COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is the most common disease affecting the lungs. COPD consists of the diseases known as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Common symptoms include shortness of breath, wheezing, and a chronic cough that often contains mucus. There is no cure for COPD, although several COPD therapy options are available that may help to relieve symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. COPD therapy may consist of lifestyle changes, the use of prescription medications, or surgery.
The first step in COPD therapy is to stop smoking. This is the easiest and most effective way to slow COPD progression. Patients who stop smoking can often reverse some of the effects of COPD and may recover a significant amount of lung function.
Various types of prescription medications are often used as a form of COPD therapy. Inhaled medications are frequently used and may be able to combat some of the worst symptoms of COPD, such as shortness of breath. Oral medications may be used to reduce the amount of inflammation in the airway. If the damage is severe, IV medications may need to be given in a hospital setting. Antibiotics or other prescription medications may be used in some situations.
Oxygen therapy is not needed by everyone with COPD, although the use of oxygen can be an important part of COPD therapy for many people. The patient needing this type of treatment is prescribed oxygen for home use. Oxygen may need to be used occasionally by some or more regularly by others. When oxygen levels in the blood are low, oxygen therapy can help to improve both the physical and mental functioning of the patient.
In some cases, a combination of different treatment methods may become necessary. Unfortunately, as there is no cure for COPD, the disease may progress to the point where these treatment options are no longer working. In these cases, surgical intervention may be necessary in order to save the life of the patient. In some instances, a portion of the diseased lungs may be removed in order to allow the healthier portion of the lungs to function better.
In many cases, a lung transplant is the best COPD therapy option. In this surgery, the diseased lung is surgically removed and replaced with a healthy lung from an organ donor. The patient undergoing this type of surgery will need to take prescription medications daily for the remainder of her life in an attempt to prevent the body from rejecting the new organ.
