Pulmonology is a medical specialty that deals with diseases involving the respiratory system, a group of organs and tissues that work together to help you breathe. The respiratory system’s main job is to move fresh air into your body while removing waste gases. The lungs are a part of the respiratory system.
Every cell in your body needs oxygen for energy and growth. During a normal day, you breathe nearly 25,000 times. When you breathe, your lungs take in oxygen from the air and deliver it to the bloodstream to be carried through your body. At each cell in your body, oxygen is exchanged for a waste gas called carbon dioxide. Your bloodstream then carries this waste gas back to the lungs where it is removed from the bloodstream and then exhaled. Your lungs and respiratory system automatically perform this vital process, called gas exchange.
The respiratory system is susceptible to several diseases, and the lungs are prone to a wide range of disorders. People with lung disorders may have difficulty breathing. The term lung disease refers to many disorders affecting the lungs, such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, and lung cancer.
To learn how to keep your lungs healthy and get the facts about lung disease symptoms, causes and treatments, as well as advice for managing different lung diseases, visit: