Respiratory medicine is a medical specialty focusing on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of diseases affecting the respiratory system, which includes the airways, lungs, and diaphragm. Specialists, known as pulmonologists, manage both acute and chronic conditions, often utilizing intensive care medicine

Scope of the SpecialtyRespiratory medicine covers the entire respiratory tract, including the nose, throat, trachea (windpipe), bronchi, and lungs. Practitioners handle conditions that impact gaseous exchange—the process of taking in oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide

Clinical ApproachTreatment strategies in respiratory medicine can include medications (like inhalers and bronchodilators), oxygen therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation, and in critical care settings, mechanical ventilation or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)