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All seven Medical Spheres ›A cough that will not go away, breathlessness on the stairs, pneumonia with a fever: respiratory medicine investigates and treats diseases of the airways and lungs – in an emergency as well as over many years for asthma or COPD.
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Guide values based on guidelines and the clinics. Which tests are needed is clarified in an initial consultation.
Airways and lungs
Respiratory medicine, also known as pneumology or pulmonology, is a branch of internal medicine. It deals with the airways, from the windpipe down to the finest branches of the bronchi, with lung tissue and with the pleura, the membrane that surrounds the lungs. Breathing disorders during sleep are also part of it. Respiratory diseases are a very common reason for seeking medical help.
Two chronic diseases are at the centre. In asthma, the airways are permanently inflamed and oversensitive: in response to triggers such as allergens, cold air, infections or exertion, they narrow. This leads to attacks of breathlessness, wheezing and coughing, often at night or in the early morning. COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, usually develops after many years of smoking. Coughing up phlegm and shortness of breath, at first only on exertion, slowly increase; an infection can suddenly make them worse.
Acute cases are mainly infections. Pneumonia usually shows itself through fever, coughing, breathlessness and pain when breathing, and in older people sometimes only through weakness or confusion. Acute bronchitis is mostly caused by viruses and usually clears up on its own. However, breathlessness can also come from the heart or from a blood clot in the lungs. That is why the heart is usually examined as well when the cause of breathlessness is unclear.
If a cough lasts longer than eight weeks, it counts as chronic and should be investigated. It needs medical attention sooner if blood in the phlegm, fever, unintended weight loss, night sweats or increasing breathlessness occur – and if a familiar cough changes in someone who smokes. Many causes can be treated specifically once they have been identified.
The treatment
Lung function, blood gases, images of the lungs and laboratory values show whether the airways are narrowed, whether there is enough oxygen or whether inflammation is behind the symptoms.
Inhaled medicines widen the bronchial tubes or dampen inflammation. Bacterial infections are treated with medicines that target the pathogens, with oxygen added if needed.
Asthma and COPD often need support over many years: the right inhaler technique, breathing exercises, physical activity and regular check-ups, coordinated with your GP or specialist.
The path
The first question is where the symptoms are coming from. The tests build on one another; not every one is needed in every case.
How long have the symptoms been present, and what triggers them? Smoking, occupation, allergies and medication are part of this, as is listening to the lungs and heart.
The breathing test measures how much air the lungs hold and how quickly it is breathed out. It is often repeated after a bronchodilator spray – this helps to tell asthma and COPD apart.
A sensor on the finger measures oxygen saturation, and blood gas analysis measures oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood. X-rays or CT show the lungs, and ultrasound can show fluid between the lung and the pleura, for example.
Depending on the findings, medication, inhalation, breathing exercises and oxygen if needed – as an outpatient or, in severe cases, as an inpatient, rarely in intensive care with breathing support.
Check-ups, inhaler technique training, stopping smoking, recommended vaccinations and, for COPD, often rehabilitation. An action plan sets out what to do if your condition gets worse.
Statutory, private, self-pay
Statutory health insurance
The diagnosis and treatment of respiratory diseases are covered by German statutory health insurance, in the emergency department as well as on the ward. In Wertheim, the Bürgerspital, a hospital with a public healthcare mandate, provides treatment for patients with statutory insurance.
For a planned appointment, a referral, your health insurance card, your medication list and any existing results are usually all you need.
Private insurance or self-pay
Private health insurance and Beihilfe (the German civil service healthcare allowance) reimburse medically necessary treatment according to their terms; self-pay patients settle their bills directly. Both can also use the Main-Tauber-Klinik, the private clinic under the same roof.
Locations
Each clinic shows on its own website how the treatment works there.
Germany
Internal medicine with a round-the-clock emergency department and an intensive care unit at the Bürgerspital, a hospital with a public healthcare mandate; the Main-Tauber-Klinik in the same building looks after privately insured and self-pay patients.
Frequently asked questions
If it comes on suddenly and severely, is present even at rest or makes speaking difficult, if the lips or fingers turn bluish, or if chest pain or light-headedness occurs: call 112 immediately. Less urgent symptoms should first be taken to your GP and, outside surgery hours, to the out-of-hours GP service on 116 117.
You sit and breathe through a mouthpiece with a clip on your nose: first calmly, then in as deeply as possible and out as hard and for as long as possible. The test is not painful, but it does require your cooperation and is usually repeated several times so that the values are reliable.
Asthma often starts in childhood or adolescence, frequently together with allergies; the symptoms come and go, and the narrowing of the airways largely reverses with treatment. COPD usually affects people over 40 after many years of smoking, progresses slowly and can only be partly reversed. Some people have features of both.
Not always – many cases of pneumonia are treated at home. To decide, doctors check simple signs such as consciousness, breathing rate, blood pressure and age, as well as the oxygen level in the blood and any other conditions. If you are short of breath or confused, or if things do not improve at home, hospital is the right place.
