Respiratory medicine: look after your breathing

What the respiratory specialist treats

The respiratory specialist (pulmonologist) treats diseases of the respiratory system: asthma, COPD, bronchial and lung infections, sleep-related breathing disorders and respiratory after-effects of other conditions. At our respiratory medicine clinic, diagnosis relies on lung function tests carried out at the centre itself, and every patient leaves with a treatment plan tailored to their symptoms, history and lifestyle.

Common reasons for a consultation

• Persistent cough: a cough lasting weeks deserves investigation, especially if it comes with mucus, wheezing or chest tightness.
• Shortness of breath: breathlessness on exertion or at rest, and fatigue with no obvious cause.
• Asthma: diagnosis, adjusting background treatment and managing flare-ups.
• COPD: assessment and follow-up of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, common among smokers and ex-smokers.
• Recurring respiratory infections: bronchitis or pneumonia that keep coming back and are worth investigating thoroughly.
• Snoring and breathing pauses during sleep: signs that point to sleep apnoea and are investigated together with the Sleep Unit at the centre.
• Post-COVID respiratory after-effects: follow-up and pulmonary rehabilitation where symptoms persist.

What the consultation involves

The first visit includes a detailed medical history — symptoms, how they've developed, smoking history, occupational exposure and background — and a respiratory examination. Depending on the case, the specialist requests spirometry or other lung function tests to objectively measure how the lungs are working, and uses the results to reach a diagnosis and treatment plan.

Follow-up is ongoing: the response to treatment is reviewed and adjusted as needed. When appropriate, the work is coordinated with other specialties at the centre, such as respiratory physiotherapy in pulmonary rehabilitation programmes, or the Sleep Unit for investigating apnoea.

When to book an appointment

If your cough won't go away, you notice you're short of breath with effort you used to manage fine, you have asthma or COPD that isn't well controlled, or people at home tell you you snore with pauses in your breathing while asleep, it's time for a specialist assessment. Book an appointment with our respiratory specialist and put a date on investigating your respiratory health.