COPD Specialist
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Orthopedic Center for Sports Medicine
Sports Medicine Physicians & Pulmonologist located in Metairie, LA
If you’re a smoker or a former smoker and have a persistent cough, it’s time to get it checked out by a physician. You could have a condition called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is a type of chronic lung disease. Lifestyle medicine physician, Andrea Espinoza, MD, FCCP, at Orthopedic Center for Sports Medicine in Metairie, Louisiana, treats many cases of COPD, helping to alleviate painful symptoms and provide a better quality of life. Call the office today or request an appointment online at any time.
COPD Q&A
What is COPD?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, is a lung disease that makes breathing difficult. It damages the passages to your lungs. COPD is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. However, it can be treated—and prevented.
What causes COPD?
Cigarette smoking causes most cases of COPD. Cigarettes contain more than 7,000 chemicals, many of them toxic. They narrow your air passages, damaging your lungs so that you can’t ward off infection easily.
The air you breathe can contribute to COPD. If you work long-term in an environment with air pollution, such as secondhand smoke or dust from chemicals or fumes, you could get COPD. A small percentage of COPD cases are genetic; the body doesn’t produce enough of a protective protein.
How is COPD diagnosed?
If you have COPD, you likely have both chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Your doctor reviews your complete medical history, including whether you smoke and whether you’ve been exposed to air pollution.
Your provider then conducts a pulmonary (lung) test. During a spirometry test, a machine measures how much air you blow out of a device and how fast you do it. Your doctor orders a chest X-ray and may order an arterial blood gas test that determines the level of oxygen in your blood.
What are the most effective treatments for COPD?
Your doctor works with you to determine the best treatment options. Their goal is to optimize your quality of life in addition to educating you and your family about your condition—typical treatment options for COPD range from medications to rehabilitation.
Medication
There are several medications used for COPD treatment. They help you breathe more normally and have fewer COPD attacks.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Pulmonary rehabilitation includes nutrition counseling, an exercise program, and education about the disease.
Supplemental Oxygen
COPD reduces your oxygen levels so that you may need extra oxygen. Your doctor can advise you on options. A new option is an oxygen concentrator, which is a smaller, more portable device that separates oxygen from the air around you and stores it.
If you think you or a loved one have COPD, don’t delay; call Orthopedic Center for Sports Medicine or book an appointment online for expert diagnosis and treatment.