Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a long-term condition that will progress if left untreated, worsening your symptoms over time and placing you at risk of developing other health issues, such as infections.
It affects around 30 million people in the United States. Currently, there is no cure for the condition, but many different treatments are available.
A doctor may recommend medications, lifestyle changes, and therapies to help slow the progression of the disease and ease your symptoms.
What is COPD?
COPD is a group of chronic conditions that affect your respiratory system. You may hear doctors refer to your condition as emphysema or chronic bronchitis, which as the two main types of COPD. You are more likely to develop COPD if you smoke or are often around second-hand smoke. It’s also closely linked with air pollution.
If you do not seek treatment for COPD, it can progress and worsen other conditions you may have, such as heart problems.
It may start with mild symptoms, such as coughing and difficulty breathing for no apparent reason. You may start avoiding the stairs or skipping physical activities that you otherwise enjoy. In the early stages, it’s possible to not know you have COPD at all.
Symptoms can include:
- shortness of breath even after minimal exercise
- tight chest
- lack of energy and fatigue
- picking up colds and chest infections more frequently than usual
- mucus buildup in your chest
- wheezing
- swelling of your feet
- weight loss
As the condition progresses, your symptoms can become more persistent. Sometimes symptoms worsen, then improve again. These episodes are known as acute exacerbations — or flare-ups — of your symptoms.
Medical professionals classify the severity of COPD into stages. These stages were set by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD), a program that standardizes guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of COPD.
A doctor will use a spirometer to assess your force expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). This is the amount of air you can breathe out in one second. Doctors use this to grade how limited your airflow is, using the following categories: mild, moderate, severe, or very severe.
Your COPD is assigned a group (A–D) based on this, along with symptom severity and history of flare-ups, or exacerbations. You can have symptoms or exacerbations at any FEV1 grade, though those with more severe airflow limitation are more likely to be in Group C or D, meaning more symptoms and flare-ups.
The four different groups are:
- Group A: This stage is mild and occurs early in the development of COPD, with just a cough and a slight increase in mucus production. You may have an FEV1 of 80–100%.
- Group B: This stage is moderate, but your coughing and mucus production is more severe. Shortness of breath with walking is common. This is the most common stage of diagnosis, with an FEV1 of 50–79%.
- Group C: This stage is severe, with an FEV1 of 30–50%. You may experience more frequent flare-ups of symptoms including tightness in your chest and wheezing.
- Group D: This is the very severe stage. Your FEV1 will be lower than 30%, and breathing will become more difficult even when you aren’t exercising. You may be at risk for more complications like heart and lung failure.
Can it be cured?
COPD is not curable. However, it is a chronic condition, not a terminal illness. There are effective methods for slowing the progression of the disease and easing symptoms. A doctor can suggest methods, which can be very effective if followed correctly.
The most effective way to stop COPD from getting worse is by stopping smoking. If you catch COPD early in its development, stopping smoking can prevent the rapid decline in the health of your lungs. Research suggests when you stop smoking at an early stage of COPD, you may be able to reverse the damage.
In addition, some research suggests that up to two thirds of people with COPD may not be sticking to their treatment properly. Following the advice of healthcare professionals can help you manage the condition most effectively.
Treatment options
Every person’s treatment for COPD will be different. You can work with your doctor to create a treatment plan that is best for your individual needs.
These treatment options can help you to:
- better control your symptoms
- slow the progression of the disease
- reduce how frequently you experience flare-ups
- improve your ability to do physical activities
Medical treatments for COPD
Medications that can help reduce your symptoms include:
- Corticosteroids: These are long-acting medications that help reduce inflammation of your airways and reduce mucus production. These can be inhaled medications or pills and can include flunisolide (Aerospan) or budesonide (Symbicort).
- Inhaled bronchodilators: These help loosen the muscles in your airways for up to 6 hours, so they may be helpful during flare-ups. Common options include formoterol (Perforomist) and ipratropium.
- Antibiotics: A doctor will prescribe these if you have a respiratory infection.
- Vaccines: To lower your risk of contracting a respiratory infection, a doctor will recommend you get the yearly flu vaccine and pneumococcal vaccine. You should also stay up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccinations.
In some rare cases, a doctor may suggest surgery if your condition is severe. This can include a lung transplant, removal of damaged lung tissue, or a bullectomy.
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