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The Department of Pulmonology at Apollo Hospitals, Gurugram, assesses and treats conditions affecting the lungs, airways and breathing. These include asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, tuberculosis, pneumonia, interstitial lung disease, sleep apnea, lung cancer and respiratory failure. Care ranges from outpatient evaluation of a persistent cough or breathlessness to respiratory support for people who are critically unwell.
Patients can access pulmonology consultations, lung function testing, chest imaging, bronchoscopy, sleep studies, pulmonary rehabilitation and respiratory intensive care within the hospital. Bringing these services together supports a coordinated assessment when breathlessness may involve the lungs, heart, blood or another medical condition.
Air pollution in the National Capital Region can worsen respiratory symptoms, particularly during periods of poor air quality. People with asthma, COPD and other chronic lung conditions may need practical guidance on reducing exposure and adjusting outdoor activity. When heart disease, diabetes, reflux, autoimmune disease or another condition contributes to breathing difficulty, care is coordinated with the relevant specialists. Treatment is planned after clinical assessment and appropriate investigations.
Our Pulmonology Team
Lung and airway care at Apollo Hospitals, Gurugram, is provided by consultant pulmonologists with experience in asthma and COPD, tuberculosis and respiratory infections, interstitial lung disease, sleep-related breathing disorders, interventional pulmonology and respiratory critical care. The multidisciplinary team includes respiratory therapists, physiotherapists, sleep technologists, nurses and intensive care specialists. Cases involving the heart, immune system or cancer are reviewed with cardiology, rheumatology, oncology and other relevant departments. Our specialists include:
- Airway Diseases
- Respiratory Infections
- Interstitial and Occupational Lung Disease
- Pleural Conditions
- Blood Vessel and Sleep Disorders
- Lung Cancer and Nodules
Airway Diseases
- Asthma: A condition in which the airways become inflamed and narrow, causing cough, wheezing, chest tightness and breathlessness that may vary over time. Symptoms can be triggered by viral infections, exercise, weather changes, smoke, dust, pollen or other exposures. Asthma can often be controlled with regular treatment, correct inhaler use and an individualized action plan, although it is not considered permanently cured.
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): A long-term condition that restricts airflow, most commonly because of smoking, although biomass fuel exposure, occupational dust and air pollution may also contribute. Symptoms include persistent cough, sputum and gradually worsening breathlessness. Existing lung damage is usually not reversible, but stopping smoking, using inhalers correctly, staying active and taking part in pulmonary rehabilitation can reduce symptoms and exacerbations.
- Chronic cough: In adults, a cough lasting more than eight weeks is considered chronic. Common causes include asthma, upper airway conditions, acid reflux, medication side effects and smoking-related disease. In India, a cough lasting two weeks or longer, particularly with fever, night sweats, weight loss or blood in the sputum, should prompt assessment for tuberculosis rather than repeated treatment without a diagnosis.
- Bronchiectasis: Permanent widening and damage of the airways that allows mucus to collect, causing a persistent productive cough and repeated chest infections. It may follow a previous infection, including tuberculosis. Treatment can include airway clearance, exercise, vaccination and prompt management of exacerbations.
- Coughing up blood (hemoptysis): Blood in the sputum can result from infection, bronchiectasis, tuberculosis, lung cancer or other conditions and should be medically assessed. Heavy bleeding, breathing difficulty, dizziness or weakness requires emergency care.
Respiratory Infections
- Pneumonia: An infection of the lung tissue that may cause fever, cough, sputum, chest pain or breathlessness. Some people can be treated at home, while others need hospital care, oxygen or respiratory support. Older adults and people with chronic lung disease, diabetes or reduced immunity have a higher risk of severe illness.
- Pulmonary tuberculosis: A bacterial infection that may cause a cough lasting two weeks or longer, fever, night sweats, weight loss and sometimes blood in the sputum. Tuberculosis is curable when the correct medicines are taken for the prescribed duration. How quickly a person becomes less infectious depends on whether treatment is effective, the organism's drug susceptibility and the person's response, so infection-control advice should be followed until the treating team confirms it can be relaxed.
- Drug-resistant tuberculosis: Tuberculosis that is resistant to one or more important medicines. Treatment is selected using molecular or culture-based drug susceptibility testing and may use a shorter or longer regimen depending on the resistance pattern, previous treatment and current national guidance.
