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Living with COPD

Get tools to help better manage your COPD and enhance your quality of life.

There is no cure for COPD, but it can be managed and treated by working with your healthcare team to develop a plan to keep your COPD under control. Along with quitting smoking, staying up to date with vaccinations, following your treatment plan and regularly seeing your healthcare provider, there are lifestyle changes that can help you stay more active and improve your quality of life.

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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is a long-term lung disease that makes breathing more difficult. It's important to understand the four stages of COPD - mild, moderate, severe and very severe - and how to reduce exposure to anything that can worsen your symptoms. Following your treatment plan and avoiding flare ups can help slow the progression of your disease.

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Understanding COPD Stages 

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD, is a long-term lung disease that makes breathing more difficult. COPD tends to get worse over time, and actions you can take can either speed up or slow down this progression. There are four stages of COPD: mild, moderate, severe, and very severe. 

Your healthcare provider will determine what stage your COPD is at when you are diagnosed and throughout your COPD journey.  Your healthcare provider will recommend treatment based on your COPD stage, health history, risk of flare ups, and symptoms. Exposure to poor air quality, using tobacco products, or not getting recommended vaccinations can all negatively impact your lung health. This may cause your COPD to progress more quickly to the next stage. There are steps you can take to help keep your COPD from getting worse. Discuss these three things with your healthcare provider.    

Follow your COPD Action Plan. If you aren’t taking your medication as directed, talk to your healthcare provider about why. Together, you can brainstorm a medication plan that works for you. You might feel like it is not safe, or even possible to exercise with COPD, but the right amount and type of activity has many benefits.  Your healthcare provider can help you decide what type of physical activity is right for you and how to get started. Frequent flareups can speed up disease progression. Flare ups are a sudden worsening of symptoms. As soon as you notice your COPD symptoms are worsening, call your healthcare provider to get back on track.  Everyone’s COPD journey is different, but there are steps you can take at any stage of your COPD to help slow the progression and keep living your best possible life. Learn more at lung.org/copd 


Prevent COPD Exacerbations

Learn ways to reduce exposure to triggers that can worsen your COPD symptoms, such as tobacco smoke, lung infections like the flu or COVID-19, and air pollution.

COPD Management Tools

Create a COPD Action and Management Plan with your healthcare provider. This written, personalized worksheet lists the steps to take to manage your COPD depending on how you are feeling.

Get the Most Out of the Foods You Eat

Did you know the food you eat may affect your breathing? Good nutrition may help you breathe easier and help your body fight infection.

Stay Physically Active

When you have COPD, the right amount and type of exercise has many benefits and is an important part of staying healthy.

Cope with Your Emotions

Living with COPD can be tough, and the physical challenges can sometimes affect your mood and emotional health. Emotional support is just as important as protecting your lungs and staying active.

Manage Your Daily Activities

Get tips for conserving your energy during every day tasks such as dressing, bathing and housekeeping so you aren't left feeling tired or short of breath.

Plan for the Future

It is important to discuss your future medical needs and wishes. Early conversations about supports such as palliative care or end of life care with your healthcare team and caregivers can lessen anxiety about when and how to start these conversations down the road.

Comorbid Conditions

You may have another chronic health condition like asthma, heart disease, diabetes, depression or arthritis that you are also managing. When you have multiple health conditions, it is important that each member of your healthcare team know about all your diseases, so they can find the best treatment for you. 

If you have an underlying lung disease like COPD, you may be at higher risk of infection or developing another lung disease. Learn about the lung-related health conditions that may affect people living with COPD. 

Find Support

An important part of living with COPD or caring for someone with COPD is finding the right support. See where you can find help from others who share common experiences, get tips on paying for care and learn how you can advocate to improve the lives of others with COPD.

Reviewed and approved by the American Lung Association Scientific and Medical Editorial Review Panel.

Page last updated: October 22, 2024

Living Well With COPD
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