According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 15 million adults in the United States have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is a chronic lung disease that causes air flow limitation (less air in and out of the airways) and breathing-related symptoms. Symptoms can include:
•Shortness of breath
•Coughing that produces mucus or phlegm
•Chest tightness
•Wheezing or whistling sounds when breathing
•Frequent respiratory infections
“A lot of my patients say they’re struggling to breathe, and they think that’s just because they’re getting old,” said Dr. Brandon Nance, Pulmonary/Critical Care specialist at Med Center Health. “While age can play a factor, you could also have undiagnosed COPD, especially if you are a smoker. If there are activities you’ve had to give up, like playing with your grandchildren, or just being able to go outside and walk more than 100 feet, then COPD is a very real possibility. If you’re having breathing issues, such as shortness of breath, it’s very reasonable to come see a pulmonologist, and we can get a treatment plan figured out for you.”
The most common cause of COPD is cigarette smoking. Smoking damages the airways and lungs, leading to inflammation, narrowing of the airways, and destruction of the air sacs. Due to Kentucky’s high rates of smoking, the Bluegrass State has one of the highest rates of COPD in the nation. The damage done to lungs cannot be cured, but there are ways to manage and treat COPD.
“You can’t reverse all the effects of COPD, but you can preserve your quality of life, and, really, that’s the most important thing,” said Nance. “If you get a diagnosis, we can really help bring back your quality of life. If you continue to live with these symptoms and continue smoking, it is only going to make your symptoms worse. You’re going to be in and out of the hospital, and you will eventually wind up on oxygen and not being able to life your life to the fullest. While you can’t completely fix COPD, you can obtain a much better quality of life.”
Med Center Health has many treatment options available to help improve your ability to breathe and limit the impact of COPD:
•Minimally-invasive Zephyr Valve Procedure
•Pulmonary Rehab
•Oxygen Therapies
•Inhalers & Injection Medicines
The best way to improve your symptoms of COPD is to stop smoking. Med Center Health offers the BREATHE Smoking Cessation Program. BREATHE is a one-on-one program for smoking cessation that is accredited by the Council for Tobacco Treatment Training Programs.
“Most people are not able to quit cold turkey,” said Marie Vincent, Wellness Coordinator at Med Center Health. “Most people do need help by this kind of program and a nicotine replacement therapy. If you join this program, and participate in nicotine replacement therapy, your chances for successfully quitting actually increase 50 percent.”
To learn more about Med Center Health’s pulmonary care options, visit medcenterhealth.org/pulmonary.
-submitted by Med Center Health
