medicine.

完成居留权后，您必须完成两到三年的奖学金。这使您可以接受其他有关肺病学专业培训。完成奖学金后，您必须通过专业委员会通过认证考试。

Pulmonologists use and interpret exam and test results to help them determine a lung-related diagnosis. Exams and tests they may use include:

  • CT scanto get detailed images of the bones, muscles, fat, organs, and blood vessels in your chest
  • 超声to examine the organs and other structures of the chest
  • pulmonary function test，which is a breathing test that reveals how well your lungs are functioning
  • pulse oximetry testto determine the oxygen saturation level of your blood
  • pleural活检to remove a small tissue sample from the pleura
  • bronchoscopyto examine your airway and determine if you have any issues in your windpipe, lower airways, throat, or voice box
  • sleep study to help diagnosesleep disorderssuch assleep apnea

Some procedures a pulmonologist may perform include:

  • thoracentesis从肺周围的胸膜空间中去除液体或空气
  • tracheal or bronchialstent placementto help open up areas such as the windpipe or bronchi

In the case of more serious lung diseases and conditions, a pulmonologist may refer you to a chest surgeon. A chest surgeon may perform procedures such as a lung transplant or alobectomyto remove a portion of a diseased lung.

Did you know?

胸腔化can be used to help diagnose或者治疗症状，例如周围肺部的胸膜空间中的液体.

If you’re having any unusual or worrisome respiratory symptoms, meet with yourprimary care physician，if you have one. They’ll perform a medical exam and assess your overall condition. They may refer you to a pulmonologist if you:

By one estimate, there wereover 12,000 pulmonologists2013年在美国练习，其中90.3％的成年人居住在肺科医生20英里以内。

If you think you may need to see a pulmonologist, one of the first steps you can take is to ask a primary care physician for a referral. Depending on the insurance plan, if you have one, you may be required to get a referral before seeing a specialist such as a pulmonologist.

After you receive the referral, check whether the pulmonologist is in network with your insurance plan. If not, then follow up with your insurance provider to see if there are any pulmonologists who are in network with your plan.

All pulmonologists who practice in the United States will be board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. If necessary, you can use online doctor reviews to help narrow your search and identify the pulmonologist who may be the best fit for you.

If you have a temporary respiratory condition, such as acold或者轻度肺炎，you may not need to seek professional care at all, let alone care from a specialist. However, if your symptoms are more severe or you have a chronic condition such asCOPD，you may benefit from seeing a pulmonologist.

They can diagnose the condition that’s causing your symptoms. They can also determine the best treatment, which may include a mix of生活方式改变，medical devices (such as aCPAP机器), and prescription medications.