- Post-tuberculosis lung disease: Some people continue to have breathlessness, cough, reduced exercise capacity or repeated infections after tuberculosis has been successfully treated because of residual scarring, airway damage or bronchiectasis. Assessment can identify symptoms that may respond to inhalers, airway clearance, rehabilitation, vaccination or treatment of infection.
- Influenza and other viral respiratory infections: These illnesses may cause fever, body aches, sore throat, cough and breathing difficulty. Many improve with supportive care, but antiviral treatment, testing or closer monitoring may be advised for people at higher risk or those who are seriously unwell.
- COVID-19 and post-viral breathlessness: Assessment and treatment follow current guidance. Persistent breathlessness, cough, fatigue or reduced exercise capacity after an acute viral illness may need evaluation for ongoing lung disease, heart disease, deconditioning or another cause.
- Fungal lung infections: Conditions such as pulmonary aspergillosis may occur in people with previous lung damage, poorly controlled diabetes or reduced immunity. Diagnosis may require imaging, microbiology and other tests, and treatment depends on the specific type of infection.
Interstitial and Occupational Lung Disease
- Interstitial lung disease (ILD): A group of conditions that cause inflammation, scarring or both within the lung tissue. Common symptoms include progressive breathlessness on exertion and a persistent dry cough. Diagnosis may involve a detailed exposure and medical history, high-resolution CT, lung function testing and multidisciplinary review because treatment differs between ILD subtypes.
- Pulmonary fibrosis: Scarring of the lung tissue that can reduce oxygen transfer and cause gradually worsening breathlessness. Some types may be slowed by antifibrotic treatment, while others are managed by treating an underlying autoimmune condition or removing a relevant exposure.
- Hypersensitivity pneumonitis: An immune reaction in the lungs caused by repeated exposure to an inhaled substance. Possible sources include birds, mold, contaminated humidifiers and certain workplace materials. Identifying and avoiding the relevant exposure is an important part of treatment.
- Sarcoidosis: An inflammatory condition that often affects the lungs and lymph nodes and may also involve the skin, eyes, heart, nervous system or joints. Some people need only monitoring, while others require treatment based on the organs affected and the severity of disease.
- Occupational lung disease: Lung conditions caused or worsened by exposure to substances such as silica, asbestos, coal dust, fumes or chemicals at work. Symptoms may appear years after exposure, so a detailed occupational history is important.
- Pollution-related respiratory illness: Air pollution can worsen asthma and COPD symptoms and is associated with respiratory infections and reduced lung function. Children, older adults and people with existing heart or lung disease are particularly vulnerable. Management includes treatment of the underlying condition and practical steps to reduce exposure during periods of poor air quality.
Pleural Conditions
- Pleural effusion: A collection of fluid between the lung and chest wall that can cause breathlessness or chest discomfort. Causes include infection, tuberculosis, heart failure, kidney or liver disease and cancer. Imaging and analysis of a fluid sample often help establish the cause.
- Pneumothorax: Air in the space around the lung, which may cause sudden one-sided chest pain and breathlessness. It can occur without known lung disease or in people with an underlying respiratory condition and needs prompt medical assessment.
- Empyema: Infected fluid or pus in the pleural space. Treatment usually includes antibiotics and drainage, with the approach guided by the size, location and stage of the collection.
Blood Vessel and Sleep Disorders
- Pulmonary embolism: A blood clot blocking an artery in the lungs. It may cause sudden breathlessness, chest pain that worsens with breathing, a rapid heartbeat, coughing up blood, fainting or collapse. Risk is higher after surgery, prolonged immobility, pregnancy and in some cancers. Suspected pulmonary embolism requires urgent assessment.
- Pulmonary hypertension: Raised pressure in the blood vessels of the lungs, which may cause breathlessness on exertion, fatigue, ankle swelling, chest discomfort or fainting. Assessment can include echocardiography and other tests, with cardiology involvement where appropriate.
- Obstructive sleep apnea: Repeated narrowing or closure of the upper airway during sleep, leading to loud snoring, witnessed pauses in breathing, unrefreshing sleep, morning headaches or daytime sleepiness. Untreated sleep apnea is associated with high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, metabolic problems and road traffic risk. Diagnosis is based on an appropriate sleep study, and treatment is tailored to severity and individual factors.
