Introduction to pneumology
The pneumology services at MEDIZINICUM include the diagnosis and treatment of obstructive respiratory diseases such as asthma, COPD, pneumonia, structural lung diseases (e.g. pulmonary fibrosis), pulmonary hypertension, lung tumors and sleep-related breathing disorders such as sleep apnea or insomnia.
We also offer a post-COVID consultation in which the various complex symptoms of post-COVID syndrome can be comprehensively examined and treatment strategies can be developed.
An additional allergy consultation (NEW from January 2025!) enables the broad examination and treatment of allergological clinical pictures. These include pollen allergies, bee and wasp allergies, food allergies and intolerances as well as complex clinical pictures such as urticaria, angioedema, mast cell activation syndrome, histamine intolerance and eosinophilic oesophagitis.
Our Hamburg pulmonology department has its own center for sleep medicine. There, our pulmonologists will provide you with measuring devices that you can put on in the comfort of your own bed at home, eliminating the need for a time-consuming visit to a sleep laboratory. In this way, the quality of your sleep can be measured and your nocturnal breathing analyzed.
The symptoms of lung diseases are complex. Shortness of breath, exercise limitation, chest pain, coughing and sputum production as well as general symptoms such as chronic fatigue and tiredness can be caused by lung disease.
We offer state-of-the-art diagnostic procedures such as lung function tests, imaging and sleep diagnostics. Personalized therapies are developed that rely on medicinal, physical and, if necessary, invasive approaches. The team specializes in interdisciplinary collaboration in order to treat even complex clinical pictures.
The MEDIZINICUM Hamburg employs renowned lung specialist colleagues who have accompanied numerous research projects in their professional lives and are always up to date with the latest scientific knowledge.
In addition, 90 experienced doctors from more than 30 specialties work together on an interdisciplinary basis to take a holistic view of your symptoms and make an accurate diagnosis.
Diagnostic procedures
Various diagnostic procedures are used in pneumology:
- Lung function tests: examination of breathing capacity and performance
- Respiratory mechanics using spirometry and whole-body plethysmography
- Pulmonary gas exchange using diffusion capacity
- Sensitivity of the airways by means of bronchial provocation test/methacholine provocation
- Infectiological examination of the respiratory tract using sputum analysis
- Measurement of nitrogen monoxide in exhaled air
- Respiratory dysregulation
- nasal flow measurement
- Spiro-ergometry with simultaneous determination of respiratory mechanics, pulmonary hyperinflation, cardiovascular function and muscle parameters
- Ergometry with lactate measurement and creation of individual training plans and targeted pacing for post-COVID syndrome
- Allergy tests including prick tests, prick-to-prick and laboratory determination of specific IgE antibodies
- Advice on and implementation of hyposensitizations
- Sleep medicine diagnostics and therapy by means of outpatient polysomnography and therapy adjustment to CPAP/APAP therapy (continuous/automatic positive airway pressure)
These methods help in the diagnosis and monitoring of lung diseases such as asthma, COPD or pneumonia.
Disease patterns
Treatment options
The MEDIZINICUM offers comprehensive treatment for respiratory diseases, tailored to the individual needs of patients. The therapies range from drug-based approaches to invasive methods and physical therapies. The aim is to improve the quality of life of those affected and to achieve lasting relief from symptoms.
- Drug therapies (e.g. inhalers, antibiotics, specific immunotherapies, drug approaches for post COVID)
- Physical therapy (breathing exercises, rehabilitation)
- Invasive procedures (bronchoscopic interventions)
- Device therapies (CPAP/APAP, mandibular advancement splints-UKPS)
- Long-term oxygen therapy
- Nutrition consultation
- Interdisciplinary treatment concepts for complex diseases, e.g. rheumatologic diseases
Lung function and allergy
The transitions to allergology are fluid, as allergies can impair lung function and cause shortness of breath. If you are diagnosed with allergies by us, we can offer an appropriate hyposensitization, i.e. a slowly increasing application of the appropriate allergen to induce a habituation process.
In the field of pneumological environment diagnostics we can fall back on the latest medical technology. We carry out laboratory tests, lung function tests using bodyplethsmography (including rhinomanometry), spiroergometry and radiological imaging, e.g. using CT thorax or CT of the paranasal sinuses with state-of-the-art CT equipment here at MEDIZINICUM.
The interdisciplinary exchange in lung diseases
Of course, there is a great deal of interdisciplinary exchange between the specialties. In this way, the various facets of a constellation of findings can be treated without gaps. Thus, for example, an airway distress diagnosis is unthinkable without complementary cardiological expertise an obesity-associated sleep apnea syndrome may require a qualified physician, or there may be pulmonary involvement in the lungs. nutritional medical advice or there is a lung involvement in the context of a rheumatic disease and requires interdisciplinary cooperation in pulmonary medicine.
Our focus
News and current topics
Podcast series on allergology
Our attending pulmonologists at Stephansplatz (private patients & self-pay patients)
Dr. med. Claudia Jafari
Specialist in internal medicine,
Pneumology, allergology
Dr. med. Maike A. Machnick-Meyer
Specialist in internal medicine,
Pneumology and allergology
Christiane Rozeh, MD
Specialist in Internal Medicine,
Pneumology, Allergology
