Pulmonology involves the study and treatment of respiratory diseases and disorders. A pulmonary physician, or pulmonologist, treats diseases of the lungs, airways, and all other respiratory organs. The pulmonologist diagnoses and treats pneumonia, asthma, bronchitis, emphysema and other respiratory problems, and uses a variety of invasive and non-invasive diagnostic techniques to help patients.

Physicians in this specialty treat patients suffering from numerous diseases and illnesses, but some of the most common are Emphysema, Broncho-Esophagology, Pneumonia, Lung Disorders, cystic fibrosis, Asthma, Bronchitis, and pectus excavatum.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. Illinois has 516 practicing pulmonary doctors / pulmonologists. Broken out by city, pulmonology doctor density in Alton is 4, in Aurora is 8, in Batavia is 1, in Belleville is 10, in Benton is 2, in Berwyn is 7, in Bloomington is 10, in Blue Island is 2, in Bourbonnais is 3, in Breese is 4, in Burr Ridge is 18, in Cairo is 1, in Calumet City is 2, in Canton is 2, in Carbondale is 3, in Centralia is 1, in Champaign is 4, in Chicago is 186, in Chicago Heights is 3, in Cicero is 1, in Clinton is 5, in Crystal Lake is 3, in Danville is 3, in Decatur is 7, in Dekalb is 1, in Des Plaines is 3, in Dixon is 2, in Effingham is 1, in Elgin is 9, in Elk Grove Village is 24, in Elmhurst is 8, in Evanston is 21, in Fairbury is 2, in Forest Park is 3, in Freeport is 1, in Galesburg is 3, in Geneva is 11, in Granite City is 2, in Harvard is 1, in Harvey is 5, in Herrin is 1, in Hickory Hills is 1, in Highland Park is 3, in Hillsboro is 1, in Jacksonville is 1, in Joliet is 12, in Kankakee is 3, in Kewanee is 1, in Lake Forest is 1, in Le Roy is 2, in Libertyville is 4, in Litchfield is 2, in Marion is 4, in Marseilles is 1, in Mattoon is 4, in Mchenry is 4, in Mendota is 1, in Moline is 4, in Monmouth is 1, in Monticello is 1, in Morris is 4, in Mount Vernon is 2, in Naperville is 13, in Normal is 6, in North Chicago is 4, in Oak Forest is 3, in Oak Park is 10, in Oakbrook Terrace is 3, in Olney is 1, in Palos Heights is 11, in Palos Hills is 1, in Park Ridge is 3, in Pekin is 3, in Peoria is 20, in Peru is 4, in Pinckneyville is 1, in Pittsfield is 1, in Pontiac is 3, in Pulaski is 1, in Quincy is 3, in Red Bud is 1, in Rock Island is 3, in Rockford is 7, in Rosiclare is 2, in Rushville is 1, in Sandwich is 1, in Shelbyville is 1, in Silvis is 7, in Sparta is 2, in Spring Valley is 1, in Springfield is 22, in Sterling is 1, in Sycamore is 2, in Taylorville is 1, in Tuscola is 1, in Urbana is 10, in Warrenville is 3, in Wauconda is 1, in Waukegan is 1, and in Wheaton is 6.

Most people think that Chicago, because of its size and popularity, is Illinois’ capital city, but that distinction belongs to Springfield, home of the Abraham Lincoln Museum. Illinois has hundreds of museums, numerous yearly art and ethnic festivals, a lakeshore bordering Lake Michigan, and the many national forests and parks that offers visitors camping, horseback riding, biking, kayaking, and fishing. Chicago is home to the Sears Tower, the Shedd Aquarium, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Adler Planetarium, the Museum of Science and Industry, and other cultural opportunities and restaurants in the Navy Pier area.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Illinois has a population of 12,763,371. Of this population, 3,172,677 are under the age of 18 and 1,523,937 are at or above the age of 65.