COPD medications, therapy, surgery, and lifestyle changes

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, commonly referred to as COPD, is a long-term lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the lungs. The most common signs and symptoms include breathing difficulty, wheezing, cough, and mucus production. COPD is a progressive disease, so these symptoms tend to become worse over time. Even though there is no cure for COPD, many treatments can help relieve the symptoms, slow disease progression, and improve quality of life. Herein, let’s look at the many treatment options for COPD.

Medications

Meditations are among the popular treatment options for COPD. Different types of therapies are used to treat the many signs and symptoms. Some common medications include the following.

• Bronchodilators

These medications help relax the muscles around the airway and widen it. This can make breathing easier, reduce coughing, and improve shortness of breath. Bronchodilators are usually inhaled through an inhaler or a nebulizer. Depending on how severe the symptoms are, an individual may need short-acting bronchodilators that help relieve symptoms quickly, long-acting bronchodilators that must be used every day, or both.

• Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids help decrease lung inflammation, making it easier for air to flow in and out of the lungs. This also helps reduce irritation and swelling in the airway. These medications come in the form of tablets, inhaler devices, and even injections. It’s important to know that corticosteroids can cause various side effects, especially when taken intravenously or orally. The side effects include increased blood sugar levels, headache, and dry mouth.

Lung therapy

Lung therapies are often prescribed to individuals with moderate or severe COPD. These include the following.

• Oxygen therapy

As COPD progresses, oxygen levels in the body tend to go down. Oxygen therapy is designed to increase the oxygen level in the blood and ease breathing-related symptoms. The treatment involves inhaling oxygen from a machine via a mask or nasal tubes. An individual may need oxygen therapy all the time, while sleeping, or during certain activities.

• Pulmonary rehabilitation program

The program involves learning more about COPD to help manage it better, exercises to ease symptoms, and nutritional and psychological counseling. For this, the individual may need to work with multiple doctors and specialists. The program can reduce the risk of readmission to a hospital when symptoms flare up and make performing daily activities easier.

Surgery

Surgery is usually for people with severe COPD, or doctors may recommend it when other treatment options do not work. Different surgical options include the following.

• Bullectomy

Large spaces called bullae form in the lungs when the walls of the air sacs are destroyed. These open spaces usually make breathing difficult. Bullectomy is a procedure in which bullae from the lungs are removed to improve airflow.

• Lung volume reduction surgery

This surgery involves removing parts of damaged lung tissue to create extra space in the chest cavity. This helps improve lung function and reduce various symptoms of COPD.

• Lung transplant

Lung transplant in people with COPD is rare. Transplantation can help soothe breathing-related symptoms and improve the ability to perform daily activities.

Lifestyle changes and home remedies

Doctors also recommend natural treatments for COPD, such as lifestyle modifications and home remedies, along with medications and other treatments. Natural therapies can help relieve the various symptoms and reduce damage to the lungs.

• Quit smoking

Smoking cigarettes is one of the major causes of COPD, so quitting after COPD diagnosis is vital. It’s also important to avoid secondhand smoke and places with dust, fumes, and other toxic substances, as they can aggravate the symptoms.

• Consume healthy foods

There is no specific diet to follow for COPD. In general, a healthy, balanced diet ensures stronger physical health and helps cope with the disease. Being overweight or underweight is not good for people with COPD, so it’s important to consume a diet that helps maintain a healthy weight. Doctors usually recommend eating various foods from groups such as vegetables, fruits, grain, protein, and dairy products.

• Exercise regularly

Although exercise with COPD can be challenging, exercising boosts overall strength and endurance, including the respiratory muscles’ strength. This can make breathing easier. However, it’s crucial to speak to a doctor before engaging in exercises.

• Improving air quality within the home

Certain irritants in the air can worsen COPD symptoms, so vacuuming or using an air filtration system to get rid of these irritants can be help.

• Drink plenty of water

In people with COPD, air passages are usually blocked because of mucus accumulation. Drinking at least 6 to 8-ounce glasses of water a day helps keep mucus thinner and easier to cough out.