Conquering COPD

Smoking, poor air quality, pollutants, dust, metal shavings, fumes and chemicals can all contribute to a condition called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

COPD refers to the group of diseases responsible for airflow blockage and breathing-related problems. COPD makes breathing difficult for the approximately 16 million Americans who have the disease.

The main symptoms begin with a cough that won’t go away, wheezing and increased breathlessness when doing normal activities or even at rest. People who have these symptoms should make an appointment with a primary care provider who might order pulmonary testing.

“After the Camp Fire, we have seen an increase in patients with recurrent flair-ups of their pre-existing COPD, asthma and allergy symptoms, as well as patients who have new symptoms, such as chronic coughs and/or shortness of breath,” said Alicia Takacs, a Respiratory Care Practitioner with Enloe Health. “We tested these patients to assess their lung function as well as their response to respiratory medication.”

Enloe Health Respiratory Care Practitioner Christopher Delorean has been tracking data since 2017. He said since the Camp Fire, he has seen a notable spike in COPD cases, with the trend continuing.

Immediately following the historic blaze, air quality was rated at the worst in the world. The fire generated a large plume of heavy smoke that traveled thousands of miles. The smoke caused dangerously high levels of air pollution in the Sacramento Valley and Bay Area in particular, for a period of about two weeks, according to the California Air Resources Board.

When wildfires burn structures, they produce a range of harmful and toxic substances. Analysis shows this was indeed the case during the Camp Fire, when elevated levels of lead and zinc were detected, as well as calcium, iron, and manganese. Some of these metals traveled more than 150 miles and were detected in the air as far away as San Jose and Modesto.

Takacs said the most important or effective ways to prevent COPD are to not smoke, or quit smoking, and to protect yourself from occupational hazards with the use of respiratory protection to avoid breathing in pollutants, dust, wood or metal shavings, fumes, and chemicals.

“What sets our Pulmonary Function Lab apart is our dedication to making the testing process the most comfortable and enjoyable experience possible, while taking the time to get accurate results,” she said. “We also enjoy answering any questions patients have about their home respiratory medications and home respiratory equipment, such as spirometers, peak flow meters, CPAP/BiPAP, and oxygen equipment.”

The Enloe Health Pulmonary Function Lab tests assess patients for obstructive or restrictive lung diseases; bronchodilator effectiveness, by completing a pre- and post spirometry test; oxygen qualification; and oxygen needs, with and without activity, by completing a 6-minute walk test. Enloe Health also offers a free quarterly COPD Class on Zoom to help people manage the condition, identify triggers that cause flare-ups and more.

According to the American Lung Association, early COPD diagnosis leads to appropriate disease management and improved outcomes.

Reducing the risk of future exacerbations is key, and patients should be started on appropriate maintenance therapy following an exacerbation, according to the National Institutes of Health. Patients are referred to the Pulmonary Function Lab by primary care providers, specialists and sometimes allergists.

“We are committed to having satisfied customers,” Delorean said.

He added that they have a patient who “was thoroughly impressed and thankful with the time we spent with him, answering questions, explaining the disease process, etc. This patient said he would only come back to Enloe for future tests. This is more the normal client experience and not the exception here at our lab.”

To learn more about Enloe Health’s COPD class, visit www.enloe.org/events.