Yes. Stopping slows the further loss of lung function – at any age and at any stage. Advice, courses and, if necessary, stop-smoking medication improve the chances of staying smoke-free for good.
Specialists in internal medicine together with the nursing team, and respiratory therapists if needed. If your breathing needs support, the intensive care team takes over – often initially with a breathing mask rather than a breathing tube.
Your referral and health insurance card, your current medication list and, if available, previous results, X-rays or lung function values. It also makes sense to bring your own inhalers – that way, your technique can be checked.
Consultation
Describe your request – the right clinic will get back to you.
Reviews
CGCE GroupVerified
5,888 reviews on ProvenExpert
This was the best decision I have ever taken for myself. The whole experience has changed my life for the better. From the first consultation I felt welcomed and treated very well. I did not feel alone during the journey because the team were just a WhatsApp away and they made regular check-ups on me. Thank you for everyone at the hospital from the staff to the doctors, you are all amazing.
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Westfalenklinik Fachklinik für Plastische und Ästhetische Chirurgie · Original in GermanIch habe eine Unterlidstraffung machen lassen und bin mit dem Ergebnis sehr zufrieden. Mein Dank geht vor allem an Frau Dr. Simidjiiska für ihre Fürsorge, Kompetenz und Empathie. Aber auch das gesamte Team der Klinik macht einen hervorragenden Job!
Westfalenklinik Fachklinik für Plastische und Ästhetische Chirurgie · Original in GermanIch bin rundum begeistert von meiner Erfahrung in dieser Haartransplantationsklinik. Von der ersten Kontaktaufnahme bis zur Nachsorge war alles hervorragend organisiert und professionell. Das gesamte Team war unglaublich freundlich, hilfsbereit und zuvorkommend. Man hat sich jederzeit gut aufgehoben und ernst genommen gefühlt. Besonders positiv fand ich, dass sich alle Mitarbeiter ausreichend Zeit genommen haben, um meine Fragen zu beantworten und jeden Schritt verständlich zu erklären. Auch der Service war erstklassig. Die Organisation, die Betreuung vor und nach dem Eingriff sowie die Kommunikation waren wirklich hervorragend. Das gesamte Team hat einen sehr kompetenten und gleichzeitig menschlichen Eindruck gemacht. Die Klinik selbst ist modern, sauber und sehr gut ausgestattet. Während der Behandlung wurde äußerst sorgfältig und professionell gearbeitet, und ich hatte zu jedem Zeitpunkt das Gefühl, in guten Händen zu sein. Ein großes Dankeschön an das gesamte Team für die tolle Betreuung und den freundlichen Umgang! Ich kann die Klinik absolut weiterempfehlen und bin mit meiner bisherigen Erfahrung sehr zufrieden. Wer Wert auf Professionalität, Qualität und einen hervorragenden Service legt, ist hier meiner Meinung nach bestens aufgehoben.
Westfalenklinik Fachklinik für Plastische und Ästhetische Chirurgie · Original in GermanBisher war es nur ein Beratungsgespräch aber es war sehr gut.
Weight Doctors Group · Original in GermanIch fand, dass der Arzt gut und verständlich erklärt hat. Ich habe diese Woche noch einen Termin in einer anderen Klinik, da ich mich gründlich informieren möchte; auch der Preis wird dabei eine Rolle spielen – darüber bin ich ganz offen.
QUOLE Medisch Centrum · Original in GermanHervorragende Behandlung. Von der ersten Beratung bis zur Nachsorge hat mir Dr. Koch stets ein sehr gutes Gefühl vermittelt. Ich litt jahrelang unter einer echten Gynäkomastie, nach der OP kann sich das Ergebnis sehen lassen, mein Selbstbewusstsein ist endlich zurückgekehrt. Ich kann die Alster Klinik jedem empfehlen, der schon lange mit dem Gedanken spielt sich operieren zu lassen.
Alster-Klinik Hamburg · Original in GermanDr. Schubert gab mir das Gefühl, in genau der richtigen Praxis zu sein für mein Anliegen. Ich habe mich beim Beratungsgespräch sehr wohl gefühlt und verstanden gefühlt.
Alster-Klinik Hamburg · Original in GermanÜber die ehrliche Einschätzung
Alster-Klinik Hamburg · Original in GermanIch habe mich sehr wohl geführt, das Gespräch war sehr gut, die Ärztin hat mir sehr ausführlich alles erklärt und bin mit einem sehr guten Gefühl nach Hause gegangen.
Westfalenklinik Fachklinik für Plastische und Ästhetische Chirurgie · Original in GermanIch bin eine sehr ängstliche Person. Bei Herrn Dr. Neis habe ich mich sofort wohlgefühlt. Behandlungsgespräche, Umgang, Freundlichkeit – es passt alles. Ich kann ihn ohne Bedenken und Einschränkung nur weiter empfehlen. Dankeschön Herr Dr. Neis für die tolle Arbeit.
CGCE Group · Original in GermanDr. Klarner ist sehr nett, hat mich sehr gut beraten und aufgeklärt. Ich hab mich gut aufgehoben gefühlt, vielen Dank!
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