November 16, 2023- November is National COPD Awareness Month, and with nearly 16 million people in the U.S. who have the disease, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, an opportunity to explore the impact and highlight the tools available for screening and treatment methods.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a global health challenge impacting millions of lives. The disease makes it difficult to breathe and engage in everyday activities.
COPD doesn’t typically manifest with sudden and dramatic warning signs. Instead, it creeps into an individual’s life with a gradual onset of symptoms. Many of these symptoms, such as shortness of breath, persistent cough, and wheezing, are often dismissed or attributed to factors such as aging or smoking habits.
Because COPD symptoms can be easily overlooked, early detection becomes incredibly important. It gives patients and medical providers a better chance to manage the disease and start effective interventions as soon as possible.
Early detection begins with a proactive approach to identifying those at risk. The following screening methods are essential tools for healthcare providers to identify individuals who may be in the early stages of COPD, including spirometry and pulse oximetry, and COPD management tools include inhalers and nebulizers, oxygen therapy, and peak flow meters.