COPD is a term used to describe a group of lung diseases, like emphysema and chronic bronchitis. All these conditions cause the affected person’s airways to narrow, which traps air in the lungs and makes it very difficult to breathe. COPD affects many people around the world, and is one of the leading causes of death. In this article, we will explore some of the common forms of COPD treatment that help manage this respiratory condition.
Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
COPD treatment is done based on the type and severity of the disease, whether it's mild or advanced.
1. The most essential step in any COPD treatment plan is to quit smoking. Stopping smoking will prevent your disease from getting worse and reduce your ability to breathe.
2. Medications are involved in the treatment that needs to be taken regularly. Bronchodilators are medications taken using inhalers — they relax the muscles around your airways.
Examples of short-acting bronchodilators include:
- Albuterol
- Ipratropium
- Levalbuterol
Examples of long-acting bronchodilators include:
- Aclidinium
- Arformoterol
- Formoterol
- Indacaterol
- Tiotropium
- Salmeterol
- Umeclidinium
3. Inhaled steroids
Inhaled corticosteroid medications can help descrease inflammation in the airways and help prevent flair-ups. Examples of inhaled steroids include:
4. Combination inhalers
Some medications combine bronchodilators and inhaled steroids. Examples of these combination inhalers include:
- Fluticasone and vilanterol
- Fluticasone, umeclidinium, and vilanterol
- Formoterol and budesonide
- Salmeterol and fluticasone
- Aclidinium and formoterol
- Albuterol and ipratropium
5. Oral steroids are also given to patients who are in their periods when their condition gets worse. However, long-term use can cause side effects.
6. Phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors, Theophylline, and antibiotics are oral medications used as oral supplements to treat COPD.
7. Lung therapies: Doctors often use additional therapies for people with moderate to severe COPD, like Lung Therapy and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programs
8. In-home noninvasive ventilation therapy: Recent research supports in-hospital use of breathing devices such as bilevel-positive airway pressure (BiPAP), but some research now supports the benefit of its use at home.
9. Severe forms of COPD treatment include three types of surgery, i.e., Lung volume reduction surgery, lung transplant, and bullectomy.