COPD… It Will Take Your Breath Away – Part 3
If you are diagnosed with COPD, you and your doctor will discuss a treatment plan just for you. Treatment can options include the following:
- If you are a smoker, the single most effective treatment is quitting smoking.
- Take your medicine as prescribed by your doctor. These are usually inhalers that can open your airways and keep them from getting swollen. Some may be taken with a nebulizer, a machine that changes liquid medicine into a fine mist which makes it easier to inhale deep into the lungs.
- If your COPD is severe, oxygen therapy may be used to help with shortness of breath. This may be needed all day and all night or only part of the time. Be sure to understand how to safely use oxygen.
- Pulmonary Rehabilitation is a program that teaches you about COPD, how to exercise and how to manage your disease, and provides support and counseling.
- In some rare cases, surgery may be recommended for people with very severe COPD.
The American Lung Association has many useful publications designed to help you understand and manage your COPD.
Rehab Home Health has a number of Specialty Programs that support particular health concerns including COPD. Contact us at 855-FLA-Nurse for more information.
Posted in: UncategorizedTagged: American Lung Association, COPD, Oxygen therpay, Pulmonary rehabilitation, Rehab Home Health, shortness of breath, smoking
