The right treatment plan can help you control yourCOPD symptomsand avoidexacerbations(flareups).
These include shortness of breath, wheezing, cough, chest tightness, and excess mucus production.
This article describes the various treatment options your healthcare provider may prescribe if you have COPD.
Verywell / Catherine Song
It also offers tips to improve your respiratory health and better manage COPD on a day-to-day basis.
Every treatment plan should start with healthy lifestyle changes.
Medications alone should not be the sole focus of treatment.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Smoking is the leading cause of COPD and will invariably make COPD symptoms worse if you continue.
Prescription medications used for smoking cessation includeWellbutrin (bupropion)andChantix (varenicline).
Regular Exercise
Getting regular exercise is always good for your overall health and wellbeing.
For people with COPD, it can help optimize a person’slung functionand increase their lung capacity.
It can also help maintain muscle strength and endurance.
Should I Exercise With Oxygen?
According to the American Lung Association, if you use supplemental oxygen, you should exercise with it.
These includepursed-lip breathinganddiaphragmatic breathing(“belly breathing”).
Being overweight makes it harder to breathe whether you have COPD or not.
Vaccinations
Infections, especially lung infections, can lead to a health crisis if you have COPD.
Prescription options include long-acting inhalers that are used on a regular basis to control COPD.
Short-acting inhalers are used whenever symptoms flare up.
Others drugs are used to treat respiratory infections.
Bronchodilators
Bronchodilatorshelp relax the muscles in the airways.
There are two major categories of bronchodilators that differ by the speed of their action.
Short-acting bronchodilatorswork within seconds or minutes to relieve shortness of breath and provide relief for four to six hours.
These include:
Long-acting bronchodilatorshelp keep your airways open and relaxed for 12 to 24 hours.
Though the effects last longer, they don’t help in an emergency situation.
Options include:
Combination inhalersdeliver two different long-acting agents.
These are recommended for people with moderate to severe COPD who experience dyspnea and/or exercise intolerance.
Examples include:
Inhaled Corticosteroids
Your healthcare provider may also prescribe a dailyinhaledcorticosteroid.
These medications help reduce airwayinflammationas well as the frequency of exacerbations.
They may be recommended for people who have one or more COPD exacerbations per year.
Oral steroids are recommended for short-term use only.
Long-term use of drugs like prednisone can lead to serious complications.
Daliresp (roflumilast)is currently the only PDE4 inhibitor used for the treatment of COPD.
Ohtuvayre (ensifentrine)is the only combination PDE3/PDE4 inhibitor used for the treatment of COPD.
Some side effects include back pain, high blood pressure, bladder infection, and diarrhea.
These medications act against bacteria, not viruses.
Biologics
A high eosinophil count in your blood can contribute to COPD.
Dupixent (dupilumab) is a biologic medication made from living cells instead of synthetic chemicals.
It is a monoclonal antibody that specifically targets certain parts of the immune system, blocking inflammation signals.
This helps reduce flare-ups and improves breathing.
The FDA approved Dupixent as an add-on maintenance treatment for adults with inadequately controlled COPD and an eosinophilic phenotype.
It is the first biologic approved for treating COPD.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Pulmonary rehabilitation can help you feel stronger and more active by increasing your level of fitness.
It may even decrease the need for hospital visits.
Medicare and other forms of health insurance cover pulmonary rehabilitation for COPD if you meet certain requirements.
Oxygen Therapy
You may needsupplemental oxygentherapy if you have COPD.
For some people with COPD, supplemental oxygen can improve survival times.
The Lung Flute works by creating low-frequency vibrations deep in the lungs when you blow hard through the mouthpiece.
This helps break up mucus, making it easier for you to cough up.
The Lung Flute costs around $45, while the replacement reeds cost around $15.
Depending on where you live, you may need a prescription to buy one.
Surgery
Surgery may be a necessary option in certain situations.
It may be recommended if it can significantly improve your breathing by removing a damaged section of a lung.
Instead, a lung transplant may be the only viable way to keep you alive.
Yoga and acupuncture have been evaluated in people who COPD in a number of smaller studies.
Yoga
A number of small studies suggest that yoga may be beneficial for people who have COPD.
These individuals showed better lung function, less shortness of breath, and improved overall quality of life.
A 2012 study inAcupuncture Medicineshowed similar results after 10 weeks.
Recommended lifestyle changes include routine exercise, quitting cigarettes, and increasing your caloric intake if underweight.
Prescription drug options include short- and long-acting bronchodilators, inhaled corticosteroids, oral corticosteroids, and oral antibiotics.
Pulmonary rehabilitation and devices like the Lung Flute can also be beneficial.
See your healthcare provider regularly to have your blood tests done and your lung function monitored.
Given the risksand the fact that COPD often occurs with heart diseaseproducts like these should never be used.
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