Other sites in our network: What's on TV | Now | Pick Me Up | Puzzles and Prizes
Branding_print

How can you stop COPD getting worse?

Average rating: 4 out of 5 star rating

Stop smoking

This cannot be stressed enough. If you stop smoking at an early stage of the disease, it will make a huge difference. Any damage already done to your airways cannot be reversed, but stopping smoking prevents the disease from getting much worse. It is never too late to stop at any stage of the disease. Even if you have fairly advanced COPD, you are likely to benefit and prevent further progression of the disease.

Cough may become worse for a while when you give up smoking. This often happens as the lining of the airways 'come back to life'. Resist the temptation to start smoking again to ease the cough. An increase in cough after you stop smoking usually settles in a few weeks.

See a practice nurse or doctor if you have difficulty in stopping smoking. Help is available. For example, counselling, nicotine replacement therapy (nicotine gum etc), or other medicines to help with stopping smoking may help. The following information discusses giving up smoking in more detail.

Average rating:

4 out of 5 star rating

Please leave a comment, tip or story in the box below

thomas, about 1 year

i have had copd for the last 2 year .what is the life expectancy of some one in my case

Report this comment

Add a comment

Please enter the characters in the image:

IPC Media Limited, owner of goodtoknow.co.uk, will collect your personal information solely to process your request


Lose weight quickly with the goodtoknow diet club

Enter your details below to get a free diet profile

weight

height

age

sex


Win! Champneys spa break

Win! Champneys spa break

You'll also win a feel-good film on DVD

Enter competition


Health

The facts on cystitis

The facts on cystitis

Half of all women get this at least once - find out the symptoms and treatments




Today's health poll

When do you mainly use your computer?


  • Every day at work 36%
  • In the mornings 12%
  • In the afternoons 17%
  • In the evenings 33%
  • Weekends 2%