Description
A type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) involving damage to the air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs. The most common cause of the disorder is smoking. The walls of the alveoli become destroyed decreasing a patient's ability to get oxygen into the blood. If patients continue to smoke the destruction becomes worse resulting in the need for chronic oxygen use, eventual damage to the heart, and lung failure.
Symptoms
Symptoms at first are mild then become rapidly progressively worse: shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness, reduced capacity for physical activity, loss of appetite and weight, and fatigue.
Tests
Common tests used for diagnosis and treatment
Workup:
A history and physical exam will be done. Other tests to confirm the diagnosis may include: pulmonary function tests, chest x-ray, chest CT scan, arterial blood gas, and sputum examination.
Tests:
CT Scan, Pulmonary function test (PFT), X-ray
Other Specific Tests: Pulmonary function tests (PFTs), Arterial blood gas
Specialists:
Internal Medicine, Pulmonology, Family Practice
Workup:
A history and physical exam will be done. Other tests to confirm the diagnosis may include: pulmonary function tests, chest x-ray, chest CT scan, arterial blood gas, and sputum examination.
Tests:
CT Scan, Pulmonary function test (PFT), X-ray
Other Specific Tests: Pulmonary function tests (PFTs), Arterial blood gas
Specialists:
Internal Medicine, Pulmonology, Family Practice
Treatment
Therapy depends on the severity of the symptoms. Treatment includes bronchodilators (albuterol/Proventil, Combivent, Duoneb, Xopenex), inhaled steroids (Advair, Symbicort, Pulmicort), supplemental oxygen, pulmonary rehabilitation, and antibiotics for associated infections. Severe cases may require surgery to remove damaged lung, and/or a lung transplant. The most important aspect of treatment is to stop smoking.