Respiratory medicine

A doctor with specialist training in respiratory medicine is known as a pulmonologist, respiratory consultant or lung specialist. Some respiratory conditions they treat include asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer and pneumonia. You may need to see a pulmonologist if you have an acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term) condition affecting your lungs or airways.

The symptoms of respiratory conditions vary depending on the type and severity of the condition you have, as well as other factors such as your age, lifestyle and general health. Symptoms may start suddenly or develop gradually and can range from mild to severe. You may have symptoms all or some of the time, for example, your symptoms may be triggered by an allergy or irritant or may be worse during activity or at night.

Common symptoms of respiratory conditions may include:

• Cough: A persistent cough is a common symptom of many respiratory conditions, including infections such as a cold, flu or pneumonia, or a long-term condition like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Your cough may be dry or productive (with mucus). The type, consistency and colour of the mucus you cough up can also help your consultant make a diagnosis
• Shortness of breath: Feeling short of breath or difficulty breathing is a symptom of many respiratory conditions, including asthma and COPD
• Cyanosis: Lack of oxygen in your blood can cause a blue tinge to your skin, lips or nails and may be a symptom of several respiratory conditions
• Chest pain or tightness: Pain, tightness or discomfort in your chest can be a result of infection or inflammation in your lungs, such as pneumonia or pleurisy (inflammation of the membrane around the lungs). Severe, sudden chest pain accompanied by shortness of breath may be a sign of a blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism). This is a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment
• Wheezing: Wheezing is a high-pitched whistling or rattling sound during breathing that occurs when your airways become narrowed. It can be a symptom of asthma, COPD or bronchitis
• Fatigue: Many respiratory conditions cause fatigue (extreme tiredness or weakness even after rest) due to the increased effort of breathing and low levels of oxygen in your blood
• Fever: A high temperature can be a symptom of a respiratory infection such as a cold, flu, COVID-19, or pneumonia

Respiratory infections

Respiratory infections are caused by viruses or bacteria and range from mild illnesses like the common cold to more serious infections such as bacterial pneumonia. Many respiratory tract infections are highly contagious and are easily spread from person to person. Respiratory infections caused by viruses usually get better on their own with self-care, but infections caused by bacteria are treated with antibiotics. 

There are two main types of respiratory tract infections: 

• Upper respiratory tract infections: affect your upper respiratory tract, including your nose, sinuses, throat, larynx, and trachea and include the common cold, sinusitis, ear infections, and pharyngitis. Symptoms may include a cough, sneezing, a runny or blocked nose, sore throat, earache, headache, fatigue, muscle aches and a fever.
• Lower respiratory tract infections: affect your lower respiratory tract, including your airways (bronchi and bronchioles) and lungs and include bronchitis, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia. Symptoms may include shortness of breath, wheezing, a persistent cough and chest pain. 

Asthma

Asthma is a chronic condition where your airways become inflamed, causing them to swell and narrow, and making breathing difficult. It’s more common in children but can affect people at any age.

Asthma symptoms can be mild or severe and include coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. Symptoms often start due to “triggers” such as exercise, cold air, pollution, animal dander, pollen or dust. There’s no cure for asthma, but the condition can normally be managed with medication.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

COPD is the name for a group of long-term diseases that permanently damage your lungs and make breathing difficult. It is commonly caused by smoking but can also develop due to exposure to air pollution, dust, fumes or harmful chemicals.

The two main conditions that make up COPD are emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

• Emphysema: Occurs when the air sacs (alveoli) in your lungs are damaged
• Chronic bronchitis: Is characterised by chronic inflammation of your airways (bronchi)

There is no cure for COPD, but the condition can normally be managed with medication, lifestyle changes (such as stopping smoking), and specialist education and exercise programmes (COPD rehabilitation). 

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is inflammation of your lungs that causes fluid to build up in the air sacs (alveoli), causing breathing difficulties. It is commonly caused by infection with a virus, bacteria or fungus, but can also be caused by inhaling a foreign body such as food, vomit or liquid into your lungs (aspiration pneumonia). While viral pneumonia normally gets better on its own within one to three weeks, bacterial pneumonia needs treatment with antibiotics. Most people make a full recovery from pneumonia, but some people have a higher risk of developing serious complications, including older adults, babies and young children, people with chronic health conditions and those with weakened immune systems. 

Pulmonary fibrosis

Pulmonary fibrosis is a condition where your lung tissue becomes scarred and thickened, causing your lungs to become stiff and making breathing difficult. Most cases of pulmonary fibrosis have no known cause (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis), but the condition may be caused by an autoimmune disease, medication or environmental factors. Symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis include shortness of breath, a persistent dry cough, fatigue, cyanosis and clubbed fingers (rounded, swollen fingertips). There’s no cure for pulmonary fibrosis, and treatment focuses on managing your symptoms and slowing the progression of the disease. This may include lifestyle changes, medication, oxygen therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation, and in some cases, a lung transplant. 

