COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that affects an estimated 32 million Americans. Its main characteristic is increasing breathlessness. Before diagnosis, the doctor will prescribe a dose of at least one short-acting inhaled bronchodilator, a medication that relaxes the muscles in and around your airways, making breathing easier. If symptoms continue, the doctor will use spirometry, a test where an individual blows into a handheld device that records how much air they can blow in and out, in order to confirm the diagnosis.

It’s no surprise that getting sufficient oxygen is crucial to living a long and healthy life, which is why more than 1.5 million Americans are using supplemental oxygen to make that happen. This form of therapy helps people with respiratory disorders to improve their quality of life and even prolong survival. While there are different […]

There are important differences between COPD and asthma. It’s important to understand what each condition involves and how each can affect you differently.

Your life will inevitably change after a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). You will not only have physical challenges but also emotional challenges that can decrease your quality of life. Although there is no cure for COPD, you can do many things to slow its progression, which can increase both your survival and quality of life.

Table of Contents Introduction What is COPD? What Causes COPD? What Are the Symptoms of COPD? Is COPD a Fatal Disease? What is the Life Expectancy for Someone with COPD? What Happens in the Last Stages of COPD? What Do Patients with COPD Die From? Can a Person with COPD Get Better? COPD is Preventable […]

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an inflammatory lung disease, which is characterized by increasing shortness of breath. COPD affects an estimated 32 million Americans, which makes it the third leading cause of death in this country.

Do you know what COPD looks like and what its symptoms are? Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, can affect people for years before any symptoms are significant enough to notice. There are many reasons why people develop COPD and many factors behind the conditions it causes, but it’s common to mistake the signs of COPD for something less serious.

COPD is the name for a group of diseases that affect the airflow into our lungs. It encompasses a variety of diseases, but the three most common sub-groups are chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and refractory asthma. All of these diseases are different, but have a lot of things in common, including the fact that they will all continue to get worse over time and are incurable. There are things that you can do to mitigate the damage from COPD, but you cannot reverse damage once it has occurred. If you or someone you love has recently been diagnosed with COPD, you probably have a lot of questions. Here are some facts your doctor may not have told you.