Pulmonology

Infirmary Health provides a wide range of medical services to treat the respiratory system. Our goal is to be your first choice for pulmonological services on the Gulf Coast. Contact us today if you are dealing with a pulmonological issue and let us help.

What Is Pulmonology?

Pulmonology is the study, diagnosis and treatment of the respiratory system. The respiratory system is made up of the lungs, throat, esophagus, sinuses, diaphragm, trachea and bronchial tubes. The purpose of this system is to take in oxygen from the environment and then transfer it to the blood stream so that oxygen can be taken to the rest of the body.

Pulmonological conditions affect this process by either making the process of breathing and taking in oxygen too hard or affecting the lung’s ability to absorb oxygen into the blood stream and expel carbon dioxide.

Conditions that affect the pulmonary system that pulmonologists treat include:

• Asthma
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Emphysema
• Lung cancer
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Pulmonary hypertension
• Tuberculosis
• Bronchitis
• Pneumonia
• Pulmonary embolism
• Occupational lung diseases from inhalation of harmful chemicals or substances
• Interstitial lung disease, and
• Other diseases affecting the breathing process.

Diagnosis of Pulmonary Issues

To diagnose pulmonary issues, physicians use a variety of tests designed to determine what is occurring on the inside of the system. These can include tests to determine proper functioning of the respiratory system or actual scans of the parts of the system.

Tests regularly used by pulmonologists include, among others:

• Bronchoscopy
• Lung cancer screening
• Pulmonary function test

Treatment of Pulmonary Issues

Pulmonological treatments can be broken up between medicative, therapeutic and surgical. These can range from the temporary administration of oxygen and pulmonary therapy to medications designed to ease the functionality of breathing, to even lung transplants in the case of lung failure or lung cancer. Pulmonologists also participate in emergency medicine by treating patients whose lungs have been punctured or who have otherwise suffered some sort of trauma to the respiratory system and by providing mechanical ventilation to patients during emergencies.

Local Pulmonology Specialists

Our team of highly trained pulmonology doctors will give you quality treatment to ensure you can breathe again.