Pulmonologists Columbia SC
Pulmonologists
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an umbrella name for two frequently coexisting lung diseases: emphysema and chronic bronchitis. People with COPD find that it becomes increasingly difficult to breathe due to partially blocked airways.
Long-term smokers are at the highest risk for the disease, which is the fourth leading cause of death in America. Although COPD has no cure, some treatments can prevent further complications and make breathing easier.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
COPD develops very slowly. It typically takes many years for lung damage to begin showing symptoms, so most people are over the age of 40 when they first start seeing signs of COPD. The most common signs are a chronic productive (mucus-producing) cough or shortness of breath during exercise. Anyone with those symptoms, especially current or former smokers, should be examined by a doctor.
To diagnose COPD, a doctor will first take a detailed medical history to evaluate your lifestyle, family history, habits (such as whether or not you smoke), and symptoms. Pulmonary function testsvarious tests that measure lung capacity, oxygen levels, and breathing efficiencymay be administered, as well as x-rays and CAT scans, which can show irregularities or lung damage. Other tests may include a bronchoscopy, which allows the doctor to look inside the airways in your lungs, and a lung lavage, which assesses airway inflammation by examining the fluid from your lungs...
