Skip to content
ShreejiiHospital & Research Centre
Request appointment

Speciality

Chest Medicine

Lung & respiratory care

Chest medicine care for breathing difficulties, persistent cough, asthma, COPD and other lung-related concerns.

Request an appointmentMeet our specialists

Request an appointment

A request is not a confirmed appointment — reception will call you to confirm.

Speciality and doctor

Reception will call you to confirm availability. This is not a confirmed booking.

Overview

Understanding chest medicine

Chest medicine, also called pulmonology or respiratory medicine, focuses on the lungs and airways and how well a person can breathe. It covers everyday concerns such as a cough that will not settle, wheezing, breathlessness during activity or at rest, and long-term conditions that affect how air moves in and out of the lungs.

Read more about Chest Medicine

This speciality helps people across age groups, including younger patients with asthma that flares up with exercise or allergens, and older adults managing long-standing breathing difficulty linked to smoking history or other lung conditions. It also supports people recovering from a chest infection who want to understand their ongoing symptoms.

Doctors in this field take a careful history of breathing symptoms and any triggers, examine the chest and lungs, and may arrange tests such as breathing assessments or imaging to understand the pattern of a person's condition. They then explain the findings clearly and guide a suitable plan of care.

Your first visit

During a first chest medicine visit, the doctor will usually ask detailed questions about your cough or breathlessness, how long it has lasted, and what seems to make it better or worse, along with your smoking history and any exposure to dust, fumes or allergens. Bringing along previous chest X-rays, scan reports, or any breathing test results, as well as a list of your current medicines, helps the consultation move smoothly.

What else to expect

The doctor will typically listen to your chest with a stethoscope and check your oxygen levels, and may suggest further tests such as a chest X-ray or a breathing test depending on what they find. They will then discuss the likely cause and next steps with you in clear language.

Conditions

Conditions this speciality covers

General health information about some common conditions in this field — not a complete list, and not confirmation that every treatment mentioned is available at the hospital. Please speak to a doctor about your own situation.

Asthma

A condition where the airways become narrow and inflamed, making breathing difficult at times.

Learn more about Asthma

Asthma often shows up as episodes of wheezing, coughing and tightness in the chest, which can be triggered by allergens, cold air, exercise or infections, and tends to vary in severity from person to person.

Common symptoms

  • Wheezing
  • Breathlessness
  • Chest tightness
  • Cough, often worse at night

How it is assessed

Diagnosis usually involves a review of symptoms and triggers along with breathing tests that measure airflow.

Treatment options

General management focuses on avoiding known triggers and using inhaled treatments as guided by the treating doctor.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

A long-term condition causing narrowed airways and breathing difficulty, often linked to smoking.

Learn more about Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

COPD develops gradually and leads to persistent breathlessness and cough, typically worsening over time if exposure to irritants such as tobacco smoke continues.

Common symptoms

  • Persistent breathlessness
  • Chronic cough with phlegm
  • Wheezing
  • Frequent chest infections

How it is assessed

A breathing test called spirometry along with a detailed history helps confirm the diagnosis and its severity.

Treatment options

Care generally includes stopping smoking, inhaled treatments and pulmonary rehabilitation guidance as advised by the specialist.

Pneumonia

An infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs.

Learn more about Pneumonia

Pneumonia can follow a cold or flu-like illness and causes the air sacs to fill with fluid, leading to cough, fever and breathing difficulty of varying severity.

Common symptoms

  • Cough with phlegm
  • Fever
  • Breathlessness
  • Chest pain when breathing or coughing

How it is assessed

A chest X-ray and clinical examination are commonly used to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment options

Management depends on severity and generally includes rest, fluids and treatment directed at the underlying infection as prescribed.

Chronic bronchitis

Long-term inflammation of the airway lining causing a persistent productive cough.

Learn more about Chronic bronchitis

This condition, often related to smoking or long-term irritant exposure, causes ongoing mucus production and cough that can affect daily comfort and activity.

Common symptoms

  • Cough with mucus most days
  • Breathlessness on exertion
  • Wheezing
  • Frequent throat clearing

How it is assessed

Assessment includes a history of symptoms and duration along with breathing tests where needed.

Treatment options

General approaches involve avoiding irritants, breathing exercises and medical treatment guided by the specialist.

