Pulmonology (Latin pulmo, logos – “the doctrine of the lungs”) is a branch of medicine that studies diseases of the respiratory system: lungs, pleura, trachea and bronchi, clinical manifestations of diseases, specifics of diagnosis, methods of treatment and prevention. The respiratory system includes not only the airways, but also the central nervous system, the chest (sternocostal frame, intercostal muscles, diaphragm), the circulatory system in the lungs. Therefore, in a broad sense, the field of competence of pulmonology also includes pathology of other organs of the thoracic cavity, morphologically and functionally related to the respiratory organs.
The organs that pulmonology studies and treats, in addition to the lungs, include: vascular and nerve bundles of the lung root, lymph nodes, thymus gland, diaphragm, etc. The main function of the respiratory system is to provide gas exchange in the lungs.
Pulmonologists are engaged in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of lung and bronchial diseases. Surgical treatment of diseases of the lungs and other organs of the thoracic cavity is carried out by thoracic surgeons (from Greek. thorax – chest).
Pulmonology has close ties with such branches of medicine as cardiology, allergology, otolaryngology, intensive care and intensive care, oncology, transplantology.
Within the framework of pulmonology, an independent direction is distinguished – phthisiology, the field of study of which is the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. The problem of the prevalence of tuberculosis is one of the most urgent in modern medicine.
Pulmonology deals with the treatment of the following types of pathological processes:
Many respiratory diseases have a severe and prolonged course, leading to serious health consequences, shorten the duration and reduce the quality of life of patients.
Pulmonology has acquired special significance in modern medical science. Bronchial and lung diseases occupy leading positions in modern society, their share in the total morbidity of the population varies from 41% to 53%.
The rapid deterioration of the environmental situation, an increase in the level of injuries accompanied by damage to the chest and chest cavity organs, the growth of oncological diseases of the respiratory system, stress factor, occupational hazards contribute to the steady growth and rejuvenation of lung diseases.
An appeal to a pulmonologist usually occurs when characteristic symptoms of lung diseases appear: dry or wet cough, shortness of breath at rest or during physical exertion, attacks of suffocation, chest pain, increased body temperature. Lung diseases are often accidental findings during X-ray examination.
It is possible to suspect a particular respiratory disease already on the basis of complaints and auscultative picture of the lungs. The necessary diagnostic studies to clarify the nature of lung pathology are chest radiography, data on the function of external respiration, bronchoscopy, bronchography, computed tomography of the lungs, angiopulmonography. Of the laboratory methods for diagnosing lung diseases, the study of sputum for cytology, microbial flora, and atypical cells is of the greatest importance.
Treatment of lung diseases, depending on their nature, can be both conservative and surgical. Conservative measures in the treatment of lung and bronchial diseases are aimed at diluting sputum, reducing its amount and facilitating evacuation from the bronchial tree, bronchial dilatation, relieving bronchial muscle spasm, removing the inflammatory process in the bronchopulmonary system, normalizing gas exchange in the lung tissue.
Surgical treatment of diseases of the lungs and other organs of the thoracic cavity in many cases is an emergency measure to eliminate dangerous, life-threatening conditions. Planned surgical treatment of lung diseases is carried out after a detailed examination and the impossibility of conservative treatment of the disease.
The simplest and most effective measures for the prevention of lung diseases are quitting smoking and undergoing an examination by a pulmonologist once a year.
The Medical Directory of Diseases on the website “Medic Journal” presents respiratory diseases in more detail.
Pulmonary artery aneurysm is a pathological local expansion of a large vessel exiting the right ventricle of the heart and delivering venous blood to the small circulatory circle, or its branches. Usually the disease is asymptomatic, sometimes patients experience chest pain, shortness of breath, hoarseness of voice, hemoptysis and pulmonary bleeding. It is diagnosed using…
Aluminosis is an occupational disease from the group of pneumoconioses that develops with regular, prolonged inhalation of aluminum vapors or dust. The main signs of aluminosis are progressive shortness of breath, cough. The patient is concerned about pain and heaviness in the chest, symptoms of general intoxication. The diagnosis is established on the basis of…
Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis is a pulmonary pathology associated with hyperproduction of surfactant and filling of the alveolar cavity with excess protein-lipid mass. In the case of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, dyspnea is steadily progressing, an unproductive cough occurs, subfebrile fever may occur, weight loss, sweating, fatigue, respiratory failure may develop. Diagnostics is based on the data…
Alveolar microlithiasis is a rare lung disease characterized by the formation of protein-mineral complexes in the lumen of the alveoli. Clinically manifested by increasing shortness of breath, general weakness, cough, heaviness and pressure in the chest. As the pathology progresses, symptoms of respiratory and heart failure are added. Diagnostic measures include radiation methods of examination…
Medicinal arthropathy is a collective concept that includes a large group of diseases caused by joint damage when taking medications. It is clinically manifested by joint pain, local redness of the skin, swelling of the periarticular tissues, synovial effusion, difficulty in movement. Pathology is diagnosed mainly on the basis of symptoms and anamnestic data. In…
Kartagener syndrome is a genetic pathology of the ciliary apparatus, leading to the development of chronic rhinosinusitis, bronchitis, bronchiectasis, combined with the reverse location of the organocomplex “heart–lungs”. The disease debuts in infancy and is characterized by frequent purulent-inflammatory processes of the upper and lower respiratory tract. It is diagnosed using radiation methods of examination…
Allergic bronchitis is an inflammation of the walls of the bronchi, which occurs due to hyperergic immune reactions. The disease is provoked by various allergens: household, plant, infectious, chemical products. The disease is manifested by paroxysmal cough, difficulty breathing, respiratory failure phenomena. The diagnostic plan includes chest radiography, spirometry, laboratory tests of blood and sputum.…
Hypersensitive pneumonitis is an immunologically mediated inflammatory reaction of respiratory bronchioles and alveoli that develops in response to the ingestion of inhaled allergens. Symptoms are characterized mainly by inspiratory shortness of breath, cough, chest pain, and in acute cases – a flu-like condition. Diagnosis of hypersensitive pneumonitis is based on the results of spirometry, chest…
Bronchial adenoma is a neoplasm originating from the epithelium of the ducts and mucous glands of the bronchial wall. Clinically, bronchial adenoma is manifested by shortness of breath, stridorous breathing, cough, hemoptysis, signs of inflammation of the respiratory tract. Adenomatous bronchial tumor is detected by radiography, tomography, bronchoscopy and bronchography, endoscopic biopsy. The neoplasm is…
Lung adenocarcinoma is a malignant neoplasm originating from the glandular epithelium of the bronchial wall. In the early stages of development, it proceeds asymptomatically or with mild signs of general intoxication. Later, a wet cough, shortness of breath, chest pains are added, sometimes paraneoplastic syndrome is present. Pathology is diagnosed using imaging techniques, bronchoscopy, genetic…
