Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Treatment

Treatment options depend on your general medical condition and severity of disease. Options usually include a combination of the following treatments:

Stop smoking

By far, the most important and effective treatment for COPD is stopping smoking, which results in improvement in lung function during the first year after quitting and a return to a normal rate of change in lung function thereafter. Mayo Clinic offers state-of-the-art tobacco cessation treatment.

Medications

• Short-acting bronchodilators, both beta agonists and anticholinergics (an-ti-ko-lin-UR-jiks) are the mainstay of medication therapy for COPD. These medications often provide rapid relief of symptoms (particularly shortness of breath).
• Long-acting bronchodilators are used for moderate to severe COPD.
• Inhaled corticosteroids are recommended for people with moderate to severe COPD who often experience worsening symptoms (exacerbations) or have experienced recurrent hospitalization due to their COPD.
• Systemic corticosteroids (IV or pills) are used to relieve severe symptoms such as airway inflammation and constriction.
• Antibiotics may be beneficial in selected situations (for example, in acute bronchitis).
• Other medications, such as theophylline, in low doses.

Home oxygen therapy

Supplemental oxygen improves the physical and mental functioning of people who have hypoxemia (low blood oxygen).

Pulmonary rehabilitation

For those who have difficulty completing daily tasks, pulmonary rehabilitation may be very beneficial. Mayo Clinic locations in Rochester and Florida offer Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programs. The programs can improve exercise capacity, reduce the hospitalization rate and improve overall quality of life of people with chronic pulmonary disease. The programs are conducted by multidisciplinary teams of specialists with expertise in the care of people with chronic pulmonary diseases. Pulmonary rehabilitation programs are offered on an outpatient or inpatient basis. The typical length of a Pulmonary Rehabilitation program is six to 10 weeks, although the Minnesota campus offers a two-day option.

Managing complications

Screening for and management of associated diseases and conditions is an important part of managing COPD.

People with COPD are particularly vulnerable to complications from bacterial and viral pneumonia. The management of COPD includes the administration of age-appropriate pneumococcal and influenza (flu) vaccinations.

Many people with COPD, particularly those with severe COPD, are underweight and may benefit from nutritional counseling. Some people may develop depression and may benefit from psychotherapy or anti-depressant medication.

Mayo Clinic doctors work closely with health care providers in other departments to provide comprehensive COPD care.

Surgery

Lung transplants are sometimes performed in severe cases of COPD. Mayo Clinic offers lung transplants at its Florida and Minnesota campuses.

Another surgical treatment option is lung volume reduction surgery. In LVRS small wedges of damaged tissue, usually 20 to 30 percent of each lung, are removed, which helps the remaining tissue function better. Following surgery, people often have less shortness of breath and are able to exercise better.

Mayo Clinic pulmonary doctors work closely with thoracic surgeons in the evaluation of patients for surgical therapy of COPD.

Read more about treatment of COPD at MayoClinic.com.