COPD

COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a permanent lung condition. Depending on the severity of the COPD, there are various treatment options. Our avi Medical doctors can best determine which approach will help you most with your COPD through a series of tests. Smoking is the primary risk factor for COPD. Therefore, the most important step is to stop smoking completely. Our avi Medical doctors can provide excellent support with this as well. Throughout your entire COPD treatment, our doctors are your constant companions and are always there for you.

In the early stages, the condition often develops insidiously. You may only complain of a daily cough, sometimes with sputum. Breathlessness may only be noticed at first during physical exertion. It is only in the late stage of the condition that a sensation of breathlessness at rest — for example during sleep — may occur.

Many patients have had these symptoms for years but do not take them seriously or push them aside. There is a risk that the condition may go undetected, remain untreated, and continue to progress. At avi, we want to prevent this by addressing symptoms at the earliest possible stage.

To diagnose COPD, we perform pulmonary function testing in order to precisely measure your current lung and breathing volumes. In simple terms, we measure the maximum amount of air that can be exhaled in one second (FEV1). The greater the narrowing, the lower the exhaled volume. In the treatment of COPD, medication and non-pharmacological treatment methods are used in a complementary fashion. The treatment required depends on the severity of your COPD. The most important measure is avoiding harmful substances from smoking or dust. This prevents further progression of COPD and reduces the risk of acute deteriorations. Our doctors will be happy to discuss the available pharmacological options for COPD therapy with you during a consultation. These include the administration of bronchodilators, which are defined as the cornerstone medications for COPD. Bronchodilators widen the airways (bronchi) and are generally administered as an inhaler. Corticosteroid preparations may also be used. These are typically employed to prevent acute exacerbations (COPD flare-ups). In severe cases, your avi doctor will discuss long-term oxygen therapy with you.

With the right inhaled therapy, our goal is to alleviate distressing symptoms such as cough, sputum, and breathlessness and to improve your quality of life. In addition, it is important to take care of your health. Physical exercise, a balanced diet, and learning breathing techniques are just some of the ways to manage your COPD. Whatever therapy is best suited to you and your COPD, our avi doctors are always by your side. Regular measurement and monitoring of your COPD is a preventive measure to detect long-term changes. For this reason, it is important that you attend one of our avi practices for regular check-ups. Only in this way can we work together to keep your COPD under control and enable you to live a carefree, healthy life.