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 more...
Natural Remedies for COPD...Some people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) use natural remedies as part of their COPD treatment plan. When natural remedies are used along with a treatment plan, they are...
PDE4 Inhibitors and Methylxanthines...Phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors (PDE4 inhibitors) and methylxanthines are 2 types of drugs. Both may be used to treat people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).People with COPD often face irritated and...
COPD Treatment Guidelines...If you are diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the next step is to work with your doctor to create an individualized COPD treatment plan. Experts have developed a...