Living with COPD: How Pulmonary Specialists Help Improve Breathing and Quality of Life

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease affects the respiratory health and quality of life for nearly 16 million Americans and potentially many more who remain undiagnosed.

If you struggle to breathe or need help managing COPD symptoms, you can rely on the expertise of the team at Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep. Our pulmonary specialists offer treatments to improve your breathing and lower your risk of COPD-related complications.

Ashok Tyagi, DO, CPE, and Himanshu Chandarana, MD, can tailor a care plan to your unique health challenges. They use advanced therapies to restore your quality of life and support your long-term wellness while managing COPD and other lung diseases.

An overview of COPD

COPD is a chronic lung disease resulting from damage to the lungs or airways. The primary cause of the disease is smoking. However, you can also develop COPD because of asthma, genetic factors, or childhood lung disease.

There are two types of COPD:

Chronic bronchitis

Chronic bronchitis develops from constant or repeated inflammation and irritation in the airway lining. That causes the production of thick mucus in the airways, blocking airflow and triggering a persistent cough.

Emphysema

Emphysema results from damage to the walls between the air sacs in the lungs. Healthy air sacs are elastic and flexible. Damaged sacs can’t help move air in and out of the body.

Many people with COPD have a mix of chronic bronchitis and emphysema. As the condition progresses, symptoms can get worse and limit what you can do physically.

Our pulmonary specialists understand the toll that COPD symptoms can have on your quality of life and ability to take care of yourself. They provide the latest therapies to ease shortness of breath and other COPD symptoms.

Pulmonary therapies that help you manage COPD

There’s no cure for COPD, but ongoing medical care can provide sufficient relief of symptoms. 

The goals of our COPD treatment plans are to slow the progression of the disease and prevent symptoms from getting more severe. Dr. Tyagi and Dr. Chandarana focus on the least-invasive treatment and offer therapeutic strategies such as:

Medications

COPD medications help relax your airways so you can breathe easier. Some medications are short-acting, and you take others daily to better control inflammation and mucus production.

Supplemental oxygen

Supplemental oxygen therapy increases oxygen flow to your lungs, relieving shortness of breath and other COPD symptoms. The additional oxygen can also support better organ function and help you stay physically active.

Pulmonary rehabilitation

A pulmonary rehabilitation program can provide exercises, nutritional support, and educational resources to support your lung health. A personalized program improves your daily quality of life and can prevent the need for hospital stays.

Your treatment plan depends on the progression of COPD and the severity of your symptoms. If your condition is advanced, our compassionate team discusses your options for surgery. 

We also offer resources for palliative and end-of-life care to address physical and emotional issues associated with a serious or terminal illness.

Call Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep in St. Petersburg, Florida, today to schedule a COPD evaluation.