There are two major types of chronic lung disease. Obstructive lung disease Restrictive lung disease For example, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an obstructive lung disease. Pulmonary fibrosis is an example of restrictive lung disease. Obstructive and restrictive lung diseases share some common symptoms, such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and coughing. However, they are different types of lung … Read more
As you know, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects everyone differently and at varying rates of progression. Stage 1 COPD, or mild stage COPD, is categorized by a forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) of about 80 percent or more of normal lung capacity based on the GOLD System, and stage 2 COPD is categorized with a … Read more
There are two major classifications for chronic lung diseases. One group of chronic lung diseases is classified as obstructive lung disease, which includes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and emphysema. The other group is classified as restrictive lung disease. Examples of restrictive lung diseases include interstitial lung disease and pulmonary fibrosis. Understanding your condition is the first step to a better quality … Read more
For those people living with a chronic lung disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), there are many factors when measuring one’s health. These factors can include various sets of metrics that help the patient better understand the current state of their health. One of these metrics is oxygen saturation levels. Oxygen saturation is one … Read more
For those of us with chronic pulmonary conditions, we may frequently hear our doctors and other people refer to our lung capacity. With all of the terminology that gets thrown around with a medical condition, sometimes it can be confusing to break everything down. In this post, we’re going to take a look at what … Read more
As you know, there are four total stages of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), ranging from mild to very severe. Stage 1 COPD is also known as mild COPD, and stage 2 COPD is the moderate stage at which recognizable symptoms often first appear. As COPD progresses, your COPD stage will also change to reflect the severity of your … Read more
People living with emphysema often cope with difficult emphysema symptoms. These symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, and coughing. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis fall under the larger disease category of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and COPD affect people differently. For some people, emphysema progresses quickly, and for others, it progresses slowly. Because emphysema … Read more
After learning information about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the COPD stages, prognosis and life expectancy, and specifics about stage 1 COPD, it’s time to go in-depth in the next COPD stage: moderate COPD or stage 2 COPD. Because each stage of COPD differs in symptom severity, rate of progression, and how COPD affects your life, having a good understanding … Read more
With all of the numbers, facts, and information you have to remember about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you may have many questions. One common question is, “how long can I expect to live with COPD?” The life expectancy of people diagnosed with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) reduces significantly over time. The period varies by gender, … Read more
People living with chronic lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema and pulmonary fibrosis, often have their pulmonary function tested. Many doctors use lung function tests to help diagnose, monitor, and treat chronic lung diseases. Lung function tests are also referred to as pulmonary function tests (PFTs). Two important measurements gained from pulmonary … Read more