Pulmonology

Our respiratory teams diagnose and treat breathing problems, from everyday asthma to complex lung disease. Several of our hospitals run dedicated asthma clinics, sleep laboratories for overnight breathing studies and stop-smoking support, so much of the testing and treatment you need happens in one place.

What is pulmonology?

Pulmonology is the branch of medicine that cares for the lungs, airways and the muscles and structures that help you breathe. Respiratory doctors, also called pulmonologists, manage conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pneumonia, along with many other lung problems. They treat with medicines and non-surgical procedures, while operations on the chest are done by thoracic surgeons. Because many lung conditions are long-term, a pulmonologist also monitors your breathing and adjusts your care over the years.

When should you see a pulmonologist?

Book an appointment if you notice:

• Breathlessness that does not ease or that limits everyday activities
• A cough that lasts more than three weeks
• Wheezing or a tight chest that keeps coming back
• Coughing up blood or discoloured phlegm
• Loud snoring with pauses, gasping or choking during sleep
• Feeling very sleepy during the day despite a full night in bed

A severe asthma attack is a medical emergency. If your breathing becomes very difficult and a reliever inhaler does not help, go to the emergency department or call for emergency help straight away.

You might also see a pulmonologist without any symptoms if you smoke or use shisha, have worked around dust, fumes or chemicals, or have a family history of lung disease, since these raise your risk. In the UAE, a family doctor often refers you to a respiratory specialist, though you can also book directly.

What to expect

At your first visit, the pulmonologist asks about your breathing, your symptoms and your history, including whether you smoke and what you do for work. They'll usually listen to your chest and check your oxygen levels. Most people have a breathing test called spirometry, which measures how much air you can breathe out and how fast, and many also have a chest X-ray to look at the lungs.

Treatment depends on what's found. Many lung conditions are managed with inhalers or other medicines, and some people benefit from oxygen or a pulmonary rehabilitation programme that builds up fitness and breathing. Where a closer look is needed, the specialist may suggest a procedure such as bronchoscopy, a camera examination of the airways. Your pulmonologist explains the options and agrees the plan with you.

Pulmonology at Mediclinic

We provide respiratory care across our hospitals in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, for problems that come on suddenly and for lung conditions that need long-term care. Several sites run dedicated asthma clinics, sleep laboratories for overnight breathing studies, and clinics that help people stop smoking. Our teams use lung function testing and chest imaging to reach a diagnosis, and where a closer look at the airways is needed they perform bronchoscopy, where the pulmonologist looks at the lung from within the lungs and takes specimen where indicated. When a breathing problem is part of a wider illness, we work with allergy and thoracic surgery colleagues.