Category: Lung & Respiratory Care

What is COPD?

COPD is an acronym for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. COPD refers to a group of progression lung diseases that includes both emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Below is a breakdown of how to understand what COPD is, how it impacts your body, and ways in which it can be treated.

Understanding Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

• Chronic: This means that COPD is always present and ongoing.
• Obstructive: COPD impairs the lung’s ability to move air in and out of the lungs. It also can weaken the lung’s ability to transport oxygen to our vital organs.
• Pulmonary: This is a disease that pertains to the lungs.
• Disease: Meaning there is damage to the lungs and proper function is in decline.

What are the Symptoms of COPD?

Symptoms and severity of COPD can be different for each person. The most common are increased shortness of breath, persistent cough that doesn’t clear, increased phlegm or mucous production, and unexplained fatigue.

Living with COPD

Living with COPD can make it difficult to perform everyday tasks. Simple things that once were taken for granted become a burden, such as bathing and dressing, doing light housework, or even just walking to the mailbox.

When the lungs are exposed to irritants repeatedly over time, damage can occur leading to the development COPD. While smoking is the most common culprit, farming, welding, and other occupations with exposures to fumes, dusts, and chemicals can contribute also. There is a small population of people who inherit the disease due to a rare genetic disorder.

How Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is Diagnosed

COPD can be diagnosed by a physician or a pulmonologist (doctor who specializes in diseases of the lung). This is done by taking a history of symptoms, smoking habits, occupational exposures, and family medical history. Your doctor may order other tests to confirm a diagnosis such as a chest x-ray, bloodwork, and a pulmonary function test. A pulmonary function test is a pain-free breathing test that measures lung volumes and airflows in and out of the lungs. The pulmonary function test also helps to determine the severity of the disease and will assist your doctor in determining treatment options.

According to the American Lung Association, more than 15.3 million people in the United States suffer from COPD, with many more not yet diagnosed. COPD is progressive, meaning it worsens over time. Although it is a non-curable disease, slowing the progression and better managing the disease should be a priority if you’ve been diagnosed with COPD. The number one thing you can do to improve your quality of life is to quit smoking. For assistance call the OHIO Quit line at 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

Caring for COPD at Fisher-Titus

Fisher-Titus offers a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program designed for those struggling with COPD. Our program offers the tools to assist you in better managing your symptoms, decreasing your shortness of breath, improving your fatigue and related anxieties associated in living with a COPD diagnosis.

About Patty

Patty Schwab, RN is the Cardiac Rehab Coordinator for Fisher-Titus Heart and Vascular. For more information, call Fisher-Titus Heart & Vascular at (419) 660-2600 or visit fishertitus.org/heart. If you think you might benefit from Pulmonary Rehabilitation, talk with your primary care provider about a referral.

RSV is a common respiratory virus that infects the lungs and breathing passages, usually causing flu or cold-like symptoms. Although most otherwise healthy people recover from RSV infection in one to two weeks, it can lead to serious health problems for young children and older adults.

You’ve probably started seeing a lot on social media or the news about RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). In fact, RSV in children is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia for ages under 1 year. About 57,000 children are hospitalized every year due to RSV, according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control).

How Do Children Get RSV?

RSV in children is highly contagious and spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes, sending respiratory droplets into the air. These droplets contain RSV and can end up in other people’s mouths or noses, causing an infection. The droplets also can land on objects that people touch, such as toys or counter tops. People can get infected by touching these objects and then touching their mouths or noses. Children often pass the virus to one another at their school or daycare center.

What Are The Symptoms?

Symptoms of RSV infection are similar to other respiratory infections: cough, sneezing, runny nose, fever and decreased appetite. Wheezing also may occur. In very young infants, however, irritability, decreased activity and breathing difficulties may be the only symptoms of infection.

Most otherwise healthy infants infected with RSV do not need to be hospitalized and will recover in one to two weeks. Even among those who need to be hospitalized, hospitalization usually lasts just a few days, and recovery from illness usually occurs in about one to two weeks.

RSV Prevention

While there is no vaccine to prevent RSV, there are simple ways you can protect your child or yourself from getting this highly contagious virus.

Top Tips for RSV Prevention

• Wash hands often with soap and water for 15 to 20 seconds.
• Cover the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
• Limit contact with those who have cold-like symptoms.
• Avoid sharing cups and eating utensils with others.

Seeking Medical Attention

If a child is otherwise healthy, there is really no need to obtain a formal RSV diagnosis. The condition will generally run its course without specific medical treatment. Because it is a virus, antibiotics are not used to treat RSV.

If your child is at higher risk as a premature infant or because of other medical conditions, then a doctor can diagnose RSV by taking a swab of nasal fluids. For high-risk children, a medication called palivizumab can help prevent serious complications of an RSV infection. Ask your primary care physician or pediatrician if your child would be a good candidate for the drug.

If you think that you or your child might have an RSV infection that requires medical care, schedule an appointment with your primary care physician or pediatrician. Such visits are common for young children. The provider will evaluate the severity of the illness and decide how best to treat it.

Dr. Glenn J. Trippe is Board Certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and has been a practicing pediatrician since 1979. He is a Fellow of American Academy of Pediatrics. Fisher-Titus Pediatrics has offices in Norwalk (419-668-9409) on the Fisher-Titus Campus and in Bellevue at 1400 W. Main St. (419-483-4122). They are now accepting new patients with same-day and next-day appointments.