Be sure to get an annual flu shot and pneumonia vaccinations as advised by your doctor. During cold weather, wear a soft scarf or a cold-air mask - available from a pharmacy - over your mouth and nose before going outside, to warm the air entering your lungs. Cold air can cause spasms of the bronchial passages, making it even more difficult to breathe. Try not to let your breathing problems keep you from getting regular exercise, which can significantly increase your lung capacity. Change furnace and air conditioner filters regularly to limit pollutants. These include fumes from paint and automobile exhaust, some cooking odors, certain perfumes, even burning candles and incense. As much as possible, avoid secondhand smoke. Join a smoking cessation program if you need help giving up smoking. This is the most important measure you can take for your overall health and the only one that might halt the progression of emphysema. If you have emphysema, you can take a number of steps to halt its progression and to protect yourself from complications: Lung transplantation is an option if you have severe lung damage and other options have failed. Removing the diseased tissue helps the remaining lung tissue expand and work more efficiently and helps improve breathing. In this procedure, surgeons remove small wedges of damaged lung tissue. It's usually administered via narrow tubing that fits into your nostrils.ĭepending on the severity of your emphysema, your doctor may suggest one or more different types of surgery, including: If you have severe emphysema with low blood oxygen levels, using oxygen regularly at home and when you exercise may provide some relief. In the early stages of emphysema, many people need to lose weight, while people with late-stage emphysema often need to gain weight. You'll also receive advice about proper nutrition. A pulmonary rehabilitation program can teach you breathing exercises and techniques that may help reduce your breathlessness and improve your ability to exercise. If you have a bacterial infection, like acute bronchitis or pneumonia, antibiotics are appropriate. Corticosteroid drugs inhaled as aerosol sprays reduce inflammation and may help relieve shortness of breath. These drugs can help relieve coughing, shortness of breath and breathing problems by relaxing constricted airways. Medicationsĭepending upon the severity of your symptoms, your doctor might suggest: Emphysema and COPD can't be cured, but treatments can help relieve symptoms and slow the progression of the disease.
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