COPD Specialist

What is COPD?

COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a chronic condition that causes inflammation and blocked airflow in your lungs. It leads to breathing difficulty and various other unpleasant symptoms. Treatment with Dr. Alim can help you breathe easier.

What are the symptoms of COPD?

Common COPD symptoms include:

• Wheezing
• Chest tightness
• Shortness of breath
• Difficult breathing during exercise
• Chronic cough
• Lack of energy
• Frequent respiratory infections
• Ankle, feet, and/or leg swelling
• Unexplained weight loss

Symptoms of COPD can get gradually worse if left untreated. You can also suffer exacerbations, episodes in which your symptoms get worse for a few days.

Complications that can develop because of COPD include heart problems, respiratory infections, lung cancer, depression, and high blood pressure in your lung arteries.

What are the risk factors for COPD?

Causes of and risk factors for COPD include:

• Chronic bronchitis
• Emphysema
• Smoking
• Genetics
• Asthma
• Exposure to chemicals and dust
• Exposure to burning fuels or fumes

Not smoking, or quitting if you currently smoke, is the best way to reduce your risk of developing COPD.

How does my doctor diagnose COPD?

To find out if you have COPD, Dr. Alim reviews your medical history, lifestyle, and symptoms. He completes a physical examination, listens to your breathing, and can have you undergo diagnostic tests. Examples include lung function testing (breathing tests), chest X-rays, CT scans, lab tests, and arterial blood gas analysis.

What are common COPD treatments?

Your personalized COPD treatment depends on how severe your condition is. Dr. Alim will recommend one or more of the following:

Not smoking

If you’re a smoker, quitting is part of your COPD treatment. If you need assistance, Dr. Alim can refer you to a smoking cessation class or prescribe smoking-cessation medications to help you successfully quit.

Oral medications

Some oral medications can relieve COPD symptoms and reduce your risk of developing complications.

Inhalers

Using an inhaler can help you get a full breath of air when you experience COPD-related shortness of breath.

Oxygen therapy

Supplemental oxygen delivers extra oxygen to your lungs. You might use oxygen therapy at night when you sleep or take a portable oxygen tank with you during your daily activities.

Pulmonary rehabilitation

Pulmonary rehab programs combine exercise training, nutrition counseling, and COPD education to help you better manage COPD.

Surgery

In severe cases of COPD, you could need a lung transplant or other kinds of surgery to get rid of your symptoms, reduce the risk of serious complications, and improve your quality of life.

If you have COPD and want to breathe easier, schedule an appointment with Salman Alim, MD, today or book one online.