We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Roles

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What do Respiratory Specialists do?

Mary McMahon
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 40,216
Share

Respiratory specialists are health care professionals who focus on providing care to people with pulmonary conditions. Both doctors and nurses can work as these types of specialists, as can technicians who are trained to perform certain types of procedures, including diagnostic tests used to collect information about respiratory conditions. In order to work as a respiratory specialist, it is usually necessary to complete basic medical training, followed by advanced training in the management of pulmonary conditions.

Many hospitals retain respiratory specialists on their staff to assist patients who are experiencing respiratory problems. Respiratory complications are common among patients in intensive care and patients with certain chronic conditions. Hospitalization can exacerbate respiratory problems as patients feel stressed, and a respiratory specialist can be part of the care team working to keep the patient as healthy as possible. If a patient is hospitalized specifically for a respiratory complaint such as asthma, the specialist may be the lead doctor on the patient's team.

Other respiratory specialists may work in standalone clinics. It is also not uncommon to see sleep clinics working with these types of specialists, since some sleep disorders are related to apnea and other breathing problems, in which case they can help identify a patient's specific condition and make treatment recommendations. People may be referred to such specialists, or seek appointments on their own, depending on their situation.

Respiratory specialists can be involved in the assessment of a patient who presents with a respiratory problem. They may conduct a patient interview, perform some lung function tests to learn more about the patient, and order medical imaging studies to get a look inside the patient's lungs. With this information, respiratory specialists can make treatment recommendations, including both short and long term plans for management of respiratory conditions. Treatments can include the use of devices such as CPAP machines for apnea, or the administration of medications to manage respiratory function.

These medical professionals can provide care for acute and chronic conditions. They can also manage patients while they are hospitalized, monitoring their lung function and providing interventions if they become necessary or are deemed appropriate. Respiratory specialists also commonly stop by to visit with patients after surgery, since the intubation and delivery of anesthesia sometimes cause respiratory complications. The specialist assesses lung function, gives the patient some advice on monitoring and improving lung function, and makes sure to document any findings for the patient's file.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGeek researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By anon1000549 — On Oct 17, 2018

I get night sweats around my neck area, also after eating spicy foods and sometimes hot food, such as soup.

By strawCake — On Jun 20, 2011

@SZapper - I think you're going to get a lot out of your visit with the respiratory specialist. Most of them really know their stuff! One of my good friends got respiratory therapy for her sleep apnea a few years ago and she is always raving about how great her therapist was.

By SZapper — On Jun 18, 2011

@lonelygod - I have an appointment with a respiratory therapist next week. After reading this article and your comment I'm really looking forward to it. I can't wait to get my asthma under control a little better.

Right now I just use a rescue inhaler but I know there are other options for long term asthma control. I think the respiratory therapist is really going to help a lot, because right now I really don't know what all my options are.

By popcorn — On Jun 18, 2011

Becoming a respiratory specialist can be a rewarding career for those who want to unique niche in the healthcare field. Often these specialists only have an associate’s degree, although there are preferred bachelor's degrees in the field. In most areas the respiratory specialist must also pass a certification exam.

The salary is quite good for a respiratory specialist especially considering the job can be had with just two years of post-secondary work. It averages around $57,000 USD a year on the low end and goes up depending on experience and who you are working for. It has been reported that working in with the government is more lucrative than private clinics.

By lonelygod — On Jun 18, 2011

If you have asthma and it is out of control seeing a respiratory specialist is one of the best things that can happen to you. When I was younger, my family doctor game me some general puffers and they helped a bit, but I still got the more severe attacks.

After this went on for a few years, I finally got to see a respiratory specialist after a period of time spent in the hospital.

The respiratory specialist changed my medication and set out a guideline of what I could do to improve my home environment, so as not to trigger attacks. I also had allergies, and didn't realize how badly much they could impact my asthma.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-do-respiratory-specialists-do.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.