Chronic-obstructive pulmonary disease is a long-lasting (chronic) disease which is generally not inflammatory and affects the respiratory tract. It is caused by regular smoking in the majority of cases and can lead to lasting lung damage. As a result of this continuously worsening disease it becomes difficult to breathe for the affected person.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a common condition that affects mainly older or middle-aged adults who smoke. Many people do not realize they have it. The breathing problems tend to get gradually worse over time and can limit normal physical activities. An exposure over long time of period to lung irritants such as dust, air pollution or chemical vapours may contribute also to the condition. However, a suitable treatment can help to keep the condition under control.
The majority of chronic-obstructive pulmonary disease cases are caused by smoking. The patient usually complains of coughing and catarrh, as well as shortness of breath associated with physical exercise, which can later happen while at rest.
Left untreated, chronic-obstructive pulmonary disease can lead to permanent damage in the lungs, including lung emphysema. Treatment consists of completely giving up smoking as well as taking medications to widen the respiratory tract (such as beta-2 adrenergic agonists and anticholinergics). It’s been shown that even after a few months of quitting, coughing and shortness of breath stop. It’s highly recommended that you quit smoking.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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