When breathing feels harder than it should, knowing who can help makes a big difference. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD, affects how air moves in and out of your lungs, often causing coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
A doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating COPD is called a pulmonologist.
You turn to a pulmonologist when breathing problems go beyond what a primary care doctor can manage. These lung specialists complete advanced training in pulmonary and critical care medicine to treat conditions like COPD, asthma, and pulmonary hypertension.
At Gwinnett Pulmonary, board-certified pulmonologists combine experience, technology, and compassion to help you breathe easier and live more comfortably.
A doctor who treats chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) focuses on lung health and breathing function. You may begin care with your primary care doctor, but a pulmonologist—a specialist in lung and respiratory conditions—often provides more advanced diagnosis and treatment when symptoms become complex.
A pulmonologist is a medical doctor who specializes in diseases of the lungs and respiratory tract. This includes COPD, asthma, pneumonia, and other breathing disorders.
Pulmonologists complete internal medicine training before receiving additional education in pulmonary medicine. They use tests like spirometry, chest imaging, and oxygen level checks to evaluate how well your lungs work.
You might also hear them called pulmonary doctors or respiratory specialists. Pulmonologists often practice in hospitals or specialized clinics.
They help manage long-term lung conditions and coordinate with other healthcare professionals to create a treatment plan that fits your needs. Their expertise becomes especially important if your COPD symptoms progress or standard treatments stop working.
Your primary care physician (PCP) is usually the first person you see when you have breathing problems. They can perform basic exams, prescribe inhalers, and monitor mild COPD.
For many people, a PCP manages early or stable stages of the disease. However, when symptoms worsen or become harder to control, your PCP may refer you to a pulmonologist.
The pulmonologist can perform advanced tests, adjust medications, and recommend specialized therapies such as pulmonary rehabilitation or oxygen therapy.
| Doctor Type | Main Focus | When to See |
| Primary Care Physician | General health, early COPD management | Mild symptoms or routine care |
| Pulmonologist | Advanced lung disease and complex COPD | Frequent flare-ups or severe symptoms |
Both doctors play key roles in your COPD care, often working together to manage your condition effectively.
A pulmonary doctor helps you control symptoms, slow disease progression, and maintain lung function. They adjust treatments based on test results and your response to medication.
They may prescribe bronchodilators, inhaled steroids, or combination inhalers to make breathing easier. In more serious cases, they can arrange oxygen therapy or evaluate surgical options.
Pulmonologists also teach breathing techniques and coordinate pulmonary rehabilitation programs that include exercise, nutrition, and education. They track your progress over time and modify your care plan as needed.
Pulmonologists complete extensive education and hands-on clinical training before they can diagnose and treat lung diseases such as COPD. Their path includes medical school, internal medicine residency, a pulmonary medicine fellowship, and board certification through the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM).
You begin by earning a medical degree (MD or DO) from an accredited medical school. This usually takes four years and includes both classroom study and supervised clinical experience.
After graduation, you enter a residency program in internal medicine, which typically lasts three years. During this time, you learn to evaluate, diagnose, and manage a wide range of adult medical conditions.
Your residency includes rotations in hospital wards, outpatient clinics, and intensive care units. You work under supervision but gain increasing responsibility for patient care.
This phase builds your foundation in clinical reasoning, patient communication, and evidence-based treatment. By the end of residency, you must demonstrate competency in six core areas defined by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME):
After completing internal medicine training, you enter a pulmonary disease fellowship accredited by the ACGME. This program usually lasts two to three years.
You gain advanced skills in diagnosing and managing complex lung disorders, including COPD, asthma, and pulmonary fibrosis. Training includes procedures such as bronchoscopy, thoracentesis, and ventilator management.
Fellows spend at least 12 months in full-time clinical training, often rotating through intensive care units and pulmonary function laboratories. You also maintain a continuity clinic to follow patients over time.
Some physicians choose a combined pulmonary and critical care fellowship, which takes about three years and provides dual certification eligibility. These programs emphasize both lung disease management and critical care medicine.
To become a board-certified pulmonologist, you must first hold ABIM certification in internal medicine. You then pass the Pulmonary Disease Certification Examination administered by the ABIM.
