COPD Screening Day | Video

Joel Porter | 11/11/2011

If you have trouble sleeping at night or if you struggle just to catch you breath, you may be showing warning signs for COPD.

This morning, respiratory therapy students opened the doors at St. Alexius hospital to talk with people about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The disease has no cure. It normally develops among smokers and those who are exposed to smoke or air pollution.

Besides COPD, students say getting checked for sleep apnea can also help a person sleep more comfortably.

"People who are screened and found to have sleep apnea, when they get that C-pap machine, they have a much better night`s sleep. It takes a lot of work off their hearts and their symptoms lessen greatly," said respiratory therapy student Mallory Wipf.

COPD becomes more severe after several years, breaking down a person`s lung tissue. Experts say by simply stopping smoking, the lungs will begin to repair themselves.

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