What Are the Treatments for COPD?

Treatments can help with symptoms, slow the disease from getting worse and improve your ability to stay active. Treatments include:

Lifestyle Changes

• Quitting tobacco use and avoiding secondhand smoke/vapor
• Good nutrition
• Exercise as prescribed by your doctor
• Breathing exercises for clearing mucus and when feeling breathless

Medicines

• Inhaled medicines that help open your airways and make breathing easier
• Medicines that help reduce swelling in your airways
• Antibiotics that treat lung infections
• Vaccines that protect against flu and pneumonia

Oxygen Therapy

• Used for people with severe COPD who have low levels of oxygen in their blood

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

• Pulmonary rehabilitation programs are offered in a clinic or hospital. The program helps improve the quality of life for people with chronic breathing problems.

Pulmonary rehabilitation programs may include:

• A monitored exercise program
• Education focused on condition management
• Nutritional counseling
• Psychological counseling

Surgery

• Used for severe symptoms that do not improve enough with other treatments

For more information on COPD treatments, see:

Lifestyle Changes:

• "Living With" section of COPD
• Nutrition and COPD
• Techniques to Bring Up Mucus
• Breathlessness–Shortness of Breath

Medicines:

• Treating COPD
• COPD Medications

Administering Inhaled Respiratory Medicines:

• Nebulizer
• Metered Dose Inhaler
• Metered Dose Inhaler with Spacer
• Spacer Use

Peak Flow Meter:

• Peak Flow Meter Use Series

Supplemental Oxygen:

• Oxygen Therapy

Pulmonary Rehabilitation:

• Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Surgery for COPD:

• Surgery for COPD

Your COPD respiratory therapist or registered nurse will work with you and discuss your medications, breathing exercises and lifestyle changes that can improve how you feel.

Learn more and begin the enrollment process now.

Source: From COPD, by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute