1/2/2020
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Posted by Fidelis Care
in
Health and Wellness
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) damages lung tissue, making breathing difficult. Smoking is a common cause of COPD.
Diagnosing COPD properly is the first step toward treatment. If your primary care provider (PCP) suspects you may have COPD, your PCP may recommend one of the following:
Spirometry
Measures how well lungs function by having patients blow into a machine.
Arterial Blood Gas Analysis
Measures oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood through a blood test.
Chest X-ray
Helps a PCP detect diseases that may lead to or worsen COPD.
CT scan
Helps detect COPD and find out whether surgery is necessary.
If you are diagnosed with COPD, take your medications as prescribed to help manage your symptoms and reduce the risk of complications.
For more news and information that helps improve your health, download the latest issue of HealthyNow, Fidelis Care's newsletter for members, or YourAdvantage, our newsletter for Medicare members.