Have you recently received a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) diagnosis? If so, you might be wondering what comes next. Although there is no cure, treatment and strategies can slow down COPD’s progress, making your daily life feel better.
Lung Foundation Australia has put together some tips on what to expect from a COPD diagnosis, and how to help you manage your condition.
Learn about COPD
COPD is an umbrella term for a group of progressive lung conditions including emphysema, chronic bronchitis and chronic asthma. It causes narrowing of the bronchial tubes in the lungs (sometimes called bronchi or airways). If you are newly diagnosed, you’ll know this makes it difficult to breathe. While COPD is progressive and (currently) incurable, if you understand your condition, there are many things you can do to manage it. People can live for many years with COPD and still enjoy a good quality of life.
Can I live a normal life with COPD?
Yes- many people continue to live a happy and active life after receiving a COPD diagnosis. The key is to ensure you follow the recommendations of your healthcare professional. They can advise you on the best course of treatment and provide tips and resources to guide you through your new path, and the stages of COPD.
Once your condition gets worse, you can’t reverse the damage. However, if you follow a healthy lifestyle and the treatment plan advised by your doctor, you will be able to manage your condition.
Talk to your doctor
Being diagnosed with COPD means you need to make a COPD plan. To do so, you need to start talking with your doctor. Being open and honest with your doctor is essential. Questions to ask your doctor include:
Questions to ask your doctor include:
- How can I prevent a lung infection?
- What changes can I make around my home?
- What changes do I need to make at work?
- How can I discuss this with my family and loved ones?
- What vaccinations do I need to ensure I am as protected as possible?
- Do I need oxygen?
- What is pulmonary rehabilitation? Is this right for me?
- What tips can I do to save my energy?
Stages of COPD
There are different stages of COPD based on how badly your airflow is blocked.
- Mild COPD – Receiving a mild COPD diagnosis is the best-case scenario. You may not have symptoms all the time and you may find there is very little or no impact on your life or independence
- Moderate COPD – If your COPD has progressed, you may need to stop to catch your breath while doing your day-to-day walking and activities. People living with moderate COPD are also at higher risk of developing lung infections
- Severe COPD – When COPD is severe, most activities will cause shortness of breath. As a result, your mobility is severely reduced.
Management and treatment
When it comes to COPD treatment, there is no one size fits all. Each person’s COPD symptoms and treatment options are different. The primary goal of treatment involves stopping COPD from progressing. Other aims of treatment include preventing complications that may arise from your condition and finding strategies to manage your daily symptoms, to achieve a strong quality of life.
It’s important to work with your healthcare provider to create a plan to help relieve your symptoms. Your treatment plan will help you control your symptoms and know what to do when your COPD gets worse.
Treatment options include:
- Exercise
- Ensure your vaccinations are up to date
- Access emotional support
- Quit smoking
- Pulmonary rehab
- Lungs in Action
- Eat a healthy diet
- Get enough sleep
Connect to care and resources
Lung Foundation Australia provides services and resources for people diagnosed and living with COPD. Being diagnosed with COPD can be overwhelming and isolating. Medical information can be complex and difficult to understand. Our Respiratory Care Nurse service provides free telephone-based support for people living with COPD or bronchiectasis. These highly skilled nurses can provide evidence-based guidance on all aspects of diagnosis, treatment and management of your condition.
Our evidence-based resources will help you better understand your condition and the important steps you can take to improve your outcomes and wellbeing. Download a free resource pack or browse our resources at the link below.