Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease Medications

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Treatment Approach for Stable COPD

Stopping Smoking. Stopping smoking is the first and most important step in treating COPD and slowing its progression. Quitting smoking decreases symptoms of breathlessness and cough, as well as the risk of heart disease, likely due to decreased inflammation.

Diet. Good nutrition is always important. Dietary issues become critical in late COPD, when breathing is difficult. Many patients with COPD lose muscle tone and body mass, and appear to waste away. This may be due to the extreme effort it takes to breathe, which rapidly consumes calories. Some patients find it difficult to stop the effort of breathing long enough to chew food. A nutritionist can find the right foods and design meal plans to help COPD patients be as healthy as possible. There is not strong evidence to support the use of nutritional supplements in patients with COPD. It may help to avoid cured meats, which research indicates can increase the risk of COPD.

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Supplemental Oxygen. Supplemental oxygen is an important part of COPD therapy. It can:

• Improve exercise endurance
• Improve quality of life and mental outlook
• Improve sleep
• Reduce breathlessness
• Reduce pulmonary hypertension

All of these factors are affected, along with the lungs' ability to exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen. There is some evidence that supplemental oxygen may also reduce heart problems in patients with COPD. Long-term oxygen therapy given continuously through the nose has been shown to extend survival by as much as 30%.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation. Pulmonary rehabilitation is a proven method of relieving shortness of breath (dyspnea), reducing hospitalizations and disability from COPD, increasing exercise capacity, and improving mental and physical quality of life, although there is no proof that it improves survival. The treatment is recommended for patients with stable chronic lung disease who are significantly affected by respiratory symptoms.

Although pulmonary rehabilitation doesn't improve lung function, it strengthens muscles and improves other body systems to minimize the effects of lung dysfunction.