Uncontrolled asthma can lead to emergency room visits, hospitalizations and even premature death, according to allergist Myron Zitt, MD, past president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI).

If you have <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/asthma-respiratory-problems/article/video-different-types-asthma">asthma</a>, it is critical that you take your medication as directed, see your pulmonologist regularly and avoid allergy triggers to ensure you don&#39;t struggle to breathe. Here are some common missteps to avoid:

Not taking your symptoms seriously 
If you have symptoms more than two days a week that cause you to reach for your fast-acting relief inhaler&mdash;or find yourself waking up at night wheezing&mdash;see your doctor to discuss other asthma control options, such as inhaled corticosteroids, which may help address the airway inflammation that occurs with asthma.

Ignoring allergies 
<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/asthma-respiratory-problems/article/video-how-common-allergic-asthma">Allergens</a> are an asthma trigger for many people, and Zitt recommends undergoing allergy testing to learn what sparks a reaction and gain guidance in avoiding these allergenic triggers.

Not using your medication preventatively 
Patients who are prescribed a daily medication for asthma must take their medication every day. Yet when symptoms appear to be under control, some patients may skip doses or forget doses. Unfortunately, non-adherence to a treatment plan can lead to poorly controlled symptoms. Zitt stresses that it&#39;s always best to take your medicine regularly to prevent attacks rather than waiting until your symptoms hit and then trying to deal with them.

Not using your inhaler properly 
Many asthma patients do not administer the medication from their inhalers properly, which means they aren&#39;t getting the full benefits of the medicine, Zitt admits. &quot;Using inhaled medication requires instruction and practice to learn how to get it into the lower airways,&quot; he explains. Your doctor or pharmacist can review the technique with you. If you can&#39;t get the timing right, inquire about using an inexpensive device called a spacer, which may make the process easier to coordinate.

Not having a current asthma action plan in place 
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute guidelines indicate that doctors should give each patient with asthma an individualized written plan. The plan should spell out the patient&#39;s triggers, his or her control medications and dosage, the warning signs that an <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/asthma-respiratory-problems/article/video-what-is-asthma-attack">attack</a> is impending and detailed directions on how to respond, such as increasing inhaler frequency, using a nebulizer or taking an oral steroid.

Not taking care of your health 
Part of controlling asthma is staying healthy. Take precautions to avoid getting sick. Get your annual flu shot as well as a pneumococcal vaccine, wash your hands frequently and steer clear of germy places. If you do become ill, you&#39;ll need to be on the lookout for asthma symptoms and respond by increasing your asthma medicines according to your asthma action plan.

Not working with your healthcare provider 
Understanding asthma and working as a team with your healthcare providers is vital to managing asthma. The good news is that with proper planning and communication, asthma can be managed.

Medically reviewed in May 2018.

7 Mistakes That Sabotage Asthma Control

Allergic asthma is a type of asthma where symptoms are triggered by contact with allergens, and it is the most common type of asthma. Watch Chandler D. Patton, MD, discuss the symptoms and management of allergic asthma in this video.

Medically reviewed in May 2018.

What Is Allergic Asthma?

Asthma comes in a variety of different types. Watch pulmonologist Harish Murthy, MD, discuss how allergies, infections, cigarette smoking, exercise and acid reflux can all cause asthma.

Medically reviewed in December 2020.

What Are the Different Types of Asthma?

Genetics and the environment are two causes of asthma, says <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/doctor/dr-clifford-bassett">Clifford Bassett, MD</a>. In this WisePatient video, he discusses those and other culprits.

Medically reviewed in April 2018.

What Causes Asthma?

Allergic rhinitis and asthma are both common conditions. While exact numbers are hard to pin down, it is estimated that 25 million adults and children in the United States have allergic rhinitis and another 25 million have asthma.

While they are different conditions, there is overlap. Many people who are diagnosed with <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/asthma-respiratory-problems/article/what-you-need-to-know-about-asthma">asthma</a> also have allergic rhinitis, and the most common type of asthma is allergic asthma, where allergens act as triggers for asthma symptoms.

What are allergies? 
An allergy is an immune system reaction to a harmless substance. Normally, the immune system reacts to get rid of germs and heal injuries. You sneeze to rid your nasal passages of germs. Your eyes water to keep harmful particles out. A sprained ankle swells as the area is flooded with fluid and white blood cells. All of these things are appropriate immune responses.

