Pulmonology encompasses a wide range of diseases and conditions affecting the respiratory system. Some of the most common diseases and conditions treated by pulmonologists include:

1. Asthma: A chronic condition characterized by inflammation and narrowing of the airways, leading to symptoms like wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.

2. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): A progressive lung disease that includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, leading to difficulty breathing, coughing, and excessive mucus production.

3. Pneumonia: An infection of the lungs caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or other microorganisms, resulting in inflammation and fluid buildup in the air sacs of the lungs (alveoli), leading to symptoms like fever, cough, chest pain, and difficulty breathing.

4. Tuberculosis (TB): A bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis that primarily affects the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body, leading to symptoms like coughing, chest pain, weight loss, fatigue, and night sweats.

5. Lung cancer: A type of cancer that starts in the lungs, usually in the cells lining the air passages, leading to symptoms like persistent cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, and unintended weight loss.

6. Sleep disorders: Conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, and sleep-related hypoventilation disorders that affect breathing during sleep and can lead to symptoms like excessive daytime sleepiness, loud snoring, and interrupted breathing during sleep.

7. Pulmonary hypertension: High blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs, leading to symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, and fainting.

8. Interstitial lung diseases: A group of lung diseases characterized by inflammation and scarring of the lung tissue, leading to symptoms like cough, shortness of breath, and decreased exercise tolerance.

9. Bronchiectasis: A chronic condition characterized by abnormal widening and thickening of the bronchial tubes, leading to symptoms like chronic cough, production of large amounts of mucus, and recurrent respiratory infections.

10. Pulmonary embolism: A blockage in one of the pulmonary arteries in the lungs, usually caused by a blood clot that travels from another part of the body, leading to symptoms like sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, and coughing up blood.

These are just a few examples of the diseases and conditions that fall under the purview of pulmonology. Pulmonologists are trained to diagnose, treat, and manage various respiratory disorders to help patients breathe easier and improve their quality of life.