Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsConditionsRelated TestsSpecialistsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Conditions
Related Tests
Specialists
Frequently Asked Questions
The wordpulmonaryis used to describe issues pertaining to the lungs. It is derived from the Latin root wordpulmo, which means lung. If someone has pulmonary disease, this means they have a lung disease, which may affect their ability to breathe well.
This article looks at pulmonary conditions, their diagnosis, and their treatment.
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What Are Some Pulmonary Problems?
There are many conditions that are classified as pulmonary in nature. Some of the major ones include:
Pulmonary Function Tests
Pulmonary function tests (PFT) are performed to determine if an individual is experiencing problems with their lungs. These tests measure:
PFTs require you to blow into a small device called a spirometer and also may use a pulse oximeter attached to a finger. They can usually be performed in a clinic setting.
For some tests, you will have your normal breathing measured. For others, you may be required to exhale forcefully, or to attempt to empty your lungs of air. You may be given an inhaled medication after these tests, then perform the tests again to determine if the medication was effective.
If you already take breathing medications, you may be asked to skip your dose prior to having these tests to determine your baseline lung function.
Exercise testing is also done to test your lung function.This can include a six-minute walk test or cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) done on a treadmill or exercise bike to get data on oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, and heart rate.
Who Treats Pulmonary Issues?
Summary
In medicine, “pulmonary” refers to conditions of the lungs. Some common pulmonary conditions include asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, and sleep apnea.
Pulmonary conditions are usually diagnosed with pulmonary function tests. These tests measure airflow, lung volume, muscle function, and how well your lungs take in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide.
Frequently Asked QuestionsPulmonary conditions affect the lungs, while cardiac conditions affect the heart. The termcardiopulmonaryrefers to conditions that affect both the heart and lungs.Learn MoreWhat Is Heart-Lung Bypass?Many different conditions can affect the lungs. Some of them, like acute bronchitis, often resolve on their own. Others are chronic, meaning long-term. These usually can’t be cured, but treatments may be available to help manage them.Pulmonary fibrosis is damage and scarring to tissue surrounding the air sacs in the lungs. As a result, oxygen no longer filters to your blood as it should and you experience shortness of breath.Learn MoreCauses of Pulmonary FibrosisCommon symptoms of pulmonary embolism include sudden shortness of breath, dull chest pain, and coughing. Wheezing, coughing up blood, and loss of consciousness are some other possibilties.Learn MoreSymptoms of Pulmonary Embolism
Pulmonary conditions affect the lungs, while cardiac conditions affect the heart. The termcardiopulmonaryrefers to conditions that affect both the heart and lungs.Learn MoreWhat Is Heart-Lung Bypass?
Pulmonary conditions affect the lungs, while cardiac conditions affect the heart. The termcardiopulmonaryrefers to conditions that affect both the heart and lungs.
Learn MoreWhat Is Heart-Lung Bypass?
Many different conditions can affect the lungs. Some of them, like acute bronchitis, often resolve on their own. Others are chronic, meaning long-term. These usually can’t be cured, but treatments may be available to help manage them.
Pulmonary fibrosis is damage and scarring to tissue surrounding the air sacs in the lungs. As a result, oxygen no longer filters to your blood as it should and you experience shortness of breath.Learn MoreCauses of Pulmonary Fibrosis
Pulmonary fibrosis is damage and scarring to tissue surrounding the air sacs in the lungs. As a result, oxygen no longer filters to your blood as it should and you experience shortness of breath.
Learn MoreCauses of Pulmonary Fibrosis
Common symptoms of pulmonary embolism include sudden shortness of breath, dull chest pain, and coughing. Wheezing, coughing up blood, and loss of consciousness are some other possibilties.Learn MoreSymptoms of Pulmonary Embolism
Common symptoms of pulmonary embolism include sudden shortness of breath, dull chest pain, and coughing. Wheezing, coughing up blood, and loss of consciousness are some other possibilties.
Learn MoreSymptoms of Pulmonary Embolism
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Lung Association.Lung diseases.World Health Organization.Chronic respiratory diseases.World Health Organization.Asthma.John Hopkins Medicine.Pulmonary function tests.Guazzi M, Bandera F, Ozemek C, Systrom D, Arena R.Cardiopulmonary exercise testing: what is its value?. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2017;70(13):1618-1636. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2017.08.012American College of Physicians.Pulmonary disease.The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.What is a cardiothoracic surgeon?Additional ReadingPulmonary Disorders. Merck Manual Professional Version.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Lung Association.Lung diseases.World Health Organization.Chronic respiratory diseases.World Health Organization.Asthma.John Hopkins Medicine.Pulmonary function tests.Guazzi M, Bandera F, Ozemek C, Systrom D, Arena R.Cardiopulmonary exercise testing: what is its value?. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2017;70(13):1618-1636. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2017.08.012American College of Physicians.Pulmonary disease.The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.What is a cardiothoracic surgeon?Additional ReadingPulmonary Disorders. Merck Manual Professional Version.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Lung Association.Lung diseases.World Health Organization.Chronic respiratory diseases.World Health Organization.Asthma.John Hopkins Medicine.Pulmonary function tests.Guazzi M, Bandera F, Ozemek C, Systrom D, Arena R.Cardiopulmonary exercise testing: what is its value?. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2017;70(13):1618-1636. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2017.08.012American College of Physicians.Pulmonary disease.The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.What is a cardiothoracic surgeon?
American Lung Association.Lung diseases.
World Health Organization.Chronic respiratory diseases.
World Health Organization.Asthma.
John Hopkins Medicine.Pulmonary function tests.
Guazzi M, Bandera F, Ozemek C, Systrom D, Arena R.Cardiopulmonary exercise testing: what is its value?. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2017;70(13):1618-1636. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2017.08.012
American College of Physicians.Pulmonary disease.
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.What is a cardiothoracic surgeon?
Pulmonary Disorders. Merck Manual Professional Version.
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