Coping With the Emotional Impact of COPD...Living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can have a strong emotional impact on a person. COPD not only affects the lungs but also the mental and emotional well-being of...
Preparing for Emergencies...Being prepared for emergencies is crucial for people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). There are 2 types of emergencies to prepare for:Acute exacerbations, also called COPD flare-ups, happen...
COPD Management Plan...Life with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be complex and hard to manage. Patients may have several different kinds of medications to keep track of, and COPD symptoms can...
Practicing Good Hygiene...For patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), getting an infection can make their breathing symptoms much worse. Infections are also the most common cause of acute exacerbations, which are...
Vaccinations...During a vaccination, a needle is used to inject a vaccine into a person’s body. A vaccine is a substance that strengthens the body’s ability to provide what is called...
Avoiding Allergens and Irritants...Learning about how to avoid allergens and irritants is an important part of the pulmonary rehabilitation program for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Allergens and irritants are tiny...
Quitting Smoking...Quitting smoking is the most important thing that a person with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can do to manage the disease. Quitting smoking will not “cure” COPD or reverse...
Lung Transplant...A lung transplant is a type of surgery that may be an option for certain people with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A lung transplant is a surgery to...
Lung Volume Reduction Surgery...In some cases, drugs and lifestyle changes are not enough to manage the symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). If COPD becomes severe and begins to affect quality of...
Bullectomy...Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a condition that can make it hard to breathe. In COPD, getting air out of the lungs can become a problem over time. Known...
Lifestyle Changes Overview...Lifestyle changes can help people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) reduce their risk of getting infections. This is very important because infections are the most common cause of acute...
Staying Hydrated...Staying hydrated is a key part of managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This means drinking enough of the right liquids every day. When the body does not have enough...
Meal Planning...For patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), meal planning can help to make sure that they are consuming enough of the right kinds of nutrients to power the body’s...
Nutritional Counseling and Weight Management...The food you eat and your body weight can affect your breathing. This is why nutritional counseling is an important part of managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). There is...
Exercising with COPD...Exercising regularly is one of the best ways that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can help manage the disease. For this reason, planning and following an exercise routine...
Breathing Strategies for COPD...People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often have trouble breathing. Fortunately, there are exercises and strategies that can help make breathing easier. COPD causes obstructive airflow from the lungs...
Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program...Pulmonary rehabilitation programs can be very helpful for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Pulmonary rehabilitation programs combine education and monitored exercise to help people with COPD learn about...
Surgery for COPD...Surgery may be a treatment option for some people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Surgery can help the lungs work better and improve quality of life. But surgery is...
Oxygen Therapy...One treatment prescribed for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is oxygen therapy. This is also known as supplemental oxygen. COPD is a progressive lung disease. Over time, the lungs struggle...
Supplements, Herbal Treatments, and Antioxidants...Some people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) use supplements, herbal treatments, or antioxidants as complementary therapy for treating their symptoms. Complementary therapy means they are used along with prescribed...