Treatment options are more like preventative maintenance to slow the progression of the disease to further stages and to maintain your quality of life. There are so many different stories from people who are living with moderate to severe COPD  that show you can live a high quality life if you take care of yourself and the disease. All the symptoms that were previously experienced are further worsened, along with additional symptoms and frequent exacerbations. By exercising and remaining active you will: There are a number of different ways you can exercise and remain active. There are many people living a high quality life for YEARS with stage 4 COPD. Stage 1 COPD is the least severe stage. Your goals at stage 3 should be to slow the progression of your disease through a strict treatment regiment and healthy lifestyle changes. Liquid oxygen tends to last longer than standard oxygen tanks, but they still carry the same risks. By following your treatment plan, avoiding lung irritants, and having a solid line of communication with your care team you can live a high quality life for years to come! Avoid lotions and creams with petroleum jelly. If your infection is viral, antibiotics won't be effective. ), Choose high-fiber foods, like fruits, veggies, beans, and. Supplemental oxygen is more than likely being used at night and possibly 24/7. Have reasonable expectations of surgery results. Sometimes, after getting sick, your new symptoms or your increased symptom severity can subside, and other times they can be permanent. Your treatment goal is to keep your symptoms at a manageable level and to prevent loss of quality of life. In this stage you may have worsening of stage II symptoms along with frequent upper respiratory infections, tightness in the chest, and trouble getting a deep breath. Also See: How are the Stages of COPD Determined. Talking about this and planning your end of life care, also called palliative care, in advance can be helpful. Difficulty communicating due to shortnes… COPD is a chronic inflammatory illness of the lungs and airways that gets progressively worse over time. You will keep using your short acting bronchodilator as needed, however, your doctor may prescribe one or more long acting bronchodilators. Answers. Your airflow limitation will have become progressively worse (FEV1 less than 50 percent but greater than 30 percent of predicted for a person of the same age with no lung disease). This is partly because your symptoms are more persistent and harder to manage. The goals for COPD treatment are to prevent the disease from progressing to end-stage COPD. COPD begins to impact the quality of life and make daily activities difficult. To help your battle with COPD and to help slow the progression of your disease, we teamed up with nutritionist and best-selling author Kellie Hill to create a COPD meal plan. At this stage, most people have trouble breathing and feel extreme fatigue. Respiratory infections are also common at this stage, as the lungs cannot expel bacteria and viruses. Answer View More Anonymous: Unfriend Friend Requested Friend: Load More. As other symptoms become more prevalent with COPD, chances are your lung function is also declining. There are common complications that can make a transplant very difficult, however it can add years onto your life and reduce your symptoms. Severe emphysema or stage 3 COPD is classified with a FEV1 of 30-50% of normal and very severe or stage 4 COPD is classified with a FEV1 result lower than stage three or individuals who have stage 3 FEV1 results as well as low blood oxygen levels. Eat 5-6 smaller meals instead of three big ones. You can workout at home, you go to the gym, or you can go to a park and enjoy the weather outside. COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a group of diseases that cause an inflammatory reaction and irreversible damage in the lungs. Your symptoms are extremely persistent and they are difficult to manage. At this stage of COPD, many people see their doctors regularly. When you're battling COPD there are foods you want to avoid and foods you want to consume more of. Symptoms include breathing difficulty, cough, mucus (sputum) production and wheezing. Depends on factors: Such as body mass index, degree of airway obstruction, degree of uncomfortable breathing, exercise tolerance, smoking status, presence of complicatio ... Read More. So as you become aware of these symptoms you will want to talk with your doctor. However, your lifestyle changes become even more important as your COPD progresses. Dr. Tony Su answered. Smoking is a main cause of COPD and may cause as many as 8 out of 10 COPD-related deaths. ", Oklahoma Department of Human Services: "Stages of COPD and Spirometric Classifications. However, due to the lack of symptoms it often goes undiagnosed until a later stage. Stage 3 of COPD - Severe. Stage 3 COPD treatment becomes a little more intense than with previous stages. Stage 1 COPD is where you want to catch the disease to be diagnosed. Surgery is an option for some people, including lung transplant surgery. Hi. Remember, these are in addition to your stage 1 COPD treatment options: With stage 1 COPD, you get prescribed a short acting bronchodilator to manage persistent symptoms. ", Cleveland Clinic: "Nutritional Guidelines for People with COPD. Azithromycin hasn't been fully approved for this use, but your doctor may prescribe it to you if they think it will be beneficial. COPD is a relatively common progressive respiratory disease. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, unspecified. 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