COPD (Smoker’s lung)
Over 18 years of experience
Services
COPD (Smoker’s lung)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the name for a collection of lung diseases including chronic bronchitis, and emphysema. People with COPD have difficulties breathing, primarily due to the narrowing of their airways, this is called airflow obstruction.
Typical symptoms of COPD include:
- increasing breathlessness when active
- a persistent cough with phlegm
- frequent chest infections
Over many years, this process leads to permanent changes in the lung. The walls of the airways thicken and more mucus is produced, the smaller airways become narrowed. These changes cause the symptoms of breathlessness, cough, and phlegm associated with COPD. Some cases of COPD are caused by fumes, dust, air pollution, and genetic disorders, but these are rarer.
It is thought more than 3 million people are living with the disease in the UK, of which only about 900,000 have been diagnosed. This is because many people who develop symptoms of COPD do not get medical help. After all, they often dismiss their symptoms as a ‘smoker’s cough’.
Dr Medveczky has many years of experience in managing hundreds of patients with COPD. He offers quick and convenient diagnosis in the clinic with a breathing test ( spirometry) and advice and guidance on ongoing treatment.
