Trouble catching your breath? Coughing and wheezing a lot? Wiped out by a short walk to the mailbox? If you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, you know what this is like. More than 16 million Americans have COPD. And while there’s no cure, there are good treatments that can help you stay active and do the things you enjoy.

Before your diagnosis, you probably had lots of tests that gave you information about your lungs and breathing. They helped your doctor get your treatment started and put you on the path toward feeling better. Now you’ll keep having screenings to watch your progress. They help your doctor tweak your treatment plan as needed.

That’s important, because sometimes people with COPD have flare-ups. These are episodes when symptoms become worse. Flare-ups can lead to permanent lung damage. Your best bet: Catch and treat the causes of flare-ups early.

Here are some tests your doctor might order to track your progress.

Pulmonary Function Tests

These tests measure how well your lungs work and how well they move oxygen to your blood. They’re done using special equipment by trained staff in a hospital or in your doctor’s office. The most common pulmonary function test:

• Spirometry. You’ll blow air into a mouthpiece and tube attached to a machine. The machine measures the amount of air you can blow out and how long it takes you. The results help doctors find COPD early and show how severe it is. They also provide important information to guide your treatment plan.

Imaging Tests

These tests show your doctor what’s going on in your lungs. They help pinpoint any problems that might be causing a flare-up. Imaging tests include:

• Chest X-ray. It can help your doctor diagnose conditions such as pneumonia and bronchitis, which are often behind COPD flare-ups. That can give your doctor a head start on treating them. X-rays can also reveal other helpful information, such as enlarged lungs.
• Computed tomography (CT) scan. This test can show important changes, such as enlarged arteries in your lungs. It can also help rule out other possible diseases in your chest.

Lab Tests

Your doctor will use a couple of lab tests to check the oxygen level in your blood. On the list:

• Arterial blood gas test. This is the most accurate way to see how well your lungs move oxygen into your blood and carbon dioxide out.
• Pulse oximetry. This test uses a device called a pulse oximeter. It clips to your finger or earlobe and measures the amount of oxygen in your blood. It works by shining a special light through the skin to measure how much light is absorbed by hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells. It’s not as accurate as the arterial blood gas test, which is used more often in patients with severe COPD.
• Exercise capacity testing. This type of test will help your doctor figure out your physical limitations. It can also show how much of your breathing problem is related to your heart, your lungs, or your muscles. Often it may help your care team set up an exercise program — or change it when you have a flare-up.
• Cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). This exercise test is done on a treadmill or a stationary bike. It gives your doctor accurate information about your current fitness level. You’ll be hooked up to 3 tools that will take measurements while you’re running or biking:
  • EKG machine.
  • Blood pressure cuff.
  • Pulse oximeter.
• 6-minute walk. This measures your functional exercise capacity. In other words, it shows how much exercise you’re able to do. You’ll walk up and down a corridor for 6 minutes, covering about 10 yards. As you walk, your doctor may measure your oxygen levels with a pulse oximeter.

Tracking your symptoms and lung function is an important part of staying on top of your COPD. If you notice an increase in your symptoms, be sure to call your provider right away. The faster you respond, the easier it will be to get your COPD under control.

{SOURCES}

[1] “COPD Prevalence.” American Lung Association, https://www.lung.org/research/trends-in-lung-disease/copd-trends-brief/copd-prevalence. Accessed October 12, 2022.

[2] “COPD Symptoms and Diagnosis.” American Lung Association, https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/copd/symptoms-diagnosis. Accessed October 12, 2022.

[3] “COPD.” RadiologyInfo.org, July 30, 2021, https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/copd. Accessed October 12, 2022.

[4] “Tests to Measure Your Exercise Capacity.” Asthma + Lung UK, January 2020, https://www.blf.org.uk/support-for-you/breathing-tests/tests-to-measure-your-exercise-capacity. Accessed October 12, 2022.

[5] “Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).” Johns Hopkins Medicine, July 3, 2020, https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540124/all/Exacerbations_of_Chronic_Obstructive_Pulmonary_Disease_COPD_. Accessed October 12, 2022.

[6] Restrepo MI, Sibila O, and Anzueto A. “Pneumonia in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.” Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases. July 2018; vol. 81, no. 3, pp: 187-197.