Treatment
There’s no cure, so the treatment goal is to ease your symptoms and slow the disease. Your doctor will also want to prevent or treat any complications and improve your overall quality of life.
One of the best things you can do to stop your COPD from getting worse is to stop smoking. Talk to your doctor about different things you can try.
Medical Treatment
Your plan may include:
- Bronchodilators: You inhale these medicines. They help open your airways.
- Corticosteroids: These drugs reduce airway inflammation. You could inhale them or take them as pills.
- Combination inhalers: These inhalers pair steroids with a bronchodilator.
- Antibiotics: Your doctor might prescribe these to fight bacterial infections.
- Roflumilast ( Daliresp ): This drug stops an enzyme called PDE4. It prevents flare-ups in people whose COPD is linked to chronic bronchitis.
- Flu or pneumonia vaccines: These vaccines lower your risk for these illnesses.
- Pulmonary rehabilitation: This program includes exercise, disease management, and counseling to help you stay as healthy and active as possible.
- Oxygen therapy: You may need this to reduce shortness of breath, protect your organs, and enhance your quality of life.