COPD Tests and Diagnosis

To diagnose chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, your doctor will evaluate your symptoms, ask for your complete health history, conduct a health exam and examine test results.

A diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is based on your signs and symptoms, history of exposure to lung irritants (such as smoking), and family history. Your doctor will need to do a complete physical examination before determining a diagnosis.

COPD symptoms can be slow to develop, and many of its symptoms are somewhat common.

COPD Symptoms

• Chronic cough
• Shortness of breath while doing everyday activities (dyspnea)
• Frequent respiratory infections
• Blueness of the lips or fingernail beds (cyanosis)
• Fatigue
• Producing a lot of mucus (also called phlegm or sputum)
• Wheezing

Testing for COPD

• Spirometry: If you are at risk for COPD or have symptoms of COPD, you should be tested through spirometry. Spirometry is a simple test of how well your lungs work. For this test, you blow air into a mouthpiece and tubing attached to a small machine. The machine measures the amount of air you blow out and how fast you can blow it.

• Spirometry can detect COPD before symptoms develop. Your doctor also might use the test results to find out how severe your COPD is and to help set your treatment goals.

• Other tests: Your doctor may also want you to have a chest X-ray and/or other tests, such as an arterial blood gas test, which measures the oxygen level in your blood. This test can show how well your lungs are able to move oxygen into your blood and remove carbon dioxide from your blood.

COPD Medications

A variety of medicines are used to treat COPD and there is no "best" medicine for all people. Each person's COPD is different and your doctor and healthcare team will work with you to set up the best plan to address your symptoms and needs. Learn more about your treatment options »

By taking the right medicine at the right time, you can:

• Breathe better
• Do more of the things you enjoy
• Have fewer flare-ups or exacerbations