Then you would be smart to talk to your Doctor about having a Spirometry Test! This test is a simple breathing test that diagnoses COPD. Folks who have a history of Asthma, pneumonia in the last year, chronic cough that lasts more than a few weeks after quitting smoking, or shortness of breath are really encouraged to talk to their Doctor. Many Personal Care Providers are poorly informed about COPD and underdiagnose this #3 killer by half! That's right! Half of those who have COPD do not know it! And Doctors miss important clues! Read this:
COPD is often not recognized until later in the course of the disease, which ultimately delays treatment. Early diagnosis is important because delaying treatment can have a negative impact on your prognosis. A new study tells us that if we ask questions during the screening process about prior respiratory events, we may be able to identify COPD in its earlier stages, leading to earlier treatment and better patient outcomes.
The study, conducted by the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, looked at the medical records of 702 patients. Of these, 356 were women with a mean age of 67.5 years, and 346 were men with a mean age of 66.6. Each patient had an initial diagnosis of COPD during the study period.
The following summarizes the results:
- Respiratory events that were identified as probable COPD exacerbations were common in the 2 years prior to a COPD diagnosis with a range of 0 to 16 events per individual patient.
- Pre-diagnostic respiratory events were predictive of similar events in the period following the diagnosis.
What this means is that there are a lot of people experiencing COPD exacerbations who are unaware that they have COPD. If you, or someone you know, has a history of smoking or exposure to other types of airway irritants, and you are experiencing frequent respiratory infections, talk to your doctor about getting a spirometry test.
The Spirometry Test is very affordable, done right in your Doctor's office, noninvasive, and you get the results immediately! Early diagnosis makes all the difference in your Quality of LIFE! COPD is a chronic, incurable, progressive smoking related illness but it can be successfully managed - and moreso with early diagnosis. Unfortunately, most folks are diagnosed in later stages when there are much fewer options - or diagnosed, handed a prescription, and not given the education they need to take the diagnosis seriously so they can make life enhancing lifestyle changes. Be your own advocate - take the test! If you don't have COPD great! If you do then get educated and most important of all - if you haven't quit smoking, yet - DO IT TODAY! Choose Breath not Death!
Have You Smoked at least 100 Sickerettes in Your Lifetime?
