If you live with asthma, you may wonder which type of doctor can give you the best care. Allergists, also known as asthma specialists, focus on allergies, immune system issues, and asthma triggered by environmental factors.
Pulmonologists, on the other hand, concentrate on lung health and treat a wide range of respiratory diseases. The primary difference is that an asthma specialist manages asthma associated with allergies, while a pulmonologist treats asthma as part of a broader range of lung conditions.
Knowing who to see can save you time and help you receive the proper treatment more quickly. If your asthma flares up due to pollen, dust, or pet dander, an asthma specialist may be the right choice.
If your asthma is more severe, complicated by lung disease, or not linked to allergies, a pulmonologist may provide the care you need.
Asthma care often involves doctors with different training and focus. Some concentrate on allergies and immune responses, while others specialize in lung diseases and complex respiratory conditions.
An asthma specialist is usually an allergist or an immunologist. These doctors complete their training in allergy and immunology after medical school and residency.
Their expertise lies in diagnosing and treating asthma that is triggered by allergic factors, such as pollen, dust, or pet dander. They focus on both the immune and respiratory systems.
This means they can treat asthma alongside conditions like food allergies, eczema, and hay fever. If your asthma symptoms flare up due to environmental or seasonal triggers, an asthma specialist may be the most effective option.
Some asthma specialists are pediatricians who have received additional training in allergy and asthma care. Others may be internists who specialize in caring for adults.
They often use skin or blood tests to identify allergens and then create a treatment plan that may include the use of inhalers, allergy shots, or lifestyle adjustments. You would typically see an asthma specialist if your asthma is mild to moderate, closely tied to allergies, or not improving with basic treatment from a primary care doctor.
A pulmonologist, also known as a pulmonary specialist, is a doctor who specializes in diseases of the lungs and the respiratory system. They complete residency in internal medicine or pediatrics, followed by two to three years of advanced training in pulmonary medicine.
Pulmonologists treat a wide range of conditions beyond asthma, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, emphysema, and lung cancer. They often manage more complicated or severe cases of asthma, especially when standard medications are not enough.
These specialists utilize advanced diagnostic tools, including pulmonary function tests, chest imaging, and, in some cases, bronchoscopy. Their training also enables them to manage patients who require critical care or mechanical ventilation.
If your asthma is severe, difficult to control, or associated with other lung problems, a pulmonologist is usually the right choice.
The main difference lies in focus.
| Aspect | Asthma Specialist | Pulmonologist |
| Training | Allergy & Immunology | Pulmonary Medicine |
| Best For | Allergic asthma, mild to moderate cases | Severe asthma, complex lung diseases |
| Common Tests | Allergy skin/blood tests | Lung function tests, imaging, and bronchoscopy |
You may start with an asthma specialist if allergies drive your symptoms. If your asthma becomes more severe or involves broader lung issues, a pulmonologist may take over your care.
Becoming an asthma specialist or pulmonologist requires years of structured education and hands-on training. Both paths begin with medical school but differ in the type of residency and fellowship programs that follow, as well as the focus of their board certification.
You must first complete a bachelor’s degree, usually in a science field, before applying to medical school. Medical school lasts four years, with the first half focused on classroom learning in areas like anatomy, pharmacology, and pathology, and the second half centered on clinical rotations.
After graduation, your training continues with a residency. Pulmonologists typically complete a three-year residency in internal medicine, during which they learn to diagnose and treat a wide range of adult respiratory conditions.
This prepares them for later specialization in lung and respiratory care. Allergists and asthma specialists may come from two backgrounds.
Some complete an internal medicine residency, such as pulmonologists, while others train as pediatricians to focus on children with asthma and allergies. This distinction determines whether their practice centers more on adult or pediatric patients.
Once residency is complete, you must pursue a fellowship to gain advanced expertise. Pulmonologists enter a pulmonary or pulmonary/critical care fellowship, which usually lasts 2–3 years.
During this time, you learn to perform procedures such as bronchoscopy, interpret lung function tests, and manage patients with complex respiratory diseases. Critical care training is often included, allowing you to treat patients in intensive care units who need ventilators or advanced breathing support.
