Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of lung diseases that interfere with breathing. This progressive disease can worsen over time and ultimately lead to surgery or a lung transplant.
At Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep, we specialize in managing COPD and other chronic lung diseases. The advanced treatments we offer can slow the progression of COPD and help you find lasting relief from its symptoms.
Additionally, our pulmonary experts, Ashok Tyagi, DO, CPE, and Himanshu Chandarana, MD, provide preventive resources to reduce your risk of potentially life-threatening COPD complications.
Two lung diseases fall under the COPD umbrella — emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Both conditions result from chronic inflammation in the airways that makes breathing difficult.
With emphysema, inflammation damages the lung’s air sacs (alveoli), causing an obstruction that prevents air from getting into or leaving the lungs. People with chronic bronchitis have breathing difficulties that result from inflammation and excess mucus in the bronchial tubes.
The primary cause of COPD is smoking and ongoing exposure to secondhand smoke or air pollution. You may also be at increased risk of COPD due to genetic factors.
COPD symptoms vary from person to person in frequency and severity based on the type of lung disease. Typically, people with emphysema or chronic bronchitis experience issues like:
If you have a history of smoking or a family history of lung disease, don’t put off a diagnostic evaluation of COPD-related symptoms.
Our specialists offer pulmonary lung function tests that measure the volume of air you can move in and out of your lungs. We can also order chest X-rays or other imaging tests to check your lungs for inflammation and scar tissue.
Your physician determines which treatment is appropriate for your symptoms. We offer medications, oxygen therapy, and other solutions to control COPD. You can also be proactive in protecting your lung health through lifestyle changes.
Here are five strategies to consider to minimize your risk factors for COPD complications:
Continuing to smoke after a COPD diagnosis can exacerbate your symptoms and make treatment less effective.
We offer smoking cessation resources for current smokers who need assistance giving up the habit for good. Our support team shares healthy ways to quit smoking without cravings or uncomfortable nicotine withdrawal symptoms.
Exposure to chemicals, air pollution, and other substances that irritate or inflame the lungs can complicate existing COPD symptoms.
Stay aware of your surroundings and be prepared to leave environments that expose you to pollution, secondhand cigarette smoke, and other irritants. You may also need to wear a mask if you work around certain substances.
Plant-based foods rich in antioxidants support long-term lung health. A consistent diet of unprocessed vegetables and fruits can also prevent your COPD symptoms from worsening.
While it can be difficult to stay active when you can’t breathe well, you must find exercises you can do to help you maintain a healthy weight and build muscle strength.
We can also recommend breathing exercises that target the lung muscles.
If we prescribe COPD medications, take them consistently and follow your physician’s recommendations. Stopping medications without doctor supervision can make COPD symptoms worse and trigger disease progression.
Call Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep in St. Petersburg, Florida, today to schedule a COPD consultation.
