What are the treatments for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease?
The damage to patient’s lung tissues and function cannot be reversed. Thus, COPD cannot be cured.
Quit smoking
Quit smoking can ease the coughing and reduce the amount of sputum as well as slow down the deterioration. Patient can get counseling and / or drug therapy to help kick the habit.
Drug therapy
Medication can help improve the condition of patient and mitigate the impact of the disease to the patient’s daily life. Common medication includes:
- Bronchodilators: relax the muscles in the airway, resulting in airway dilatation and ease the symptoms. There are two types of bronchodilators, oral and metered dose inhalers. Metered dose inhaler can deliver the puff of medication into the airway directly. If the inhalation method is correct, the dosage needed can be smaller than that of oral bronchodilator, and also the side effects of medication, e.g. palpitation, shaky hands, sleeplessness, headache, dry mouth and muscle cramp can be reduced.
- Steroids: can reduce airway inflammation, but not all patients will get better after using it. Prolonged use of oral steroids may have side effects of weakened immunity and osteoporosis; while using inhaled steroids may cause sore throat and infection of monilia in the throat, but inhaled steroid have fewer side effects on the body than those of oral steroids.
- Antibiotics: doctor will prescribe drugs to patient with bacterial infections to control the condition.
- Expectorant: thinning sputum for easier expectoration.
Long-term oxygen therapy
Doctor will prescribe long-term oxygen therapy to patient with severe hypoxia. After assessment by doctor and therapist, patient should install oxygen concentrator, and carry light and portable equipment when going out. Patient should follow doctors' instructions on using the appropriate concentration of oxygen and should not adjust it on his/her own discretion.
Pulmonary rehabilitation treatment
It can reduce the need for hospitalization and improve the quality of life. The treatment generally includes teaching skills on controlling shortness of breath, breathing exercise, methods of removing sputum (e.g. expectoration posture and skills), coordination of respiration and body movements, endurance training, methods on saving physical strength, stress management skills and recommendations for diet. Pulmonary rehabilitation treatment is provided by multi-displinary health care professionals, including doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and dietitians.
Surgery
Some of the patients with severe emphysema may require surgery in order to remove part of the lungs.
In recent years, newer less invasive surgical procedure is also used, which involves implanting a small valve during bronchoscopy procedure into a specific bronchus which collapses the corresponding lobe of lung. This method serves the same purpose with removal of a lobe of lung, and to provide more rooms to expand so as to alleviate symptoms and enhance physical endurance.