Lung cancer 

Lung cancer is a common form of cancer that affects over 43,000 people a year in the UK. It is a serious form of cancer that is commonly caused by smoking. Symptoms of lung cancer include a persistent cough, coughing up blood, fatigue, pain when coughing and unexplained weight loss. Treatment for lung cancer includes radiotherapy, chemotherapy, medications called targeted therapy and in some cases, surgery. 

Treatment for respiratory conditions depends on your diagnosis, age, and general health and focuses on managing your symptoms, preventing or slowing the progression of the disease and optimising your lung function. When you attend the respiratory clinic, your pulmonologist will assess your symptoms, make a diagnosis and create a bespoke treatment plan for you tailored to your individual needs.

Treatment for respiratory conditions may include: 

Lifestyle changes

Making changes to your lifestyle aims to improve your overall health and wellbeing and make your condition more manageable. Lifestyle changes include: 

• Stopping smoking: Smoking is harmful for everyone, but particularly for people with respiratory conditions. If you smoke, quitting is a vital step in managing your condition and preventing it from getting worse
• Healthy diet and exercise: A balanced, nutritious diet and regular exercise can help you maintain a healthy weight and improve your overall health and lung function
• Avoiding triggers: Some respiratory conditions, such as asthma, can be made worse by triggers like smoke, pollution or pollen. Identifying and avoiding triggers where possible can help to manage your symptoms

Medications

There are several medications for respiratory conditions that work by easing or reducing your symptoms, reducing further lung damage and slowing the progression of the disease. Your consultant will decide on a suitable medication for you based on your diagnosis, symptoms and general health.

Some medications used to treat respiratory conditions include:

• Bronchodilators: These medications work by relaxing the muscles around your airways, opening your airways and making it easier for you to breathe. They are used to treat respiratory conditions such as asthma and COPD
• Steroids: Steroids reduce inflammation in your airways and can be given as an inhaler, directly into your lungs, or as a tablet or capsule
• Antibiotics: Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial respiratory infections

Pulmonary rehabilitation

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a specialised program that helps people with lung conditions manage their symptoms and improve their overall fitness and quality of life through education and exercise.

Pulmonary rehabilitation can be beneficial for people with long-term conditions like COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, and bronchiectasis.

Oxygen therapy 

Oxygen therapy involves giving oxygen either through a face mask or small tubes in your nostrils to increase the oxygen level in your blood. You may need oxygen therapy long-term, or for a short while until your condition improves. Oxygen therapy can be given in hospital or at home.

Ventilation

Mechanical ventilation involves using a machine to help you breathe. There are two main types of mechanical ventilation: 

• Non-invasive ventilation: This type of ventilation involves wearing a snugly-fitting facemask to support your breathing and make it easier for you to breathe
• Invasive ventilation: Involves inserting a breathing tube into your trachea (windpipe) and using a machine called a ventilator to take over your breathing if you are unable to breathe effectively by yourself

Surgery

Surgery to remove all or part of your lung may be used to treat some lung conditions, including lung cancer, COPD, or a severe lung infection. There are several types of lung surgery, including:

• Lung biopsy: A small piece of lung tissue is removed and analysed to diagnose conditions such as lung cancer
• Pneumonectomy: This is the surgical removal of your entire lung. It may be used to treat advanced lung cancer or severe lung damage 
• Lobectomy: Involves removing a single lobe (section) of your lung and may be used to treat lung cancer that is confined to one lobe or severe infections
• Wedge resection/segmentectomy: This is the removal of a small section of your lung and may be used to treat a localised tumour or infection
• Lung transplant: Your diseased lungs are removed and replaced with healthy lungs from a donor

Booking a consultation is easy, and you can either do this by calling our dedicated team of friendly advisors or by using our easy online booking system. 

When you choose to go private with Circle Health Group, you can expect:

• Flexible appointment times and locations that are convenient for you
• The freedom to choose which hospital and consultant best suits your needs
• Personalised, consultant-led treatment plans tailored to your individual needs
• Comfortable and safe private facilities with expert multidisciplinary care 
• Private ensuite rooms as standard, and a range of delicious, healthy meals
• Affordable, fixed-price packages with aftercare included
• Flexible payment options to help you spread the cost of your care

If you would like to learn more about private treatment for a respiratory condition, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly on 0808 189 5711

1. Respiratory medicine, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust  
2. Respiratory medicine, NHS 
3. Respiratory conditions, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)