A Day in the Life of a COPD Patient

This video from breatheeasyaz is all about Jan Karlbon from Mesa, Arizona. Jan was diagnosed with COPD after her primary care doctor performed a spirometry test.

MORE: What happens to the lungs in COPD patients?

Jan’s symptoms were typical of the disease — a chronic cough, shortness of breath and fatigue — but sadly, by the time she was diagnosed her lungs had already sustained heavy damage and her COPD was severe.

She explains how her life has changed since her diagnosis. Simple acts like getting dressed in the morning take half an hour and physically wear her out. She can’t attend friends’ barbecues or user her fireplace in the winter for fear of lung irritation.

Jan urges anyone else out there suffering from the same symptoms to go and see their doctor as soon as possible so they can begin treatment if they do have a lung disease.

MORE: Airway hyperreactivity test may identify COPD patients with an asthma overlap.

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