Over two decades ago, the Nocturnal Oxygen Therapy Trial Group performed a 19-month study that showed that patients who were on long-term, continuous oxygen therapy showed a significant decrease in mortality rates than those who used oxygen only at night.
Oxygen therapy not only increases survival rates in patients with COPD, but it may help alleviate symptoms and improve your quality of life. Remember, oxygen is a drug and must be prescribed by a physician.
How Often Should You Change Your Nasal Cannula?
For those with COPD, recent data indicates that flu shots not only reduce the number of hospitalizations and doctor's visits for a patient with COPD, but decreases overall mortality and morbidity rates. Be sure to see your doctor for more information if you have, or at risk for developing, COPD.
There are three types of surgery that may be an option for those with end-stage emphysema that is not amenable to treatment and who meet specific requirements. These include bullectomy, lung volume reduction surgery and lung transplantation. Are you a candidate for surgery? Find out more about surgical intervention for COPD.
It is not uncommon for your doctor to use a combination of methods in the management of your disease. Your progress will be based on how well you respond to the treatment methods that he or she has imposed. Your doctor will monitor your prescribed treatment closely to see if, and when, adjustments need to be made. If you have questions concerning your treatment for COPD, be sure to ask your doctor.
Sources:
Faulkner, Michele A. Pharm.D. & Hilleman, Daniel E. Pharm.D. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/462704 "Pharmacologic Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Past, Present, and Future" Pharmacotherapy 2003 23(10): 1300-1315.
Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management and Prevention of COPD, Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) 2006. Available from:
http://www.goldcopd.org.
Niewoehner DE, Erbland ML, Deupree RH, et al. Effect of Systemic Glucocorticoids on Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive PUlmonary Disease. New England Journal of Medicine 1999; 340: 1941-7
Smeltzer, Suzanne C. & Bare, Brenda, G. (1996). Brunnuer and Suddarth's Testbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing (8th Edition). Pennsylvania, PA: Lipponcott-Raven Publishers.
