COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)

To diagnose COPD, your doctor will probably do the following tests:

• Reference Medical history and physical exam. These will give your doctor important information about your health.
• Reference Lung function tests, including an Reference FEV1 test. These tests measure the amount of air in your lungs and the speed at which air moves in and out. Reference Spirometry is the most important of these tests.
• Reference Chest X-ray. This helps rule out other conditions with similar symptoms, such as lung cancer.

Tests done as needed

• Reference Arterial blood gas test. This test measures how much oxygen, carbon dioxide, and acid is in your blood. It helps your doctor decide whether you need Reference oxygen treatment Opens New Window.
• Reference Oximetry Opens New Window. This test measures the Reference oxygen saturation Opens New Window in the blood. It can be useful in finding out whether oxygen treatment is needed, but it provides less information than the arterial blood gas test.
• Reference Electrocardiogram (ECG, EKG) or Reference echocardiogram. These tests may find certain heart problems that can cause shortness of breath.
• Reference Transfer factor for carbon monoxide. This test looks at whether your lungs have been damaged, and if so, how much damage there is and how bad your COPD might be.

Tests rarely done

• Reference Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) test. AAT is a protein your body makes that helps protect the lungs. People whose bodies don't make enough AAT are more likely to get emphysema.
• A Reference CT scan. This gives doctors a detailed picture of the lungs.

Regular checkups

Because COPD is a disease that keeps getting worse, it is important to schedule regular checkups with your doctor. Checkups may include:

• Reference Spirometry.
• Reference Arterial blood gas test.
• Reference X-rays or Reference ECGs.

Tell your doctor about any changes in your symptoms and whether you have had any Reference flare-ups. Your doctor may change your medicines based on your symptoms.

Early detection

The sooner COPD is diagnosed, the sooner you can take steps to slow down the disease and keep your quality of life for as long as possible. Screening tests help your doctor diagnose COPD early, before you have any symptoms.

Talk to your doctor about COPD screening if you:

• Are a smoker or an ex-smoker.
• Have had serious Reference asthma Opens New Window symptoms for a long time, and they have not improved with treatment.
• Have a family history of Reference emphysema Opens New Window.
• Have a job where you are exposed to a lot of chemicals or dust.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) doesn't recommend COPD screening for adults who are not at high risk for COPD.^{Reference 5} And some experts recommend that screening be done only for people who have symptoms of a lung problem.^{Reference 6}

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