Tools & Resources

• COPD 101
• Can Supplements Help COPD?
• How to Use Your Inhaler
• Diagnosing COPD
• 5 Tips for Using Inhaled Medicine
• Living With COPD: 10 FAQs

Medical ReferenceRelated to COPD

11. COPD: Handling a Flare-Up - Symptoms
    
    People who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) usually have some symptoms of both chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Your symptoms will change depending on the severity of your COPD.Key symptoms include:Long - term (chronic) cough.Chronic mucus (sputum) production when you cough.Repeated episodes of acute bronchitis.Shortness of breath that is persistent and gets worse, occurs during
    
12. COPD: Handling a Flare-Up - Frequently Asked Questions
    
    Learning about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD):What is COPD?What causes COPD?Can I prevent COPD?What are the symptoms of COPD?What happens in COPD?What increases my risk for COPD?What is a COPD exacerbation?Who is affected with COPD?Being diagnosed:Who can diagnose COPD?How is COPD diagnosed?Getting treatment: How is COPD treated?What medications will I need to take?Will I need ...
    
13. COPD: Learning to Breathe Easier
    
    Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is a lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. COPD gets worse over time, but you can take steps to breathe easier and feel better.
    
14. COPD: Handling a Flare-Up - Topic Overview
    
    Lung function means how well your lungs work. When you have COPD,your lungs can't move as much air in and out as they should. And the more serious your COPD is,the less air your lungs are able to move. Spirometry tests are used to measure lung function. They measure how much air you breathe out when you take long,deep breaths and push the air out of your lungs. For people with COPD,the ...
    
15. COPD: Handling a Flare-Up - Topic Overview
    
    Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) weakens the structure of the lung and may also damage the tiny air sacs (alveoli) in the lung. When these air sacs break down,larger airspaces known as bullae are formed. Bullae sometimes can become so large that they interfere with breathing and may cause complications: They can burst,leading to a collapsed lung ( pneumothorax ). A collapsed lung ...
    
16. COPD: Avoiding Weight Loss
    
    Key pointsSome people with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)-especially those with emphysema-may be underweight and malnourished. People with COPD often lose weight. When you lose weight, you lose muscle mass, including the muscles that help you breathe. This may make breathing more difficult. About 1 in 4 people with COPD weighs too little for good health, and those who are ...
    
17. COPD: Clearing Your Lungs
    
    COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a long-term illness that makes it hard to breathe, but learning to clear your lungs may help you save energy and oxygen, and help prevent lung infections.
    
18. COPD: Handling a Flare-Up - Topic Overview
    
    Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) is a protein normally found in the lungs and the bloodstream. It helps protect the lungs from the damage caused by inflammation that can lead to emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). People whose bodies do not produce enough of this protein (AAT deficiency) are more likely to develop emphysema and to do so at a younger-than-normal age (30 to 40 ...
    
19. COPD: Handling a Flare-Up - Surgery
    
    Lung surgery is rarely used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Surgery is never the first treatment option and is only considered for people who have severe COPD that has not improved with other treatment.Surgery ChoicesLung volume reduction surgery removes a portion of one or both lungs, making room for the remaining lung tissue to work more efficiently. It is used only in ...
    
20. Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
    
    Pulmonary rehabilitation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) combines a number of different therapies to help reduce your symptoms, improve quality of life, and encourage your active participation in your treatment. It will not reverse the damage to your lungs already caused by COPD. Instead, it will help you improve your ability to carry out daily tasks, such as dressing, grocery ...