There may come a time when your primary care physician refers you to a medical specialist. While this might seem a little scary at first, it’s not necessarily cause for alarm, and understanding the role of medical specialists can help you prepare for your meeting with a specialist. We’re going to explain what a pulmonologist is – and what a pulmonologist does – as part of our “Know Your Specialists” series.
What is a pulmonologist?
Pulmonology is a discipline of internal medicine focusing on respiratory health. Pulmonary physicians – known as pulmonologists – specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the respiratory tract and lungs.
Pulmonologists typically go through a minimum of 13 years of education and training. Becoming a pulmonologist requires a medical degree, a three year residency in internal medicine, and a combined three years of sub-specialty fellowship training in pulmonology medicine and critical care medicine.
Pulmonary physicians have a thorough understanding of how the airway, lungs, and respiratory muscles work individually and together.
What does a pulmonologist do?
A pulmonologists diagnoses, treats, and helps prevent conditions related to the lungs and breathing. Here are a few examples of conditions that a pulmonologist might diagnose and treat.
- Asthma
- Breathing problems
- Bronchiectasis
- Bronchitis
- Chest infections
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Emphysema
- Lung cancer
- Lung masses
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Pulmonary vascular disease
- Sarcoidosis
- Sleep apnea
- Tuberculosis
There are a number of screening and testing methods a pulmonologist can use to help diagnose pulmonary problems including lung cancer screenings, spirometry, pulmonary diagnostics, bronchoscopies, chest x-rays, low radiation ct scans, endobronchial ultrasound, and sleep studies.
Pulmonologists in Northwest Arkansas
Our pulmonary physicians are board certified in pulmonary medicine and critical care medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine. You can schedule an appoint with a MANA pulmonologist at Fayetteville Diagnostic Clinic or MANA Bentonville Specialty Health Clinic.
Existing patients can request an appointment through myMANA. New patients can request an appointment by calling (479) 582-7330.