Geisinger EHP Logo
Portrait of smiling mature athlete at the stadium looking away.

Why choose Geisinger for COPD care?

Because COPD is a long-term condition, you need a team who’ll be with you from diagnosis throughout treatment. Here, your pulmonology team's combined years of experience give them the knowledge to diagnose, treat and help you manage COPD — whether your condition is mild or severe.

You'll work 1 on 1 with your care team to build a treatment plan tailored to your needs. That might include lifestyle changes, medications, pulmonary rehabilitation or minimally invasive options like the Zephyr Valve procedure. The goal is to reduce flare-ups, slow the decline in your lung function and help you breathe better.

Plus, with pulmonologists in central and northeastern Pennsylvania, you won't have to travel far to get the care you need. With extended clinic hours and minimal wait times, you can see your COPD doctor when it works for your schedule.

 

Treatments and services we offer

Related specialties

FAQs

What’s COPD?

COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is a long-term lung disease that makes it difficult to breathe. It gets worse over time and can cause permanent damage to the lungs. But proper treatment can prevent further damage and help you feel and breathe better.

What are the types of COPD?

The 2 main types of COPD are:

Chronic bronchitis: The airways that bring air to your lungs become inflamed, resulting in shortness of breath and a chronic cough that produces mucus.
Emphysema: Emphysema damages the air sacs in your lungs so they don’t work properly. With less air going in and out, you feel short of breath.

What are the symptoms of COPD?

Shortness of breath is often one of the first signs of COPD. But some people don't notice symptoms until the disease is more advanced. Other symptoms may include:  

  • A persistent cough
  • A cough with mucus or phlegm
  • Wheezing when you breathe
  • Frequent colds or respiratory viruses
  • Extreme tiredness
  • Tightness in your chest
  • Swollen feet, ankles or legs
  • Blue lips or fingernails

What are the risk factors for COPD?

Certain risk factors can raise your chances of developing COPD:

  • Smoking: This is the most common cause of COPD. Secondhand smoke can also cause it.
  • Pollution and fumes: Breathing in chemical fumes, dust or toxic substances at work or in daily life raises your risk.
  • Asthma: Asthma that isn't well managed raises your risk of developing COPD.
  • Age: Most people are 40 or older when COPD symptoms appear.
  • Infections: A history of frequent respiratory infections raises your chances.

How do you diagnose COPD?

Your doctor will start by discussing your symptoms and listening to your lungs for wheezing. They may also perform other tests, including:

  • Spirometry: This is a lung function test that measures how much air you breathe in and out. You'll take a deep breath and blow into a mouthpiece connected to a small device that measures how fast you exhale.
  • Chest X-ray: X-rays create images of your lungs, heart and blood vessels.
  • Chest CT scan: CTs create a more detailed image of your chest than an X-ray, giving your doctor a closer look.
  • Blood test: An arterial blood gas analysis measures oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in your blood. Low oxygen may be a sign of COPD or another lung disease.

You can also take this quiz to see if you should get a fast, painless lung CT to screen for cancer.

How do you treat COPD?

Your care team will work with you to create a treatment plan focused on reducing flare-ups and helping you breathe better. Depending on your situation, treatment may include lifestyle changes, medications, pulmonary rehabilitation, oxygen therapy, surgery or the Zephyr Valve procedure.

What types of surgery treat COPD?

Surgical options for COPD include:

  • Bullectomy: This procedure removes large air spaces called bullae that develop when air sac walls are destroyed by COPD, making it easier for you to breathe.
  • Lung volume reduction surgery: This surgery removes small pieces of damaged lung tissue to create space for healthy tissue to expand, which improves breathing.
  • Lung transplant: When COPD is severe enough, a lung transplant might be an option. During the transplant, the damaged lung is replaced with a healthy donor lung.

What’s pulmonary rehabilitation?

Pulmonary rehabilitation can help you find relief from your symptoms and improve your quality of life. A team of pulmonologists, nurses, dietitians and respiratory therapists will work with you to help you learn how to better manage your COPD. 

What is a Zephyr Valve procedure?

This minimally invasive procedure uses a catheter to guide small valves into affected areas of your lungs. The valves allow trapped air to escape but not come back in, which helps you breathe better.

Do I need oxygen therapy?

If you aren’t getting enough oxygen in your blood, your doctor may recommend you use supplemental oxygen (like a small, portable oxygen tank). Based on your condition, you may need to use oxygen all the time or only some of the time.

COPD care at Geisinger 

Whether your COPD is mild or severe, our pulmonology team helps manage symptoms and keeps your lungs healthier longer. We offer:

  • Knowledge and experience: Your pulmonology team’s years of experience give them the knowledge to diagnose, treat and help you manage COPD.
  • Personalized care: When you need treatment for COPD, our pulmonology team will work with you to create a treatment plan tailored to you. With proper treatment and management of COPD, you can breathe easier and slow damage to your lungs.
  • Convenient locations and appointments: You can see pulmonologists at Geisinger clinics and hospitals in central or northeastern Pennsylvania, so you don’t have to travel far to get the care you need. We also offer extended clinic hours and minimal wait times to make getting care easier for you.