Baptist Medical Group Pulmonology
Being able to breathe depends on the health of our respiratory system, including our lungs and respiratory tract. Yet many of us find ourselves facing life-altering lung diseases. In the state of Tennessee alone, the American Lung Association estimates that more than 950,000 people have pediatric asthma, adult asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or lung cancer. That's why the field of pulmonology is so important.
Pulmonology is the medical specialty that focuses on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases affecting the lungs and respiratory tract. It is a subspecialty of internal medicine and includes the areas of the lungs, bronchial tubes, nose, pharynx and throat.
What Do Baptist Medical Group Pulmonologists Do?
Pulmonologists of Baptist Medical Group specialize in the use of advanced technology for diagnosing and treating lung problems. Patients need to be able to breathe properly to live a normal life, so Baptist Medical Group pulmonologists are dedicated to helping patients with lung problems get better.
Lung specialists may be required to treat patients with complex cases, such as patients on a respirator or in need of ventilator support. Otherwise, Baptist Medical Group pulmonologists often perform diagnostic testing that includes:
- Bronchoscopy
- Spirometry with bronchospasm (asthma) testing
- Determination of lung volumes and diffusing capacity
- Methacholine bronchoprovocation testing
Types of Conditions Treated
When a patient sees a Baptist Medical Group physician who specializes in pulmonology, they may be dealing with one or more of the following health problems:
- Emphysema
- Chronic bronchitis
- Asthma
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Pneumonia
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Pulmonary embolism
- Lung cancer