Latest Articles

What tests can help diagnose and monitor your patients with COPD?

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is typically suspected in patients with symptoms like dyspnea, chronic cough, or sputum production. Accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective management, with spirometry being essential for confirmation. Distinguishing COPD from similar conditions, such as asthma, is challenging yet vital. This article provides clear guidance on differentiating COPD from asthma and highlights key tools like spirometry and validated questionnaires for monitoring disease progression and guiding treatment. Understanding and applying these tools can significantly enhance patient outcomes in COPD management.

COPD vs asthma: Learn the difference

COPD and asthma are lung diseases marked by airway inflammation. Uncover differences and overlaps in COPD and asthma, including causes, symptoms, and treatment.

Decoding Type 2 Inflammation in COPD: An Expert’s Perspective

Understanding type 2 inflammation is the key to managing symptoms and exacerbations of COPD.  

GOLD Recommendations for Treatment and Management of COPD

Unveiling the Secrets to Optimal COPD Management: The GOLD Report Unraveled Imagine having a comprehensive guide that empowers you to take control of your COPD journey. The GOLD report, a beacon of knowledge, offers invaluable insights into diagnosing, managing, and treating this debilitating condition. This report leaves no stone unturned from tailored pharmacological therapies to groundbreaking non-pharmacological strategies. Discover how the GOLD ABE assessment tool, incorporating symptom evaluation and exacerbation risk, paves the way for personalized treatment plans. Unlock the power of eosinophil counts, a game-changer in predicting treatment responses, and embark on a transformative path toward better respiratory health.

An Overview of the impact of Type 2 Inflammation in COPD: Insights from Dr. Surya Bhatt

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) remains a significant health challenge worldwide, characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation due to airway and/or alveolar abnormalities. Traditionally, COPD has been associated with neutrophil-driven inflammation, but recent insights suggest a more complex picture, involving Type 2 inflammation in a subset of patients. Dr. Surya Bhatt, a renowned COPD researcher and professor of medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, provides valuable insights into this emerging area of COPD research.

Blood Eosinophils as a Biomarker in Patients with COPD

This article discusses the role of blood eosinophils as a biomarker in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). It highlights that measuring blood eosinophil levels can help predict exacerbations, guide corticosteroid therapy, and tailor treatment strategies for COPD patients. The article emphasizes the importance of personalized treatment approaches based on eosinophil counts to improve patient outcomes and manage COPD more effectively.

Key tools to measure the success of COPD management

This article provides pulmonologists with essential insights into evaluating COPD management. It delves into the multifaceted approach required to measure success, including reducing symptom severity, preventing exacerbations, improving lung function, enhancing exercise tolerance, and boosting the quality of life. By employing standardized assessment tools such as the COPD Assessment Test (CAT), modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale, and St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), clinicians can accurately gauge treatment effectiveness. Additionally, the article highlights the importance of continuous assessment and adjustment in managing COPD, ensuring better patient outcomes.

The burden and Risk of Exacerbations in COPD according to Dr. Surya Bhatt

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a major health concern globally, with a significant impact on the quality of life and life expectancy of affected individuals. Surya Bhatt, a distinguished professor of medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a COPD researcher, provides valuable insights into the progression and management of this disease. This article will delve into key aspects of COPD exacerbations, drawing on the expertise of Dr. Bhatt to enhance our understanding.

The Impact of Exacerbations in COPD