According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), “chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis, makes breathing difficult for the 16 million Americans who have been diagnosed with COPD. Millions more suffer from COPD, but have not been diagnosed and are not being treated.” November is National COPD Awareness Month, and the CDC wants you to be informed about symptoms of COPD, and how it is diagnosed and treated.
Symptoms of COPD include:
- Frequent coughing or wheezing
- Excess phlegm or sputum
- Shortness of breath
- Trouble taking a deep breath
How is COPD diagnosed? – COPD is diagnosed using a simple breathing test called spirometry.
How is COPD treated? – Some of the ways your doctor may treat your COPD include:
- Quitting smoking
- Avoiding tobacco smoke and other air pollutants
- Pulmonary rehabilitation
- Avoiding lung infections
- Supplemental oxygen
For more information about COPD, click on these two links: