Walgreens-OptionCare > Respiratory > Common breathing problems > COPD

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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of diseases that includes emphysema, chronic bronchitis and asthmatic bronchitis. COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. and is on the increase. Approximately 35 million individuals in this country have some form of COPD and nearly 100,000 will die from it this year.

Symptoms of COPD include:

• A chronic cough
• Increased sputum production
• Shortness of breath while performing moderate to strenuous activity/exercise

A simple test called spirometry can diagnose this condition. By exhaling rapidly and completely into a special measuring device called a spirometer (which is shaped like a tube), your physician can determine if you have any obstruction to your air flow -- a measure of lung health. Lung experts encourage all physicians to test their patients over age 45 for COPD, especially if the patient is a current or former smoker.

Smoking cigarettes or being around secondhand smoke for many years can cause COPD. Smokers must quit smoking and eliminate irritants (such as grain, dust, or cotton fibers) to reduce further damage to their lungs. Find details about smoking cessation resources, tips on quitting smoking and safety around oxygen equipment.

Another intervention that has proven to be very effective is regular physical activity. Exercise has been shown to improve heart and lung function and decrease the shortness of breath associated with COPD. Check with your physician before starting any exercise program.

Home oxygen may be extremely beneficial for persons with more advanced forms of COPD. Oxygen therapy is the only treatment that has been shown to extend and improve the life of COPD patients. Studies have shown that individuals who use home oxygen for most of the day and night live longer than those who do not. No other drug or therapy can make this claim.

Most insurance companies pay for home oxygen therapy based on Medicare guidelines. If a patient's arterial blood oxygen level (a blood test) is 55 mm Hg or less, or the oxygen saturation (pulse oximetry) is 88% or less in room air, that patient may qualify for home oxygen therapy. The patient's doctor must perform these tests to determine if the person qualifies for oxygen before it is ordered.

We provide many forms of oxygen therapy: oxygen concentrators, portable tanks and liquid oxygen. The type selected depends on the physician's and respiratory therapist's evaluations, as well as how mobile the person needs or wants to be.