Pneumonology, often called Pneumology or even Pulmonology, is the specialty dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases of the respiratory system, such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), acute or chronic cough, sleep-disordered breathing (such as sleep apnoea) or lung cancer. This specialty also addresses infectious pathologies, such as pneumonia and tuberculosis. It also gives special emphasis to respiratory diseases of the lower tract (trachea, bronchi, lungs, and pleura). Pneumonology is also a specialty dedicated to research and therapy of fatigue.
The pneumonological evaluation carried out in consultation assesses the situation of the patient, that is their physical capacity, the environmental and personal factors (such as pollution and tobacco consumption), the occupational risks to which they are exposed in the environment where they live and work (dust, silica, asbestos, flour, poultry, paints, pollutants) and which condition the development of respiratory pathologies. Sleep quality and daytime somnolence are also assessed.
In cases of patients with respiratory pathologies, complementary diagnostic tests are often performed, such as chest X-ray, spirometry and other pulmonary function tests (PFTs), gait analysis, chest CT, sleep studies, or bronchoscopy – all of which are also available at Joaquim Chaves Saúde medical clinics.
