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For 20 Years Now I Have Had Very Mild COPD
Question: For 20 years now I have had very mild COPD. Along with this I have had to deal with many issues that are best left unsaid but have left me dealing with High anxiety, Generalized Anxiety Stress and sometimes Panic. over the past 6 years I have had so much of the neurological turbulance as I will call it that i am focused so greatly on the GAD that it is a disruption. So all that said, I need to see your opinion regarding the over amplified stress if it can get so bad that it can affect the Inflammation in the airways to make it uncomfortable at times to breath. Lastly, is it true that good exercise can reduce that inflammation like it will in other areas like arthritic joints and the like I can go work in the yard and it starts rough but lessens as it goes. but the biggest issue to all of this is I find myself running out of breath as I speak in a conversation, i notice that i am a bit excited as it do that so is my over-hyper- sensitized (6+years) body causing most issues and all I need is to slow down. Oops Info needed. MY 8 pfts over all this time have been mostly normal or just a hair off and little gas trapping and no overinflation. So can you work with my above info?
Brief Answer:
Please discuss with your doctor to re-evaluate you again
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome in Ask the Doctor
I can understand your concern
First we say Mild COPD if we have a normal Spirometry test and occasionally chronic cough with or without dispnea.If you have this than yes it is Mild COPD.
Second usually anxiety disorders are a characteristic of COOD but of that of grade more advanced.
You explain that you feel breathlessness during speaking and probably your COPD has advanced a little and the anxiety is its component superimposed with your personal problems.
But anxiety is not related to inflammation itself but it is as a consequence of the feeling of breathlessness.
Yes it is true that physical activity is highly rec in COPD and in anxiety also .
So as a conclusion talk with your pulmonologist to evaluate your actual condi again and to decide about the exact stage of COPD and probably to change the current treatment.
If you were my patient I would give another inhaler Ultibro once , meanwhile the other current treatment it will be the same.
Hope to have been helpful
Regards
Dr.Jolanda
Please discuss with your doctor to re-evaluate you again
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome in Ask the Doctor
I can understand your concern
First we say Mild COPD if we have a normal Spirometry test and occasionally chronic cough with or without dispnea.If you have this than yes it is Mild COPD.
Second usually anxiety disorders are a characteristic of COOD but of that of grade more advanced.
You explain that you feel breathlessness during speaking and probably your COPD has advanced a little and the anxiety is its component superimposed with your personal problems.
But anxiety is not related to inflammation itself but it is as a consequence of the feeling of breathlessness.
Yes it is true that physical activity is highly rec in COPD and in anxiety also .
So as a conclusion talk with your pulmonologist to evaluate your actual condi again and to decide about the exact stage of COPD and probably to change the current treatment.
If you were my patient I would give another inhaler Ultibro once , meanwhile the other current treatment it will be the same.
Hope to have been helpful
Regards
Dr.Jolanda
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Thanks for getting back I will look into the Ultibro. MY Pfts have ranged from 2001 2001, 2002, 2013, 2014, 2014 2016, 2018
My FVC AVG is 102.88,......FEV1 93.88 FEV1/FVC 73.5 RV 101 TLC= 105
FEF 25/75 is all over the place 2 years ago I had 99 after the test and a low of 49 in 2013. SMALL AIRWAYS DISEASE.
I have no cough
Additionaly I had a upper RL lobectomy in XXXXXXX 2017. early stage cancer after non smoker for 17 years.
So enough of my background but I thought i would state it for reason that I have had 8 pfts and 6 different Pulmonologist testers. I have had including you, 4 additional Pulmonologists. I trust all even though they have differing diagnosis. Even though they show less concern, I trust that they are not worried about the status and that it seems pretty stable after 20 years, even with Lobectomy which changed little. I have noticed that if I get a bit active on bike or walking, the tighness and air useage is lessened. That is why I questioned exercise and inflamation as others state that exercise is very good for reduction in the inflammation.
YOur thoughts.?
My FVC AVG is 102.88,......FEV1 93.88 FEV1/FVC 73.5 RV 101 TLC= 105
FEF 25/75 is all over the place 2 years ago I had 99 after the test and a low of 49 in 2013. SMALL AIRWAYS DISEASE.
I have no cough
Additionaly I had a upper RL lobectomy in XXXXXXX 2017. early stage cancer after non smoker for 17 years.
So enough of my background but I thought i would state it for reason that I have had 8 pfts and 6 different Pulmonologist testers. I have had including you, 4 additional Pulmonologists. I trust all even though they have differing diagnosis. Even though they show less concern, I trust that they are not worried about the status and that it seems pretty stable after 20 years, even with Lobectomy which changed little. I have noticed that if I get a bit active on bike or walking, the tighness and air useage is lessened. That is why I questioned exercise and inflamation as others state that exercise is very good for reduction in the inflammation.
YOur thoughts.?
Brief Answer:
Yes it improves the inflammation of the airways
Detailed Answer:
Hi again
Now I have a full history of your lungs problem.This is the reason that the values of ptfs don't seemed so related to your clinical picture.It is because that you have done a lobectomy and in my opinion you have obstruction combined with restriction which tends to get the pfts values in near normal values.
Doing exercise relieve partly the airway obstruction and stimulates also the activity of the respiratory muscles which in medical terms it improves the airway inflammation.
Regards
Dr.Jolanda
Yes it improves the inflammation of the airways
Detailed Answer:
Hi again
Now I have a full history of your lungs problem.This is the reason that the values of ptfs don't seemed so related to your clinical picture.It is because that you have done a lobectomy and in my opinion you have obstruction combined with restriction which tends to get the pfts values in near normal values.
Doing exercise relieve partly the airway obstruction and stimulates also the activity of the respiratory muscles which in medical terms it improves the airway inflammation.
Regards
Dr.Jolanda
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
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