Sky Lakes Medical Center | Live Smart | Spring 2020

SkyLakes.org | LIVE smart 7 You’ve been coughing. A lot. And you get short of breath and fatigued doing things you used to easily do. You may chalk these symptoms up to simply getting older. But they could be something more serious— like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). What is COPD? COPD is an umbrella term that describes several progressive lung diseases, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis. The most common cause of COPD is smoking. Many people don’t recognize the symptoms of COPD until the disease is in its later stages, when it’s not as easy to treat. These symptoms should raise red flags if you have them, especially if you have a history of smoking: ▸ ▸ Chronic cough; ▸ ▸ Shortness of breath while doing everyday activities; ▸ ▸ Frequent respiratory infections; ▸ ▸ Blue lips or fingernail beds; ▸ ▸ Fatigue; Walk right in Visit our free health fair for lung health inspiration A pair of inflatable walk-through lungs will be featured at the 22nd annual Sky Lakes community health fair. At roughly 10 feet tall, the lungs display the delicate inner workings of the respiratory system’s most critical organs and contribute to an understanding of how to maintain lung health. The free health fair begins at 8 a.m., Saturday, March 7, at the Klamath County Fairgrounds. In addition to the lung display, the fair will include free lung function, cholesterol and blood glucose screenings and a wide array of educational displays. Get the details a t SkyLakes.org/HealthFair . PULMONARY REHABILITATION The Sky Lakes Pulmonary Rehab program provides comprehensive follow-up care to COPD patients. Patients referred to the program work with a team of health care professionals, including a pulmonologist and respiratory therapists. Call 541-274-6759 . You may want to talk to your doctor about enrolling in a pulmonary rehabilitation program. These programs offer supervised exercise and education for people with breathing problems. Symptoms of COPD sometimes improve when a person quits smoking and begins regular medication. However, the lungs are still damaged and can’t be repaired. COPD will never go away completely, but you can learn to control symptoms and lead a fulfilling life. Sources: American Lung Association; American Thoracic Society ▸ ▸ Producing a lot of mucus; and ▸ ▸ Wheezing. How is COPD diagnosed and treated? There are several tests your doctor may use to diagnose COPD. The main test is called spirometry, and it measures how well you can blow air out of your lungs. Your doctor might order chest X-rays and other tests too. If you smoke, the first step in treating COPD is to stop the habit. Ask your doctor about stop- smoking aids. Several are available. You will also need to take medications. Common ones used to treat COPD include: ▸ ▸ Bronchodilators, which widen the airways narrowed by inflammation; and ▸ ▸ Anti-inflammatory drugs, such as steroids, to reduce swelling in the airways. Your doctor also may prescribe supplemental oxygen therapy if the amount of oxygen in your blood goes too low. Could it be COPD? Know the signs A pair of walk-through inflatable lungs will be among the displays at the free Sky Lakes community health fair.