Our experienced Consultants in Respiratory and Sleep Medicine can provide diagnosis and initial care for the following respiratory conditions:
Asthma
Asthma is a common lung condition that causes occasional breathing difficulties, tightness in your chest and a cough or wheeziness. It affects an estimated 300 million people worldwide.
Allergies
Respiratory allergies can be caused by pollen, dust, mould, hair, or animal fur amongst other things. Symptoms can include asthma and allergic rhinitis (inflammation and swelling of the inside of the nose).
Bronchiectasis
This is a long-term condition in which your airways are wider and become inflamed with thick phlegm, which can lead to a chest infection.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
With COPD, your lung tissue is damaged, leading to an obstructed airflow. This makes it difficult to take in oxygen and breathe carbon dioxide out of your lungs. COPD can include long-term (chronic) bronchitis and emphysema.
Cystic fibrosis (CF)
CF is an inherited condition which affects the balance of salt and water in some parts of the body. A sticky mucus builds up in the lungs, which can cause infection, Mucus can also build up in the digestive system, affecting how nutrients from food are absorbed.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)
IPF is a condition which scars your lungs, making them less elastic. This makes breathing more difficult. IPF can’t be reversed, but the symptoms can remain stable for many years.
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer and can be caused by any one of a number of different things, including smoking, air pollution, an existing lung condition or as a result of working with chemicals.
Pulmonary hypertension
This condition is caused by high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries, the blood vessels that carry blood to your lungs. This means that the pressure in the right-hand side of your heart (where the pulmonary arteries are situated) is higher and the right ventricle must work harder to push blood through your lungs.
Sleep disorders
There are a range of sleep-related breathing conditions which can affect your sleep and the balance of oxygen or carbon dioxide in the blood. Some of the most common are snoring, sleep apnoea, sleep-related hypoventilation and Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS).
Sleep apnoea
Sleep apnoea is a medical disorder which results from involuntary cessation of breathing for a short time during sleep. It results in non-refreshing sleep and increased daytime sleepiness. Currently, it is estimated that one in three adults have snoring or sleep disordered breathing. It can result in cardio-metabolic complications if untreated.
Tuberculosis (TB)
TB is a bacterial infection that normally affects the lungs, but can also affect your brain, bones, lymph nodes, kidneys, spine, and stomach. TB is thankfully rare in the UK, and it can easily be prevented or managed.
