Close
Open
Share on Facebook
Twitter
Email
 
Notice: Users may be experiencing issues with displaying some pages on stanfordhealthcare.org. We are working closely with our technical teams to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience.
 

See details about our updated masking policy »

Menu
Search
Menu
Search
  • Doctors, Clinics & Locations, Conditions & Treatments
  • Patients & Visitors
  • MyHealth
  • Billing
  • Insurance
  • Medical Records
  • Support Groups
  • Financial Assistance
  • COVID-19 Resource Center
  • Locations and Parking
  • Visitor Policy
  • Hospital Check-in
  • Video Visits
  • International Patients
  • Contact Us
View All Information for Patients & Visitors »
We are available to assist you 24/7.
650-498-3333
GuestServices@stanfordhealthcare.org


View the changes to our visitor policy »

 

View information for Guest Services »

New to MyHealth?

Manage Your Care From Anywhere.

Access your health information from any device with MyHealth.  You can message your clinic, view lab results, schedule an appointment, and pay your bill.

ALREADY HAVE AN ACCESS CODE?

Activate Account

DON'T HAVE AN ACCESS CODE?

Create a New Account

NEED MORE DETAILS?

Learn More about MyHealth »
Learn More about Video Visits »

MyHealth for Mobile

Get the iPhone MyHealth app »
Get the Android MyHealth app »

WELCOME BACK

Forgot Username or Password?
Need Help?

Clear

Treatments for Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

  • About
  • About
Overview
Causes
Types
Treatments
Overview
Causes
Types
Treatments

How is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treated?

COPD is treated with medicines and oxygen, along with self-care.

Medicines

Medicines used to treat COPD include:

Bronchodilators.
They are used to open or relax your airways. They can help you breathe easier.
  • Short-acting bronchodilators ease your symptoms. They are considered a good first choice for treating stable COPD in a person whose symptoms come and go (intermittent symptoms). They include:
    • Anticholinergics.
    • Beta2-agonists.
    • A combination of the two.
  • Long-acting bronchodilators help prevent breathing problems. They help people whose symptoms do not go away (persistent symptoms). They include:
    • Anticholinergics.
    • Beta2-agonists.
    • A combination of the two, or a combination of a beta2-agonist and a corticosteroid medicine.
    • A combination of an anticholinergic, a beta2-agonist, and a corticosteroid medicine.
Phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitors.
These are taken every day to help prevent COPD exacerbations.
Corticosteroids.
They may be used in pill form to treat a COPD flare-up. Or you can use them in an inhaled form to help prevent flare-ups.
Other medicines.
These include methylxanthines, which generally are used for severe cases of COPD.

Oxygen therapy

Oxygen therapy boosts the amount of oxygen in your blood and helps you breathe easier. It can help people with very bad COPD and low oxygen levels live longer.

Self-care

There are things you can do for yourself to help manage your COPD. They are things like:

  • Quitting smoking.
  • Eating well.
  • Staying active.
  • Avoiding colds and the flu and other things that may trigger your symptoms.

A lung (pulmonary) rehab program can help you learn to manage your disease. A team of health professionals can provide counseling and teach you how to breathe easier, exercise, and eat well.

Previous Section Next Section

Clinics for Treatments

  • Chest Clinic (Pulmonology)
    650-725-7061
  • Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Division
    650-723-5643
  • Find a Doctor
  • Find Conditions & Treatments
  • Find a Stanford clinic
  • For Patients & Visitors
  • Billing
  • Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills
  • Insurance
  • Hospital Check-in
  • Contact Us
  • Video Visits
  • Send a Greeting Card
  • Get a Second Opinion
  • COVID-19 Resource Center
  • Behavioral Standards
  • Patient Privacy Policy
  • Make a Gift
  • About Us
  • Quality & Safety
  • Annual Report
  • 300 Pasteur Drive Renewal Program
  • Sustainability
  • Stanford Health Care – Now
  • For Healthcare Professionals
  • Referring Physicians
  • Nursing
  • Allied Healthcare Professionals
First Responders
  • Newsroom
  • Careers
  • Volunteering
  • Vendors
  • Supplier Diversity
  • Stanford Medicine Partners
  • Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley
  • Stanford Medicine
  • Stanford Medicine Children's Health
  • Stanford University
©2023 Stanford Health Care. All Rights Reserved
Home
Close
Doctors
Clinics & Locations
Conditions & Treatments
Clinical Trials
MyHealth Login

Patients & Visitors
Billing
Insurance
Financial Assistance
Medical Records
Contact Us
Video Visits
Get a Second Opinion
COVID-19 Resource Center
Healthcare Professionals
Referring Physicians
Nursing
Allied Healthcare
About Us
Quality & Safety
Facilities Services & Planning
Sustainability
Careers
Newsroom
Make a Donation
Stanford Health Care – Now
Close