With an allergy, your immune system reacts to things that normally do not trigger any kind of immune response. People are allergic to all sorts of things, including foods, bites and stings from insects, materials and medications. Anything that causes an allergic response is called an allergen.

Allergic rhinitis is inflammation of the nasal membranes that results from allergic reactions. Its symptoms are what we typically call &ldquo;allergies,&rdquo; and include nasal congestion, sneezing and irritated eyes, as well as a sore or scratchy throat, coughing, hives and headaches. Common allergens for allergic rhinitis include pollen, mold spores, pet dander and <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/allergy/article/eliminate-dust-mites-stop-sneezing">dust mites</a>. You may also hear allergic rhinitis referred to as seasonal allergies, hay fever or indoor and outdoor allergies.

What is asthma? 
Asthma is a chronic condition in which the lungs and the airways&mdash;the tubes that carry air to and from the lungs&mdash;become inflamed. This inflammation causes the airways to spasm, and also causes an excess amount of mucus that blocks the airways. This makes it difficult to breathe normally.

Wheezing, coughing, tightness in the chest and feeling out of breath or shortness of breath are all symptoms of asthma. These symptoms can range from mild to severe. An asthma attack (also called an exacerbation or a flare-up) occurs when asthma symptoms become severe.

Asthma can be triggered by a variety of things&mdash;physical exercise, cold air, tobacco smoke and stress can all trigger asthma symptoms. Many people have more than one asthma trigger.

How are asthma and allergies connected? 
The most common type of asthma is <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/asthma-respiratory-problems/article/how-manage-allergic-asthma">allergic asthma</a>; approximately 60 percent of people who are diagnosed with asthma have allergic asthma. With allergic asthma, allergens trigger asthma symptoms. This includes skin and food allergens as well as allergens like pollen, pet dander, mold and dust mites.

Though they are different conditions, both allergic rhinitis and asthma are inflammatory disorders, and both involve similar immune responses in the body. It is common for people diagnosed with asthma to also have allergic rhinitis, and allergic rhinitis is a risk factor for developing asthma.

If you have symptoms of allergies, asthma or allergic asthma, or have been diagnosed with any of these conditions, it&#39;s important to work with your healthcare provider to get an accurate diagnosis and come up with a treatment plan to address your symptoms.

It is also important to understand that conditions like these can change over time and increase your risk for things like sinus infections, bronchitis and pneumonia. See your healthcare provider anytime you start to experience new symptoms, your symptoms worsen or your symptoms are not responding to treatment.

Is It Asthma, Allergies or Both?

Did you know half of all asthma cases are related to allergies? Learn more from Robin Miller, MD, in this video.

Medically reviewed in May 2018.

The Link Between Allergies and Asthma

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic respiratory condition where breathing becomes difficult due to a diminished function of the lungs and airways. It occurs in two main forms: emphysema and chronic bronchitis. With emphysema, the elastic tissue that aids exhaling air, as well as the walls between the tiny air sacs in the lungs, become damaged and no longer function properly. With chronic bronchitis, the walls of the bronchial tubes become inflamed and thickened, and produce excess mucus. Most people with COPD have a combination of these two conditions.

Tobacco smoking is the leading risk factor for COPD, and the majority of COPD cases are attributable to cigarette smoking. However, there are other risk factors, including genetics and exposure to <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/health-society/article/pollution-kills-millions-each-year-finds-study">pollution</a>, fumes and chemicals, and there are people with COPD who have never smoked. Some research also suggests that excess bodyweight and a lack of physical activity are associated with COPD symptoms.

The research looked at self-reported data taken from more than 113,000 participants in the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study, which began in 1995. While none of the participants reported COPD-like symptoms at the start of the study, 3,648 participants reported having COPD symptoms in the follow-up years between 1996 and 2006. The researchers discovered that obese people&mdash;as measured by <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/wellness-healthy-living/article/can-you-be-overweight-and-healthy">body-mass index (BMI)</a>&mdash;accounted for a greater percentage of those who reported COPD symptoms than did slimmer people.

How could COPD, a disease of the lungs, be associated with being overweight or obese? Carrying excess weight can impact breathing and exacerbate the symptoms of respiratory conditions, including COPD. Obesity can also contribute to inflammation, according to Gundula Behrens, PhD, a researcher in the department of epidemiology and preventive medicine at the University of Regensburg in Germany and co-author of the study. Cells in the immune system secrete proteins called cytokines, and one type of cytokines, known as pro-inflammatory cytokines, cause an inflammatory response in the body.

