Living Well With COPD | Page 3

Living Well With COPD: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Now that you’ve been diagnosed with COPD, how do you live with it? How do you manage it? COPD is serious. It can affect your daily life. And it usually gets worse over time. Although it is not curable, COPD is treatable. There are many interventions that your health-care provider and you can do to: • • • • Improve your breathing Decrease hospitalizations Slow disease progression Continue to live well Your health-care provider is committed to helping you. He or she has given you this practical guide, Living Well With COPD. By working with your care team, you can manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life. Living well with COPD means taking control of your health and probably making some lifestyle changes. In this guide, we’ll outline important steps you can take: • • • Review COPD medications and how to use them correctly. Present techniques to enhance your breathing. Review what to do when you have a flare-up (an exacerbation). 1