To diagnosis COPD, your health care provider will ask you questions about your health history. Some of the questions may include:
- Do you currently smoke? Or did you smoke in the past?
- How often are you short of breath?
- What makes you shortness of breath worse?
- Do you cough? How long have you been coughing?
- Do you cough up sputum (phlegm, mucus)?
- Does anyone or did anyone in your family have lung disease?
Tests to Diagnose COPD
Spirometry
Spirometry is the most reliable way to diagnose COPD. It is a simple brething tests that measurees the speed and the amount of air you are able to blow out of your lungs. If you are short of breath doing simple tasks, ask your health care provider about sending you for a spirometry test.
Chest X-ray
The chest x-ray will help the doctor see if there is damage to your lungs.
Oximetry
This test measures the amount of oxygen saturation in your blood, painlessly with a finger probe.