&quot;The fat tissue that is most active in the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines is visceral fat, which is found in the <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/obesity-overweight-condition/article/bad-body-fat-omentum-definition-causes-prevention">abdomen</a>,&quot; Behrens says. &quot;Those pro-inflammatory cytokines circulate through the body, and increased levels of those cytokines may stimulate COPD-related processes in the lung.&quot;

If you have been diagnosed with COPD, there are a number of steps you can take to slow the progression of the disease. At the top of this list is to quit smoking (if you smoke, and you haven&rsquo;t already quit). Exercising and adopting a healthy diet can also help. Speak with your healthcare provider about pulmonary rehabilitation&mdash;a treatment program that utilizes exercise, counseling, nutrition and breathing techniques to help people with respiratory illnesses improve lung function, manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

How Being Overweight Affects COPD

If you feel short of breath while exercising, or you&rsquo;re prone to fits of coughing, you may be wondering if asthma or COPD could be to blame. Asthma and <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/copd/article/what-you-need-know-copd">chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)</a> are often confused or lumped together because they share some of the same symptoms.

&ldquo;Both conditions cause wheezing and shortness of breath,&rdquo; says <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/doctor/dr-nicholas-roy">Nicholas Roy, DO</a>, a pulmonary, internal medicine and critical care specialist from Lourdes Health System in Camden, New Jersey. &ldquo;But not everyone who wheezes has asthma, nor do they necessarily have COPD&mdash;it takes a little more investigating to figure out which condition it is.&rdquo;

Here are some key similarities between the two conditions and how to tell them apart.

What are asthma and COPD? 
Asthma is a chronic lung disease that often appears during childhood. It may be reversed over time, but many people have <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/asthma-respiratory-problems/article/what-you-need-to-know-about-asthma">asthma</a> for life. &ldquo;It causes airway tightening, inflammation and constriction in the lungs. The small airways actually narrow, leading to shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing,&rdquo; says Dr. Roy.

These symptoms become especially severe during asthma attacks. Asthma attacks may be brought on by a number of <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/asthma-causes/causes-of-asthma">triggers</a> such as allergies, exercise, irritating fragrances and lung infections. Attacks can be life threatening, but they&rsquo;re usually treatable at home with rescue inhalers like albuterol.

&ldquo;COPD is a group of chronic lung diseases, which are almost always caused by&nbsp;smoking and don&rsquo;t typically appear until after age 40. These diseases include chronic bronchitis and emphysema,&rdquo; says Roy.

<ul>
	<li>Chronic bronchitis is an ongoing cough, which produces large amounts of mucous.</li>
	<li>Emphysema involves the damage and scarring of tiny air sacs in your lungs, called alveoli. When alveoli are destroyed, it&rsquo;s harder for your lungs to take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide.</li>
</ul>

There are treatments for COPD, but there&rsquo;s no known cure. Many of the same triggers that cause asthma attacks could also lead to COPD exacerbations, or symptom flare-ups. Exacerbations can be serious and require a hospital stay; with each flare, COPD tends to become a little worse.

Are COPD and asthma diagnosed the same way? 
Some of the same tests are used to diagnose both asthma and COPD. For example, your lung specialist will ask about your symptoms, listen to your heart and lungs and have you to complete a pulmonary function test (PFT).

A PFT involves taking a deep breath, and then exhaling as long and hard as you can into a special tube. The tube is attached to a computer, which measures your lung strength and capacity, or the amount of air you&rsquo;re able to exhale. If you don&rsquo;t score well on your PFT, your doctor will give you an inhaled medication to help open up your airways, and then let you redo the test. People with asthma typically score better after taking the medication, while those with COPD show little or no improvement.

Your lung specialist may also order blood tests, as well as a chest X-ray to determine if another condition like pneumonia could be causing your symptoms.

Are both conditions preventable? 
COPD is largely preventable since smoking causes 80 percent of cases. You can&rsquo;t prevent asthma, but you can limit the number of attacks you experience by:

<ul>
	<li>Avoiding triggers</li>
	<li>Getting your annual flu shot</li>
	<li>Taking your daily, or maintenance inhalers</li>
</ul>

Smoking can&rsquo;t cause asthma, but it can trigger attacks, make it harder to fight lung infections and increase your risk of developing COPD. &ldquo;People with asthma are actually more likely to damage their lungs with cigarette smoke,&rdquo; says Roy. &ldquo;It puts them a slightly higher risk for COPD than the average person.&rdquo;

Can asthma cause COPD? 
Asthma doesn&rsquo;t cause COPD. However, people with severe asthma whose symptoms don&rsquo;t improve with treatment are considered to have a type of COPD. People with poorly controlled asthma as children are more prone to this condition as adults.

