The Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine is a specialty that deals with disorders of the lungs and other vital organs of the body. The specialty can be divided into conditions that present to outpatient setting (doctor's office) or those that are more acute or critical, requiring in-patient hospital care, often in the intensive care unit setting.
Outpatient Pulmonary Disorders
Patients are seen for respiratory symptoms such as:
- Activity intolerance
- Allergies (seasonal or other)
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Chest pain
- Chronic interstitial lung disease or lung fibrosis
- Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (COPD)
- Cough
- Emphysema
- Excessive weight related to respiratory complaints
- Lung cancer
- Lung scarring
- Occupational lung disease (including asbestos or coal-related respiratory problems or symptoms, or other occupational exposures)
- Pleural disease
- Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis (PAP)
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Pulmonary vascular disease
- Sarcoidosis
- Shortness of breath (or breathlessness)
- Sleep disorders, including snoring and/or excessive sleepiness
- Sputum production with or without blood
- Wheezing
Tests performed include abnormal lung function measurements or abnormal chest x-rays or other imaging.
For more information about these problems or conditions, please see our Glossary and Procedures pages.