This exam assesses your clinical knowledge, procedural skills, and professional judgment. Successful completion demonstrates that you meet national standards for pulmonary medicine practice.
Many pulmonologists also pursue dual certification in critical care medicine. Maintaining certification requires ongoing participation in continuing medical education (CME) and periodic recertification exams.
You stay current through professional organizations such as the American Thoracic Society and the American Lung Association, which offer updated guidelines, educator courses, and training opportunities. Continuous learning ensures your care remains aligned with current medical standards and research.
Pulmonologists diagnose and manage diseases that affect your lungs and breathing. They use imaging tests, lung function studies, and lab work to find the cause of symptoms like shortness of breath, cough, or chest tightness.
Treatment often combines medication, oxygen therapy, and lifestyle changes to improve your lung function and quality of life.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) includes long-term conditions that block airflow and make breathing difficult. You may notice symptoms such as chronic cough, mucus buildup, and fatigue.
Smoking is the leading cause, but long-term exposure to air pollutants or workplace irritants can also contribute. Pulmonologists help you manage COPD by creating a personalized care plan.
This plan may include bronchodilators, inhaled corticosteroids, and pulmonary rehabilitation to strengthen your lungs. They also monitor your oxygen levels and may prescribe supplemental oxygen if needed.
You might work with a team that includes respiratory therapists and nutritionists. Together, they help you reduce flare-ups, maintain activity levels, and slow disease progression.
Regular follow-ups allow your doctor to adjust treatments based on your symptoms and test results.
Asthma causes inflammation and narrowing of your airways, leading to wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. These symptoms can vary in intensity and may worsen with allergens, exercise, or respiratory infections.
Pulmonologists identify triggers and measure your lung function to guide treatment. You may receive inhaled medications such as bronchodilators for quick relief and corticosteroids for long-term control.
Pulmonologists teach you how to use inhalers correctly and track your symptoms to prevent attacks. For people with frequent or severe asthma, doctors might recommend biologic therapies or allergy testing.
Managing asthma often involves avoiding triggers, following a written action plan, and scheduling regular checkups to keep symptoms stable.
Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are the two main forms of COPD. Chronic bronchitis causes long-term inflammation of the airways, leading to mucus buildup and persistent cough.
Emphysema damages the air sacs in your lungs, reducing oxygen exchange and causing shortness of breath. Pulmonologists use spirometry and imaging tests to confirm diagnosis and assess severity.
Treatment may include inhalers, oxygen therapy, and pulmonary rehabilitation. Quitting smoking is the most effective step to slow disease progression.
You may also learn breathing techniques like pursed-lip breathing to ease shortness of breath. These strategies help you stay active and manage symptoms more effectively.
Interstitial lung disease (ILD) refers to a group of disorders that cause scarring of lung tissue, making it harder for oxygen to move into your bloodstream. You may experience dry cough, fatigue, and gradual shortness of breath.
Pulmonologists diagnose ILD with high-resolution CT scans, lung function tests, and sometimes biopsies. Identifying the cause—such as autoimmune disease, medication reaction, or environmental exposure—guides treatment.
Treatment focuses on slowing scarring and relieving symptoms. You might take anti-fibrotic drugs, corticosteroids, or immunosuppressive medications.
Pulmonologists may also recommend oxygen therapy and pulmonary rehab to help you stay active and maintain lung function.
Pulmonologists diagnose and treat many lung and breathing conditions beyond COPD. They manage infections, chronic diseases, and sleep-related breathing problems that affect how well your lungs deliver oxygen to your body.
Their work often involves coordination with other specialists, imaging studies, and advanced treatments.
You may see a pulmonologist if you have pneumonia that does not improve with routine care. They can order chest X-rays, perform sputum tests, and monitor oxygen levels to check how well your lungs recover.
Severe pneumonia can require hospital care or mechanical ventilation. Tuberculosis (TB) also falls under a pulmonologist’s care.
They confirm TB through skin or blood tests and imaging. Treatment involves several antibiotics taken for months.
Pulmonologists monitor your progress and adjust medications to prevent resistance.
