Patient Information HTML © Priory Lodge Education 1997
How is COPD Treated?
There are five main approaches to treatment:-
- Prevent further damage.
- Take bronchodilators, (relievers), to open up the airways as much as possible.
- Reduce the inflammation in the lungs, if your doctor decides it is present, by taking preventers.
- Take other medicines that the doctor may prescribe e.g. antibiotics.
- Increase what you can achieve by improving your fitness.
There are many things you can do to help yourself. The most important of these is to stop smoking. IT IS NEVER TOO LATE. At first you may feel worse and cough up more phlegm than usual, but persevere. It will get better and will prevent further damage to your lungs. Patients with COPD who continue to smoke will get more infections and their symptoms will worsen in spite of the best medical treatment. The fitter you are in general, the better you will feel.