How asthma and COPD are treated 
Quitting smoking is the number one treatment for COPD and a key part of controlling asthma symptoms. For help quitting tobacco:

<ul>
	<li>Call the national Smokefree Hotline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800- 784-8669)</li>
	<li>Visit Sharecare&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/quit-smoking">quit smoking page</a> for tips and support</li>
	<li>Reach out to an <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/find-a-doctor/specialty/addiction-medicine">addiction specialist</a> for personalized help</li>
</ul>

Asthma and COPD also share some&mdash;but not all&mdash;medications. &ldquo;There&#39;s often a crossover between inhaler therapies for both conditions,&rdquo; explains Roy. &ldquo;Inhalers include bronchodilators, or drugs that help open up the airways to allow better air flow in and out. Both conditions may also require steroid inhalers, although people with asthma tend to respond a little better to steroid treatments. This is a major reason why that there&#39;s often confusion between the two conditions.&rdquo;

Visit your lung specialist at least once a year to determine which medications are right for you and to update your med list as symptoms change. Individuals with both asthma and COPD often need a combination of inhalers, which may vary from season-to-season or depending on how advanced your condition is. Use Sharecare&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/find-a-doctor/specialty/pulmonary-disease">find a doctor tool</a> to make an appointment with a lung doctor near you.

Medically reviewed in April 2018.

How to Tell if It's Asthma or COPD

Some of the clues are a little surprising, but if you&nbsp;know what to look for, you&#39;ll be better prepared for your next attack

5 Weird Warnings of an Asthma Attack

Watch Keren Bakal, MD, from Summit Medical Group discuss why having an asthma action plan is an essential part of asthma management, plus her recommendations for her patients.

Taking Control of Your Asthma

Eosinophilic asthma, or e-asthma, is a type of asthma associated with very high levels of eosinophils&mdash;a type of white blood cell that promotes inflammation. Under normal circumstances, eosinophils play a key role in the immune response that fights bacteria, parasites and other harmful invaders. When they occur in abnormally high levels, eosinophils can cause chronic inflammation&mdash;such as the airway inflammation seen in patients who have e-asthma.

Treatment for e-asthma (or any kind of asthma, for that matter) will depend on your specific symptoms and how difficult your asthma is to control. E-asthma is most often severe, and e-asthma is sometimes described as a type of severe asthma. In terms of severity, asthma is categorized based on the treatments needed to get symptoms under control. Asthma that is severe requires treatment with one or more controller medications as well as a rescue medication. Below, we look at what these terms mean and how they relate to the treatment of e-asthma.

Rescue medications 
Asthma patients with all levels of severity should be prescribed a rescue medication for emergencies. Rescue medicines are for use when a person is experiencing a worsening of symptoms or an attack. Also referred to as a bronchodilator, these medications work by relaxing the muscles around the airways, which clench up during an asthma attack. Rescue medications are not intended for&mdash;and should not be used for&mdash;long-term asthma control.

Controller medications 
Also called &ldquo;maintenance medications&rdquo; or &ldquo;long-term controller medications,&rdquo; these asthma treatments are used exactly for what the name implies&mdash;to keep asthma symptoms controlled. They are taken daily, even when symptoms are under control. Controller medications include long-acting bronchodilators, high-dose corticosteroids and other anti-inflammatory drugs. Some patients with e-asthma are able to control asthma symptoms with these treatments plus a rescue inhaler. Other patients are unable to get symptoms under control, even when taking more than one controller medication.

Biologic therapies 
Biologic therapies or immunomodulators are a type of controller medication but are given their own category here because they are prescribed when other medications have failed to get asthma under control. As with other treatments, the decision to use a biologic therapy will be one made by a patient and healthcare provider. Biologic therapies work by targeting the immunological processes that lead to airway inflammation&mdash;in the case of e-asthma, they work to reduce the levels of eosinophils. They may be taken in conjunction with a controller medication. Biologic therapies are typically taken with an injection that is given at a healthcare provider&rsquo;s office.

