Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a term referring to a group of conditions, such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and asthma, that cause airflow blockage and breathing-related issues. While there’s no exact cure for the disease, different treatment options can relieve and manage symptoms. Hence, let’s have a closer look at the treatment options available for COPD which include medication, therapy, and surgery.

Medications

Bronchodilators

Bronchodilators are a type of medication that helps ease breathing by relaxing lung muscles and widening the airways. They typically come in an inhaler or nebulized form and are divided into two main classes: β-agonists and anticholinergics both of which can be short-acting, also known as rescue medications, or long-acting, known as maintenance medications.

β-agonists bind directly to beta receptors on smooth muscle cells to relax and widen airway muscles. Anticholinergics reduce mucus production and block a chemical called acetylcholine which is responsible for the blockage of the airways.

Corticosteroids

Commonly referred to as steroids, corticosteroids are a type of anti-inflammatory medication that helps reduce irritation and swelling in the airway, especially in case of exposure to an infection or irritants like smoke and fumes. Like bronchodilators, corticosteroids can be delivered by an inhaler or nebulizer, but can also come in a form of a tablet or injection.

Unfortunately, corticosteroids can cause many potential side effects, especially in the case of long treatment. Some of these unpleasant side effects include weight gain, acne, water retention, high blood sugar levels, thinned skin, high blood pressure, and even osteoporosis.

Antibiotics

The third common type of medication used for treating COPD is antibiotics. In general, those suffering from the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are more susceptible to getting respiratory infections which then worsen COPD symptoms. In such cases, doctors prescribe antibiotics to eliminate bacteria.

Therapy

Oxygen Therapy

As COPD makes breathing difficult, patients need support to restore their ability to breathe. For this reason, COPD patients may use special medical devices, many of which are small and portable, that deliver oxygen to their lungs.

However, oxygen therapy may not be needed all the time. Sometimes, doctors prescribe this therapy for sleeping only, or when performing certain activities. Still, this depends on the severity of the condition and the patient’s overall health.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

The second therapy for treating COPD is pulmonary rehabilitation which may consist of exercise, nutrition advice, psychological counseling, and COPD management education. As there are several aspects of this rehab program it means that patients should work with various specialists who tailor a program according to patients' needs.

The main goal of pulmonary rehabilitation is to help patients avoid hospital readmission after episodes of worsening COPD, increase their ability to perform everyday tasks, and improve their overall quality of life.

Surgery

If other treatment options don’t provide any relief and COPD progresses, several surgery options are available in these severe cases which may include:

Bullectomy

Large air spaces formed as a result of destroyed walls of the air sacs in the lungs are called bullae. These interfere with breathing which is why their removal is needed in a surgery called bullectomy.

Lung Volume Reduction Surgery

Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) is a surgery during which damaged lung tissue is removed. After the surgery lungs work better but unfortunately the procedure isn’t always as effective as expected and can be risky.

Lung Transplant

In severe cases, a lung transplant is a very last opportunity for improving the patient’s quality of life. During surgery, a damaged lung is removed and replaced with a healthy one from a donor. However, this procedure is also risky as infection may develop or the new lung may be rejected by the body.

Bronchial Rheoplasty

Finally, here’s a relatively new COPD treatment option that is minimally invasive. It involves electrical bursts that destroy cells in the lungs that produce excess mucus and thus allow new healthy cells to grow.