Pulmonology studies diseases of the respiratory tract.
Pulmonology is the medical specialty focused on the study of diseases of the respiratory tract , especially the lungs . In some South American countries, the notion is used as pulmonology .
It is important to note that the term pulmonology is not included by the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) in its dictionary. The entity, however, recognizes it as valid, having its etymological root in the Greek word pneumon (which can be translated as “lung” ).
Pulmonologist
The pulmonologist (or pulmonologist ) is the expert in pulmonology or pulmonology. This is a doctor who specializes in preventing, diagnosing and treating conditions that occur in the respiratory system , especially the chest and lungs. The most common are pneumonia, tuberculosis , asthma, and certain infections that occur in the chest.
It is necessary to point out that the work of the pulmonologist applies to both men and women, unlike other specialties that serve only one of the groups. The specific training of this professional focuses on internal medicine and the cardio-pulmonary system , that is, it also covers the blood vessels, the heart and the organs that are involved in breathing . You must understand the functioning of the mouth, nose, larynx, pharynx, bronchi, trachea, alveoli and bronchioles.
The disorders that pulmonology professionals are prepared to treat are inflammatory, structural and infectious . When faced with a case of breathing difficulties, a persistent cough or pain in the chest area, a primary doctor usually consults a pulmonologist to find out if it is a problem in his specialty. When making a diagnosis, the pulmonologist has various techniques at his disposal, such as medical imaging and function tests.
After this first stage, the pulmonology professional recommends treatment , which may consist of the administration of a drug or rehabilitation techniques, as deemed most appropriate. Generally, the second option applies to those who have not responded positively to medication or exhibit reduced functionality in their respiratory system.
Origins of pulmonology
The origins of pulmonology date back to the beginning of the 19th century . The Frenchman René Laënnec ( 1781 – 1826 ), who invented the stethoscope , is noted as a pioneer of this medical discipline.
Initially, pulmonology was considered a part of cardiology , since the doctor specialized in heart and lung simultaneously. Over time, it became an autonomous specialty.
Stethoscope
The stethoscope is a device that doctors use to listen to the sounds inside our body. It usually focuses on breath sounds , but can also serve the circulatory system and intestines. The examination performed with this device is known as auscultation .
As a curious fact, Laënnec dedicated his time and effort to the creation of the stethoscope driven mainly by the modesty caused by approaching the chest of his female patients to examine them. In fact, his first prototype was improvised by rolling a notebook into a tube.
The stethoscope, created in the 19th century, is an essential element of pulmonology.
Related disorders
Disorders of the mediastinum , pleura and lung are analyzed by pulmonology. Pneumonia , asthma , lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ) are part of its field of action.
Respiratory diseases can have multiple causes. One of the most frequent is smoking ( tobacco addiction), for which pulmonology usually promotes campaigns warning about the dangers of smoking . Genetics , infection and environmental pollution can also cause problems in the respiratory organs.