COPD treatment guidelines offered

COPD treatment guidelines offered

The Medical Letter recently published guidelines for treating COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease):

  1. For all COPD patients – Stop smoking.
  2. Patients with mild disease should use a short-acting bronchodilator inhaler as needed: either albuterol (beta agent), or ipatropium (muscarinic agent), or a combination of both (combivent).
  3. Patients with moderate disease should use regular inhaler treatments of a long-acting broncho-dilator – either a beta, muscarinic or combination agent.
  4. Patients with severe disease should add a daily inhaled steroid to step 3 and consider oxygen therapy.
  5. Pulmonary rehab is a vital therapy for all patients with COPD.
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