Key differences:
| Condition | Cause | Typical Treatment |
| Pneumonia | Bacteria, viruses, or fungi | Antibiotics, antivirals, oxygen therapy |
| Tuberculosis | Mycobacterium tuberculosis | Multi-drug antibiotic therapy for 6–9 months |
Pulmonologists often help identify lung cancer through imaging and biopsy procedures. You might undergo a CT scan, bronchoscopy, or needle biopsy if suspicious nodules appear on your scans.
These tests help determine if cancer is present and what stage it is in. After diagnosis, your pulmonologist works with oncologists and surgeons to plan treatment.
They may help manage symptoms like cough, shortness of breath, or fluid buildup around the lungs.
Common treatments include:
Pulmonologists continue to monitor your lung function and help manage side effects during and after treatment.
Pulmonary hypertension occurs when blood pressure in your lung arteries is too high. You might notice fatigue, chest pain, or swelling in your legs.
Pulmonologists use echocardiograms, right heart catheterization, and blood tests to confirm the diagnosis. Treatment focuses on improving blood flow and oxygen levels.
You may take medications that relax blood vessels or reduce strain on your heart. Oxygen therapy and lifestyle changes, such as avoiding high altitudes, can also help.
In critical care, pulmonologists treat patients with severe respiratory failure, often in intensive care units. They manage ventilators, monitor blood gases, and adjust treatments to stabilize breathing and oxygen levels.
Pulmonologists also evaluate and treat sleep-related breathing problems. Sleep apnea causes repeated pauses in breathing during sleep, leading to poor rest and daytime fatigue.
You may need a sleep study to measure airflow, oxygen, and heart rate overnight. Treatment often includes CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) therapy, which keeps your airway open using gentle air pressure.
Some people use oral appliances or positional therapy if CPAP is not tolerated. Other sleep disorders, such as central sleep apnea or hypoventilation syndromes, may require specialized evaluation.
Pulmonologists ensure your breathing remains stable during sleep and help prevent long-term complications like heart strain or low oxygen levels.
Pulmonologists manage patients with serious breathing problems and sleep-related disorders. They use specialized training in critical care medicine and sleep medicine to treat conditions that affect how your lungs and body function during both wakefulness and rest.
In the intensive care unit (ICU), pulmonologists often serve as critical care physicians. You may see them managing patients who need mechanical ventilation or advanced oxygen therapy.
They monitor breathing patterns, adjust ventilator settings, and oversee sedation to keep patients stable. Pulmonologists also handle complex cases such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), pneumonia, and severe COPD flare-ups.
They interpret imaging and lab results to guide treatment decisions quickly and accurately. Pulmonologists work closely with ICU nurses and respiratory therapists to ensure patients receive constant monitoring.
Many ICUs rely on pulmonologists to lead multidisciplinary rounds, where they coordinate care and make daily treatment plans. In critical care settings, their role extends beyond the lungs.
They assess how respiratory issues affect other organs, such as the heart and kidneys, and modify care to maintain overall stability.
Pulmonologists trained in sleep medicine diagnose and treat breathing disorders that occur during sleep. You might visit one if you have sleep apnea, loud snoring, or chronic fatigue despite a full night’s rest.
They use tools such as polysomnography (sleep studies) to record breathing patterns, oxygen levels, and heart rhythms. These results help them determine whether your airway collapses or airflow decreases during sleep.
Treatment options often include continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, oral devices, or lifestyle adjustments. Pulmonologists track your progress and modify treatment to improve sleep quality and reduce health risks like high blood pressure or heart strain.
Their expertise helps prevent complications that arise from untreated sleep disorders, including cardiovascular problems and daytime drowsiness that can affect safety and performance.
Pulmonologists rarely work alone. They coordinate care with cardiologists, infectious disease specialists, and thoracic surgeons to manage patients with overlapping conditions.
For example, if you have pulmonary hypertension, your pulmonologist may consult a cardiologist to optimize heart and lung function. In cases involving lung cancer or infections, they collaborate with oncologists or infectious disease teams to design effective treatment plans.
They also communicate with primary care physicians to ensure continuity of care after hospital discharge. This teamwork helps you receive consistent guidance, whether you are recovering from a critical illness or adjusting to long-term respiratory therapy.
