Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous collection of respiratory syndromes with overlapping manifestations. As well as the characteristic shortness of breath, the disease is associated with a number of comorbidities that can present major clinical problems for the individual.
This fully updated second edition of Fast Facts: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease offers a concise and expert review of: - the disease process, its causes and progression - diagnostic techniques, including lung function tests and imaging - differential diagnoses - the main clinical features, systemic effects and comorbidities - current treatments to reduce symptoms and improve lung function in stable disease - the prevention and management of acute exacerbations - the latest clinical trial results, supporting aggressive therapy to reduce lung function decline - risk factor reduction, primarily through smoking cessation - future diagnostic and therapeutic developments Fast Facts: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is an invaluable resource for all healthcare professionals, full of practical information on the early recognition, stabilization and successful management of this multifaceted disease