Asthma action plan 
Regardless of the type of asthma you have, you should have an asthma action plan. This is a written document that you create with the help of your healthcare provider that details the steps to managing your asthma. It includes things like monitoring your breathing on a daily basis, recognizing when your symptoms are getting worse and what triggers your asthma, learning how to use your different asthma medications, and knowing when and where to seek medical attention during an asthma emergency. In addition to an asthma action plan, patients are advised to keep an asthma diary, which documents asthma symptoms and treatment on a daily basis. Diaries can be helpful in determining how well a treatment is working and identifying weak points in an asthma treatment plan.

Medically reviewed in May 2018.

Treatments for Eosinophilic Asthma

Throwing up and poor oral hygiene are two weird ways to pick up a lung infection.

5 Unexpected Ways You Can Catch Pneumonia

Think asthma strikes only the young? Not so&mdash;a whopping 18.7 million adults live with the condition in the US alone. In fact, adult-onset asthma can occur at any time in life&mdash;even in adults over 50.

There are two reasons older adults get diagnosed with asthma for the first time, says Stephen Wasserman, MD, professor of medicine in the division of Rheumatology, Allergy &amp; Immunology at UCSD. First, many adults have had symptoms their whole life, and they&#39;re only just getting diagnosed in older age. For example, they may have lived with a chronic cough and thought it normal until their diagnosis.

Or, asthma symptoms are sometimes triggered after a specific health problem, such as viral pneumonia. Dr. Wasserman also noted that childhood asthma sometimes comes back as you get older. No one knows why, but some people seem to go through a &quot;honeymoon period&quot; when they don&#39;t have symptoms, only to have asthma reappear later in life.

Will asthma change as you get older? 
While symptoms in children and teens usually come and go, adults tend to have more persistent symptoms. Also, people with <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/asthma-respiratory-problems/article/fact-on-adult-onset-asthma">adult-onset asthma</a> usually don&#39;t &quot;outgrow&quot; it, the way some children do.

But the real problem with asthma as you get older isn&#39;t really about asthma itself. &quot;The biggest issue with aging asthmatics is the risk of developing other conditions,&quot; Wasserman explains. &quot;Having multiple illnesses at once can exacerbate asthma symptoms.&quot;

That means if you&#39;re managing more than one health problem, you may need to check in with <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/asthma-respiratory-problems/article/what-you-need-to-know-about-asthma">your asthma doctor</a> more often to make sure that other medicine you take isn&#39;t making asthma worse. He said most medications can work together without a problem. For example, most people are able to use inhaled medications for asthma even if they have other health concerns. But they should be used with caution if you&#39;re also taking medicine for a GI condition or heart disease.

Wasserman recommends seeing a general doctor, an allergist and other specialists (such as a cardiologist for a heart problem), so that, together as a team, you can keep your asthma and health on track.

Warning signs that asthma is getting worse 
If you&#39;ve had asthma your whole life (whether you knew it or not) that&#39;s gone untreated, it will undoubtedly get worse over time. The good news is that if you&#39;ve been managing asthma successfully for years, you know your symptoms, triggers and best meds.

As a reminder, here are some signs asthma may be worsening:

<ul>
	<li>Your symptoms are flaring frequently (more than twice a week or even daily)</li>
	<li>You&#39;re having trouble sleeping</li>
	<li>You&#39;re cutting back on more and more activities</li>
	<li>Symptoms are more severe than usual</li>
</ul>

If you feel like your treatment isn&#39;t working, circle back with your doctor to tweak your asthma action plan for better results.

But a word to the wise from Wasserman: Feeling asthma relief doesn&#39;t necessarily mean you should stop taking your control medication. Asthma meds only treat symptoms&mdash;not cure the disease, he says. &quot;So if someone isn&#39;t seeing symptoms, that means the controller meds are working really well, and you don&#39;t want to halt effective treatment.&quot;&nbsp;

Medically reviewed in April 2018. Updated in August 2019.

Having Asthma as an Older Adult

Taking care of asthma doesn&#39;t just mean looking after your lungs&mdash;it means keeping your whole body in check. One of the easiest ways to protect your overall health and avoid damaging and deadly diseases is vaccination. Vaccines are especially important for people with chronic conditions (like asthma) who may have a harder time fighting illnesses. Also, regularly using corticosteroids for asthma may slightly weaken the immune system, but research on this potential risk has had mixed results. Either way, it&#39;s a good idea to protect yourself with these vaccines.