You should see a pulmonologist if you experience ongoing breathing problems, have a known lung disease, or your primary doctor recommends further evaluation. These specialists diagnose and treat conditions affecting your lungs, airways, and respiratory system using tests and treatments designed to improve breathing and prevent complications.
If you have shortness of breath, chronic cough, or wheezing that lasts more than a few weeks, it’s time to consult a pulmonologist. These symptoms often signal underlying respiratory disorders such as asthma, bronchitis, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
A pulmonologist can perform tests like pulmonary function tests or chest imaging to measure how well your lungs work. These tests help identify airflow problems and determine whether inflammation, infection, or another condition is causing your symptoms.
You should also seek care if you cough up blood, feel chest tightness, or notice a bluish tint to your lips or fingers. These may indicate low oxygen levels or more serious lung problems that need immediate attention.
People with advanced or chronic lung diseases benefit from a pulmonologist’s expertise. Conditions such as COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer, and sleep-related breathing disorders often require specialized testing and long-term management.
A pulmonologist can design a treatment plan that may include inhalers, oxygen therapy, or rehabilitation programs to help you breathe more easily. They also monitor disease progression and adjust treatment as needed to maintain your lung function and quality of life.
For patients with multiple respiratory issues or frequent hospital visits, ongoing care from a pulmonologist ensures consistent management and early detection of complications.
Your primary care provider (PCP) may refer you to a pulmonologist if initial treatments for breathing problems do not work or if test results suggest a complex lung condition.
This referral helps ensure you get specialized testing, such as CT scans, bronchoscopies, or oxygen assessments, that general practitioners may not perform. You might also be referred after repeated respiratory infections, unexplained fatigue, or abnormal chest X-rays.
Working with both your PCP and pulmonologist provides a coordinated approach to diagnosing and managing your respiratory system health.
Gwinnett Pulmonary provides specialized care for lung and sleep disorders through board-certified pulmonologists. You receive diagnosis and treatment guided by medical training, advanced technology, and a focus on improving breathing and quality of life.
At Gwinnett Pulmonary, you can access comprehensive pulmonary medicine that covers both chronic and acute breathing conditions. The team treats COPD, asthma, pulmonary hypertension, bronchitis, and sleep apnea using evidence-based methods.
Their physicians are trained in Pulmonary, Sleep, and Critical Care Medicine, allowing them to manage complex cases in hospitals and clinics. You can expect coordinated care that includes diagnostic testing, imaging, and follow-up management.
Key services include:
Each service aims to help you breathe more comfortably and maintain better lung health.
You receive care that focuses on your specific symptoms, lifestyle, and health goals. Gwinnett Pulmonary emphasizes personalized treatment plans rather than one-size-fits-all solutions.
Their pulmonologists and nurse practitioners take time to explain test results and treatment options in clear, simple language. You are encouraged to take part in decisions about your care.
The staff focuses on creating a comfortable environment where you feel heard and supported. This approach helps build trust and leads to more effective treatment outcomes.
Compassion and communication remain central to every patient interaction.
Gwinnett Pulmonary operates multiple offices across Gwinnett County, including Lawrenceville, Duluth, Hamilton Mill, Peachtree Corners, and Suwanee. These locations make it easier for you to find care close to home.
Each site offers access to the same level of professional expertise and diagnostic tools. You can schedule appointments at the most convenient location.
The group also provides 24-hour inpatient and critical care services. This network gives you reliable access to pulmonology specialists whenever you need them.
Living with COPD can be challenging, but understanding who to turn to for expert help is the first step toward better breathing and a fuller life. Pulmonologists are uniquely trained to diagnose and manage complex lung conditions, guiding patients through every stage of care, from testing and treatment to long-term management. With a focus on precision, compassion, and education, they ensure each patient receives a care plan tailored to their condition and lifestyle.
If you’re struggling with COPD or other lung issues, the board-certified pulmonologists at Gwinnett Pulmonary & Sleep are ready to help. Their comprehensive approach to pulmonary and sleep medicine ensures that you receive personalized care every step of the way.
Book your appointment today or call 770-995-0630 to schedule your visit.
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