COPD is a progressive condition that makes breathing difficult. Using prescription medication, avoiding triggers, and staying active are the best ways to improve symptoms and prevent exacerbations.
Inhaled bronchodilators are the cornerstone of a comprehensive treatment plan. Supplemental oxygen can also help.
Other medications may be prescribed to thin mucus, manage infection, ease reflux, and reduce anxiety. However, decisions about starting, stopping or changing these drugs belong with your doctor.
Physical Exercise
Incorporating physical activity into a daily routine can help improve your quality of life and overall wellness. However, it is important that you speak to your doctor before you start increasing your physical activity. They may want to do some tests to ensure that you are fit and healthy enough to begin exercising. They will also be able to advise you on the best type of exercises for COPD and how to execute them properly to maximise the benefits without causing further harm.
Studies have found that aerobic exercise training improves lung function, reduces the expression of inflammatory markers and relieves symptoms of COPD. Inspiratory muscle training has also been shown to decrease dyspnea and increase inspiratory muscle strength. It is recommended that people with COPD take part in pulmonary rehabilitation programs which involves supervised exercise training.
When choosing a therapist to help you with your COPD, you should look for an Accredited Exercise Physiologist who specialises in respiratory conditions. They can create a personalised exercise program for you and will be able to assist you with any other lifestyle changes that need to be made as part of your management plan.
There is no cure for COPD, but there are a number of alternative therapies that can be used to manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life. These include:
The best treatment option for you will depend on the severity and type of COPD you have. For example, you might need different treatments for emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Oral medication can help open the airways and reduce inflammation in the lungs. These are usually taken twice a day. Some patients also benefit from nebulized medicine. This is where a solution is turned into a fine mist that can be inhaled directly into the lungs. Maintenance inhalers can also be used to keep your lungs functioning normally.
Many COPD patients can find it hard to perform daily activities such as walking and climbing stairs because they experience breathlessness. This is because the lungs can’t get enough oxygen into the blood to meet the body’s demands. Aerobic exercise training has been shown to improve oxygen uptake during submaximal exercise, and reduce ventilatory requirements at sub-maximal intensity. This increases the amount of physical activity that can be safely performed, and improves quality of life and 6 minute walk test results.
Electrical Stimulation
A variety of treatment options can be used to improve your quality of life with COPD, including electrical stimulation (ES). ES uses mild electric pulses that send signals through the nerves and muscles in order to reduce pain and promote healing. This treatment is often utilized by physical therapists, chiropractors and other medical professionals. A physical therapist can help you determine whether this is an appropriate modality for your care plan.
The most common form of EMS is transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). This involves the use of small electrodes placed over the affected area, which emit low-level electric currents to stimulate the nerves and block pain signals from reaching your brain. This treatment is often paired with active rehabilitation, which helps improve your muscle strength and endurance while decreasing your level of pain.
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is also used to stimulate muscle contractions. It is often used to strengthen weakened or atrophied muscles, which can occur due to injury or surgery. NMES has been shown to reduce pain and increase function in people with COPD.
Interferential electrical current therapy (IFC) is a form of EMS that delivers deeper pain relief by stimulating specific nerve fibers in addition to blocking the pain messages from reaching your brain. This type of EMS is often used to help manage pain in the arms and legs, especially after surgery or injuries.
Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is another form of ES that uses low-level electric pulses to stimulate nerves and muscles in order to improve muscle strength, range of motion, balance and gait. It is commonly used to treat spinal cord injuries, stroke and other conditions that can result in muscle weakness. FES is usually a long-term treatment, and requires a physical therapist who is experienced with this therapy.
When using ES, be sure to tell your physical therapist if you have any sensitive skin or are pregnant, as this may affect the results of the treatment. The therapist can adjust the intensity and settings on the equipment to ensure that you are comfortable with the treatment. It is important to communicate with your therapist throughout the session, so that they can make adjustments to your treatment as needed.
Nebulised Medicine
Nebulizers are electric or battery-powered devices that turn liquid medication into a mist that can be inhaled directly into the lungs. They may be used to treat a variety of respiratory illnesses, including COPD. These medications include bronchodilators, which relax the muscles in the lungs and widen the airways, or bronchi, to make breathing easier. There are also steroids, which decrease inflammation in the lungs and other organs of the body. There are also anticholinergics, which decrease the effects of bronchodilators and may help people with COPD manage symptoms better.
The use of nebulizers is common for patients with COPD. Studies have shown that they can be effective in managing symptoms. However, the impact of nebulizer therapy on other important outcomes, such as the rate of exacerbations and disease progression, is less clear.
Currently, the most commonly used drug to treat COPD is inhaled bronchodilators. These are available in both long-acting and short-acting forms. Taking the longer-acting versions helps to reduce the number of attacks and duration of the attacks. However, the best treatment option for anyone suffering from COPD is to quit smoking. This is because the leading cause of COPD is smoking, so it’s a good idea to find ways to kick the habit as quickly as possible.
It is also worth noting that nebulizers should be seen as an additional method of treatment alongside inhaled bronchodilators, rather than as a replacement for them. This is because the combination of a bronchodilator and an anticholinergic can prolong the effect of the drug, and this combination appears to be more effective than either one alone.
As the research into COPD continues, new drugs and equipment are being developed. For example, high-efficiency nebulizers are now being produced that can reduce the amount of drug wasted during the expiratory phase of the breath cycle. In addition, work is underway to develop a nebuliser that can deliver inhaled a1 antitrypsin, which could be useful in people with a1 deficiency, which predisposes to COPD.
Whether or not nebulizers are the most suitable form of treatment for COPD depends on many factors, including the severity of the disease and personal preference. People with milder forms of the condition are likely to prefer inhalers, while others may find nebulizers more comfortable and convenient.
Oxygen
If your COPD is severe, you may need oxygen therapy to keep blood oxygen levels safe. This treatment helps reduce symptoms, improve quality of life, and prevent serious complications that require hospitalization. Oxygen therapy can be delivered through a variety of devices, including portable systems that are easy to use at home and at work.
When you have COPD, damaged air sacs in your lungs make it harder for oxygen to get into the bloodstream and for carbon dioxide to leave. The low oxygen level can cause breathlessness, fatigue, and dizziness even at rest. Low oxygen also puts a strain on your heart and other organs. Oxygen therapy provides the extra oxygen you need to feel better, breathe easier, and stay active.
You can take a pulse oximeter test to check your blood oxygen levels at home. This small device clips to your finger and measures the amount of oxygen in your blood. It’s important to monitor your oxygen saturation throughout the day, as it changes with activity and sleep. If your levels drop, talk to your doctor about getting a higher flow rate for exercise or sleeping.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that patients with COPD who received supplemental oxygen therapy for at least 15 hours per day had less frequent exacerbations and shorter recovery times after an exacerbation. The long-term oxygen therapy also led to an improved survival rate in these patients. However, the study was small and did not include every patient scenario, so it’s important to talk to your doctor about your specific situation before altering your oxygen therapy plan.
Using oxygen therapy can have side effects, such as nasopharyngeal irritation and a decrease in appetite. You should also be careful to handle your oxygen equipment correctly, since it supports combustion. Store it at least 5-10 feet away from open flames, and don’t smoke or drink while using it. You should also secure the tubing to avoid tripping, especially if you have long supply lines at home. You should also get your device checked regularly by a professional.