Advertisement
Quitting smoking helps immediately, but this disease doesn’t only affect people who smoke
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), your mind may be spinning with questions. How did you get it? Will it limit your activities? Is it treatable?
Advertisement
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
Some answers you hear may not be accurate, considering myths consistently shared about the condition. Let’s separate fact from fiction with pulmonologist Kathrin Nicolacakis, MD.
COPD is often associated with smoking — and with good reason. Smoking cigarettes and other tobacco products stand as the most common cause of COPD, given the damage done to the lungs and airways.
But nearly 30% of people with COPD have never taken a puff from a cigarette. Nonsmoking causes of COPD can include:
The lung damage behind COPD is cumulative. Every cigarette you puffed on contributed to the condition if you smoked. If you keep smoking, every additional cigarette will make your COPD worse.
“Some people think there’s no benefit to quitting smoking once they are diagnosed with COPD,” notes Dr. Nicolacakis. “But it’s never too late to quit. Stopping at any point will slow the progression of the disease.”
Advertisement
Consider this, too: Your body starts to see benefits from not smoking within 20 minutes of snuffing out your last cigarette. The plusses keep adding up in the smoke-free hours, days, weeks, months and years that follow.
So, if you’re looking to kick the habit, talk to your healthcare provider about a smoking cessation program. Every day after you quit will help your health.
Shortness of breath, wheezing, a chronic cough and fatigue all can be part of COPD. Any one of those symptoms can make it a challenge to exercise.
But you can get moving without fear of making COPD worse — and that activity will pay off. “Moderate exercise will not hurt your lungs,” reassures Dr. Nicolacakis. “In fact, it can lessen COPD symptoms, strengthen your heart and reduce stress.”
Try to build up to 20 to 30 minutes of exercise three to four times a week. Combine a safe cardiovascular activity, like walking or biking with some stretching and strength-building.
While you’re getting your workout in, be sure to breathe out slowly through pursed lips. Take twice as long to exhale as to inhale, recommends Dr. Nicolacakis. Rest before and after exercise, too.
Odds are it won’t be easy to start exercising. Talk to your healthcare provider about building a plan that works for you. They may be able to connect you with a respiratory therapist for breathing techniques and exercises you can do.
Can COPD be 100% cured? No. But there are ways to minimize the impact of the disease and slow its progression.
“COPD is treatable,” states Dr. Nicolacakis. “If you have symptoms, there are many options to help you feel better. We may not be able to reverse it, but we can control the symptoms and prevent further damage to the lungs.”
Medications prescribed by your healthcare provider can help offset COPD complications. Treatment options could include:
You may wonder: Will COPD go away if you follow the treatment methods mentioned above?
Unfortunately, the answer is no. As mentioned, the lung damage that characterizes COPD develops over many years. It doesn’t just disappear with a change in habits or medications, says Dr. Nicolacakis.
Taking care of yourself is important to slow the progression of COPD, she adds. Lifestyle decisions can help you stay active and involved with family and friends. Here are 10 things you can do to better control COPD.
Advertisement
“Taking care of yourself in these ways, plus taking your medications, can sometimes help offset the complications of COPD,” encourages Dr. Nicolacakis.
Advertisement
Learn more about our editorial process.
Advertisement
Talk with your doctor before you leave, take frequent breaks and don’t hesitate to ask for help
You aren’t alone — look to your social worker and the FA community for support
Advocating for yourself and prioritizing self-care can smooth the ups and downs of life with FA
Treatments have improved outcomes for a condition once viewed as fatal
A change in diet won’t cure COPD — but getting to or maintaining a healthy weight will help
Vaping exposes you to thousands of chemicals, including many that cause cancer and lung disease
Both conditions have similar symptoms, but different causes and treatments
You can reduce your chances of a flare-up by quitting smoking, avoiding respiratory infections and following your doctor’s orders
Focus on your body’s metabolic set point by eating healthy foods, making exercise a part of your routine and reducing stress
PFAS chemicals may make life easier — but they aren’t always so easy on the human body
While there’s little risk in trying this hair care treatment, there isn’t much science to back up the claims