Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a serious lung disease that progressively worsens and while it is often a direct consequence of cigarette smoking, it can also develop from exposure to chemicals and irritants, or as the result of long-term asthma.

Symptoms of COPD include persistent coughing, excessive mucus, wheezing, trouble breathing or shortness of breath and inflammation or swollen bronchial tubes.

COPD is a category of lung diseases that includes emphysema as well as chronic bronchitis.

Bronchitis

Chronic bronchitis is a lung disease that results in long-term inflammation of the lungs that is common among smokers. People with chronic bronchitis tend to get frequent respiratory illnesses when symptoms worsen due to a virus, such as a cold.

Emphysema

Emphysema is a chronic lung disease that damages the air sacs in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe, and can lead to life-threatening complications or death. People with emphysema are at higher risk of other health problems.

Dr. Altus performs examinations and orders tests as appropriate, such as lung function tests that can be done in the office, and/or other lung imaging studies.