COPD
Allergy & Immunology, Rheumatology & Asthma Specialists located in Amarillo, TX
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) limits airflow in your lungs, so your body doesn’t get all the oxygen it requires. Constantine K. Saadeh, MD, FAAAAI, FACP, FACR, Nicole Davey-Ranasinghe, MD, FACP, FACR, and the Allergy A.R.T.S. team in Amarillo, Texas, offer a range of treatments that reduce the risk of complications and improve your quality of life. COPD can be life-threatening without the proper treatment, so don’t delay seeking help for your symptoms. Call Allergy A.R.T.S. today or book an appointment online to benefit from expert COPD treatment.
COPD consists of several disorders affecting the respiratory system, including:
Chronic bronchitis causes mucus blockages in the bronchi (the central lung airways). That irritates your airways and makes them swell.
Emphysema damages the alveoli (air pockets in your lungs). Air becomes trapped in the lungs, reducing the oxygen going into your bloodstream.
Refractory asthma causes airway tightness and swelling. It’s resistant to treatments that control other forms of asthma.
COPD’s primary cause is smoking, including second-hand smoking (inhaling significant amounts of smoke from other people’s cigarettes). Other COPD risk factors include having family members with the disease and prolonged or repeated exposure to harmful dust or fumes.
COPD is incurable, but the Allergy A.R.T.S. team’s expert treatment slows the disease’s progress and reduces your risk of life-threatening complications.
COPD causes shortness of breath that’s severe and worsens over time. The lack of oxygen makes it hard to do any physical activities. Other COPD symptoms include:
To diagnose COPD and assess its severity, your Allergy A.R.T.S. provider reviews your medical history and lifestyle and performs a thorough physical exam. You also need pulmonary function tests, such as:
Spirometry measures the quantity of air you inhale and how fast you exhale.
Plethysmography assesses your lung capacity. The Allergy A.R.T.S. team uses a body box test to measure how much air you can hold after taking a deep breath and how much air remains in your lungs after exhaling as far as possible.
Impulse oscillometry uses sound waves to measure the resistance to the normal air movement in and out of your lungs during resting breathing.
Allergy A.R.T.S. uses the most advanced, state-of-the-art technologies to ensure your pulmonary function tests are accurate and detailed.
After assessing your condition, your provider prepares a personalized treatment program that might include:
These treatments don’t cure COPD, but they help you stay more active and have a better quality of life.
Call Allergy A.R.T.S. today or schedule a consultation online for expert COPD diagnosis and treatment.