Vaccines to Protect Your Lungs 
<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/vaccines-immunology/who-gets-flu-vaccine">Flu vaccine</a>: This yearly shot can be a drag, but the flu can be a real health danger for someone with asthma&mdash;causing serious illness and even death. There&#39;s a myth that the flu shot can bring on asthma symptoms, but medical research has found this to be untrue. Just avoid the live nasal spray vaccine, which may lead to wheezing and other symptoms.

<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/pneumonia/get-the-pneumonia-vaccine">Pneumococcal vaccine</a>: This shot protects against pneumonia, a potentially deadly infection in the lungs. Asthma ups your risk for getting pneumonia and related infections, so people with asthma should get this vaccine. One shot protects you for most of your life. But you should get revaccinated if you&#39;re 65 or older, or if you&#39;ve had kidney failure or cancer.

<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/adult-vaccination/article/why-you-probably-need-the-tdap-shot">Tdap vaccine</a>: Get this vaccine to protect against tetanus (lockjaw), diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough), all of which can lead to very serious breathing problems. This shot is recommended for all adults if they didn&#39;t get it as a child and for pregnant women. And if it&#39;s been a long time since you&#39;ve had this shot, or can&#39;t remember, ask your doctor if you need a Td booster.

Other Vaccines to Stay Well 
Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine: This shot is recommended for people born in 1957 or after. Healthcare professionals, college students and international travelers are most at risk for getting measles, mumps and rubella. You can get two shots for extra protection against these diseases. In a small study, the MMR vaccine actually reduced the risk of children developing asthma.

Varicella (Chickenpox) vaccine: This vaccine protects against chickenpox. It&#39;s often given to children, but you can still get it as an adult if you&#39;ve never gotten sick with chickenpox. This shot will also help protect your body from shingles, which come from the same virus.

Zoster (Shingles) vaccine: One study found that people with asthma were 70 percent more likely to develop shingles. People who have had chickenpox are at risk for getting shingles, an infection that shows up as a painful rash. This shot is recommended for people 50 and older. People who have already had shingles should also get this vaccine to prevent another infection.

Vaccine recommendations are complex and depend on your overall health and <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/adult-vaccination/article/how-to-keep-track-of-vaccination-history">what immunizations you&#39;ve had</a> before, so ask your doctor which vaccines you need.

Medically reviewed in April 2018.

6 Important Vaccines for People with Asthma

<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/copd/article/what-you-need-know-copd">Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease</a>, or COPD, is a progressive lung condition that can cause shortness of breath, chronic cough, fatigue and wheezing.

Proper COPD management often requires a three-pronged approach that includes prescription medications, supportive therapies like pulmonary rehabilitation or supplemental oxygen and lifestyle changes.

If the thought of trying to maintain three lines of treatment at once sounds overwhelming, that&rsquo;s understandable. The good news is that you&rsquo;re not alone: Working with your doctor to develop a plan that suits your needs can empower you to take charge of your health and tackle the challenges posed by COPD.

Benefits of COPD treatment 
There&rsquo;s no cure for COPD. But there&rsquo;s plenty you can do to manage your symptoms and prevent your condition from getting worse. The three-pronged approach to COPD management offers a variety of benefits to your health.

1. Medication 
First and foremost, taking your medication as prescribed is essential. Some medications are intended to treat a COPD flare&mdash;in other words, to help relieve symptoms right away. Other medications work more slowly over time to help keep symptoms at bay.

Regardless of which medications you&rsquo;re prescribed, following your <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/copd-treatment/article/understanding-copd-treatment-plan">COPD treatment plan</a> as directed can help you:

<ul>
	<li>Improve COPD symptoms</li>
	<li>Enjoy everyday activities</li>
	<li>Prevent future COPD flares</li>
</ul>

2. Additional therapies for COPD 
Programs like pulmonary rehabilitation can help empower you to take charge of your health and manage any negative emotions you may be feeling about your diagnosis. Because it can often help to connect with others who understand what you&rsquo;re going through and share tips for living with and managing COPD, many pulmonary rehab programs have a social support component that puts you in touch with other patients.

If your doctor recommends oxygen therapy, sticking with it can help you stay active, feel more comfortable and boost confidence, which can help you feel better overall.

3. Making changes to your everyday life 
<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/copd/slideshow/living-well-with-copd-expert-tips">Lifestyle changes</a> also play an important role in managing COPD. Quitting smoking, exercising regularly and doing what you can to reduce the risk of infections (such as getting your flu shot every year) can help you breathe easier, reduce COPD flares and further improve your quality of life. Your doctor will also determine whether you may benefit from dietary supplementation to help maintain your energy levels.