Sleep-related breathing difficulty

Disrupted breathing patterns during sleep that affect rest and daytime alertness.

Learn more about Sleep-related breathing difficulty

Some people experience pauses or irregularities in breathing while asleep, which can lead to poor quality sleep, snoring and daytime tiredness, and may be linked to airway or weight-related factors.

Common symptoms

  • Loud snoring
  • Daytime sleepiness
  • Morning headaches
  • Waking up gasping for breath

How it is assessed

Evaluation may involve a detailed history and, where appropriate, a sleep study to observe breathing patterns overnight.

Treatment options

Management approaches vary and may include lifestyle changes and other measures discussed individually with the doctor.

Services

Tests, treatments and services

Charges and preparation apply to a consultation, test or procedure — not to a condition.

Common approaches in this speciality

General health information about how doctors in this field usually investigate and treat — not a list of services confirmed at Shreejii. Please ask reception what is available.

Consultations

  • Chest medicine consultation

    A focused discussion about your cough, breathlessness or other respiratory symptoms.

    Why and what it involves: Chest medicine consultation

    Why it is done: To identify likely causes and plan appropriate next steps.

    What it involves: History taking, chest examination and oxygen level check.

Diagnostic tests

  • Chest X-ray

    An imaging test that shows the structure of the lungs and airways.

    Why and what it involves: Chest X-ray

    Why it is done: To look for infection, inflammation or other lung changes.

    What it involves: A brief scan while standing, usually taking only a few minutes.

  • Spirometry (breathing test)

    A test that measures how much and how quickly you can breathe out.

    Why and what it involves: Spirometry (breathing test)

    Why it is done: To assess airway narrowing and lung function.

    What it involves: Breathing forcefully into a mouthpiece connected to a machine.

Treatments & procedures

  • Inhaler technique guidance

    Support on using prescribed inhalers correctly and effectively.

    Why and what it involves: Inhaler technique guidance

    Why it is done: To help symptoms be managed as intended.

    What it involves: A demonstration and practice session with the care team.

Follow-up & ongoing care

  • Respiratory follow-up review

    A scheduled visit to reassess breathing and adjust care as needed.

    Why and what it involves: Respiratory follow-up review

    Why it is done: To track improvement and manage the condition over time.

    What it involves: Symptom review and repeat tests if required.

Specialists

Doctors in Chest Medicine

View all doctors

Costs

Charges and estimates

The hospital has not published verified charges for this speciality yet. Contact the hospital for a personalised estimate — the cost depends on the consultation, tests or procedure your doctor recommends.

Final bills depend on your treatment plan, room category and clinical needs. Insurance cover and cashless approval depend on your insurer and policy.

Request an estimateInsurance assistance

Health library

Health articles on Chest Medicine

Practical Tips for Living Well with a Long-Term Breathing Condition

Simple, everyday strategies to help manage ongoing breathing conditions such as asthma or COPD, alongside guidance from your chest medicine specialist.

28 September 2026

View all articles

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Is a persistent cough always a sign of a serious lung problem?

Not necessarily, but a cough lasting more than a few weeks is worth having checked, since it can have several causes ranging from mild to conditions that benefit from earlier attention.

Can asthma develop in adulthood even without childhood symptoms?

Yes, asthma can begin at any age, and some adults notice symptoms for the first time later in life, often triggered by allergens, infections or environmental factors.

Does COPD only affect people who smoke?

Smoking is a major factor, but long-term exposure to dust, fumes or certain occupational irritants can also contribute, so it is best evaluated based on individual history.

How is a breathing test different from a chest X-ray?

A breathing test measures how well air moves in and out of your lungs, while a chest X-ray shows the physical structure of the lungs, so the two provide different but complementary information.

Can lifestyle changes help improve breathing in the long term?

Yes, measures such as avoiding smoke and irritants, staying physically active where possible, and following prescribed treatment consistently can support better breathing over time.

Sources for general health information

This page is general health education, not medical advice. It has not been individually reviewed by a Shreejii doctor unless stated.

Speak to a Chest Medicine specialist

Send a request and reception will call you to confirm a suitable time. A request is not a confirmed appointment.

Request an appointment

Questions about this speciality?

Request an appointment or call the hospital.