New screening tool developed to help identify Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

A Denver doctor is making headway in diagnosing patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD before it's too late.

Dr. Barry Make with National Jewish Health recently co-authored a study about a new screening tool that can help people suffering with breathing issues. 

More than 15 million Americans are diagnosed with COPD but doctors believe millions more have it and are not diagnosed.

Dr. Make says a new tool called CAPTURE helps patients get a diagnosis. 

It asks patients about conditions they have lived and worked in, if their breathing changes with the seasons, and if they have difficulty breathing or fatigue. 

Their scores will then help doctors to diagnose whether they suffer from COPD and get them treatment more quickly.