What are the treatment options for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:Once diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), your first line of defense is to develop a good plan of action with your doctor and healthcare team. This treatment plan will likely include medication as well as a Healthy Lifestyle Change program through diet and nutrition, exercise and physical activity, and stress reduction.
Your doctor's first step will be to find out exactly what's going on in your lungs and the rest of your body. That means your healthcare team will need to gather your family history to determine what health issues and risk factors run in your family. Also, he or she will do a complete workup to better understand what other conditions you might have; this typically includes a physical examination. Once your doctor fully understands your specific situation, he or she can develop a plan to help you breathe easier. You may need medication and some changes in diet and nutrition, as well as exercise and physical activity. You will also need to reduce your stress and to learn to cope with your condition. Remember: getting your COPD under control can help you live a full, healthy, and active life.Helpful? 1 person found this helpfulOnce diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), your first line of defense is to develop a good plan of action with your doctor and healthcare team. This treatment plan will likely include medication as well as a Healthy... More -
With chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the damage done to your lungs is irreversible. Treatments available for COPD are designed to slow the diseases progression, control the symptom and reduce complications. The most important step is to quit smoking and avoid air pollutants like secondhand smoke. Inhaled bronchodilators may be prescribed to relieve airflow obstruction. In advanced COPD, inhaled steroids can improve symptoms when other drugs fail. Long-term oxygen therapy and pulmonary rehabilitation programs can help improve your daily quality of life. For advanced COPD, lung volume reduction surgery or a lung transplant may also be recommended on a case-by-case basis.
With chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the damage done to your lungs is irreversible. Treatments available for COPD are designed to slow the diseases progression, control the symptom and reduce complications. The most important step is... More -
Dr. Audrey Chun of The Mount Sinai Medical Center answered:Once you're diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), your doctor will prescribe treatments based on the severity of your condition. "Rescue" medications relieve symptoms quickly, while "controller" medications reduce inflammation on a long-term basis. If your COPD is severe, you may also need oxygen therapy. This is typically used at night to compensate for the drop in oxygen levels that occurs when breathing slows during sleep. Oxygen is inhaled via nasal tubes and maintains the body's oxygen level, reducing stress on the heart.
Pulmonary rehabilitation also is important and can help you work with the lungs you have. Breathing techniques can help train patients to use their abdominal muscles to force their diaphragm (the muscle separating the chest and abdominal cavities) upward, emptying the lungs more effectively.Once you're diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), your doctor will prescribe treatments based on the severity of your condition. "Rescue" medications relieve symptoms quickly, while "controller" medications reduce... More -
The treatment options for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease vary depending on the severity of the disease, which can be determined by breathing tests done in the office. For people who deal with COPD every day, initial treatments usually involve inhalers such as ipratropium and/or albuterol to open up the airways. If the severity increases, the next step is often an inhaler containing a steroid and a long-acting dilator for airway dilation. Patients may eventually require oxygen supplementation at home as well. During exacerbations that may require hospitalization, oral steroids and antibiotics may also be needed.The treatment options for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease vary depending on the severity of the disease, which can be determined by breathing tests done in the office. For people who deal with COPD every day, initial... More
