Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

COPD is a disease that makes it difficult to move air into and out of your lungs. It is a disease that causes the airways of the lungs to be inflamed and become "obstructed" or blocked. Drawing a breath can be a difficult, frightening struggle.

COPD includes two major breathing diseases:

1. Chronic Bronchitis
2. Emphysema

Some people with COPD suffer from both chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Both make breathing difficult and cause breathlessness. So what are the differences between the two?

Chronic Bronchitis is an inflammation of the airways in your lungs that leaves them irritated. Because of the irritation, the glands in the airways produce extra mucus that then blocks the airways. The result? You cough, spit, and work hard to draw a breath.

Emphysema damages and destroys lung tissue. Large air-pockets develop in your lungs. The lung tissue loses its "stretch." Normal lung tissue can expand and "snap back" - like a rubber balloon. This "stretch" allows you to exhale air from your lungs after you've inhaled. If you have emphysema, however, air becomes trapped in your lungs. The result? You struggle to catch a breath and feel fatigued.

Summit Health uses a Spirometer to measure lung capacity. Spirometery is valuable in assessing the risk of common diseases such as lung cancer, heart attacks, and strokes. Measurements from the screening include Forced Vital Capacity, Expiratory Flow Rate, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Risk Assessment, and Lung Age Assessment.

Each patient will receive a printout of 15 indices derived from the test. A Summit Health professional will review the results with the patient.