Pulmonology

Pulmonology is a subspecialty of internal medicine with specific knowledge and training to diagnose and treat patients with lung diseases as well as chest infections and breathing problems.
 
The primary function of your lungs is for you to breathe properly through an exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide through the thin walls that line the many air pockets in the lungs. This also requires circulation of blood pumped directly from and to the heart. Some lung conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or pulmonary fibrosis, arise directly from lung tissue and affect oxygen uptake. Many neurologic and muscular conditions, however, affect the process of ventilation and limit the amount of air that reaches the lungs.
 
As a result, pulmonologists at Houston Methodist partner across disciplines such as neurology, cancer surgery and transplant medicine to manage and treat all acute and chronic disorders of the respiratory and pulmonary vascular systems.