Treatment For Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

There is no cure for COPD and the damage to the lungs can not be reversed.  COPD treatments can however control symptoms, reduce the risk of complications and exacerbation, as well as improve a persons ability to lead an active life.

Smoking cessation
The most important step in any treatment plan for smokers with COPD is to quit smoking.  It is the only way to keep COPD from getting worse, which can eventually result in losing the ability to breathe.  Quitting smoking is never easy however.  The role of second hand smoke in COPD is not clear, but it is advised to avoid it whenever possible.

Medications
Several basic groups of medications are used to treat the symptoms and complications of COPD.  Some medications are taken on a regular basis, while some are taken as needed.

Bronchodilators - Medications which usually come in an inhaler relax the muscles around the airways.  This can help relieve coughing and shortness of breath thus making breathing easier.  Depending on the severity of the disease, a person may need a short-acting bronchodilator before activities, a long lasting bronchodilator for use every day, or both.

Inhaled steroids - Inhaled corticosteroid medications can reduce airway inflammation and help people breathe better.  Prolonged use of these medications however can weaken the bones and increase the risk of high blood pressure, cataracts and diabetes.  They are generally reserved for people with severe COPD.

Antibiotics - Respiratory infections like acute bronchitis, pneumonia and influenza can aggravate COPD symptoms.  Antibiotics help fight bacterial infections, but are only recommended when necessary.

Surgery
Surgery is an option for people with some forms of severe emphysema who are not helped adequately by medications alone.

Lung volume reduction surgery - This procedure involves the surgeon removing small wedges of damaged lung tissue, creating extra space in the chest cavity so that the remaining lung tissue and the diaphragm work more efficiently.  The surgery has a number of risks and long-term results may not be any better than nonsurgical approaches.

Lung transplant - Single lung transplantation might be an option for certain people with severe emphysema who meet specific criteria.  Transplantation can improve the ability to breathe and be active, but it does not appear to prolong life, and the person may have to wait a long time to receive a donated organ.

Other therapies
These additional therapies for people with moderate or severe COPD are often used:

Oxygen therapy - If there is not enough oxygen in a patient's blood, they may need supplemental oxygen.  There are a few devices to deliver oxygen to the lungs, including lightweight portable units that a patient can take with them to run errands and get around town.  Some people with COPD use oxygen only during activities, or while sleeping, and others use oxygen all the time.  Oxygen therapy can improve heart function, exercise capacity, depression, mental clarity and the quality of life.  It may also extend life for some people.

Pulmonary rehabilitation program - Comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation can be able to decrease the length of any hospitalizations a patient may require, increase the patients ability to participate in everyday activities and improve the patients quality of life.  These programs generally combine education, exercise training, nutrition advice and counseling. 

Managing exacerbation's
Even with ongoing treatment, people can experience times when symptoms suddenly get worse.  This is called an acute exacerbation, and it can cause lung failure if treatment is not administered promptly.  Exacerbation's can be caused by a respiratory infection, or a change in temperature or air pollution.  Regardless of the cause, it is important to seek immediate medical help if there is more coughing, a change in the mucus, or if breathing gets harder.