The nonspecific nature of COPD symptoms makes early diagnosis of the disease difficult.

On occasion World COPD DayHe Dr. Marco Acosta, pulmonologist Hospital Quironsalud Costa Adeje And The Quironsalud Santa Cruz Medical Center warns that the non-specificity of the main symptoms in most cases makes early diagnosis of the disease difficult.

Among the most significant symptoms of COPD These include shortness of breath during physical activity, persistent cough, fatigue, and wheezing or wheezing, “which,” Dr. Acosta explains, “can worsen as the disease progresses and shortness of breath can occur even at rest.” »

At the first symptoms, the pulmonologist at the Quironsalud Costa Adeje Hospital and the Quironsalud Santa Cruz Medical Center advises spirometry“With this test we will be able to confirm whether there is airway obstruction, especially in people over 40 years of age, former smokers or smokers,” says the specialist. In some patients, a pulmonologist recommends a CT scan of the lungs to better assess lung damage.

Treatment of COPD depending on stage

Dr. Acosta always advises, regardless of the stage of the disease, to completely quit smoking, as well as exercise. Another pillar of treatment is Long-acting bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids for chronic pneumonia.” In advanced cases, in addition to these treatment methods, you will have to resort to home oxygen therapy and other medications such as opioids to treat symptoms such as shortness of breath,” the specialist adds.

Dr. Acosta notes pulmonary rehabilitation as one of the best treatment options at each stage due to its ability to improve the quality of life of patients with COPD.

Quironsalud in the Canary Islands

Quirónsalud is currently present in the Canary Islands with three hospitals in Santa Cruz, Costa Adeje and La Orotava. In addition, Quironsalud has 6 medical centers located in different parts of the island, such as the health centers of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Candelaria, Los Cristianos, La Laguna, Icod and Puerto de la Cruz.

About Kironsalud

Quirónsalud is a leading healthcare group in Spain and, together with its parent company Fresenius-Helios, in Europe. In addition to its activities in Spain, Quirónsalud is also present in Latin America. In total, it employs more than 50,000 specialists in more than 180 medical centers, including 59 hospitals with more than 8,000 hospital beds. It has the most advanced technologies and a large team of highly specialized professionals of international prestige. Among its centers are the Jiménez Díaz Foundation University Hospital, Teknon Medical Center, Ruber Internacional, Quironsalud University Hospital Madrid, Quironsalud Barcelona Hospital, Dexeus University Hospital, Gipuzkoa Polyclinic, General University Hospital of Catalonia, Quironsalud Sagrado Corazon Hospital, etc.

The group promotes teaching (ten of its hospitals are university hospitals) and medical research (it has the FJD Health Research Institute, accredited by the Ministry of Science and Innovation).

Likewise, its health service is organized into cross-cutting units and networks, allowing it to optimize the expertise gained across different centers and the clinical implementation of its research. Currently, Quironsalud is developing many research projects throughout Spain, and many of its centers carry out cutting-edge work in this field, being pioneers in various specialties such as oncology, cardiology, endocrinology, gynecology and neurology, among others.