Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Living With COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be managed, although it cannot be cured at this time. Management includes quitting smoking if you smoke, taking steps to avoid shortness of breath, and staying active and eating well. Also, learning about COPD and support from your family and friends will help you cope with COPD.

Quitting smoking is the most important step you can take to prevent or slow damage to your lungs—it is never too late to stop smoking. No matter how long you have had COPD or how serious it is, quitting smoking will help slow the disease and improve your quality of life. Nicotine replacement therapy, use of the medicine bupropion (Zyban or Wellbutrin) or varenicline (Chantix), and supportive therapy each significantly increase long-term success in quitting.⁵ For more information, see the topic Quitting Tobacco Use.

Avoid shortness of breath

Do all you can to make breathing easier.

Avoid conditions that may irritate your lungs, such as indoor and outdoor air pollution, smog, cold dry air, hot humid air, or high altitudes.

COPD: Avoiding your triggers

Take rest breaks. Schedule short rest breaks when doing household chores and other activities. An occupational or physical therapist can help you find ways to do everyday activities with less effort.

Stay as active as possible and get regular exercise. Try to do activities and exercises that build muscle strength and help your cardiovascular system. For more information, see:

COPD: Using exercise to feel better.

Learn breath training techniques to improve airflow in and out of your lungs.

COPD: Learning to breathe easier

Learn ways to clear your lungs that can help you save energy and oxygen.

COPD: Clearing your lungs

Discuss pulmonary rehabilitation with your doctor.

Take the medicines prescribed by your doctor. If you use a metered-dose inhaler (MDI), be sure you know how to use it properly. For more information, see:

Using a metered-dose inhaler.

Eat well

Good nutrition is important to maintain your strength and health. Problems with muscle weakness and weight loss are common in people with COPD. People with COPD who are very underweight, especially those with emphysema, are at higher risk of early death than are people with COPD who have a normal weight.⁷ For more information, see:

COPD: Keeping your diet healthy.

COPD: Avoiding weight loss.

Seek education and support

Treating more than the disease and its symptoms is vital to success. You also need:

• Education. Educating yourself and your family about COPD and your treatment program helps you and your family cope with your lung disease.
• Counseling and support. Shortness of breath may reduce your activity level and make you feel socially isolated because you cannot enjoy activities with your family and friends. You should be able to lead a full life and be sexually active. Counseling and support groups can help you learn to live with COPD.
• A support network of family, friends, and health professionals. Learning that you have a disease that may shorten your life may trigger depression or grieving. Anxiety can make respiratory symptoms worse and can trigger or prolong exacerbations. Support from family and friends can reduce anxiety and stress and make it easier to live with COPD.
• Your treatment plan. Following a treatment plan will make you feel better and less likely to become depressed. A self-reward system, such as a night out to eat after staying on your medicine and exercise schedule for a week, can help keep you motivated.

Palliative care

If your disease gets worse, you may want to think about palliative care. Palliative care is a kind of care for people who have illnesses that do not go away and often get worse over time. It is different than care to cure your illness, called curative treatment. Palliative care focuses on improving your quality of life—not just in your body, but also in your mind and spirit. Some people combine palliative care with curative care.

Palliative care may help you manage symptoms or side effects from treatment. It could also help you cope with your feelings about living with a long-term disease, make future plans around your medical care, or help your family better understand your disease and how to support you.

If you are interested in palliative care, talk to your doctor. He or she may be able to manage your care or refer you to a doctor who specializes in this type of care.

For more information, see the topic Palliative Care.

End-of-life issues

Treatment for COPD is increasingly successful at prolonging life. But COPD is a progressive and potentially fatal disease. Many important end-of-life decisions can be made while you are active and able to communicate your wishes. For more information, see the topics Care at the End of Life and Writing an Advance Directive.