Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Other Treatment

Other treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) includes:

• Pulmonary rehabilitation, which employs a team of health professionals that monitors and treats the medical, physical, and emotional aspects of COPD. It generally combines exercise, breathing therapy, emotional support, nutritional guidance, and education. Pulmonary rehabilitation is required for people who are having lung volume reduction surgery or a lung transplant.
• Oxygen treatment, which increases the amount of oxygen in the blood and lungs, may improve shortness of breath, and prolongs survival for people who have severe COPD and low oxygen levels. For more information, see:

  Oxygen therapy: Using oxygen at home.

• Ventilation devices, which are used to aid breathing. They are used most often in the hospital during a sudden and severe increase in shortness of breath (COPD exacerbation).
• Alpha-1 antitrypsin injections (such as Aralast, Prolastin, or Zemaira), which may be helpful for people who have alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.