Pulmonologist

Conditions Treated

• •Asthma — Chronic airway inflammation causing reversible breathing difficulty. Affects 30 million+ Indians.
• •COPD — Progressive lung damage usually from smoking or biomass fuel exposure, causing permanent breathing difficulty.
• •Tuberculosis (TB) — Bacterial infection primarily affecting lungs. India has the highest TB burden globally.
• •Pneumonia — Lung infection causing inflammation and fluid in air sacs.
• •Sleep Apnoea — Repeated breathing interruptions during sleep, causing poor sleep quality and daytime sleepiness.

Health Tips

• •Don't smoke — and quit if you do
• •Wear a mask on high-pollution days
• •Use inhalers correctly — they only work with proper technique
• •Complete full TB treatment — never stop early
• •Exercise improves lung capacity
• •Get vaccinated — pneumonia and flu vaccines save lives

How to Prepare for Your Visit

• •Bring previous chest X-rays, CT scans, and lung function test reports
• •Note triggers for breathing difficulty — exercise, dust, cold air, seasons
• •List all medications including inhalers with their colours and doses
• •If possible, bring your current inhaler to show technique
• •Describe breathlessness on a scale — can you climb stairs, walk flat ground, or are you breathless at rest?
• •Mention smoking history (pack-years) and passive smoke exposure
• •Discuss cooking fuel used at home — biomass/wood smoke is a major COPD cause in India
• •Ask about air quality measures for your home
• •Use inhalers as prescribed — preventive inhalers need daily use even when feeling well
• •Complete full TB medication course if prescribed — incomplete treatment causes drug resistance
• •Get flu vaccine annually if you have chronic lung disease
• •Monitor peak flow readings at home if advised

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

• •Am I using my inhaler correctly?
• •Do I need a lung function test (spirometry)?
• •Is my breathing problem related to allergies or pollution?
• •Do I need a sleep study for my snoring?
• •Should I get the pneumonia or flu vaccine?
• •Is my lung damage reversible?

When to See a Specialist

A Pulmonologist specializes in lung and respiratory diseases. India has high rates of asthma, COPD, tuberculosis, and pollution-related lung disease.

• •Chronic cough lasting more than 3 weeks
• •Shortness of breath during normal activities
• •Wheezing or noisy breathing
• •Coughing up blood
• •Asthma not controlled with inhalers
• •Recurrent pneumonia or chest infections
• •Sleep apnoea — snoring with daytime sleepiness
• •Chest pain with breathing

Seek emergency care for severe breathlessness at rest, blue lips/fingers, coughing large amounts of blood, or chest pain with difficulty breathing.