Professor Zhong Nanshan: COPD, Asthma, and Complex Respiratory Disease Specialist
Professor Zhong Nanshan is a senior respiratory physician, professor, and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University and the Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health. He is internationally recognized for leadership in respiratory medicine, chronic airway disease, and major respiratory-infection response.
Clinical and Academic Focus
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;
- asthma and difficult-to-control asthma;
- chronic cough;
- airway inflammation and remodeling;
- respiratory infections;
- bronchiectasis and complex airway disease;
- lung-function assessment;
- pulmonary rehabilitation; and
- second opinions for unexplained respiratory symptoms.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
COPD causes persistent airflow limitation, breathlessness, cough, sputum, wheezing, reduced exercise tolerance, and repeated exacerbations. Tobacco smoke is a major cause, but air pollution, occupational exposure, biomass fuel, early-life factors, and genetics can also contribute.
Diagnosis requires spirometry. Assessment should also include symptoms, exacerbation history, oxygen level, chest imaging, cardiovascular health, nutrition, muscle strength, and inhaler technique.
Asthma
Asthma causes variable airway narrowing and inflammation. Symptoms can include wheezing, chest tightness, cough, and shortness of breath that change over time or with triggers.
When asthma remains uncontrolled, the team should confirm the diagnosis, review inhaler technique and adherence, assess allergies and environmental exposure, and look for sinus disease, reflux, obesity, sleep apnea, vocal-cord dysfunction, or another diagnosis.
Severe asthma may require phenotype testing and biologic therapy, but eligibility depends on exacerbations, eosinophils, allergy markers, steroid exposure, and local approval.
Chronic Cough
A cough lasting more than eight weeks can result from asthma, eosinophilic bronchitis, upper-airway disease, reflux, medication, smoking, infection, bronchiectasis, interstitial lung disease, or cancer.
Evaluation may include chest imaging, spirometry, bronchial testing, allergy or inflammation markers, and targeted assessment of the upper airway and digestive tract. Treatment should address the cause rather than rely only on cough suppressants.
Respiratory Infections
Respiratory infections range from mild viral illness to severe pneumonia and respiratory failure. Older adults and people with chronic lung, heart, metabolic, or immune conditions face greater risk of complications.
High fever, severe breathlessness, low oxygen, confusion, blue lips, chest pain, or rapidly worsening symptoms requires immediate local emergency care. International travel must not delay urgent treatment.
Bronchiectasis
Bronchiectasis causes permanent widening of the airways, often with chronic sputum, repeated infections, coughing blood, and declining lung function. Evaluation should look for previous infection, immune deficiency, aspiration, allergic fungal disease, ciliary disorders, autoimmune disease, or another cause.
Treatment may include airway clearance, exercise, vaccination, targeted antibiotics, and management of the underlying condition. Repeated antibiotic treatment without cultures can promote resistance.
Lung Function and Rehabilitation
Pulmonary-function testing can measure airflow, lung volume, gas transfer, and response to bronchodilators. Results must be interpreted with symptoms and imaging.
Pulmonary rehabilitation combines exercise, education, breathing strategies, nutrition, and self-management. It can improve function and quality of life even when lung-function measurements do not change.
Who May Consider a Consultation?
- patients with severe or rapidly progressive COPD;
- patients with difficult-to-control or severe asthma;
- patients with chronic unexplained cough;
- patients with recurrent pneumonia or bronchiectasis;
- patients with conflicting lung-function or imaging results;
- patients with repeated hospital admissions for respiratory disease;
- patients needing a comprehensive rehabilitation plan; or
- patients seeking a second opinion on complex respiratory care.
Medical Records to Prepare
- a concise medical summary and symptom timeline;
- chest CT and X-rays in original DICOM format;
- spirometry and full pulmonary-function tests;
- oxygen saturation and arterial blood gas results;
- sputum cultures, bronchoscopy, allergy, and immune evaluations;
- records from recent hospital admissions;
- a list or photographs of inhalers and respiratory devices;
- smoking, occupational, pollution, and biomass exposure history;
- previous treatment with response and side effects; and
- a clear list of questions and goals.
Planning an International Consultation
Patients with unstable breathing require local emergency or inpatient care. Stable patients should confirm whether records can be reviewed and whether an in-person examination is required. Remote medical-record review requires physician authorization, and medication or oxygen changes require complete clinical assessment.
How CMCS Can Assist
CMCS – China Medical Concierge Shanghai is an independent medical concierge and health management company, not a hospital. We assist international patients with organizing and translating respiratory records, identifying an appropriate specialist, requesting appointment availability, arranging interpretation, and planning medical travel in China.
Access to Professor Zhong, remote review, testing, or a particular treatment is subject to doctor and hospital approval. CMCS does not guarantee appointments, treatment eligibility, or clinical outcomes.
- Email: contract@medicalsh.com
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Important Note
Doctor roles, treatment availability, and appointment arrangements may change. This profile is for general information only and does not replace assessment by a qualified respiratory physician.
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