Lung Cancer and Nodules
- Lung cancer: Lung cancer is strongly associated with smoking but can also occur in people who have never smoked. Possible symptoms include a persistent or changing cough, coughing up blood, chest pain, breathlessness, recurrent chest infections and unexplained weight loss. Tissue diagnosis and biomarker testing help determine treatment, which may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy or targeted therapy for selected tumors.
- Pulmonary nodules: Small spots in the lungs found on a CT scan. Many are benign, particularly when related to a previous infection, but assessment considers the nodule's size, shape, growth, smoking history and earlier scans. Some nodules need only follow-up imaging, while others require PET-CT, biopsy or further evaluation.
- Inhaled treatment and technique training
- Nebulization and acute treatment
- Biologic therapy for severe asthma
- COPD management
- Pulmonary rehabilitation
- Smoking and tobacco cessation
- Tuberculosis treatment
- Treatment of pneumonia and respiratory infection
- Treatment of interstitial lung disease
- Oxygen therapy
- Non-invasive ventilation
- CPAP therapy for sleep apnea
- Bronchoscopic procedures
- Pleural procedures
- Respiratory intensive care
- Vaccination
- Psychological and family support
Inhaled treatment and technique training
Inhalers are central to asthma treatment and are used in COPD according to symptoms, exacerbation history and clinical assessment. The device and medicine are selected for the individual, and technique should be checked regularly. A spacer can improve delivery from a pressurized metered-dose inhaler when appropriate.
Nebulization and acute treatment
A nebulizer converts liquid medication into a mist. It may be used during severe exacerbations or when a person cannot use an inhaler effectively. For many patients with asthma or COPD, a correctly used inhaler with a spacer can deliver bronchodilator treatment effectively without a nebulizer.
Biologic therapy for severe asthma
Targeted injectable medicines may be considered for selected patients whose asthma remains uncontrolled despite optimized inhaled treatment and management of contributing factors. Blood tests, allergy assessment or other biomarkers help determine whether a particular biologic is suitable.
COPD management
Treatment may include smoking cessation, bronchodilator inhalers, vaccination, physical activity, pulmonary rehabilitation and prompt treatment of exacerbations. Long-term oxygen is prescribed only when measured oxygen levels meet defined criteria. Treatment is tailored to symptoms, exacerbation risk and other medical conditions.
Pulmonary rehabilitation
A structured program combining supervised exercise, education, breathing strategies and support for self-management. It can improve exercise capacity, breathlessness and quality of life in people with COPD and selected other chronic lung conditions.
Smoking and tobacco cessation
Behavioral counseling may be combined with nicotine replacement therapy or prescribed medication when appropriate. Many people need more than one attempt, and continued support can improve the chance of stopping successfully.
Tuberculosis treatment
Treatment uses a combination of medicines selected according to the site of disease, drug susceptibility results, previous treatment and current national guidance. Some drug-resistant forms can now be treated with shorter all-oral regimens, while others need longer treatment. Completing the prescribed course and attending monitoring visits are essential. Treatment and support are also available through India's National TB Elimination Programme.
Treatment of pneumonia and respiratory infection
Care may include antibiotics when a bacterial infection is suspected or confirmed, antiviral treatment in selected cases, oxygen, fluids and hospital admission when the illness is severe. Antibiotics do not treat viral infections unless there is a bacterial complication.
Treatment of interstitial lung disease
Management depends on the ILD subtype and may include avoiding a relevant exposure, treating an autoimmune disease, immunosuppressive medication for selected inflammatory conditions, anti-fibrotic treatment for specific progressive fibrotic diseases, oxygen and pulmonary rehabilitation.
Oxygen therapy
Long-term oxygen may be prescribed for people with persistently low oxygen levels who meet clinical criteria. Patients and families receive guidance on flow rate, duration, equipment and fire safety. Oxygen should not be started or adjusted without medical assessment.
Non-invasive ventilation
Breathing support delivered through a close-fitting mask rather than a tube. It is commonly used for selected COPD exacerbations with carbon dioxide retention and for some other forms of acute or chronic respiratory failure.
CPAP therapy for sleep apnea
Continuous positive airway pressure delivers pressurized air through a mask to keep the upper airway open during sleep. Mask fitting, humidification and follow-up can help people use it consistently. Weight management, positional therapy, oral appliances or surgery may be considered for selected patients, depending on the cause and severity.
