Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
The first step in diagnosing emphysema and chronic bronchitis is a good evaluation. Following the evaluation may be a number of tests to evaluate your breathing or other aspects of your health.
What are the goals of treatment?
At National Jewish Health, healthcare providers believe people with COPD can lead active and full lives. By diagnosing the disease early, treating symptoms, reducing the risk of complications, and educating patients and families about COPD, healthcare providers hope to improve the patients' quality of life. Our goal is to help people with COPD take charge of their breathing and regain or maintain control of their lives.
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How is COPD managed?
People with COPD should become actively involved in the management of their disease. Participation in the treatment plan will help people with COPD and their families achieve the best possible results.
Why is it important to recognize changes in your COPD signs and symptoms?
The early signs of COPD for which many people seek medical attention before being formally diagnosed include marked shortness of breath with exertion, a cough that won’t go away, or frequent respiratory infections. This is often at a point when the disease is already advanced.
Once COPD has been diagnosed, recognizing worsening signs and symptoms of COPD is an important part of managing your illness. Knowing when symptoms are changing is helpful so that treatment and other interventions can begin quickly. Early treatment is most effective and likely preserves lung function long term.
If severe symptoms are present, it is vital to begin the appropriate treatment right away. Accurate and timely assessment of your symptoms can help you and your healthcare provider decide if treatment should begin in the home, at your healthcare provider’s office or in the emergency room.
Learn more about recognizing changes in your COPD symptoms.
Why are exercise and practicing a healthy lifestyle important?
An exercise program is one of the most important aspects of managing COPD. Regular exercise can help you to improve your overall strength and endurance. By improving general fitness, respiratory muscles are strengthened. Your body is able to use the oxygen it receives much more efficiently also. This improves your ability to perform activities despite shortness of breath. Many people with COPD enjoy walking, water aerobics and riding a stationary bike.
Learn more about the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
What about smoking?
If you smoke, giving up smoking is the single most important thing you can do to help stabilize your disease and prevent further damage to your lungs. Giving up smoking is a difficult task, but is more effective in preserving lung function long term than any of the medications that doctors can prescribe. Ask your healthcare provider about smoking cessation programs and services that may be helpful. In addition, avoid exposure to tobacco smoke, whenever possible. This will help decrease irritation to your lungs.
Learn more about giving up smoking.
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What about my weight and eating habits?
It is very important to eat a well-balanced diet and maintain a healthy weight. Shortness of breath and fatigue can interfere with your ability to eat a balanced diet.
Learn more about the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
How can I prevent frequent lung infections?
Because people with COPD have an increased risk of respiratory infection, vaccines are often recommended. You can receive the influenza vaccine and pneumonia vaccine to help prevent infection.
Good hand washing will also help prevent the spread of germs and infections.
Learn more about avoiding infections.
What about medication therapy?
Your healthcare provider may prescribe medications to control the symptoms of COPD.
Bronchodilators help open the airways in the lungs. This helps decrease shortness of breath.
Inhaled or oral steroids may help decrease inflammation in the airways in some people.
Antibiotics are often used to treat infections however less than 50% of acute worsening of COPD is caused by infections. Antibiotics should therefore be prescribed sparingly to avoid complications of allergic reactions or resistance.
For some people, expectorants can help clear mucus from the airways.
Learn more about COPD medications.
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What about bronchial hygiene?
In addition to medications, practicing good bronchial hygiene can help you get rid of mucus in your airways. Some people may benefit from techniques to help remove mucus from the lungs. These techniques use hand-held devices that can cause a vibration through the airways and loosen secretions.
Learn more about techniques to bring up mucus.
What about breathing retraining?
Learning new breathing techniques will help you move more air in and out with less effort. This helps decrease shortness of breath. Diaphragmatic breathing, pursed lips breathing and pacing your activities can be easily learned.
Learn more about breathing retraining.
What about oxygen therapy?
Some people with COPD may benefit from oxygen therapy. Oxygen therapy is necessary when there is not enough oxygen in the blood. Some people with COPD need oxygen only with activity or while sleeping. Many people with COPD need oxygen all the time (twenty-four hours a day). Oxygen saturation levels can be measured with a small device that fits over the fingertip (pulse oximeter). This is done while you are resting and walking. These measures can determine the best oxygen settings to use for rest, sleep and activity. To achieve the most benefit, use your oxygen exactly as prescribed.
Learn more about oxygen therapy.
What about pulmonary rehabilitation?
A comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation program includes:
- Medical and nursing management
- Education
- Physical conditioning
- Nutrition counseling
- Consideration of psychological and social needs
A successful pulmonary rehabilitation program (such as the program offered by National Jewish Health) addresses the needs of each person and tailors the treatment to meet those needs.
Patient support groups can provide an important social outlet for people with COPD and their families. The meetings often provide education, discussions about a variety of health topics and social outings.
Because of the many aspects involved in the care and management of people with COPD, National Jewish Health has established a COPD rehabilitation clinic. In addition to ongoing state-of-the-art clinical care, doctors are also conducting studies in advancing the care of people with COPD.
Learn more about pulmonary rehabilitation.
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This information has been approved by Ron Balkissoon, M.D. (April 2006).
