Good Habits, Therapies, and Treatments for COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects nearly 16 million adults in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is the sixth leading cause of death in the country.  COPD refers to a number of progressive lung diseases that affect all aspects of your life, potentially leading you to not being able to work or participate in your favorite activities. There are some good habits, therapies, and treatments for COPD that you can turn to. 

The Basics of a COPD Diagnosis

COPD is an umbrella term that includes a number of different progressive lung diseases. A COPD diagnosis means you have one or more of these conditions — the two most common being chronic bronchitis and emphysema. 

Chronic bronchitis irritates the bronchial tubes, leading to their swelling. This causes mucus to build along the lining, making breathing more difficult. People who smoke or who have chronic bronchitis have damaged cilia, which are tiny hairs that usually move mucus out of the way. This means the mucus continues to build up. 

Emphysema is the wearing down of the walls of the alveoli, or minuscule air sacs, found at the end of your bronchial tubes. These air sacs help transfer oxygen into your blood and carbon dioxide out, so if they don’t work efficiently, breathing becomes very difficult. 

Some of the symptoms of COPD include:

• Wheezing 
• Shortness of breath performing regular activities
• Cough with mucus that persists
• Struggling to take a deep breath

Smoking is one of the main causes of COPD, but it can also result from being exposed to secondhand smoke, air pollution, and workplace fumes and dust. 

Most people who have COPD have a combination of emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Although there’s no cure for COPD, there are many treatments and lifestyle change you can try to get relief from symptoms. 

Learning to Manage COPD Symptoms

To manage your COPD, you can turn to a number of strategies. 

Medications: Bronchodilators and More

Bronchodilators come as nebulizers or inhalers because this allows the medications to reach your airways faster. Bronchodilators help open constricted airways, and there are two types of them — β-agonists and anticholinergics. 

There are also anti-inflammatory medications you can inhale or take in pill form. Expectorants are another type of medication you may need. Expectorants help thin out mucus so that you can cough it up more easily. 

Research status and treatment decisions

Research into emerging medical approaches is ongoing. Early laboratory findings, small studies, or preliminary clinical results do not establish that a product or procedure is safe or effective for every person with this condition. Treatment decisions should account for the quality of the evidence, regulatory status, known risks, established alternatives, and the patient’s individual medical history.

Questions to discuss with a licensed clinician

• What diagnosis has been confirmed, and what else could be causing the symptoms?
• Which established treatment options are appropriate, and what are their expected benefits and risks?
• What evidence supports the specific product or procedure being considered?
• Is the proposed use FDA-approved for this exact purpose or being studied in a registered clinical trial?
• What side effects, costs, follow-up needs, and alternatives should be considered?

This article provides general educational information and is not medical advice. It does not diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any condition, and it does not promise a particular outcome.