Bronchoscopic procedures
Bronchoscopy is used for diagnostic sampling and for selected treatments, including removal of inhaled foreign bodies, clearance of airway blockages, control of bleeding and placement of airway stents.
Pleural procedures
Treatment may include aspiration or chest tube drainage of fluid or air, an indwelling pleural catheter for recurrent malignant effusion, or pleurodesis to reduce fluid recurrence. The choice depends on the diagnosis and the patient's condition.
Respiratory intensive care
Care for severe respiratory failure includes high-flow oxygen, non-invasive ventilation, invasive ventilation, tracheostomy care and ventilator weaning as clinically indicated, alongside treatment of the underlying condition.
Vaccination
Vaccination against influenza, COVID-19 and pneumococcal disease may be recommended according to age, medical condition, previous vaccination and current national guidance. Other vaccines may also be advised for selected patients.
Psychological and family support
People with lung disease may be advised to monitor local air quality, reduce strenuous outdoor activity when pollution is high, avoid indoor smoke and improve indoor ventilation or filtration where appropriate. A well-fitting N95, KN95 or FFP2 respirator can reduce exposure to airborne particles, although protection depends on fit and it does not remove pollutant gases. Cloth and loose surgical masks provide less protection against fine particles.
- Pulmonary function testing
- High-resolution chest imaging
- Bronchoscopy with ultrasound guidance
- Ultrasound-guided pleural procedures
- Sleep diagnostics
- Respiratory support
- Rapid molecular tuberculosis testing
Pulmonary function testing
Spirometry, lung volume measurement, diffusing capacity and walk testing provide objective information about airflow, lung capacity, gas transfer and exercise response. Repeat testing can help monitor change over time and assess response to treatment.
High-resolution chest imaging
HRCT shows fine detail within the lung tissue and can identify patterns associated with different interstitial lung diseases. The scan is interpreted with the person's history, examination, blood tests and pulmonary function results.
Bronchoscopy with ultrasound guidance
EBUS allows lymph nodes and lesions next to the airways to be sampled through the airway wall. In suitable patients, it can provide a diagnosis and stage lung cancer without surgical sampling.
Ultrasound-guided pleural procedures
Bedside ultrasound helps identify pleural fluid and select a safer insertion site for aspiration, biopsy or drainage, particularly when a collection is small or loculated.
Sleep diagnostics
Full overnight polysomnography and selected home sleep tests can assess sleep-related breathing disorders. The results guide treatment decisions and, where appropriate, CPAP setup or pressure titration.
Respiratory support
High-flow oxygen, non-invasive ventilation and invasive ventilation support patients whose breathing has deteriorated. The form of support is selected according to the cause and severity of respiratory failure.
Rapid molecular tuberculosis testing
Molecular tests can detect tuberculosis and resistance to key medicines much faster than conventional culture. Culture and additional drug susceptibility testing may still be required to guide treatment.
1
When should a cough be investigated?
A cough lasting two weeks or longer should be assessed, particularly when accompanied by fever, night sweats, weight loss or possible exposure to tuberculosis. Seek prompt care sooner if there is blood in the sputum, breathlessness, chest pain, confusion, low oxygen levels or significant worsening.
2
Are inhalers safe, and do they cause dependence?
Inhalers are generally safe when prescribed and used correctly, and they are not addictive. Because the medicine is delivered directly to the airways, the dose is often lower than with tablets. Side effects vary by medicine and device, so patients should use the prescribed dose, follow technique instructions and attend reviews.
3
Are inhaled steroids the same as bodybuilding steroids?
No. Inhaled corticosteroids reduce inflammation in the airways and are different from anabolic steroids used to increase muscle mass. The prescribed dose is designed to act mainly in the lungs. Rinsing the mouth after use can reduce local side effects such as oral thrush or hoarseness.
4
Why does my doctor check how I use my inhaler?
Small errors in technique can prevent enough medicine from reaching the lungs. Checking technique helps the clinician decide whether symptoms reflect uncontrolled disease, an unsuitable device or incorrect use. A spacer may improve delivery from a pressurized metered-dose inhaler when appropriate.
5
Is a nebulizer better than an inhaler?
