Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) : Treating COPD

by National Institute on Aging

(Page 3 of 3)

Although there is no cure for COPD, symptoms can be managed and damage to the lungs can be slowed. Quitting smoking is the most important thing you can do to slow the progress of the disease. Your doctor may recommend treatments to relieve your symptoms and there are things you can do to live better with the disease.

The goals of COPD treatment are to:

• relieve symptoms with no or minimal side effects of treatment
• slow the progress of the disease
• improve the ability to stay active and exercise
• prevent any complications from the disease
• improve health overall

Treatment for COPD can be different for each person and is based on whether symptoms are mild, moderate or severe. Treatments include medication, pulmonary or lung rehabilitation, oxygen treatment, and surgery. There are also treatments to manage complications or a sudden onset of symptoms.

COPD Medications

Bronchodilators are medications that work by relaxing the muscles around your airways, opening them and making it easier to breathe. Bronchodilators can last either 4-6 hours or 12 hours, depending on the type. Most bronchodilators are inhaled directly into the lungs with the use of an inhaler. People with mild COPD may use inhalers only when needed. Those with moderate or severe COPD may need more regular bronchodilator treatment.

Inhaled steroids are used for some people with moderate or severe COPD. They work to reduce the inflammation or swelling in the airways.

Doctors recommend that people with COPD get a pneumococcal vaccine to prevent pneumonia and an annual flu shot to avoid any breathing complications from the flu.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

In addition to medications, doctors may recommend pulmonary or lung rehabilitation (rehab) to help people with COPD stay active. Pulmonary rehabilitation can include exercise training, nutrition advice, and education about managing the disease. A program of pulmonary rehabilitation would be managed by doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, exercise specialists, and dietitians, and would be customized for each patient.

Oxygen Treatment

For people with severe COPD and low levels of oxygen in the blood, doctors may recommend oxygen therapy to help with shortness of breath. Using extra oxygen more than 15 hours per day can help you perform tasks or activities with less shortness of breath, protect the heart and other organs from damage, help you sleep more, improve your alertness during the day, and help you live longer.

Surgery

For some people with severe COPD, surgery may be recommended. Surgery is usually done for patients who have severe symptoms, have not gotten improvement from medications, and have a hard time breathing most of the time. There are two types of surgery that are considered in the case of severe COPD: a bullectomy, which removes a large air sac that may compress a good lung, or a lung transplant.

Managing Complications or Sudden Onset of Problems

People with COPD often have symptoms that suddenly get worse. When this happens, you have a much harder time catching your breath. You should call your doctor if you have sudden chest tightness, more coughing, a change in your sputum, or fever. Your doctor will look at things that may be causing these sudden symptoms. Sometimes the symptoms are caused by a lung infection.

Your doctor might recommend antibiotics to fight the infection, or bronchodilators or glucocorticosteroids to help with breathing.

Your doctor will recommend that you spend time in the hospital if:

• you have a lot of difficulty catching your breath
• you have a hard time talking
• your lips or fingernails turn blue or gray

Your doctor will recommend that you spend time in the hospital if:

• you are not mentally alert
• your heartbeat is very fast
• home treatment of the worsening symptoms does not help

Quiz

1. The most important thing you can do to slow the progress of COPD is

A. take antihistamines
B. quit smoking
C. exercise less
D. use an inhaler

B is the correct answer. Quitting smoking is the most important thing you can do to slow the progress of COPD.

2. Common medications to treat COPD are

A. bronchodilators and inhaled steroids
B. diuretics
C. antihistamines
D. aspirin

A is the correct answer. Bronchodilators and inhaled steroids are common medications used to treat COPD. Bronchodilators relax the muscles of the airways, making it easier to breathe. Inhaled steroids reduce the inflammation in the airways.

3. Illnesses that can cause further breathing complications for persons with COPD are

A. diabetes
B. pneumonia and flu
C. arthritis

B is the correct answer. Pneumonia and flu can cause further breathing complications for persons with COPD.

4. Oxygen therapy is often recommended for people with

A. mild COPD
B. moderate COPD
C. severe COPD

C is the correct answer. Oxygen therapy is often recommended for people with severe COPD and low levels of oxygen in the blood. Those with milder symptoms may not need extra oxygen.

About the Author

www.nia.nih.gov
NIA, one of the 27 Institutes and Centers of NIH, leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life. In 1974, Congress granted authority to form NIA to provide leadership in aging research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs relevant to aging and older people.