Altoona Lung Specialists

For people with COPD, symptoms may include: shortness of breath cough with or without sputum (saliva and mucus spit out) chest pain or heaviness wheezing

To determine if someone has COPD, a doctor will ask about symptoms, family history, and smoking habits, as well as test the person's lung function. The doctor may also do a chest x-ray or some blood tests. The lung function test is very important, as it shows how long it takes the person to empty their lungs while breathing out. Someone with COPD takes much longer than a healthy person to do so because their airways are obstructed.

Some prescription medications can help reduce the symptoms of COPD, although they cannot reverse the damage in the airways. Bronchodilators relax the muscles around the airways, making it easier to breathe. Short-acting bronchodilators are usually taken as needed every four to six hours. Long-acting bronchodilators are taken twice daily and relieve symptoms throughout the day

The first step in managing COPD is to stop smoking. Smoking is an irritant and affects the body's natural ability to clean the airways, making infection more likely. Since smoking can worsen COPD symptoms and increase the chances of getting secondary lung infections, quitting is an essential step towards better lung health. Additionally, to safeguard their health it is often recommended that patients receive the pneumococcal vaccination (only needed once) and influenza vaccination (every fall). People with COPD must also carefully consider their surroundings and reduce their exposure to known lung irritants. Irritants include: second-hand smoke (i.e.being around other people while they are smoking) air pollution strong smells such as perfumes and chemical odors changes in the weather. The best strategy for managing these irritants is to avoid them. Stay away from smoke and fumes, and reduce exposure to extreme weather changes by wearing a scarf or even staying indoors during very cold weather. People with COPD can and should also learn appropriate exercises and breathing techniques to achieve their best physical potential. The exercises are particularly good for those who, even with medication, are limited in their activities.