Treatment for COPD

Your doctor will prescribe the best treatments for your COPD.

It generally includes:

• Medicines. Some medicines help ease symptoms when they happen. Others are taken every day to control lung inflammation. Always take your medicines as prescribed. Learn the names of your medicines. Also, know how and when to use them. Talk with your doctor about other conditions you have and the medicines you take. Always use the correct method for your metered dose inhaler or nebulizer. Ask your doctor how to use your medicine delivery device. You can also check the user manual of the device.
• Tests. To monitor COPD risks, your doctor may advise a blood test or sputum test for eosinophil count. Or you may need bronchodilator reversibility testing. All people with COPD should be screened once for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD).
• Surgery. Your doctor may advise that you have surgery. This might be lung volume reduction surgery, a bullectomy, or a lung transplant.
• Oxygen therapy. You may need to take oxygen if tests show that your blood has too little of it. Ask your doctor about long-term oxygen therapy.
• Quit smoking. If you smoke, quit. Smoking is the main cause of COPD. Quitting will help you be able to better manage your COPD. Also don't use e-cigarettes or vaping products. Ask your doctor about ways to help you quit smoking.
• Prevent infections. Infections, such as a cold or the flu, can make your symptoms worse. Try to stay away from people who are sick. Wash your hands often. Ask your doctor about vaccines for the flu and pneumonia. Other recommended vaccines include whooping cough (pertussis), shingles (herpes zoster), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Coping tips include:

• Exercise. Be as active as you can. This will help your energy. It will also strengthen your muscles, so you can do more. Ask your doctor about the exercises you can safely perform.
• Breathing methods. Ask your doctor or nurse to show you how to do pursed-lip breathing.
• Avoid pollution. Stay away from both indoor and outdoor pollution. Indoor pollution includes burning wood, smoke from home cooking, and heating fuels. Outdoor pollution includes dusts, vapors, fumes, gases, and other chemicals.
• Balance rest and activity. Try to balance rest with activity. For example, you might start the day by getting dressed and eating breakfast. Then you can relax and read the paper. After that, take a brief walk. And then sit with your feet up for a while.
• Pulmonary rehab. Community-based and home-based rehab programs work as well as hospital-based programs if they are done as often and as intensely. Standard home-based pulmonary rehab programs can help you with dyspnea. Traditional pulmonary rehab remains the standard of care. It's the best choice for people with COPD. These programs help manage your disease. They also help with breathing methods and exercise. They can provide support and counseling. To find one, ask your doctor or call your local hospital. Also, talk with your doctor about which rehab or self-care program is best for you.
• Healthy eating. Eating healthy foods is important to help you stay as healthy as possible. So is staying at a weight that's healthy for you. Being at a higher weight or a very low weight can affect your health. Make sure to eat a variety of healthy foods each day. These include protein foods, dairy, vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and whole grains.