November is COPD Awareness Month. COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and is a group of lung diseases that include bronchitis and emphysema. These conditions involve constriction in the airways that lead to difficulty breathing, and wheezing.
Is Asthma COPD?
Although asthma and COPD have some of the same symptoms, asthma is not the same as COPD. Not everyone with COPD has asthma but many people who have asthma also have COPD. Most cases of asthma are easily managed, while cases of COPD can be much more complicated and require more treatment.
Living With COPD
Living with either of these conditions does not make life easy. COPD, in particular, can be difficult to manage because it’s usually progressive and its symptoms are often mistaken for other common illnesses.
As a chronic condition, it requires continuous treatment. The good news is that there are a variety of treatments for COPD, and the symptoms can be managed with medications. Treatments usually include bronchodilators to open up the airways, inhaled corticosteroids to help reduce inflammation, antibiotics to control or prevent infections, oxygen therapy when needed and exercise programs (aerobic and resistance) to improve lung function.
How We Can Help
Hoag Concierge Medicine can help diagnose and treat COPD using in-office spirometry testing. In addition to spirometry, we offer a wide variety of comprehensive health screenings and testing that can help diagnose and treat COPD. Start your path to wellness today! Call us at 949-629-2600 or click here to schedule an appointment.
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