Not necessarily. For many people with asthma or COPD, a correctly used inhaler with a spacer can deliver bronchodilator medication effectively. A nebulizer may be preferred during a severe exacerbation or when a person cannot use an inhaler properly. The choice depends on the clinical situation.
6
Can asthma be cured?
Asthma is usually managed as a long-term condition rather than permanently cured. With appropriate preventive treatment, correct inhaler use and trigger management, many people achieve good symptom control. Treatment should not be stopped or reduced without discussing it with the treating doctor.
7
Is COPD reversible if I stop smoking now?
Existing structural lung damage is usually not reversible, but stopping smoking can slow further loss of lung function and reduce the risk of exacerbations and other smoking-related diseases. Benefits occur at any age, although the degree and timing of symptom improvement vary.
8
How long does tuberculosis treatment take, and when does someone stop being infectious?
Treatment duration depends on the site of disease, drug susceptibility pattern and selected regimen. Drug-susceptible pulmonary TB commonly uses a six-month regimen under India's national program, while some drug-resistant forms may use a six-month or longer all-oral regimen. Infectiousness usually falls after effective treatment begins, but the timing varies. Patients should follow infection-control advice until the treating team confirms that transmission risk has reduced sufficiently.
9
I completed tuberculosis treatment but still feel breathless. Why?
Tuberculosis can leave scarring, airway damage or bronchiectasis even after the infection has been cured. Assessment can identify post-tuberculosis lung disease and guide treatment such as inhalers, airway clearance, rehabilitation, vaccination or management of recurrent infection.
10
What is a sleep study, and is it uncomfortable?
A sleep study records breathing, oxygen levels, heart rate and other signals while a person sleeps. Full polysomnography also records sleep stages using sensors attached to the scalp and skin. The sensors are non-invasive, although they may feel unfamiliar. Some patients can be assessed with a simplified home sleep test.
11
Do I need CPAP for sleep apnea, and will I use it forever?
CPAP is often recommended for moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnea and for some patients with milder disease, depending on symptoms and associated health risks. How long it is needed depends on whether sleep apnea persists. Weight change, surgery or another intervention may alter the requirement, but treatment should be reassessed with a sleep specialist before CPAP is stopped.
12
Does air pollution affect the lungs, and what can I do?
Poor air quality can worsen asthma and COPD and can aggravate symptoms in people with other heart or lung conditions. Check local air quality, reduce strenuous outdoor activity when pollution is high, avoid indoor smoke and use ventilation or filtration where appropriate. A well-fitting N95, KN95 or FFP2 respirator can reduce exposure to particles, although it does not filter pollutant gases and protection depends on fit.
13
Is bronchoscopy painful?
Local anesthesia is used to numb the nose, throat and airways, and sedation may be given depending on the procedure. Patients may notice pressure, coughing or throat irritation. Mild sore throat or small streaks of blood can occur afterward, particularly after a biopsy. Heavy or persistent bleeding, worsening breathlessness, chest pain or fever should be reported promptly.
14
A CT scan showed a lung nodule. Does that mean cancer?
No. Many lung nodules are benign and may reflect a previous infection, including healed tuberculosis. Assessment considers the nodule's size, appearance and growth, along with age, smoking history and previous scans. Follow-up imaging is enough for many nodules, while others need PET-CT, biopsy or specialist review.
15
Do I need oxygen at home because I feel breathless?
Not necessarily. Oxygen is prescribed when measured oxygen levels meet specific criteria. Breathlessness can occur even when oxygen levels are normal, in which case oxygen may not help. A clinician should assess the cause and determine whether oxygen is needed and how it should be used safely.
16
Which vaccinations should someone with lung disease receive?
Influenza, COVID-19 and pneumococcal vaccination may be recommended according to the person's age, respiratory condition, other health problems and vaccination history. Other vaccines may also be appropriate. The treating doctor should advise according to current national guidance.
17
When is breathlessness an emergency?
Sudden or severe breathlessness, inability to speak in full sentences, bluish lips, chest pain, confusion, drowsiness, fainting, coughing up a large amount of blood or rapid worsening in a person with lung disease requires emergency care. Sudden breathlessness after surgery, prolonged immobility or a long journey may indicate a pulmonary embolism.
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This page is for general awareness. Diagnosis, treatment options and timelines vary from patient to patient and are decided only after clinical consultation and investigation.
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