Your doctor may have told you to do a spirometry test , and also mentioned your stage of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) already. The stages of COPD are used by doctors to establish treatment and monitor the course of the disease. This implies that they monitor the extent to which your lungs have been permanently damaged and the severity of that damage , which is generally done through observation or through the use of a spirometer.
The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) is the owner behind these grades. Spirometry tests are the initial step in determining a person's stage of COPD. These tests evaluate the health of your lungs , a respiratory physician may ask you to inhale and exhale through a mouthpiece to measure breathing capability. Medications such as beta-antagonist (salbutamol) may be given prior to the procedure. Your doctor may also take into account other criteria, such as how frequently you experience flare-ups or exacerbations, when defining your stage. You may have been asked about how your condition is affecting your daily life. These results and spirometry data will establish your stage.
The four-stage COPD progression by GOLD:
Stage I of COPD is considered mild.
Stage II of COPD is moderate.
Stage III of COPD is the most severe form of the disease.
Stage IV of COPD is the severe.
COPD in its first stages
When someone has mild COPD, their lungs have already been damaged, but the disease hasn't advanced much. They may not even notice that their lungs aren't performing at their peak capacity. Other people may have shortness of breath while engaging in physical activity, such as exercising. Generally patients with a 20 pack year history (one packet of cigarettes for 20 years) , are bound to have some stage of COPD. Even patients as young as 40 may have COPD. Naturally and generally it is observed that lung function of the average person starts to decrease at around 25 years of age, thus exercise is needed to maintain a slow and gradual decrease. Pollutants like exhaust, dust and smoke may worsen pulmonary function quicker.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Stage II
Stage II COPD is a more advanced stage of the disease. It is common for the person to begin experiencing symptoms more frequently than in Stage I.
COPD Stages III and IV
As the disease progresses into stages III and IV, the symptoms become more severe and occur more frequently. More major flare-ups (exacerbations )are also expected ,which at times may also require medical attention.
What is the significance of determining your stage of COPD? Treatment for COPD varies depending on the severity of the disease. People with COPD can better manage their symptoms with the correct kind of treatment. There are a variety of treatment options available depending on the stage of the disease and the needs of the patient ,and thus why you need a respiratory doctor to do so safely. It also allows doctors to monitor your disease's progress based on your current stage. Having an idea of your COPD stage when you begin medication allows doctors to monitor changes in the disease. This demonstrates whether or not a treatment strategy has been successful.. Following treatment for a period of time, it is possible to test your COPD stage to see how effective the medication is. Your condition has not deteriorated if your COPD stage has remained the same between two tests. This indicates that the treatment is working. COPD stage may have deteriorated in certain cases, and the spirometry may show this. If this occurs, your doctor may need to alter your treatment strategy in order to properly manage your condition. There are various exercises you can do to maintain a good health related quality of life , even with COPD.
Comments