Respiratory Health: Lung disease can be caused by things like smoking, exposure to chemicals and fumes, and even genetics. The most common lung diseases are asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and interstitial lung diseases.
Pulmonologists can diagnose and treat these conditions. The Breathe Better Network can help patients understand these diseases and learn about methods to breathe easier at home.
1. Diagnostic Testing
Diagnostic testing is a variety of procedures performed by physicians to screen for, detect and monitor diseases and conditions. It is used to gather clinical information for making a diagnosis and inform a patient’s care plan. Diagnostic testing is a key element of medical practice and must meet certain basic parameters such as having an adequate degree of reliability (the test produces the same result when two different medical staff conduct it), validity, and utility [1].
Your doctor at lungs hospital in Delhi will listen to your lungs and heart through auscultation and may use imaging tests like CT scans or MRI to see swelling in the lungs or other signs of lung disease. They will also ask you about your symptoms and medical history to get a better understanding of your respiratory health. They will also conduct pulmonary function tests with a device called a spirometer to measure how well your lungs work.
It’s important to have regular checkups with your healthcare provider. This will help them to spot early lung disease that isn’t yet causing symptoms. Annual checkups can also help to prevent serious respiratory problems by keeping your lungs as healthy as possible. Leading a lifestyle that supports your lungs is the best way to keep them healthy, such as not smoking or vaping, exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet, and getting enough sleep.
2. Treatment
Breathing is a natural and essential process, but millions of people have respiratory diseases that restrict breathing or make it harder than it should be. Examples of these diseases include asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Pulmonologists diagnose these conditions and provide patients with care that improves their quality of life. Treatment options may include medications, breathing exercises and other therapies that help the lungs function better. For people who need it, a pulmonologist can also prescribe oxygen to help with breathing.
Other treatments may include surgery to remove scar tissue from the lungs. Pulmonologists also treat lung cancer, using radiation therapy or chemotherapy to kill any cancerous cells. They can also perform lung transplants to replace damaged organs.
Many factors influence lung health, from prenatal development to the impact of smoking. Incorporating health promotion as a pillar of respiratory medicine will be critical to ensuring the best possible outcomes for those affected by breathing disorders.
3. Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation reduces the impact of a health condition and improves functioning in people with health conditions. It complements medical, surgical and other health interventions and promotes healthy aging and functional recovery, minimizing disability. It helps to minimize or delay the need for hospital admission and re-admission, enables individuals to engage in work and other activities, and minimizes the burden on families.
Rehabilitation may include a variety of treatments and therapies, such as physical care, exercise therapy, speech and occupational therapy. Rehabilitation therapy is most often provided in a hospital setting, such as a rehabilitation center, but also occurs in doctors’ offices or other outpatient settings.
When most people think of “rehabilitation”, they envision physiotherapy sessions, for example, to get back some strength and mobility after an injury or surgery. But rehabilitation is much more than this, and is often best delivered in a highly specialist way – such as with people who have suffered a stroke or brain trauma, spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, severe neurological problems following meningitis or amputations.
A key objective of rehabilitation is to teach people the skills they need to live independently and participate in their life and work. This includes improving mobility and enhancing self-care, as well as educating people about their health condition and how to manage it. Educating patients can lead to improved adherence to treatment, better understanding of their condition and more confidence that they will recover.
4. Education
Many lung diseases are preventable with regular exercise, a balanced diet and being immunized against common respiratory infections. These prevention strategies are especially important for disadvantaged groups, which have higher rates of smoking and lower respiratory health outcomes.
The human respiratory system consists of the mouth and nose, the sinuses, the trachea (windpipe) and the bronchial tubes that lead into each lung. The lungs remove oxygen from the air we breathe and pass it to the bloodstream, where it is delivered to all parts of the body.
A patient’s pulmonary health is usually defined in terms of their peak lung function and the rate of decline in that function. However, a large number of risk factors are associated with these lung functions and therefore it is not possible to determine at what point an individual moves from healthy to diseased lung function.
Several medical schools offer a respiratory medicine program. These are typically Internal Medicine Training (IMT) or Acute Care Common Stem (ACCS) and both programs prepare trainees for the Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP) examination. In addition to teaching basic sciences, these programs provide an opportunity for trainees to develop clinical skills and experience working in multidisciplinary teams.
