BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuCOPD - what to ask your doctor What to ask your doctor about COPD; Emphysema - what to ask your doctor; Chronic bronchitis - what to ask your doctor; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - what to ask your doctorChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) damages your lungs. This can make it hard for you to get enough oxygen and clear carbon dioxide from your lungs. While there is no cure for COPD, you can do many things to regulate your symptoms and make your life better.Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common lung disease. Having COPD makes it hard to breathe. There are two main forms of COPD:Chroni...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Below are some questions you may want to ask your health care provider to help you take care of your lungs.Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersQuestionsWhat will make my COPD worse?How can I avoid things that can make my COPD worse? How can I prevent getting a lung infection? How can I get help quitting smoking? Quitting smokingThere are many ways to quit smoking. There are also resources to help you. Family members, friends, and co-workers may be supportive. But to be su...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Will fumes, dust, or having pets make my COPD worse? What are some signs that my breathing is getting worse and I should contact my provider? What should I do when I feel I am not breathing well enough?Am I taking my COPD medicines the right way?What medicines should I be taking every day (called controller medicines)? What should I do if I miss a day or a dose? Controller medicinesControl medicines for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are medicines you take to control or prevent symptoms of COPD. You must use these...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Which medicines should I take when I am short of breath (called quick-relief or rescue medicines)? Is it OK to use these medicines every day? Quick-relief or rescue medicinesQuick-relief medicines for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) work quickly to help you breathe better. You take them when you are coughing...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article What are the side effects of my medicines? For what side effects should I contact my provider? Am I using my inhaler the right way? Should I be using a spacer? How will I know when my inhalers are getting empty? When should I use my nebulizer and when should I use my inhaler? What sort of changes should I make around my home?What sort of changes do I need to make at work?What shots or vaccinations do I need?Do I need oxygen? If yes, do I need it all times?Are there changes in my diet that will help my COPD?What do I need to do when I am planning to travel?Will I need oxygen on the airplane? How about at the airport? What medicines should I bring? Who should I contact if my COPD gets worse?What are some exercises I can do to keep my muscles strong, even if I cannot walk around very much?Should I consider pulmonary rehabilitation?How can I save some of my energy around the house?Am I at higher risk for COVID-19 or other illness? How should I protect myself?COVID-19Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that causes fever, coughing, and shortness of breath, but many other symptoms can occur....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention website. About COPD. www.cdc.gov/copd/about/index.html. Updated May 15, 2024. Accessed November 7, 2024.Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) website. Global strategy for the diagnosis, management, and prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: 2024 report. goldcopd.org/2024-gold-report/. Accessed November 7, 2024.Waters A, Kaiksow FA. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In: Kellerman RD, Rakel DP, Heidelbaugh JJ, Lee EM, eds. Conn's Current Therapy 2024. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:915-921.AllVideoImagesTogCOPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder) - illustration Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) refers to chronic lung disorders that result in blocked air flow in the lungs. The two main COPD disorders are emphysema and chronic bronchitis, the most common causes of respiratory failure. Emphysema occurs when the walls between the lung's air sacs become weakened and collapse. Damage from COPD is usually permanent and irreversible.COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder)illustrationCOPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder) - illustration Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) refers to chronic lung disorders that result in blocked air flow in the lungs. The two main COPD disorders are emphysema and chronic bronchitis, the most common causes of respiratory failure. Emphysema occurs when the walls between the lung's air sacs become weakened and collapse. Damage from COPD is usually permanent and irreversible.COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder)illustrationA Closer Look Restless legs syndrome and related disorders - InDepth(In-Depth)Gastroesophageal reflux disease and heartburn - InDepth(In-Depth)Diabetes - type 1 - InDepth(In-Depth)Smoking - InDepth(In-Depth)Insomnia - InDepth(In-Depth)Heart failure - InDepth(In-Depth)Rheumatoid arthritis - InDepth(In-Depth)Cough(Alt. Medicine)Creatine(Alt. Medicine)Bronchitis(Alt. Medicine)Talking to your MD COPD - what to ask your doctor Anesthesia - what to ask your doctor - adultUsing oxygen at home - what to ask your doctor Related Information Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)(Condition)Acute bronchitis(Condition)Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - adults - discharge(Discharge)COPD - control drugs(Self-Care)COPD - quick-relief drugs(Self-Care)How to use an inhaler - no spacer(Self-Care)How to use an inhaler - with spacer(Self-Care)How to use your peak flow meter(Self-Care)Heart failure - InDepth(In-Depth)Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 10/11/2024 Reviewed By: Frank D. Brodkey, MD, FCCM, Associate Professor, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. 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COPD - what to ask your doctor What to ask your doctor about COPD; Emphysema - what to ask your doctor; Chronic bronchitis - what to ask your doctor; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - what to ask your doctorChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) damages your lungs. This can make it hard for you to get enough oxygen and clear carbon dioxide from your lungs. While there is no cure for COPD, you can do many things to regulate your symptoms and make your life better.Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common lung disease. Having COPD makes it hard to breathe. There are two main forms of COPD:Chroni...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Below are some questions you may want to ask your health care provider to help you take care of your lungs.Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersQuestionsWhat will make my COPD worse?How can I avoid things that can make my COPD worse? How can I prevent getting a lung infection? How can I get help quitting smoking? Quitting smokingThere are many ways to quit smoking. There are also resources to help you. Family members, friends, and co-workers may be supportive. But to be su...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Will fumes, dust, or having pets make my COPD worse? What are some signs that my breathing is getting worse and I should contact my provider? What should I do when I feel I am not breathing well enough?Am I taking my COPD medicines the right way?What medicines should I be taking every day (called controller medicines)? What should I do if I miss a day or a dose? Controller medicinesControl medicines for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are medicines you take to control or prevent symptoms of COPD. You must use these...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Which medicines should I take when I am short of breath (called quick-relief or rescue medicines)? Is it OK to use these medicines every day? Quick-relief or rescue medicinesQuick-relief medicines for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) work quickly to help you breathe better. You take them when you are coughing...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article What are the side effects of my medicines? For what side effects should I contact my provider? Am I using my inhaler the right way? Should I be using a spacer? How will I know when my inhalers are getting empty? When should I use my nebulizer and when should I use my inhaler? What sort of changes should I make around my home?What sort of changes do I need to make at work?What shots or vaccinations do I need?Do I need oxygen? If yes, do I need it all times?Are there changes in my diet that will help my COPD?What do I need to do when I am planning to travel?Will I need oxygen on the airplane? How about at the airport? What medicines should I bring? Who should I contact if my COPD gets worse?What are some exercises I can do to keep my muscles strong, even if I cannot walk around very much?Should I consider pulmonary rehabilitation?How can I save some of my energy around the house?Am I at higher risk for COVID-19 or other illness? How should I protect myself?COVID-19Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that causes fever, coughing, and shortness of breath, but many other symptoms can occur....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention website. About COPD. www.cdc.gov/copd/about/index.html. Updated May 15, 2024. Accessed November 7, 2024.Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) website. Global strategy for the diagnosis, management, and prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: 2024 report. goldcopd.org/2024-gold-report/. Accessed November 7, 2024.Waters A, Kaiksow FA. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In: Kellerman RD, Rakel DP, Heidelbaugh JJ, Lee EM, eds. Conn's Current Therapy 2024. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:915-921.
