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Respiratory medicine

Respiratory medicine involves the management of diseases that occur in the upper respiratory tract (the nose, pharynx and larynx) and the lower respiratory tract (trachea, bronchi and lungs). A physician may work closely with specialist nurses or respiratory technicians in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as asthma, pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases such as, bronchitis and emphysema.

Respiratory medicine patient lying in bed with an oxygen mask comforted by friendly clinician
Respiratory medicine involves the management of diseases that occur in your respiratory system. This system consists of the upper respiratory tract (the nose, pharynx and larynx) and the lower respiratory tract (the trachea, bronchial tubes and lungs).  

Respiratory diseases and disorders can affect your breathing and may cause serious discomfort and pain. They can be serious, so it’s important to diagnose these quickly to establish whether you are suffering from an acute or chronic condition. When healthcare professionals are aware of this information, they can then treat your condition accordingly.  

According to surveys by British Lung foundation, lung diseases are incredibly common. Approximately 12.7 million people in the UK (roughly 1 in 5) have a history of asthma, or another long-term respiratory illness. Half of these people (about 6.5 million people) reported taking prescribed medication for their lung disease in the last year. 

The respiratory medicine departments at Circle Health’s hospitals offer treatments for a wide range of disorders and conditions, including: 

Asthma; 
Bronchitis; 
Upper respiratory tract infections; 
Lower respiratory tract infections; 
Emphysema; 
Pneumonia; 
Respiratory related cancers; 
Tuberculosis; 
Cystic fibrosis and 
Sleep disorders

Your expert physician may work closely with specialist nurses, respiratory technicians and physiotherapists to diagnose and treat diseases and help you to breathe and feel better. 

The type of respiratory treatment you will receive will depend on your symptoms. Your Consultant will assess your condition and give you a specialist opinion. If further diagnostic tests or treatments are required, these will be explained fully during your consultation. 

At Circle Health, we are proud to facilitate Consultants who can help test, diagnose, and treat or manage your respiratory problems in order to help improve your quality of life. 

There are many reasons why you may be referred for respiratory treatment. Some common respiratory concerns include: 

Wheezing; 
Difficulty breathing; 
Shallow breathing; 
Rapid breathing; 
Persistent coughing and 
Coughing up bloody mucus. 

Respiratory testing and treatments with Circle Health will be carried out by our multidisciplinary team, comprising dedicated Consultants, nurses, physiotherapists, and more. 

Whether you have chronic or acute respiratory issues, our team will strive to reduce your symptoms through effective treatment. 

Respiratory medicine is highly specialist. The type of respiratory treatment you will receive will depend entirely on your symptoms. Your Consultant will assess your condition and give you a specialist opinion tailored to your needs. If further diagnostic tests or treatments are required, these will be explained fully during your consultation.

Investigations may include a bronchoscopy, which is a procedure to look for any problems inside your airways (bronchi) using a flexible telescope, or a thorascopy, which uses a similar device to examine the pleural cavity (the space between your lung and chest wall).  

Your doctor may also use a pleural lung ultrasound, which uses soundwaves to provide a picture of the inside of your body, or an x-ray. They can take biopsies to send to the laboratory if they want to test samples of your body tissue.  

Your healthcare professional will probably also explore your lung function using tests. These can show how your lungs are working, measure the size of your lungs, show how efficient they are, measure oxygen levels in your blood, and determine whether your airways are inflamed or narrowed. 

Your Consultant may refer you for treatment with a physiotherapist. A physiotherapist can show you exercises and movements that can help to clear fluid or secretions from your lungs. They might also show you breathing exercises to help with inhalation and exhalation. 

With help from a physiotherapist, you may be able to move around better, breath better and experience reduced breathlessness when carrying out day-to-day activities.  

Booking your respiratory treatment with Circle Health differs depending on your condition and recommended treatment option. 

To get started, you can book a consultation online with one of our many experienced respiratory Consultants. This is a simple and fast process. You can also book your consultation by calling us.

To familiarise yourself with the many treatment options for respiratory issues that we offer, you can read our informative, in-depth treatment pages. This could help you to decide which treatment option might suit you best. 

At your consultation, you will likely receive important diagnostic testing and discuss the right treatment option for you with your Consultant. 

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