COPD Treatment Doctor in Charlotte NC

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease delineates a group of lung diseases that obstructs the airflow from your lungs, making it acutely challenging to breathe. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the usual culprits with COPD. Smoking is the leading cause of COPD, followed by long-term exposure to chemical irritants. COPD is a prevalent illness. According to the COPD Foundation, an estimated 30 million Americans suffer from COPD. In North Carolina alone, over 500,000 adults have been diagnosed with COPD, accounting for 7% of the population.

There is currently no cure for COPD, but it is not an untreatable disease. If you think you might have COPD, keep an eye out for these symptoms: increased shortness of breath, wheezing, constant cough, tightness in your chest, or a lack of energy. While these symptoms might seem harmless or a natural sign of aging, it is better to be sure when it comes to COPD, so that it does not progress if you have it.

If you are diagnosed with COPD, it can feel like a life sentence, but it doesn’t have to feel hopeless! There are many things you can do to control your symptoms and prevent complications or aggravations with your condition so that you can lead a more active life. Some of these steps include:

• Quit smoking (if you smoke)
• Practice controlled breathing techniques and exercises
• Exercise often
• Maintain a healthy diet
• Drink lots of water and keep your living spaces humidified
• Seek out counseling to work through the difficulties of having COPD
• Seek out professional medical treatment

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is diagnosed in multiple steps, and arriving at a conclusive diagnostic result can be done through a number of different methods. In the first step, your doctor will assess your symptoms and will go over your family’s and your medical history, any medications you are currently taking, and relevant lifestyle endeavors. Your doctor will also ask about any exposure you have had to lung irritants like smoke or air pollution. Depending on your condition, there are several tests that your doctor may order to arrive at a diagnosis. These tests include:

• Lung function tests, such as spirometry
• Chest X-ray
• CT scan
• Arterial blood gas (ABG) test

If a definite diagnosis is reached, there are numerous treatment options for COPD, including medication and lung therapies. Medications for COPD include bronchodilators, inhaled or oral steroids, phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors, antibiotics, or theophylline. Lung therapies, like oxygen therapy or pulmonary rehabilitation programs, are also helpful complements to medication. A doctor also may refer you for surgery if the above treatments are not helping enough.

We encourage you to come to see us at Eastway Medical Clinic for all of your COPD concerns! You can schedule an appointment by phone or online, or you can come to visit us at 1220 Eastway Drive in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our doors are open from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM on weekdays, and from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Saturdays. We serve patients from Charlotte NC, Newell NC, Mint Hill NC, Matthews NC, Allen NC, Harrisburg NC, and surrounding cities.