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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffYour first appointment to check for emphysema may be with your primary doctor or with a specialist in lung diseases called a pulmonologist. Be prepared to answer questions regarding:
- Whether you smoke and if so, how many packs a day
- Your contact with other irritants, such as chemical fumes, industrial dust or secondhand smoke
- Whether you have a chronic cough, and how long you've had it
- Whether you've been wheezing or having trouble breathing in cold air
- Your family history of COPD
After the examination, your doctor will explain which tests are recommended in order to make an accurate diagnosis.
- Emphysema. American Lung Association. http://www.lungusa.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=2060053&content_id={39330D56-C0E9-4D08-B98F-18EA7B3C410B}¬oc=1. Accessed March 4, 2009.
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) fact sheet. American Lung Association. http://www.lungusa.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=2058829&content_id={EE451F66-996B-4C23-874D-BF66586196FF}¬oc=1. Accessed March 4, 2009.
- What is COPD? National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Copd/Copd_WhatIs.html. Accessed March 4, 2009.
- Celli BR. Update on the management of COPD. CHEST. 2008;133:1451.
- Bruce ML, et al. COPD: Your role in early detection. The Nurse Practitioner Journal. 2007;32:25.
- Corbridge SJ, et al. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. AAOHN Journal. 2007;55:181.
- Rennard SI. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Definition, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and staging. http://www.uptodate.com. Accessed March 4, 2009.
- Weiss ST. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Risk factors and risk reduction. http://www.uptodate.com. Accessed March 4, 2009.
- Ferguson GT et al, Management of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. http://www.uptodate.com. Accessed March 4, 2009.
- Global strategy for the diagnosis, management, and prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Global initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease. Medical Communications Resources, Inc. Accessed March 20, 2009.