The risks of uncontrolled COPD 
If you don&rsquo;t follow your COPD treatment plan, you&rsquo;re putting yourself at an increased risk of developing more frequent, worsening symptoms&mdash;and potentially very serious health issues.

For starters, COPD is related to a number of health complications, from respiratory infections, to lung cancer, to issues with your heart and depression. The risk for developing these complications goes up when you don&rsquo;t take steps to properly manage COPD.

Quitting smoking is an essential part of your treatment plan for a reason. The main cause of COPD is smoking, and it&rsquo;s no surprise that cigarette smoke can cause an existing case of COPD to worsen more quickly. It&rsquo;s never too late and always important to <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/quit-smoking/slideshow/ways-to-overcome-cigarette-cravings">quit smoking</a>, because quitting can help slow the progression of the disease and prevent the loss of lung function. If you&rsquo;re having trouble quitting, talk to your doctor about smoking cessation aids that may help.

Most importantly, if left untreated, COPD can cause serious, long-term disability and even death&mdash;in fact, COPD is one of the leading causes of death in the United States.

Thankfully, many of the worst outcomes of COPD can be avoided by following your COPD treatment plan.

Overcoming treatment obstacles 
In many cases, the three-pronged approach to COPD management can be a lot for one person to keep track of on their own, so don&rsquo;t be afraid to speak up if you need help staying on top of it all. Start with these tips:

Learn how to properly administer your medication. Many COPD medications are designed for you to breathe directly into your lungs. This is usually accomplished with the use of a device like an inhaler or a nebulizer. What makes things complicated is that there are various types of these devices available, and each works slightly differently. So if you don&rsquo;t know how to use yours properly, you may not be getting the full dosage you need. It&rsquo;s important to consult your healthcare provider every step of the way if you need help integrating your medication into your daily life.

Ask questions. Since COPD is a progressive disease, you may need to make adjustments to your treatment plan over time. As a result, new questions may crop up. Don&rsquo;t be afraid to speak up if you need clarification on how to properly manage your condition at any step along your treatment path.

Schedule regular checkups. These visits give you a chance to discuss how well you&rsquo;re managing with your doctor. Let your care team know if you&rsquo;re experiencing any new or worsening symptoms or if any daily activities have become increasingly difficult to complete. If necessary, your doctor will make tweaks to your treatment plan that can help you feel better.

Stick with the plan 
It&rsquo;s important to remember that you need to stay on top of your COPD treatment at all times. The goal, of course, is to get you feeling and living better. But even if you start feeling better, you need to continue taking your medication as directed so that it offers its fullest benefit. It&rsquo;s crucial to avoid skipping doses or stopping altogether without your doctor&rsquo;s signoff, as doing so can worsen your COPD.

How to Stick With Your COPD Treatment Plan

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a progressive lung disorder that makes breathing difficult, affects more than 16 million Americans and is the third leading cause of death in the United States. In addition to the physical toll COPD takes on the body, research shows that the disease also reduces quality of life and can negatively impact the mental health of patients and their families. Research also shows that COPD patients with psychological conditions have higher rates of hospital readmission.

A study from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston tracked a decade&#39;s worth of hospital admission rates for Medicare recipients with COPD. The data showed that COPD patients with one or more psychological risk factors (such as depression or anxiety) were 5 to 14 percent more likely than other COPD patients to be readmitted to a hospital within 30 days of discharge. The rate of readmission was even higher in patients who had psychological conditions such as <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/diet-nutrition/alcohol-health/binge-drinking-america-health-issue">alcohol problems</a> or psychosis, or who had at least two simultaneous conditions.

The study findings make sense, according to Philip Diaz, MD, professor of medicine and director of the COPD programs at The Ohio State University College of Medicine in Columbus.

&ldquo;It&rsquo;s consistent with some other data that would support that concept,&rdquo; he says, noting that people with any kind of disabling, chronic condition are prone to depression and anxiety. With COPD, this is probably due at least in part to the fear generated by breathing difficulties.

&ldquo;[With COPD] your lung mechanics are such that you have difficulty getting air out,&rdquo; says Diaz, explaining that people with COPD often have trouble exhaling. This may cause them to hyperventilate out of panic and end up calling an ambulance.

