COPD
COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
COPD is the name used to describe a number of conditions, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and chronic asthma. People have difficulty breathing because of long-term damage to their lungs. COPD leads to damaged air tubes in the lungs; this makes them narrow and blocked, making it more difficult to get air in and out of the lungs.
Damage can also happen to the small airways and air sacs in your lungs. This leads to the lungs losing their stretchiness. This loss results in a lack of support for the airways, which can collapse, trapping air in the lungs when you breathe out.
The most common symptoms are cough, breathlessness (particularly on exertion), producing phlegm and wheeze. Flare-ups of COPD, usually due to infections or air pollution, are common. To learn more about COPD, visit the British Lung Foundation's website and NHS Choices.
To diagnosis COPD, your GP or lung specialist such as Professor Man, will order a chest x-ray and arrange lung function tests (breathing tests to see how well your lungs are working). Occasionally, a CT scan, oxygen assessment or exercise walk test might also be required.
Although most GPs are comfortable prescribing inhalers to help patients with COPD, medications are only part of the overall management. Professor Man specialises in the holistic treatment of patients with COPD which may involve significant lifestyle changes. Occasionally he may recommend cutting edge research treatments that are not available in other hospitals.
- Chronic = Long-term
- Obstructive = “Obstructed” or narrowed air tubes
- Pulmonary = Lungs
- Disease = Condition
COPD is the name used to describe a number of conditions, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and chronic asthma. People have difficulty breathing because of long-term damage to their lungs. COPD leads to damaged air tubes in the lungs; this makes them narrow and blocked, making it more difficult to get air in and out of the lungs.
Damage can also happen to the small airways and air sacs in your lungs. This leads to the lungs losing their stretchiness. This loss results in a lack of support for the airways, which can collapse, trapping air in the lungs when you breathe out.
The most common symptoms are cough, breathlessness (particularly on exertion), producing phlegm and wheeze. Flare-ups of COPD, usually due to infections or air pollution, are common. To learn more about COPD, visit the British Lung Foundation's website and NHS Choices.
To diagnosis COPD, your GP or lung specialist such as Professor Man, will order a chest x-ray and arrange lung function tests (breathing tests to see how well your lungs are working). Occasionally, a CT scan, oxygen assessment or exercise walk test might also be required.
Although most GPs are comfortable prescribing inhalers to help patients with COPD, medications are only part of the overall management. Professor Man specialises in the holistic treatment of patients with COPD which may involve significant lifestyle changes. Occasionally he may recommend cutting edge research treatments that are not available in other hospitals.
