COPD is an acronym for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. According to the COPD Foundation, “COPD is an umbrella term used to describe lung diseases including emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and refractory (non-reversible) asthma.” The National Institutes of Health (NIH), recently shared the results of a concise meta-analysis of the association between COPD and COVID-19 and found them to be significant, “over five-fold increased risk of severe COVID-19 infection. Patients with a history of COPD should be encouraged to adopt more restrictive measures for minimizing potential exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and contact with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19.”
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reports that 16 million Americans have COPD. The National Institutes of Health’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute explains that causes for COPD typically include long-term exposure to lung irritants such as cigarette smoke, air pollution, or chemical fumes. Signs and symptoms often include:
- Ongoing cough with lots of mucous
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Chest tightness
While there is currently no cure for COPD, there are treatments to alleviate the symptoms and recommended lifestyle changes to slow the progression of the disease. Discuss your treatment options with your healthcare provider. To speak with a healthcare provider at Primary Medical Care Center & Urgent Care Clinic to assess any non-emergency health concerns, including suspected COVID-19 symptoms, please call (305)751-1500 for our Miami-Dade clinic or (954)289-0000 for our Broward clinic. For life-threatening emergencies, always call 911. For coronavirus updates and resources, please visit our website at www.primarymed.com.
Source: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/copd
https://www.cdc.gov/copd/idex.html
https://www.copdfoundation.org/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7154502/