This dual focus makes pulmonologists skilled in both chronic lung conditions and life-threatening respiratory problems. Allergy and asthma specialists complete a two- to three-year fellowship in allergy and immunology.
This training focuses on the immune system, allergic triggers, and treatments, including immunotherapy. If you trained as a pediatrician, your fellowship equips you to manage asthma in children, as well as allergic conditions such as eczema or food allergies.
After a fellowship, you must obtain a medical license and often pursue board certification. Pulmonologists typically certify through the American Board of Internal Medicine in pulmonary disease, and many also hold certifications in critical care medicine.
Allergists and asthma specialists are certified through the American Board of Allergy and Immunology. Board certification requires passing exams that test both knowledge and clinical judgment.
While not legally required, certification signals advanced expertise and is valued by patients and employers. You must also complete continuing medical education (CME) throughout your career.
These activities keep you informed about new treatments, evolving guidelines, and advancements in respiratory care. States and boards require a set number of CME hours to maintain active status, ensuring your skills remain current.
Asthma specialists focus on breathing problems linked to airway inflammation, allergic reactions, and immune system responses. They use training in allergy and immunology to diagnose and manage conditions that often overlap, such as asthma triggered by allergens or immune system disorders that affect your lungs.
Asthma specialists often treat both asthma and allergic asthma. Asthma causes airway inflammation, tightness, and wheezing, while allergic asthma is triggered by allergens such as pollen, dust mites, or pet dander.
If you have allergic asthma, an allergist can help you identify triggers and create a personalized plan that may include the use of inhalers, allergy medications, or immunotherapy. Unlike general asthma care, allergic asthma treatment often combines both respiratory and allergy management.
You may also undergo lung function tests, such as spirometry, to assess how well your lungs function. These tests help track how your airways respond to treatment and adjust your care plan if symptoms worsen.
Asthma specialists are also trained to treat allergies that affect your breathing or overall health. These can include hay fever, food allergies, eczema, or reactions to insect stings.
Because allergies and asthma often co-occur, treating both conditions can help reduce flare-ups and improve daily control of symptoms. In addition, allergists focus on immune system disorders linked to abnormal responses, such as frequent sinus infections or chronic inflammation.
By testing for allergens and immune function, they can find the cause of your symptoms and recommend targeted therapies. Treatment may involve:
Allergy and immunology training enables asthma specialists to treat conditions at the level of the immune system, rather than just the symptoms. This is important because many allergic reactions begin with an overactive immune response to harmless substances.
Immunology plays a key role in allergen immunotherapy (allergy shots or tablets). These treatments gradually expose you to small amounts of an allergen to reduce sensitivity over time.
For some people with allergic asthma, this can lower the risk of severe attacks. Asthma specialists also use immunology to manage chronic immune-related conditions that worsen breathing problems.
By understanding how your immune system responds, they can provide long-term strategies that extend beyond short-term relief.
Pulmonologists diagnose and manage diseases that affect your lungs, airways, and breathing. They treat both common and complex conditions, ranging from long-term respiratory illnesses to cancers and sleep-related breathing problems.
Chronic Respiratory Diseases
You may see a pulmonologist if you have long-term breathing problems such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or chronic bronchitis. These conditions make it harder for air to move through your airways, leading to coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
A pulmonologist uses lung function tests, imaging, and laboratory work to assess how well your lungs function. Treatment may include the use of inhalers, oxygen therapy, or participation in pulmonary rehabilitation programs.
For people with severe asthma, a pulmonologist works with other specialists to adjust medications and monitor flare-ups. This helps lower the risk of hospitalization and improves daily breathing.
Examples of chronic respiratory diseases:
Pulmonologists also play a key role in diagnosing and treating lung cancer. They often perform procedures such as bronchoscopy to examine your airways and collect tissue samples for testing.
Early detection is critical because lung cancer can spread quickly. If you are living with emphysema, a type of COPD, a pulmonologist helps manage symptoms caused by damaged air sacs in your lungs.
This damage makes it difficult for oxygen to pass into your blood, leading to fatigue and breathing problems. Treatment for emphysema may include inhaled medicines, oxygen therapy, or, in advanced cases, surgery.
