Receiving a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is often quite worrisome, even though there are a lot of effective treatments for this respiratory condition. You may also have questions about terms and phrases your doctor uses when discussing your COPD diagnosis, which can increase worry even further. By better understanding the terminology surrounding COPD, you can play a more proactive role in subsequent treatments.
The stages of COPD are determined by the results of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) testing, which measures how much air a person can exhale in the space of one second. FEV1 scores are staged as follows:
Additionally, medical practitioners may use letters to indicate the severity of symptoms associated with COPD. In this case, A indicates that symptoms are mild and there is a minimal risk of them becoming worse. Patients in the B group also have a low risk of worsening health effects, but their symptoms are more severe than those in the A group. As for the E group, the chances of experiencing worsening symptoms of COPD are high.
While treatment cannot cure COPD, it can alleviate symptoms and improve the quality of life of those who are impacted by this health condition. In this case, your doctor may recommend one or more of the following medical interventions:
Additionally, COPD is exacerbated by smoking, so you must take immediate steps to quit if you currently smoke. Talk with your doctor about effective cessation strategies, which can include patches, lozenges, and medications.