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    Nov 26
    Blog: November is National COPD Awareness Month

    Chances are high that you know someone with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, more than 16 million Americans have been diagnosed with this debilitating lung disease and it is estimated that millions more have it and don’t know. 

    National COPD Awareness Month is raising awareness about COPD. Signs and symptoms of COPD, such as shortness of breath, chronic coughing, and wheezing often come on slowly, which can delay diagnosis. Often, people mistake their breathing issues as a part of aging or a consequence of being out of shape. copd

    Cigarette smoking is the leading cause, but long-term exposure to air pollution, chemical fumes, certain dusts, can all contribute to COPD. It is not contagious. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are also forms of COPD. 

    According to the Centers for Disease Control, risk factors include being over 65 years old, current or former smokers, and people with a history of asthma. In 2017, chronic lower respiratory disease, primarily COPD, was the third leading cause of death among women in the United States.

    While there currently is no cure for COPD, early diagnosis and treatment can greatly improve quality of life. Pulmonology care includes relief of symptoms as much as possible, slowing the progress of the disease, improving your ability to stay active, and preventing and treating any potential complications. 

    Saratoga Hospital Medical Group – Pulmonology offers our patients an outstanding team of board-certified, fellowship-trained physicians, employing the most up-to-date equipment and advanced diagnostic techniques working within the full spectrum of pulmonary care. They take the time to answer your questions, address your personal concerns, and work with you to achieve the best possible outcomes.

    For more information about COPD, visit your primary care provider for a referral to a pulmonologist. Saratoga Hospital Medical Group – Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine is located at 19 West Avenue in Saratoga Springs, 8 Medical Park Drive in Malta, and now also at 161 Carey Road in Queensbury. Learn more at SaratogaHospital.org