COPD Center
Patient Information

Medical Therapy for COPD

To reduce and control symptoms of chronic bronchitis, sufferers should live a healthy lifestyle by exercising, avoiding cigarette smoke and other air pollutants, and eating well. Pneumonia and Influenza vaccines should be given to COPD patients. The quality of life for a person suffering from COPD diminishes as the disease progresses. At the onset, there is minimal shortness of breath. People with COPD may eventually require supplemental oxygen and may have to rely on mechanical respiratory assistance. None of the existing medications for COPD has been shown to modify the long-term decline in lung function that is the hallmark of this disease. Therefore, pharmacotherapy for COPD is used to decrease symptoms and/or complications. Inhaled bronchodilator medications are central to the symptomatic management of COPD. Additional treatment includes structured exercise training, oxygen therapy, and inhaled glucocorticosteroids. Nowadays physicians try to avoid using systemic corticosteroids as maintenance treatment for COPD because of the longer-term side effects.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Pulmonary rehabilitation is a preventive health-care program provided by a team of health professionals to help people cope physically, psychologically, and socially with COPD. The most important part of a pulmonary rehabilitation program is the exercise prescription which should include strength training as well as aerobic exercise on a treadmill or cycle ergometer.

Surgical Treatment
There are surgical options for more advanced COPD including lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) and lung transplantation. UCLA Medical Center has been approved as a center for LVRS and the UCLA COPD Center is now evaluation patients for this operation. UCLA also has a flourishing lung transplantation program and across the nation patients with emphysema account for the majority having single lung transplantation.

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