ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

What is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd)?

4 May 2021

It is a chronic disease whose affectation consists of pulmonary obstruction, restricting the passage of air to the lungs, being one of the main conditions caused by smoking, although it can also be due to prolonged exposure to smoke, pollution, chemicals, or suspended particles.

Despite being an incurable progressive disease, if the patient receives the appropriate treatment and follows the medical indications, it is possible to control the symptoms and lead a good quality of life.

Signs and symptoms Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

  • Shortness of breath and breathing difficulties that worsen when doing any physical activity.
  • Tiredness and weakness. 
  • Lower limb swelling. 
  • Recurrent respiratory infections.
  • Tightness in the chest.
  • Weight loss.
  • Noises or wheezing when breathing.
  • Chronic cough.

Potential risks:

People with COPD have a higher risk of developing:

  • Lung cancer.
  • Cardiovascular diseases.
  • Pneumonia.
  • High blood pressure.

Diagnosis and treatment Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

After having a physical examination and analyzing your medical history, your doctor will request pulmonary function tests, blood tests, X-rays, and computed tomography to assess the degree of involvement of the disease and the treatment to be followed, which normally includes anti-inflammatories, painkillers, bronchodilators, antibiotics, oral steroids, oxygen therapy, among others. 

In the Pulmonary Physiology and Inhalation Therapy Department we guarantee you the best care in respiratory ailments provided by highly trained medical personnel.

Thanks to an adequate clinical assessment and state-of-the-art equipment in pulmonary function tests, metabolic monitor, and video bronchoscopy, we offer you a timely and accurate diagnosis of your lung function. In addition, we have the most advanced mechanical ventilator system (52 mechanical ventilators).

Services:

  • Biopsies.
  • Calorimetry at rest.
  • Alveolar-capillary CO diffusion capacity.
  • Pre-bronchodilator spirometry.
  • Post-bronchodilator spirometry.
  • Video-bronchoscopy tests.
  • Cardiopulmonary tests in exercise.
  • Removal of foreign bodies.
  • Bronchial sampling.
  • Complete lung volumes.

Related centers and departments Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Fuentes:

  • mayoclinic.org
  • nhlbi.nih.gov
  • fesemi.org
  • topdoctors.es
  • medlineplus.gov
  • medigraphic.com
  • De la Torre CY, Pedroso MI, Falcón CP. Calidad de vida en pacientes con síntomas respiratorios crónicos. Invest Medicoquir. 2018;10(1):65-80.
  • Barboza HM. Enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica. Revista Médica Sinergia. 2017;2(06):10-14.
  • Vázquez-García JC, Benítez-Pérez RE, Sánchez-Gallén E, et al. Estrategia de telesalud para mejorar el diagnóstico de EPOC y asma en México en el primer nivel de atención. Neumol Cir Torax. 2021;80(1):11-18. doi:10.35366/99449. 
  • Che-Morales JL, Valle-Piña J, Carrillo-Chana J. Síndrome de sobreposición asma-enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica: perfil clínico-funcional. Rev Med Inst Mex Seguro Soc. 2019;57(5):284-290.

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