Swiss Clinic
Menu
Swiss Medical

Pulmonology

Specialist evaluation and management of chronic cough, shortness of breath, asthma, COPD, and other lower respiratory or lung conditions.

Pulmonology consultation

When coughing or shortness of breath does not subside

Persistent cough, shortness of breath at rest or during exertion, airway secretion, and recurrent respiratory symptoms can be caused by various medical conditions. Symptoms may originate directly from the airways or the lungs, but allergological, cardiological, ENT, or gastroenterological causes may also play a role in certain cases.

During a pulmonology consultation at Swiss Clinic, the specialist conducts a comprehensive review of your symptoms, medical history, smoking habits, and available diagnostic results. When necessary, pulmonary function testing helps detect and monitor asthma and chronic obstructive airway diseases.

Phone appointments

Book your appointment quickly and directly through our team:

+36 1 225 0566

Instant online booking

Prefer not to wait? Book now with immediate confirmation.

Book an appointment
Pulmonology consultation and examination

Important information before your visit

A pulmonology specialist consultation alone does not require special preparation. However, if pulmonary function testing is planned, certain factors may influence the accuracy of the measurements.

What to keep in mind before your visit

  • Bring your inhalers: If you regularly use bronchodilators or other inhaled medications, please bring them with you and note when you last used them.
  • Inhaler discontinuation: Do not discontinue your inhaler on your own. Prior to certain pulmonary function tests, specific bronchodilators may need to be withheld for a set period, while in other cases regular treatment should be continued. Always follow the specific instructions provided for your appointment.
  • Meal and exertion restrictions: Avoid heavy meals and strenuous physical exertion before spirometry. A heavy meal right before the test, intense exercise, and tight clothing can restrict maximum inhalation and exhalation. Smoking should also be avoided prior to the examination.
  • Report recent respiratory infections: If you have a fever, an acute chest infection, or recently experienced a significant worsening of respiratory symptoms, inform us beforehand, as this may affect the timing of pulmonary function testing.

When should you consult a pulmonologist?

A pulmonary evaluation is especially recommended for the following symptoms:

  • Persistent or recurrent cough: When a cough does not resolve, persists for weeks, or recurs frequently, diagnostic evaluation helps clarify whether an underlying airway disease, environmental irritant, or other cause is responsible.
  • Shortness of breath and reduced exercise tolerance: Breathlessness experienced at rest or during exertion, wheezing, or an unexplained decline in physical stamina.
  • Symptoms suggestive of asthma or COPD: Episodes of breathlessness, wheezing, chest tightness, chronic cough, or respiratory symptoms associated with smoking.
  • Prolonged respiratory complaints: Long-standing airway secretion, chest pain related to breathing, or symptoms that linger after a respiratory tract infection.
  • Monitoring established lung conditions: Routine monitoring of symptoms, pulmonary function, and medical therapy for diagnosed asthma, COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, or other chronic respiratory diseases.

Available examinations

Swiss Clinic's pulmonology practice provides specialist consultations alongside targeted pulmonary function testing and diagnostic imaging:

Pulmonology consultation

A comprehensive review of symptoms, medical history, smoking patterns, and previous test reports, combined with a physical examination and an individualized diagnostic plan.

Why choose Swiss Clinic?

Accurate evaluation of respiratory complaints requires more than just a description of symptoms. Specialist consultations are supported by pulmonary function testing, laboratory diagnostics, and diagnostic imaging as needed, ensuring treatment is tailored to the exact underlying cause.

Book an appointment

Objective measurement via spirometry

Pulmonary function testing provides quantitative parameters of lung mechanics and aids in the accurate detection of airway obstruction.

Identifying root causes

For chronic cough or shortness of breath, our specialists evaluate symptoms, personal history, and objective diagnostic results together.

Diagnosis and long-term care

In known or suspected respiratory diseases, pulmonary function testing plays an essential role in ongoing clinical monitoring and therapy titration.

Comprehensive diagnostic follow-up

When clinically indicated, laboratory diagnostics, chest imaging, and cross-specialty evaluations seamlessly complement the pulmonary workup.

Pulmonary function testing provides objective evaluation of airway health

During a pulmonology consultation, the specialist conducts an in-depth inquiry into the character, duration, and triggers of your cough, shortness of breath, or related complaints. Relevant details include tobacco smoking history, occupational or environmental inhalational exposures, prior respiratory illnesses, and current use of inhaler medications.

During spirometry, you breathe into a specialized flow meter and, following guided instructions, forcefully exhale your full lung volume after maximal inspiration. This measurement assesses whether airway obstruction is present. When appropriate, the test is repeated following bronchodilator administration to evaluate reversibility.

Have you been coughing for an extended period, experiencing rapid breathlessness during exertion, noticing wheezing, or seeking follow-up for diagnosed asthma or COPD? Our board-certified pulmonologists evaluate symptoms and medical history alongside pulmonary function testing to pinpoint the cause and establish optimal care.

Main focus and diagnostic areas:

Cough and shortness of breath

  • Persistent or recurrent cough
  • Dyspnea at rest or during exertion
  • Wheezing and chest tightness
  • Chronic airway secretions

Asthma and COPD

  • Diagnostic evaluation of suspected asthma
  • Identification and monitoring of COPD
  • Interpretation of pulmonary function tests
  • Review and optimization of inhaled therapies

Pulmonary function and extended diagnostics

  • Spirometry
  • Bronchodilator reversibility testing
  • Evaluation of chest X-rays and imaging records
  • Recommendations for advanced imaging or specialist referrals

Don't let your symptoms leave you with unanswered questions

Our experienced medical specialists and advanced diagnostic technology can help identify the underlying causes of your symptoms. Choose an appointment time that works best for you.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions regarding our pulmonology consultation and respiratory diagnostics.

If a cough does not resolve within several weeks, recurs frequently, or is accompanied by shortness of breath, wheezing, excessive phlegm, or chest pain, an evaluation by a pulmonologist is recommended. Cough can have numerous underlying causes, making it essential to identify the root condition before initiating targeted therapy.

During spirometry, you take a maximal deep breath and forcefully blow out all the air as rapidly and completely as possible into a mouthpiece connected to a measuring device. The maneuver is typically repeated multiple times to ensure reproducible, clinically valid results. The test is non-invasive and painless, though maximal exhalation can transiently trigger a cough or slight dizziness.

Fasting is not required. However, it is advisable to avoid heavy meals immediately before spirometry, as a full stomach can mechanically restrict maximal diaphragmatic excursion. Please review the preparation instructions provided for your specific test.

This depends on the clinical objective of the test and the specific type of inhaler. Certain short- or long-acting bronchodilators may need to be withheld for a prescribed number of hours prior to diagnostic assessment, whereas other maintenance medications should be continued. Do not alter your prescribed regimen independently; follow the instructions given when scheduling your appointment and bring all your inhalers with you.

In this evaluation, a baseline spirometry is recorded first, after which an inhaled bronchodilator (such as albuterol/salbutamol) is administered. Spirometry is repeated after a brief interval to compare flow rates. Demonstrating significant improvement indicates reversible airway obstruction, providing critical diagnostic differentiation between conditions like asthma and COPD.