Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Diagnosis
Source: NHS
In this topic (8)
See your GP if you have persistent symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Your GP may:
- ask about your symptoms
- examine your chest and listen to your breathing with a stethoscope
- ask whether you smoke or used to smoke
- calculate your body mass index (BMI) using your weight and height
- ask if you have a family history of lung problems
They may also carry out or arrange for you to have a breathing test called spirometry and some of the other tests described below.
Spirometry
A test called spirometry can help show how well your lungs are working.
You'll be asked to breathe into a machine called a spirometer after inhaling a medication called a bronchodilator, which helps widen your airways.
The spirometer takes two measurements: the volume of air you can breathe out in one second, and the total amount of air you breathe out. You may be asked to breathe out a few times to get a consistent reading.
The readings are compared with normal results for your age, which can show if your airways are obstructed.
Chest X-ray
A chest X-ray can be used to look for problems in the lungs that can cause similar symptoms to COPD.
Problems that can show up on an X-ray include chest infections and lung cancer, although these don't always show up.
Blood tests
A blood test can pick up other conditions that can cause similar symptoms to COPD, such as low iron levels (anaemia) and ahigh concentration of red blood cells in your blood (polycythaemia) .
Sometimes a blood test may also be carried outto see if you have alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency. This is a rare genetic problem that increases your risk of COPD.
Further tests
Sometimes more tests may be needed to confirm the diagnosis or determine the severity of your COPD.
This will help you and your doctor plan your treatment.
These tests may include:
- an electrocardiogram (ECG) a test that measures the electrical activity of the heart
- an echocardiogram an ultrasound scan of the heart
- a peak flow test a breathing test that measureshow fast you can breathe out, which can help rule out asthma
- a blood oxygen test a peg-like device is attached to your finger to measure the level of oxygen in your blood
- a computerised tomography (CT) scan a detailed scan that can help identify any problems in your lungs
- a phlegm sample a sample of your phlegm (sputum) may be tested to check for signs of a chest infection
Articles for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Causes
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) occurs when the lungs and airways become damaged and inflamed. It's usually associated with long-term exposure to harmful substances such as cigarette smoke, or fumes at work, etc.
Diagnosis
See your GP if you have persistent symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). They may also carry out or arrange for you to have a breathing test called spirometry and some of the other tests like chest x-ray, etc.
Introduction
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the name for a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties. COPD is a common condition that mainly affects middle-aged or older adults who smoke. Many people don't realise they have it.
Living with
It's important to take good care of yourself if you have COPD. Some of the main things you'll be advised to do are; take your medication, stop smoking, exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight, etc.
Patient story: "I thought, I can either be miserable or I can live life to the full."
Read the story of Lynn Ashton, who was diagnosed with COPD after she noticed her breathing was getting worse.
Patient story: "When I woke up, I could hardly breathe."
Read the story of Eddie Brownlow, who has diagnosed with COPD after smoking 15 cigarettes a day for most of his life.
Symptoms
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) makes breathing increasingly more difficult. But it develops slowly over many years and you may not be aware you have it at first. Common symptoms include shortness of breath, a persistent cough and wheezing, etc.
Treatment
If your COPD is affecting your breathing, you'll usually be given an inhaler. This is a device that delivers medication directly into your lungs as you breathe in. If you experience symptoms regularly throughout the day, a long-acting bronchodilator inhaler will be recommended instead.
