Short of breath? 

• Do you cough several times most days? 
• Do you bring-up phlegm or mucus most days? 
• Do you get out of breath more easily than others who are your ages? 
• Are you over 40 years old? 
• Are you smoker? 

If you answered yes to three or more of these questions you may have COPD 
You can check with Iranian Hospital Pulmonology Clinic and ask for a checkup. 

What is COPD?

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a broad term to define airflow limitation that is not reversible. 
What are the causes of COPD? 
Smoking accounts for about 85% of COPD Cases. Heavy smokers are at highest risk. Second- hand smoke and other inhaled toxins account for COPD in some nonsmokers.

Symptoms of COPD: 

• Coughing. 
• Shortness of breath when performing tasks such as walking up a hill, climbing stairs or even having a shower. 
• A build up in the lungs of a sticky substance called phlegm, which you swallow or cough-up. 
• Wheezing. 
• Most patients also become tired and weak.

Diagnosis of COPD: 

• Clinical diagnosis: smoking history, and clinical features.
• Spirometry. 
• Radiological features: Chest X-Ray and CT Scan 
• Blood gas (oxygen level, CO2).

Treatment 

Lifestyle 

• Avoid tobacco smoking. 
• Good nutrition: Make sure you eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and fish, Drink a lot of fluids to keep phlegm loose and easy to cough out. 
• Exercise. 
• Preventing infection is essential: be sure your flu and pneumonia immunizations are up to date, Wash your hands carefully. 

Medications

Talk to your doctor about which treatments are best for you. While drugs will not cure your COPD, they can help you breathe better. 

Oxygen

Safe oxygen therapy requires physician supervision and cooperation by patients and household members. 

Surgery

Rarely has a place in treatment of COPD. 

Develop yourself management

You should have a self-management plan agreed by you and your specialist doctor and other health care workers.