COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) Treatment

When there is damage to the lungs, it can result in difficulty breathing. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is a progressive lung disorder that occurs when the lungs are damaged from smoking and other factors. COPD is not curable, but there are ways to manage this disease. Primary Care Joliet provides COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) treatment at our facilities in Wilmington and  Joliet, IL.

Causes and Symptoms of COPD

The number one cause of COPD is smoking tobacco. 90% of people with COPD smoked cigarettes, which causes damage to the lungs and leads to COPD. Other risk factors include inhaling secondhand smoke, air pollution and dust or fumes in large quantities or over a long period of time. In rare cases, COPD can be due to a genetic disorder. COPD is an umbrella term for various lung diseases, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

COPD has similar symptoms to asthma, but it is not triggered the same way. COPD symptoms may come and go, but they do progressively get worse over time, especially without effective treatment. Symptoms include:

• Difficulty taking deep breaths
• Persistent cough with mucus
• Shortness of breath while performing minimal activity
• Wheezing
• Tightness in chest

If you have symptoms of COPD, even if they come and go, it is important to get them diagnosed. If you have risk factors of COPD due to smoking or inhaling contaminants, it is vital to be checked for COPD if you have any breathing difficulties. Imaging, breathing tests and other diagnostic tools are used to diagnose COPD.

COPD Treatment

There is not a cure for COPD, but there are a wide range of medications that can slow the progression and manage the symptoms. Many people live well into their 80s and beyond with COPD with the right treatments. The most common treatments for COPD involve inhaler medications that help the lungs function better and limit damage to the lungs.

If you have been diagnosed with COPD or you have symptoms, come see our medical team at Primary Care Joliet. We offer diagnosis and COPD treatment at our medical centers in Joliet and Wilmington, IL, – call today to schedule an appointment.