You can only manage, not cure, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
Anthony Spinola, MD, an internist from Pittsburgh, and a Pennsylvania Medical Society member, says, “If you smoke, the best thing you can do is quit.
“You can’t reverse the damage, but you can keep your condition from getting worse. Develop a quit plan with your doctor.”
Your doctor also may prescribe certain medications to help treat the symptoms of COPD, such as bronchodilators, vaccinations, inhaled steroids, or antibiotics. He or she may also suggest oxygen therapy or a pulmonary rehabilitation program.
In some cases, surgery is an option and may include a lung transplant (in more severe cases such as emphysema) or lung volume reduction surgery, where small wedges of damaged lung tissue are removed to make room in the chest cavity for remaining lung tissue and to allow the diaphragm to work more efficiently.
Tips for living with COPD
COPD doesn’t have a cure, and treatment entails treating symptoms. If you are diagnosed:
- Avoid lung irritants and quit smoking
- Keep up with your ongoing care
- Manage your condition and the symptoms
- See your doctor if you experience new symptoms, signs of infection, or if your current symptoms get worse.
Dr. Spinola also recommends that patients with COPD (and anyone over the age of 65) have a flu shot every year and a pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccine every five years.
“We can’t cure COPD, but we can help patients manage it” he said.