Heart and Vascular

What is COPD?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of respiratory diseases, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It damages your small airways and changes lung tissue where oxygen enters the circulation.

Goshen Heart & Vascular Center offers our Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Program to help people with COPD in Goshen, IN, and the surrounding areas improve their quality of life and prevent further lung damage. You’ll work with an integrated team of experts to develop a personalized exercise and treatment plan. We also offer lung education programs and support groups for your complete well-being.

If you are concerned about your risk of developing COPD, talk to your primary care provider about a screening. Or, if you want to talk to someone at the Heart & Vascular Center, call (574) 537-5000 to make an appointment.

Addressing COPD symptoms and causes with care

You may not notice the signs and symptoms of COPD until your lungs have been significantly damaged. These include:

  • Chest tightness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Coughing and wheezing
  • Fatigue
  • Excess mucus
  • Bluish fingernails and lips

Smoking is the most common cause of COPD. It may also be caused by long-term exposure to secondhand smoke, chemicals or dust. People with alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) can also develop COPD.

Goshen Heart & Vascular Center offers expert COPD treatment in Goshen, IN.