COPD: What to Do After a Diagnosis

What Does COPD Mean for Me?

If you've been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you've almost certainly experienced symptoms caused by damage to your airways or other parts of your lungs - symptoms like coughing up mucus, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and fatigue.

Once your doctor has confirmed that your symptoms are caused by COPD through a pulmonary (lung) function test, the next step is developing a treatment plan to address episodes in which you have trouble breathing. If you experience frequent symptoms, you may be prescribed an inhaler to help prevent these episodes.

What Can I Do for My COPD?

Once you've been diagnosed, your doctor might prescribe a medication

Some of the most common COPD medications include:

Drug What it Does Bronchodilators

An inhaler that relaxes the muscles around your airways, helping them open up. This medication can be short-acting or long-acting.

Corticosteroids

As part of a chronic combination therapy, inhaled corticosteroids reduce swelling and mucus production in your airways. Oral corticosteroids may be taken for a short period to reduce more severe symptoms.

Combination Medicines

An inhaler may contain more than one drug, such as two long-acting bronchodilators  (to help open your airways) or long-acting bronchodilators with a corticosteroid (to reduce swelling and mucus production).

Antibiotics

Usually prescribed if you develop acute worsening of COPD symptoms and are coughing up increased or discolored mucus.

Read more about medications for COPD .

In addition to taking medications as prescribed, try to avoid exposure to potential COPD triggers, which can lead to a flare-up of symptoms. Potential triggers include:

• Smoke (such as from tobacco, fireplaces, or wildfires)
• Strong odors or fumes (such as from cleaning products, scented candles, or hairspray)
• Pollen from trees, grass, or weeds
• Sudden changes in temperature, or high humidity
• Air pollution (such as from vehicles or industry)
• Respiratory or lung infections

Your doctor might also recommend that you make certain lifestyle changes to help improve your quality of life:

• Stop smoking. Here are some tips on how to kick the habit.
• Stay active, starting slowly and doing activities that you enjoy. Talk to your doctor before starting any exercise program. Your doctor may recommend starting exercise in a supervised setting and refer you to a pulmonary rehabilitation program.
• Drink enough water (helps to thin mucus).

• Get enough sleep (can help with fatigue) and get screened for sleep disorders.

• Eat a healthy diet and avoid COPD trigger foods .
• Reduce and manage stress (stress can trigger COPD symptoms).

Research has found that lifestyle interventions for COPD - focused on smoking cessation, physical activity, and a healthy diet - led to improvements in quality of life, breathing, and fitness level.

What to Ask Your Doctor

A diagnosis of COPD is a lot to take in, and you'll probably have a lot of questions.

Here are some questions to consider asking your doctor:

• How severe is my COPD, and what does that mean?
• What programs are available to help me quit smoking?
• When should I take my prescribed medications?
• What should I do if I suddenly experience difficulty breathing?
• When should I contact my healthcare provider or seek emergency care?
• Am I up to date with vaccinations to help prevent lung-related infections?

When Do You Need Urgent Medical Attention?

Call 911 or go to the emergency room immediately if you have any of the following symptoms:

• You can't catch your breath, even after taking medication.
• Your lips or fingernails turn blue.
• Your heart is beating very rapidly.
• You have brain fog or difficulty focusing.

Your COPD Care Team

Your primary care doctor may be able to diagnose COPD and help you manage mild symptoms. But more severe disease often requires seeing other health professionals, such as:

• Pulmonologist: A lung and breathing specialist can help develop a treatment plan that's tailored to your COPD symptoms.
• Physical therapist/exercise specialist: You may learn exercises to help you breathe more easily as part of a pulmonary rehab program.
• Respiratory therapist: They can teach you breathing techniques as part of a pulmonary rehab program or if you require emergency medical attention or hospitalization.

Finding Support

Often, you can get the emotional support you need for your COPD through your doctor or another health professional. But if you're looking for more information or peer support, here are some helpful organizations.

American Lung Association

The leading lung health organization in the United States offers articles on several aspects of COPD, including nutrition , managing your energy levels , and emotional health .

Learn More Breathe Better

This initiative from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute aims to raise awareness of lung diseases like COPD and asthma through a variety of educational tools.

Better Breathers Club

This program from the American Lung Association organizes support groups - both in-person and virtual - in communities throughout the United States. You can search for one near you based on your state and ZIP code.

COPD Foundation

This organization offers a resource called COPD360social , an online community in which members can ask or answer questions, engage in conversations, and share experiences.

The Takeaway

If you're living with COPD, it's critical to reduce your exposure to irritants like smoke, as well as to protect yourself against respiratory infections through vaccinations. Let your doctor know if your condition changes, so that you can adjust your treatment plan accordingly and help prevent hospitalization.

Resources We Trust

• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: What Is COPD?
• American Lung Association: Learn About COPD
• World Health Organization: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: About COPD

Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking

Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy . We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.

Sources

1. What Is COPD? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute . October 25, 2023.
2. Treating COPD. American Lung Association . April 30, 2024.
3. Understanding Your COPD Medications. American Lung Association . May 14, 2024.
4. Prevent COPD Exacerbations or Flare Ups. American Lung Association . May 23, 2023.
5. Avoiding Dehydration With COPD. University of Maryland Medical System .
6. Sleep Problems in Asthma and COPD. American Thoracic Society . August 2018.
7. COPD - Managing Stress and Your Mood. Mount Sinai .
8. Born CDC et al. Combined Lifestyle Interventions in the Prevention and Management of Asthma and COPD: A Systematic Review. Nutrients . May 17, 2024.
9. COPD. Mayo Clinic . April 15, 2020.