Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Shortness of breath is bothersome, and may at times become life threatening if not adequately managed. COPD, is characterized by progressive shortness of breath which is not fully reversible. Smoking is a major risk factor involved in the development of COPD.
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In the United States, a little more than 6% of the population, or approximately 16 million cases of COPD were reported based on evidence from 2014.
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Research indicates that patients with COPD have approximately 8 million visits with their doctor to manage this condition per year, and 1.5 million emergency room visits and more than seven hundred thousand hospitalizations.
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Let us help keep you safe and manage disease progression with detailed lung assessments, avoidance of triggers, smoking cessation support and counseling, adequate vaccination to avoid at risk infections, and medication strategies to help improve quality of life and/or reduce exacerbations. We work closely with pulmonologist to help ensure you have the most adequate care for your condition. In the case of emergencies, rest assure that we help you navigate any hospitalization with continuity of care.
We are your advocate and are by your side.
Asthma differs from COPD because its inflammation is considered to be reversible in nature. Asthma is characterized as a chronic lung disease associated with a variety of triggers causing difficulty breathing and airway hyper responsiveness referred commonly as wheezing.
Besides wheezing, other symptoms commonly experienced by patients include coughing, breathlessness, and chest tightness which are often reversible with medications such as inhalers.
Although there are known environmental triggers which can lead to symptoms, there is also associated genetic links to the development of asthma.
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Approximately 7% of US children and adults have asthma, and symptoms account for nearly 10 million doctor visits per year, about 2 million emergency department visits and approximately two hundred thousand hospital admissions per year related to asthma.
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Let us help manage and control your symptoms to prevent disease progression. We can assess disease severity and prescribe evidence based medications to help control symptoms. We will help you with asthma action plans based on symptoms and breathing measurements (peak flow) to improve outcomes and prevent an exacerbation.
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Of course if symptoms are severe, we will help you navigate the hospital system, and be by your side to aid in a speedy recovery. This is the benefit of continuity of care.
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We are here to help.