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Breathing is the rhythm of life. Between one breath and another, the world is created. Many seemingly unrelated diseases are actually related to breathing.

Yang Jianmin, director of the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Guangzhou Xinshi Hospital (Guangzhou Fosun Chancheng Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University), has a deep understanding of this. As a doctor who has devoted himself to the respiratory profession, he has firmly chosen medicine and respiratory medicine since the college entrance examination. He has been deeply engaged in respiratory medicine for 40 years, fully demonstrating the responsibility that a "respiratory guardian" should have.

During the daily ward rounds, he would emphasize to the team: "Respiratory diseases are common, even hidden, but in reality they span a wide range and are highly professional. As respiratory physicians, we must be more focused and careful, unraveling the mystery and doing our best to help patients relieve their pain."

Choose to "breathe" and stick to "breathe"

In 1980, Yang Jianmin, then only 18 years old, suddenly contracted pneumonia before the college entrance examination. Medical care at the time was limited, and his condition recurred. He ultimately had to endure discomfort while taking the exam. However, this didn't affect his performance, and he was admitted to the medical school of his dreams. When choosing a department, Yang Jianmin resolutely chose the challenging respiratory medicine department. While others thought he was asking for trouble, Yang Jianmin knew, "I made this choice because I had personally experienced what it was like to be a patient." After graduation, Yang Jianmin joined the respiratory medicine department, where he has specialized in respiratory diseases for over 40 years. From fever and cough to lung tumors, from chest tightness to dyspnea, from simple ailments to chronic, complex, and difficult diseases, he has undergone rigorous, systematic, and professional training.

He has become an accomplished respiratory physician, mastering numerous specialized techniques. To this day, he remains committed to his original aspirations of "hungry for knowledge, humble learning, and returning to basics," constantly striving to improve himself and help more patients. "This is something I'm always working on."

Auscultation to diagnose diseases and precise policy implementation

Respiratory diseases are the most challenging of all for doctors, requiring the use of a stethoscope and chest auscultation. While seemingly simple, this is the arduous and arduous task of "honing a sword with ten years of dedicated effort." With the aging of society, elderly patients with multiple and severe medical conditions are increasingly common in respiratory clinics. Respiratory diseases are inherently common, sometimes with subtle manifestations. The same symptom can present numerous different symptoms, creating a complex and daunting situation for many respiratory physicians. Yang Jianmin was deeply impressed by an elderly patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Despite a confirmed COPD diagnosis, he had not seen improvement despite conventional COPD treatment. For six months, his wheezing had persisted, becoming increasingly severe and significantly impacting his daily life.

After seeking treatment at several hospitals with no improvement, he sought Yang Jianmin's services at the recommendation of a friend. Yang Jianmin did not casually consult simply because his condition was already confirmed and his other symptoms were less obvious. Instead, he meticulously and diligently performed the respiratory physician's signature skill: auscultation.

During auscultation, Yang Jianmin carefully discovered that the patient's breathing did not produce the "grumpy" sound unique to other COPD patients. Instead, there was a subtle, almost imperceptible "hum" when exhaling.

Focusing on this detail, Yang Jianmin continued to investigate. Finally, through bronchoscopy, he discovered a small tumor less than 1 cm in the patient's left lower lobe bronchus. In addition to COPD, the patient was also diagnosed with small cell lung cancer, and the asthma he had experienced in the past six months was caused by the tumor. Yang Jianmin said, "The actual clinical situation in respiratory medicine is extremely complex. Patients generally have breathing problems. As a respiratory specialist, you must know how to carefully identify the problem, look ahead and look back, and not only master the professional knowledge of your specialty, but also learn about other related disciplines. You cannot blindly treat based on test results."

Comprehensive development and prosperity of disciplines

Yang Jianmin believes that discipline development should not only focus on the present, but also look to the future. In terms of the characteristics of the disease itself and the development of the discipline, respiratory diseases are characterized by high morbidity, high mortality, and a high economic burden. Some of these diseases are also highly contagious. This determines that the development trend of the respiratory department must be the combination of respiratory and critical care medicine (PCCM). "The professional field of respiratory and critical care medicine covers the diagnosis and treatment of all respiratory diseases.

This not only creates an excellent clinical work platform for medical personnel in respiratory medicine, but also poses greater challenges and higher requirements." To lay the foundation for the future development of the department, Yang Jianmin started from scratch, focusing on system establishment, facilities, personnel, and technology, and worked hard to standardize department construction, gradually establishing a complete respiratory medicine department. First, the department was reformed based on the construction standards, equipment was added, wards were separated, 9 beds were allocated, and a respiratory intensive care unit for critically ill patients was established; secondly, weekly business training was insisted on to cultivate core backbone members of the department, and every doctor in the department was required to be proficient in the operation of bronchoscopes and ventilators.

With the development of the hospital, the department has now completed more than 2,000 difficult specialized operations such as bronchoscopic foreign body removal and biopsy, and the number is still rising.

Under the leadership of Yang Jianmin, the department plans to develop a pipeline of PCCM specialists, focusing on specific areas such as critical care and pulmonary embolism treatment. These initiatives will include training programs for medical staff at tertiary hospitals for "single-level" and "specialized" training. Having dedicated over 40 years to respiratory medicine, Yang Jianmin describes himself as just a small "cog in the wheel."

 "But I still have strength and can continue to contribute," he says. "I hope that through the efforts of the department, the hospital, and all respiratory professionals, we can gather more energy and protect the lives of more patients."