COPD

About 15.7 million Americans have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a chronic lung disease that severely restricts their breathing ability. Diagnosis and management of COPD is available at Stanton Family Clinic in Stanton, Kentucky. Call the family medicine team or use the online tool to book an appointment and get the care you need to live with COPD.

What is COPD?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) includes conditions like emphysema and chronic bronchitis. It’s a collection of lung diseases that lead to trouble breathing and airflow blockages. 

COPD doesn’t have a cure, but medical management helps you avoid the worsening of symptoms. Advanced COPD can seriously interfere with your quality of life. You may find it hard to climb stairs or walk, become unable to work, and fall into depression because of COPD. 

How do I know if I have COPD?

A medical provider gives you a diagnosis of COPD. Symptoms that suggest you have the condition include:

• Wheezing
• Constant coughing
• Struggling to breathe and take deep breaths
• Excess phlegm and mucus production
• Chest pain due to coughing

If you notice these symptoms in yourself or a loved one, schedule an appointment at Stanton Family Clinic to get checked out. Early detection helps manage the disease’s progression so you can maintain a high quality of life. 

Who is at risk of developing COPD?

COPD seems to develop in response to specific risk factors such as: 

• Smoking and/or persistent exposure to secondhand smoke
• Lack of fresh air at home or work due to poor ventilation
• A history of respiratory illness
• Living in an area with a high level of air pollution

Quitting smoking is a significant way to avoid developing COPD.  

How do you diagnose COPD?

If you come in with symptoms of COPD, the team at Stanton Family Clinic runs several tests. You benefit from spirometry, which measures how much air you breathe in and out. 

A chest X-ray, offered by the in-house radiology services, gives your provider a clear picture of your lungs and can rule out other causes of your symptoms. You may also require a CT scan if you have symptoms that suggest an advanced case of COPD. 

How do you treat COPD?

Your doctor customizes your treatment plan according to your disease's severity and symptoms. You may receive:

• Inhaled medications
• Corticosteroids
• Oxygen therapy

These treatments give you relief from COPD symptoms, but they don’t cure the disease. Management, however, can slow the progression of your symptoms.

Call Stanton Family Clinic if you have symptoms of COPD. Alternatively, use the online tool to book an appointment.