TREATMENT
OTHER MEDICATION AND REHABILITATION
Other medicines
Mucolytics
Mucolytics help to remove secretions (unwanted contents like phlegm) from the lung by thinning phlegm, so it is easier to cough up. These medications are for patients with frequent exacerbations. An example of a mucolytic is N-acetylcysteine.
Supplemental oxygen
Not everyone who has COPD needs to use oxygen, but when there is a lot of lung damage from COPD, you may need supplemental oxygen to keep up the oxygen levels in your blood.
Transplant
A lung transplant is generally the only option for some people with advanced COPD, who no longer smoke and who will not survive without a lung transplant.
Mucolytics:
Mucolytics help to remove secretions (unwanted contents like phlegm) from the lung by thinning phlegm, so it is easier to cough up. These medications are for patients with frequent exacerbations. An example of a mucolytic is N-acetylcysteine.people may even be at risk after they stopped working in such an environment for a long time
Supplemental oxygen:
Mucolytics help to remove secretions (unwanted contents like phlegm) from the lung by thinning phlegm, so it is easier to cough up. These medications are for patients with frequent exacerbations. An example of a mucolytic is N-acetylcysteine.as often found in the textile industry or paper mills
Transplant:
A lung transplant is generally the only option for some people with advanced COPD, who no longer smoke and who will not survive without a lung transplant.
Pulmonary rehabilitation
Pulmonary rehabilitation is generally recommended for people who fall in COPD Groups B and E (who struggles a lot with symptoms and have a high risk of an exacerbation).12,23
Pulmonary rehabilitation may seem like a very complicated concept but is essentially just a formal programme tailored to your individual needs and ability, and compiled specifically for you by COPD medical experts (such as a dietician, physiotherapist, a doctor who specialises in respiratory diseases, a pharmacist and a psychologist). It covers, amongst others, exercise training, education about yourcondition and medication, and what other life changes you may need to make to improve your health outcomes while living with COPD.23,24
Pulmonary rehabilitation programmes are generally recommended to be no longer or shorter than 12 weeks.24
It has been proven that pulmonary rehabilitation can help reduce symptoms, depression and anxiety, and shorten time spent in hospital after an exacerbation.12
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Medication for COPD
Once you are diagnosed with COPD, your doctor will prescribe medication to control the condition and prevent it from worsening, or prevent an exacerbation.
Medication for an exacerbation
When you experience an exacerbation, you may require additional treatment (to use with your usual inhaler(s)) to reduce the damage the exacerbation could cause to your lungs, and possibly to the rest of your body.4,12