COPD is a lung disease that gets worse over time, so it's critical to prevent getting COPD and to keep it from progressing once diagnosed. See the COPD: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease section to determine if you or a loved one is in a high risk group for COPD. People who are at high risk of COPD who also have early warning signs and symptoms should talk to their health care provider about getting an early diagnosis. If diagnosed, it is important to follow the provider's advice to manage the disease, slow its progression, and prevent emergencies

Early Warning Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms and early warning signs of COPD can be different for each person, but common signs and symptoms are:

  • Frequent or lingering coughing (may include sputum, phlegm or mucus but not always)
  • Shortness of breath (dyspnea) - unable to take a deep breath or feeling of not getting enough air
  • Missed school or workdays
  • Urgent care visits due to a cold or virus
  • Ongoing/unusual tiredness
  • Activity limitations due to difficulty breathing
  • Wheezing
  • Tightness in the chest
  • Being in any one or more of the high-risk groups for COPD described in the COPD: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease section

Prevention

The prevention tips below are helpful for everyone. But if you are in any one of the high risk groups and have any of the Early Warning Signs and Symptoms for COPD you should take the following immediate steps to prevent developing COPD or slow its progression:

  • Quit smoking (cigarettes and little cigars) and stop use of vape products. This is one of the most important steps you can take. Those who smoke and vape are at great risk for COPD. The risk of COPD drops when you stop smoking. Even if you have been smoking for many years, quitting at any age has benefits and can still help prevent development of or progression of COPD.
  • Quit with help from 802Quits. 802Quits is free and offers health coaching, texting support, rewards for each session and the option for free nicotine replacement gum, patches, and lozenges shipped to your home.
  • Avoid exposure to second-hand smoke.
  • Avoid both indoor and outdoor air pollution. This includes smoke from wildfires, fireplaces, wood stoves, as well as ozone, particle pollution, and exposure to fumes, chemicals, including certain cleaning products, gases and industrial dusts. 
  • Discuss with other workers and employers easy and low-cost best practices for reducing worksite exposures. This may involve a combination of strategies to eliminate the hazard, substituting products or processes, using engineering or administrative controls (whether filtration, staff rotations, etc.), and if necessary, using personal protective equipment (PPE) if you work in occupations with dangerous exposures.
  • If you have asthma, follow your Asthma Action Plan to keep your asthma well-controlled.
  • Talk to your healthcare provider and consider getting screened with a lung function test (see Early Diagnosis for more info).
important

Early Diagnosis

If you have Early Warning Signs and Symptoms and are in one or more of the high-risk groups for COPD, talk to your health care provider about getting a Pulmonary Function Test (PFT), such as spirometry. This test measures how much air you can inhale and exhale and is one of the best ways to ensure a proper diagnosis. An early diagnosis for COPD is vital to help keep the condition from worsening.

People with COPD 

Once you or a loved one is diagnosed with COPD, your healthcare provider will create a treatment plan. The provider will also issue you a COPD Action Plan that will help guide you on what you need to do to follow your treatment plan and manage your COPD, including how to keep your COPD stable, what to do when symptoms worsen or what to do in an emergency. It is important to follow your COPD treatment plan and COPD Action Plan to keep your COPD managed, avoid costly emergencies and prevent further progression of the disease. 

Stages of COPD

COPD is a long-term disease that progresses or worsens over time. Good self-management together with proper treatment and care across the stages of COPD will ensure you and your loved one’s enjoy the best quality of life for as long as possible.

Treatment

Effective COPD treatment involves a combination of medications, devices, and health support actions. Treatment may include pulmonary rehabilitation programs (to keep the lungs strong and slow the progression of COPD) and, in more severe cases, advanced treatment options may be recommended to continue to manage the condition and improve quality of life.


Medications: Once diagnosed with COPD, your healthcare provider will prescribe medications to help manage the disease, slow its progression, and make it easier to breathe. It's important to take these medications as prescribed, even if you feel well and have no symptoms. If you encounter any issues with following your COPD Action Plan (or treatment plan), contact your healthcare provider immediately.

Proper Device Use: Getting medications into the lungs requires proper device use. Be sure to show your medical provider how you use your device to ensure you are using it correctly. Common issues include the timing of medication release, inhaling the medications correctly, holding your breath (with an inhaler device), monitoring the dose counter, and taking care of your device.

COPD Action Plans: Your healthcare provider should provide you with a personalized COPD Action Plan that will guide you in keeping up your treatment and managing your COPD if things worsen. These plans should kept up-to-date with any changes to medications and other recommendations. This written plan can also help family members and caretakers understand how they can support you in keeping your COPD stable. Diet, smoking cessation and exercise guidance may also be included in your plan.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR): This program combines educational classes and supervised exercise sessions for people with unstable or severe asthma. Your provider will either provide or refer you to this program to help you understand COPD better, learn about your medications, recognize your triggers, and improve your quality of life through strength and endurance training. This additional support is designed to stabilize COPD, especially in the event of a recent hospitalization or emergency department visit.

More Advanced Treatment and Care Options

In some cases, you might need more advanced treatment options for COPD. These can include oxygen therapy, endobronchial valve therapy, non-invasive ventilation, lung transplantation, surgery, and more intensive support.

Living with COPD

Managing COPD effectively involves daily self-care to slow disease progression, reducing further damage to the lungs, and help maintain an active, fulfilling life. Here are some important steps:

  • Understand COPD and its effects on your lungs
  • Consistently take prescribed medications, even when you feel well, and ensure you can use the correct medication and device properly.
  • Identify and avoid the risk factors for developing COPD, causing flare ups of symptoms, and for making the disease worse. Quitting smoking is one of the most important actions you can take. For help, visit 802Quits.org.
  • Avoid secondhand smoke and environmental irritants that can further damage your lungs and make breathing harder.
  • Be familiar with and adhere to your COPD Action Plan. Share it with family and caretakers to aid in managing your COPD or help deal with any emergencies.
  • Follow your healthcare provider’s advice on pulmonary rehabilitation, exercise, and additional supports.
Additional Steps

These are additional actions you can take to manage your COPD, slow its progression, and promote a good quality of life. Discuss how best to carry out these steps with your healthcare provider to be sure you maintain stable, well managed COPD.

  • Stay physically active. Your region’s Area Agency on Aging likely offers free or discounted exercise options.
  • Ask your provider about the potential for nutrition counseling and a fresh food prescription.
    If you are struggling with your diagnosis, anxiety and/or depression, ask your provider about counseling options.
  • Protect yourself from lung infections by staying up to date on your vaccinations:
    • Get a flu (influenza) vaccine every year.
    • Get the pneumonia (pneumococcal) vaccine.
    • Get all available COVID-19 vaccines and make sure you have had the latest boosters.
  • Have good communication and relationships with family, friends, caretakers, and your healthcare team to keep things positive and on the right track.
  • Continue to do the things you like to do and pursue new interests to protect your physical and mental health.
Take action

Complete a free educational self-assessment of your COPD symptoms using the COPD Assessment Test (CAT).

 

These pages are designed to provide information, resources and tools to help you understand and prevent COPD, learn about best practice treatment and care approaches, and better manage COPD and support good quality of life living with COPD. Be sure to follow your health care provider’s advice to manage your COPD.

 

Topics:
Asthma | Chronic Disease
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