Pulmonologists also guide you in lifestyle changes like quitting smoking, which can slow the disease’s progression.
Conditions commonly managed:
Pulmonologists often evaluate and treat sleep disorders that affect your breathing. One of the most common is obstructive sleep apnea, where your airway repeatedly collapses during sleep.
This causes loud snoring, pauses in breathing, and daytime fatigue. To diagnose sleep apnea, a pulmonologist may order a sleep study that tracks your breathing, oxygen levels, and sleep stages.
Based on results, treatment may include continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, oral devices, or weight management strategies. Other sleep disorders linked to lung health, such as hypoventilation syndromes, may also be managed by a pulmonologist.
Proper treatment can improve your sleep quality, reduce health risks, and replenish your daytime energy.
The type of doctor you see often depends on what causes your asthma symptoms and how severe they are. Whether you need advanced testing or treatment can also influence your choice.
Some patients benefit most from an allergist. Others need the expertise of a pulmonologist.
If your asthma flares up after exposure to pollen, dust, pet dander, or certain foods, an allergist may be the right choice. Allergists are trained to identify and manage allergic triggers that can worsen asthma.
You may undergo skin or blood testing to pinpoint specific allergens. This information helps create a personalized asthma action plan that includes both medication and avoidance strategies.
An allergist can also provide immunotherapy (allergy shots or drops) if your symptoms are linked to allergies. This treatment can reduce sensitivity to triggers over time and improve asthma control.
If your asthma symptoms are frequent, severe, or not responding well to standard treatment, a pulmonologist is often the better choice.
Pulmonologists specialize in lung conditions and can perform advanced testing, such as complete pulmonary function tests or a bronchoscopy, to better understand your airway health.
You may need a pulmonologist if you:
Pulmonologists also treat conditions that can mimic or worsen asthma, such as COPD, sleep apnea, or pulmonary hypertension. If your diagnosis is uncertain or your symptoms are difficult to control, a pulmonologist can provide a more complete evaluation.
For many people, the best care comes from both specialists working together. Allergists can manage the allergic side of asthma, while pulmonologists focus on lung function and complex respiratory issues.
Your primary care doctor may refer you to one or both specialists, depending on your needs. In some cases, they may also involve an ENT specialist (ear, nose, and throat specialist) if sinus or airway problems play a role.
Asthma care often involves more than one type of provider. Some focus on diagnosing and treating the condition, while others help you manage symptoms and improve daily function.
An internist specializes in internal medicine and treats adults with a wide range of conditions, including asthma. You may choose an internist if you are an adult who requires ongoing asthma care, as well as the management of other health issues.
They can diagnose asthma, prescribe medications, and track how your lung function changes over time.
A pediatrician provides care for children from birth through young adulthood. If your child has asthma, a pediatrician can handle diagnosis, treatment, and education for both you and your child.
They often serve as the first point of contact, referring patients to specialists, such as allergists or pulmonologists, when symptoms become more complex.
Key functions they provide include:
A pulmonary rehabilitation therapist is not a doctor, but they play an essential role in asthma management. These providers may be nurses or respiratory therapists trained to help you improve breathing and physical endurance.
They focus on teaching techniques that make daily activities easier. This can include breathing exercises and safe workout plans.
You may also learn strategies to manage stress that can worsen asthma symptoms. Therapists teach you how to use inhalers correctly.
They help you monitor your own lung function and recognize early warning signs of flare-ups.
Support they provide includes:
Understanding the difference between an asthma specialist and a pulmonologist can help you make informed decisions about your care. While asthma specialists (allergists and immunologists) focus on managing asthma triggered by allergens and immune responses, pulmonologists provide expertise in more complex or severe lung conditions. Patients often benefit from both approaches, ensuring that allergic triggers and broader lung health are addressed. Whether dealing with mild allergic asthma or more complicated respiratory challenges, choosing the right provider ensures faster relief, improved management, and better long-term outcomes.
If you’re ready to take control of your asthma and get the specialized care you need, book an appointment with Gwinnett Pulmonary & Sleep today and let our team guide you toward easier breathing.
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