Wondering ‘What Is COPD’?
Get answers from doctors to all your questions about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in this article from Lifescript.com, a leading online health resource for women.
Here’s a sneak peek at what’s included in the article:
What is COPD?
COPD is a group of diseases that slowly kills healthy tissue of the lungs, causing breathing difficulties; two of the main diseases of COPD are chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
How does a patient get COPD diagnosed?
A lung function test called a spirometry is the only test that will diagnose COPD. It’s a two-step, non-invasive procedure to gauge the amount of air lungs can hold and how fast that air can be expelled out of the lungs.
What medications are typically prescribed?
Often inhalers are prescribed, which widen the airways and make breathing easier. Two common drugs approved by the FDA are available to treat COPD are Advair and Symbicort. Both types of medicines were originally formed to treat asthma.
What are the side effects to watch out for?
The side effects of these medications may be different depending on the patient. The most common side effect reported is dry mouth, a condition that is typically temorary and can often be managed using mouth rinses your doctor recommends, or by changing medication.
Does exercise help?
Exercise can help curb COPD symptoms. Aerobic workouts like walking, swiming or riding a bycicle all help to boost lung power and capacity. You won’t have to catch your breath or feel winded with these exercsies.
Is surgery an option to help with COPD symptoms?
The most common surgery is lung volume reduction, which removes approximately 30% of each lung to let air circulate better. But insurance doesn’t usually cover the surgery due to it being a short-lived solution — the disease often recurs two to three years after getting the surgery.
For more in-depth tips like these and COPD information, check out the full article from Lifescript.
The information contained in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not, nor is it ever intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice or professional recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician(s) or other qualified healthcare provider(s).
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