If you are one of the 90% of patients whose COPD is caused by smoking, then you may still need help quitting. Sign up for emails. Your doctor can also give you a referral to a mental health service if you need help with psychological symptoms like anxiety or depression. If there is anything you don't quite understand, don't hesitate to ask your doctor for more examples and details. 6 Questions to Ask Your Doctor After a COPD Diagnosis ... we’ve consulted with top pulmonologists for the six most important questions to ask your physician about your diagnosis and care plan. If you do, you should start with your doctor, who can be an invaluable resource for getting yourself on the right track. Don’t be shy, ask! To date, there are no medications that are proven to increase survival in COPD. COPD Guidelines Questions to Ask / Necessary Information • Does patient position affect breathing? There is really no such thing as a “dumb question”! Getting started is often the most difficult part, especially if you aren't used to exercising on a regular basis. Ask him what symptoms you should look out for, what medications you should take, and at what point you should call or schedule an appointment with him when your symptoms get worse. When you get diagnosed with COPD, ask your doctor to take the time to thoroughly explain your condition, including the difference between emphysema and chronic bronchitis and what kind of COPD you have. Current smokers with no lung disease have a life expectancy of 14.3 years. Given this, all patients presenting with an apparent new diagnosis of COPD should undergo a baseline chest X-ray to ensure their symptoms are not instead due to a first presentation of lung cancer. Read our, Medically reviewed by Douglas A. Nelson, MD, Medically reviewed by Benjamin F. Asher, MD, Verywell Health uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience and for our. 10 Rational Reasons to Stop Smoking After a Diagnosis of Cancer, 4 Common Causes of COPD That You Can Prevent, The Most Frequently Recommended Options for Treating Moderate COPD, 5 Ways to Prevent COPD From Getting Worse. A wide variety of different things can be COPD triggers, including fragrances, air pollution, allergens, and certain weather conditions. Both COPD and lung cancer share smoking as a common risk factor, while the presence of COPD itself acts as an additional independent risk factor for lung cancer. For instance, two people who are diagnosed with the same stage of COPD could have different symptoms and complications, and their diseases could progress at different speeds. How can I have COPD if I've never smoked? Do you use a wood-burning stove in your home? Your doctor can also steer you in the direction of healthy habits and lifestyle changes that can reduce your risk of developing complications. Make sure you fully understand what you should do to help maintain your health and keep your COPD … This can make it hard for you to get enough oxygen and clear carbon dioxide from your lungs. (And do you still smoke tobacco?). Or chronic coughing? You need to feel free to ask questions, but once you’ve been diagnosed with something like COPD, you might find it hard to concentrate on what you need to do next. Communication between doctors and patients should never be one-way; it's just as important for you to communicate with your doctor as it is for him to explain information to you. Because of this, a COPD diagnosis alone is not enough to help many people quit. A person with COPD may experience shortness of breath (especially climbing stairs), wheezing, a chronic cough that produces yellow sputum, chest tightness and frequent respiratory infections. What is COPD? There is really no such thing as a "dumb question"! Having a lung transplant may improve your quality of life and allow you to perform more activities, but it has not been shown to increase 10-year survival rates in people with COPD. What is your role as my disease progresses? Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Severe COPD. Spirometry is a pulmonary function test that is used to diagnose COPD and determine its severity. When Difficulty Breathing or a Persistent Cough Is COPD, The GOLD Pocket Guide Helps Physicians Manage COPD. The questionnaire is only the first step in obtaining an accurate diagnosis and is not meant to replace specific medical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. Stage 1 COPD is the most mild, while stage 4 COPD is the last, most serious stage of the disease. In this post, we're going to go over a variety of questions that you can ask your doctor about your COPD. Chemotherapy - what to ask your doctor. If you have COPD, then you know that the effects of the disease are not limited to your lungs. You may need to present this doctor's note when you travel with prescription medications, especially if you board a plane or train. Questions to Assess Your COPD Risk . As we talked about earlier, smoking cessation is the number one priority if you smoke. Duke Reeves. Your doctor will do some tests, like spirometry, at every check-up appointment to help him monitor changes in your lung function over time. You just have to take it slow, start with light activities you can manage, and gradually do more as your physical abilities improve. Your doctor will use your spirometry results to determine which stage of the condition you're in. Although smoking is the number one cause of COPD, your doctor will probably explain to you that there are other risk factors to consider as well. Here are some examples of questions you can ask your doctor to better understand test results: Once you've been diagnosed with COPD, your doctor will prescribe you a variety of medications that will help you keep your symptoms under control. Your medication list can also come in handy as a reference for yourself, your pharmacist, or other medical professionals you see. 1. What is your prognosis? According to British Lung Foundation, here are some questions you may want to ask your doctor or nurse: How do I use my inhaler? Those conditions a short period time while recovering from a serious COPD exacerbation happens when symptoms... Never leave the doctor December 22nd International Journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ) an! 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