Respiratory Medicine encompasses lung and breathing-related conditions. Common respiratory symptoms include shortness of breath, cough, wheeze and chest tightness.

There are many types of lung infections which may affect those with persistent lung disease and impaired immunity, as well as those with no history of lung problems.

Common respiratory conditions include airways diseases such as asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), chronic cough, sarcoidosis and pneumonia. In addition, it is an unfortunate fact that lung cancer remains one of the commonest causes of death in Australia. The best hope for reducing the impact of lung cancer is in prevention (avoiding cigarette smoking and other inhaled toxins) as well as early diagnosis and treatment.

In assessing and treating respiratory disorders our practice makes use of Pulmonary Function Testing [link to Pulmonary Function Testing page], radiological imaging (which may include x-rays, CT scans, nuclear medicine scans or other forms of imaging) and occasionally fibreoptic bronchoscopy is used for either diagnostic or treatment purposes.