Treatments for COPD

Your health care provider will prescribe the best treatments for your COPD.

Recommendations include:

• Quit smoking. If you smoke, quit. Smoking is the main cause of COPD. Quitting will help you be able to better manage your COPD. Ask your health care provider about ways to help you quit smoking. Visit the Be Tobacco Free website to learn about resources that can work for you.  

• Medicines. Some medicines help ease symptoms when you have them. Others are taken daily to control lung inflammation. Always take your medicines as prescribed. Learn the names of your medicines, as well as how and when to use them. Talk with your provider about other conditions you have and the medicines you take. If you have any questions about how to use your medicine delivery system, contact your health care provider or refer to the user manual of the device.

• Oxygen therapy. Oxygen may be prescribed if tests show that your blood contains too little oxygen. Ask about long-term oxygen therapy with your health care provider.

• Don't take medicines you don’t need. We know that inhaled corticosteroids can lead to pneumonia. If you don’t have asthma and have been free of COPD exacerbations, you may not need to use an inhaled corticosteroid. Talk with your health care provider if you can stop taking this type of medicine.

• Exercise. Be as active as you can. This will help your energy and strengthen your muscles, so you can do more.

• Pulmonary rehab. These programs help manage your disease, breathing methods, exercise, support, and counseling. To find one, ask your provider or call your local hospital. Also, talk with your health care provider about a self-management program.

• Telehealth. Telehealth may be used for ongoing monitoring and support of your care.

• Nutrition referral. Your health care provider may refer you to a dietitian for medical nutritional therapy.

• Stay away from sick people. Infections such as a cold or the flu can cause your symptoms to get worse. Try to stay away from people who are sick. Wash your hands often. And ask your health care provider about vaccines for the flu and pneumonia.

Coping with shortness of breath

Coping tips include:

• Pulmonary rehab. These programs help manage your disease, breathing methods, exercise, support, and counseling. To find one, ask your health care provider or call your local hospital. Also, talk with your health care provider about a self-management program. These programs not only help prevent COPD exacerbations, but help you cope with shortness of breath.

• Continue to exercise. Be as active as you can. This will help your energy and strengthen your muscles, so you can do more.

• Breathing methods. Ask your health care provider or nurse to show you how to do pursed-lip breathing.

• Balance rest and activity. Try to balance rest with activity if shortness of breath is limiting what you can do.

• Healthy eating. Eating a healthy, balanced diet is important to staying as healthy as possible. So is trying to stay at your ideal weight. Make sure you have a lot of fruits and vegetables every day. Visit the Eat Wisely website to learn more.

For more information

Here are some resources to help you quit smoking:

• Talk to your VA health care team about getting support for quitting tobacco.

• Call VA’s tobacco quitline at 855-QUIT-VET (855-784-8838), sign up for VA’s SmokefreeVET text messaging program at http://smokefree.gov/VET, and visit https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/quit-tobacco/ and https://veterans.smokefree.gov/.