Effective COPD treatment involves a combination of medications, devices, and health support actions. Treatment may include pulmonary rehabilitation programs (to keep the lungs strong and slow the progression of COPD) and, in more severe cases, advanced treatment options may be recommended to continue to manage the condition and improve quality of life.
Medications: Once diagnosed with COPD, your healthcare provider will prescribe medications to help manage the disease, slow its progression, and make it easier to breathe. It's important to take these medications as prescribed, even if you feel well and have no symptoms. If you encounter any issues with following your COPD Action Plan (or treatment plan), contact your healthcare provider immediately.
Proper Device Use: Getting medications into the lungs requires proper device use. Be sure to show your medical provider how you use your device to ensure you are using it correctly. Common issues include the timing of medication release, inhaling the medications correctly, holding your breath (with an inhaler device), monitoring the dose counter, and taking care of your device.
COPD Action Plans: Your healthcare provider should provide you with a personalized COPD Action Plan that will guide you in keeping up your treatment and managing your COPD if things worsen. These plans should kept up-to-date with any changes to medications and other recommendations. This written plan can also help family members and caretakers understand how they can support you in keeping your COPD stable. Diet, smoking cessation and exercise guidance may also be included in your plan.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR): This program combines educational classes and supervised exercise sessions for people with chronic breathing difficulty, including COPD. Your provider will either provide or refer you to this program to help you understand COPD better, learn about your medications, recognize your triggers, and improve your quality of life through strength and endurance training.