Suggested Searches

February 25, 2022

COPD Treatment in Richmond, KY

View Hide Transcript
♪ [music] ♪

COPD encapsulates several different disease processes,
such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema.

It stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

So those diseases that impede airflow
for their patients.

Here in the U.S., the number one cause is smoking,
but it can be really any kind of inhalational

injury people get.

Any kind of air pollution can cause it,
such as second-hand smoke,

different types of dusty dirty environments
can cause it as well.

COPD patients will tell you over time that
they develop more shortness of breath,

they will chronically have a cough,
sometimes they'll have wheezing,

but they'll really notice that they have more
limitation of what they can do every day because they

get more short of breath with more activity.

COPD is an irreversible disease,
meaning the damage done to our lungs is permanent.

It doesn't mean your symptoms have to be the same
for the remainder of your life.

So ways that we would treat COPD would be
through inhalers, maybe nebulizer treatments.

Some people end up needing supplemental oxygen,
but the whole goal is for them to have a better quality

of life, them to be able to do more with their day
before they get short of breath.

Here at the COPD clinic here at Baptist Health
Richmond, we always want for patients to be able to see

their clinician and the pharmacist all at the same
time, help them streamline and make sure they're on the

appropriate medication regimen,
be able to talk over with the pharmacist

and their clinician.

We want to make it convenient for them and do
everything we can to keep them healthy

and out of the hospital.

♪ [music] ♪
email
facebook
twitter

Baptist Health Richmond: COPD Treatment

COPD is caused by smoking and air pollution, and over time may lead to shortness of breath and cough. Learn more about COPD treatment to improve quality of life.

COPD Treatment in Richmond, KY HealthTalks Transcript

Erica Gregonis, MD, Pulmonary Care:
COPD encapsulates several different disease processes, such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease — diseases that impede airflow for patients. Here in the U.S., the number one cause is smoking, but it can be really any kind of inhalational injury people get. Any kind of air pollution can cause it, such as secondhand smoke, and different types of dusty, dirty environments can cause it as well. 

COPD patients will tell you that, over time, they develop more shortness of breath. They will chronically have a cough. Sometimes they’ll have wheezing, but they’ll really notice that they have more limitation of what they can do every day. They get more short of breath with more activity. COPD is an irreversible disease, meaning the damage done to our lungs is permanent. It doesn’t mean your symptoms have to be the same for the remainder of your life.

Ways that we would treat COPD would be through inhalers, nebulizer treatments, some people end up needing supplemental oxygen, but the whole goal is for them to have a better quality of life, for them to be able to do more with their day before they get short of breath. Here at the COPD clinic at Baptist Health Richmond, we always want for patients to be able to see their clinician and the pharmacist at the same time, help them streamline and make sure they’re on the appropriate medication regimen, and to be able to talk [it] over with the pharmacist and their clinician. We want to make it convenient for them and do everything we can to keep them healthy and out of the hospital.

Next Steps and Useful Resources

Find a Provider
What are the Stages of COPD?
Emphysema vs. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Signs and Symptoms of COPD

Learn More.

Categories

Tags: