COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects about 15.7 million Americans. At the office of James R. Tryon M.D. PC, internal medicine specialist Edmee Rodriguez, M.D. diagnoses and helps you manage this chronic lung disease that affects your breathing ability. Call the office in Albuquerque, New Mexico, today to book your appointment.

What is COPD?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is an all-encompassing diagnosis, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis. These lung diseases cause patients to have trouble breathing and experience airflow blockages.

There’s no cure for COPD, but management keeps its symptoms from worsening. When COPD becomes severe, it interferes with your quality of life in a critical way. Walking, climbing stairs, and even daily chores become difficult or impossible because of your breathing limitations.

How do I know if I have COPD?

Dr. Rodriguez evaluates your health history and breathing capacity to diagnose COPD.

Symptoms of the condition include:

• Constant coughing and wheezing
• Struggling to breathe and take deep breaths
• Excess phlegm and mucus production
• Chest pain due to coughing

If you notice these symptoms, make an appointment today at James Tryon, M.D. PC. Early interventions can slow the condition’s progress.

Am I at risk of developing COPD?

Things that put you at greater risk of COPD include:

• Smoking and/or continuous exposure to secondhand smoke
• History of respiratory illness
• Lack of fresh air at home or work due to poor ventilation
• Living in an area with high air pollution levels

If you’re a smoker, quit immediately. This is the primary way to prevent COPD from developing.

How do you diagnose COPD?

If you come to Dr. Rodriguez with symptoms of COPD, you’ll undergo several tests and procedures, including spirometry, which measures how much air you breathe in and out, and a chest X-ray. A chest X-ray gives the doctor a clearer picture of your lungs so that she can rule out issues like pneumonia.

If you have symptoms that suggest advanced COPD, the doctor might also order a CT scan for a more detailed evaluation of your lungs and other organs.

How do you treat COPD?

COPD can’t be cured, but medical treatment helps lessen the symptoms. Treatments include: 

• Inhaled medication
• Oxygen therapy
• Corticosteroids

Dr. Rodriguez also makes lifestyle recommendations to help you learn to live with COPD.

Call the office of James R. Tryon, M.D. PC, if you have symptoms of COPD.