Diagnosis and Evaluation of COPD

This animation describes the tests used to diagnose chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as well as the symptoms suggestive of COPD. To learn more visit: http://www.AnimatedCOPDPatient.com

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Closed Caption:

diagnosis and evaluation of chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease COPD
early detection of COPD is essential for
those who may be at risk
once the disease is diagnosed treatment
can be started that can slow down or
help prevent further damage from
occurring to the lungs
an ongoing cough with mucus production
is often an early sign of copd
daily coughing is not normal and could
be the sign of serious lung conditions
individuals who have a history of
smoking or repeated exposure to long
irritants should ask their health care
professional for a breathing test called
spirometry to determine if the symptoms
they are experiencing are due to copd
the earlier COPD is diagnosed the better
for patient outcomes
once COPD is identified there are
effective medications that can help
patients do more and can help lower the
chances of having copd flares or acute
exacerbations of copd
if prevented from progressing patients
with a mild stage of copd can live a
fairly normal life
patients with moderate to severe stages
of copd have a greater risk to their
health and worse outcomes than those who
are diagnosed with milder forms of the
disease
in mild cases of copd respiratory
systems may not be recognized or may not
be very troublesome these individuals
may be unaware they have copd because
people may mistakenly think that their
coffee is just to smoker's cough
the fact is there is no such thing as a
normal smoker's cough
others with copd may feel tired and
experience uncomfortable breathing
during physical activities as a result
they stop being as active these feelings
of fatigue and trouble with activities
may be due to copd if an early diagnosis
is confirmed patients will be able to
receive the appropriate medical care to
reduce the progression of the disease
and its symptoms
take a look at these patients can you
tell which ones
if any have COPD
many people even many healthcare
professionals believe that you can tell
who has copd based on their symptoms
risk factors physical examination and
appearance but this is a myth
the reality is that a breathing test or
lung function test called spirometry is
required to diagnose anyone with copd
there are many other conditions that can
be confused with copd people who have
trouble breathing and have a cough may
have copd but they may have other
conditions like heart failure scarring
of the lungs called fibrosis asthma or
other breathing problems instead of copd
this is why it is essential for you to
get a breathing test called spirometry
to be sure that your symptoms are due to
copd and not because of another
condition
based on your symptoms your exposures to
smoke and other long irritants and your
medical history
your healthcare provider may order a
breathing test called spirometry which
may also be called a lung function test
or a pulmonary function test
during spirometry you will be asked to
take a deep breath and then exhale as
hard and as fast as you can into a tube
that is connected to a machine called a
spirometer
this test measures how much air you can
breathe out and how fast you blow air
out
this test is simple quick painless and
accurate
spirometry can predict copd before
symptoms are noticed or recognized
how fast air exits the lungs within the
first second is called the forced
expiratory volume or fev1 and indicates
how well your lungs work or function
the spirometer allows your healthcare
provider to compare your results against
healthy individuals of similar age
height
gender and ethnicity
in patients who already have copd
spirometry is helpful to monitor changes
in lung function especially have done a
month or two after a long attack also
known as a COPD flare or an acute
exacerbation of copd
some people get a cold or bronchitis
that last for several days or even weeks
these episodes may actually be long
attacks or COPD flares which are also
called acute exacerbations of copd these
respiratory illnesses may be the first
sign that someone has copd
people with risk factors for copd who
have repeated episodes of respiratory
infections that linger and are slow to
go away should get a spirometry test
about one or two months after the
illness is gone to confirm their copd
diagnosis
for patients with COPD and acute
exacerbation of COPD is serious and
needs to be treated quickly
symptoms of these long attacks include
having more trouble breathing coughing
up more mucus and or having a change in
the color of the mucus
if you experience any of these symptoms
call your healthcare professional
immediately
based on how severe your COPD is by
spirometry your clinician may check the
oxygen level in your blood
by placing an oxygen probe on your
finger called pulse oximetry or drawing
blood from an artery in your wrist
called an arterial blood gas test if
your oxygen levels are low when you are
sitting and not doing any activities
then wearing supplemental oxygen in your
nose for at least 16 to 24 hours each
day even if you are not having trouble
breathing will help you live longer if
your oxygen levels are normal wearing
supplemental oxygen will not help you
undergoing a spirometry test to diagnose
copd has important benefits if caught
early in mild cases the course and
severity of the disease can be modified
early detection of copd results in less
disability and a better quality of life