&ldquo;What starts as a psychological issue may make a physiological problem much worse.&rdquo; Diaz added that people who are <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/mental-health-behavior/bipolar-disorder/more-than-the-blues">depressed</a> or anxious may be less likely to adhere to treatment plans and medication schedules, which can also lead to symptoms becoming worse and result in the need for hospital readmission.

In Diaz&rsquo;s practice, he likes to enroll COPD patients in pulmonary rehabilitation, also called pulmonary rehab or PR. Pulmonary rehabilitation is a program that works to improve a person&rsquo;s ability to breathe through a number of different approaches. While programs are tailored to the needs of a patient, it can include education about the respiratory system and how it is impacted by disease, as well as training in relaxation techniques, breathing strategies, nutrition and exercise. It can also include psychological counseling and meetings with support groups. Pulmonary rehabilitation is used alongside medical treatments for COPD.

Mental Health & Hospital Readmission for COPD Patients

Learn about eosinophils, biologic therapies and other key terms.

5 Terms that E-Asthma Patients Should Understand

If you have asthma, you might think that you&#39;re all set once you have your treatment plan in place. The truth is,&nbsp;asthma symptoms&nbsp;can change over time. They can get worse, then better, then worse again&mdash;and it never really goes away. You need to be constantly vigilant about tracking your asthma symptoms and reporting in with your healthcare provider (HCP) frequently.&nbsp;

Revisit these key parts of your plan to&nbsp;ensure&nbsp;you&#39;re&nbsp;still&nbsp;getting the best treatment for your asthma.&nbsp;

1. Keep that diary up to date&nbsp; 
To achieve the greatest asthma relief, keep a faithful written record of your asthma symptoms and triggers. Be sure to include the following:&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Instances of shortness of breath, wheezing or coughing&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Changes to the amount or thickness of your phlegm&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Times when sleep problems occurred because of shortness of breath, wheezing or coughing&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Instances of pain or tightness in your chest&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Number of times you use your rescue inhaler and how many puffs you take&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Number of days you missed school, work, errands or other daily activities because of asthma&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Times when workouts or physical activities triggered symptoms&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Episodes of allergy and hay fever symptoms, such as sneezing or runny nose&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Any other triggers that brought on asthma symptoms&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

2. Check in on your lungs&nbsp; 
Whether you use a peak flow meter at home or a spirometry gage at the HCP&rsquo;s office, a frequent lung-function examination is one of the most reliable ways to know how your lungs are doing&mdash;so your HCP knows how to treat your asthma. Work with your HCP on setting up a schedule for testing how fast you can force air out of your lungs, how much air your lungs can hold and how much air you can exhale after a deep breath.&nbsp;

3. Keep a constant eye on your triggers&nbsp; 
Although medication is one of the best treatments for asthma, there are many steps you can also take on your own to help control your it. Identifying and avoiding your triggers is a huge part of that. Keep in mind, though, that triggers may change over time. Don&#39;t assume that just because you&#39;ve got your trigger list figured out, the list won&#39;t change. Something that didn&#39;t used to bother you may start to become an issue, especially if you have allergic asthma, and you can develop new allergies to substances as an adult. &nbsp;

4. Make your meds work for you&nbsp; 
Your HCP has probably prescribed medication to help treat&mdash;or prevent&mdash;your asthma symptoms. A quick-relief medication, such as a rescue inhaler, helps treat active symptoms.&nbsp;Long-term control medications&nbsp;are designed to keep lungs functioning at their peak and help prevent asthma attacks. The type and amount of medication you need depends on your triggers and symptoms, and your needs may change over time. Check in with your HCP on how your medications are working for you. If you use quick-relief medications more often than your HCP has advised, talk with your HCP about whether a long-term control medication may be more effective for you.&nbsp;

5. Treat your allergies&nbsp; 
Half of all asthma cases are related to allergies, so if you have never been tested, ask your HCP if&nbsp;allergy testing&nbsp;might play a role in your treatment for asthma. If you have known allergies, avoid those allergens as much as possible. Some allergens, such as household dust, can be hard to avoid. If you can&#39;t avoid your allergens altogether, treat the symptoms to help reduce respiratory inflammation that could trigger asthma attacks. A variety of oral and nasal antihistamines, decongestants and corticosteroid sprays can help treat your allergies. You also can investigate immunotherapy, in which a minute amount of allergen is administered via injection over time to help build up a tolerance.&nbsp;

Medically reviewed in May 2018. Updated in March 2021.&nbsp;

Lung Health