COPD
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Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep
Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine Specialists located in St. Petersburg, FL
An estimated 16 million Americans struggle to breathe because of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. At Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep, pulmonary specialists Ashok Tyagi, DO, CPE, and Himanshu Chandarana, MD, offer comprehensive lung testing services in office to diagnose COPD diseases like chronic bronchitis and emphysema. They also tailor a plan to help you manage COPD in the long term. To schedule a diagnostic evaluation of COPD symptoms, call the office in St. Petersburg, Florida, today or book an appointment online. What is COPD? Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an umbrella term for a group of diseases that affects your lung function and breathing. These diseases include chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Chronic bronchitis Chronic bronchitis describes persistent inflammation of the bronchi, the breathing tubes in your lungs. The most common cause of chronic bronchitis is smoking. Emphysema Emphysema develops when there’s damage to the delicate air sacs (alveoli) in your lungs. This damage traps air in the damaged tissue and stops oxygen from moving through your bloodstream. Your lungs eventually can overfill, which makes breathing more difficult. In addition to smoking, your environment and your exposure to pollutants increase your risk for developing COPD. You may also be more likely to develop COPD because of your genetic background or because of a history of lung infections. When should I seek treatment for COPD? You should schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep if you have any symptoms of COPD, such as: Wheezing Frequent cough Shortness of breath Inability to breathe deeply Excess mucus or phlegm in your throat The team offers on-site diagnostic testing services including pulmonary function tests to assess your breathing and the health of your lungs. Without treatment, COPD can make it difficult for you to stay active and can drastically reduce the quality of your life. How is COPD treated?
COPD Q&A
What is COPD?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an umbrella term for a group of diseases that affects your lung function and breathing. These diseases include chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
Chronic bronchitis
Chronic bronchitis describes persistent inflammation of the bronchi, the breathing tubes in your lungs. The most common cause of chronic bronchitis is smoking.
Emphysema
Emphysema develops when there’s damage to the delicate air sacs (alveoli) in your lungs. This damage traps air in the damaged tissue and stops oxygen from moving through your bloodstream. Your lungs eventually can overfill, which makes breathing more difficult.
In addition to smoking, your environment and your exposure to pollutants increase your risk for developing COPD. You may also be more likely to develop COPD because of your genetic background or because of a history of lung infections.
When should I seek treatment for COPD?
You should schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep if you have any symptoms of COPD, such as:
- Wheezing
- Frequent cough
- Shortness of breath
- Inability to breathe deeply
- Excess mucus or phlegm in your throat
The team offers on-site diagnostic testing services including pulmonary function tests to assess your breathing and the health of your lungs. Without treatment, COPD can make it difficult for you to stay active and can drastically reduce the quality of your life.
How is COPD treated?
The Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep team customize a treatment plan to manage your COPD symptoms in the long term. You may benefit from taking medications to relieve wheezing, reduce phlegm, or treat a persistent cough. You may also need supplemental oxygen to help you breathe more efficiently.
The team also works closely with you on lifestyle changes you should make to prevent COPD from worsening. They provide guidance to help you quit smoking for good and reduce your exposure to harmful substances at work and home.
They may recommend a pulmonary rehabilitation program to restore strength and function in your lungs over time with exercises and dietary changes.
To schedule a diagnostic evaluation for COPD symptoms, call Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep today or book a consultation online.
