Hello
Thank you for asking.
There are a lot of patients with these complains that i see in my everyday routine.
From your information i can give you some helpful data.
Emphysema of the lungs combined with chronic
bronchitis represent a single lung diseases called COPD.In some patients it is the emphysema symptoms with dispnea that predominates not bronchitis and in some others is bronchitis with
cough and sputum.
COPD is a chronic lung diseases mostly in smokers or ex smokers,or in patients suffered for a long time from uncontrolled
asthma or asthma not treated or in patients that live or work for a long time in dirty environment.
To determine the diagnosis of COPD it will be done a test called
SPiROMETRY with brochodilatator.If the test is positive than the next step is to define the grade(stage) of the diseases.There are four grades A,B,C,D.
According to the grades it is the treatment.
But i also recommend a cardiologist consult because in most cases COPD is associated with cardiac diseases.
I wish you good health
Thank you
Dr.Jolanda
Pulmonologist