Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a serious disease where damage to your lungs makes it harder to breathe. The walls of your airways become inflamed, which causes you to cough and produce extra phlegm.

COPD is chronic, meaning there is no cure. It is also often progressive, meaning it gets worse over time. The most common types of COPD are emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Most patients have a combination of both.

Often, COPD is caused by smoking. You can also develop COPD if you do not smoke.

People with COPD experience lung attacks, also called flare-ups. During these episodes, their COPD symptoms become more severe. Lung attacks can last days to weeks. Getting timely treatment is important since lung attacks lead to more lung damage.

Your doctor will:

• ask questions about your history of smoking
• ask if you are exposed to irritants at home or your work
• listen to your breathing with a stethoscope

Your doctor may also order diagnostic tests, such as: 

• Lung function testing to determine how strong your lungs are and how well they work. A respiratory therapist does this test. They will look at how much oxygen your lungs transfer into your blood. They will also check how your lungs work during exercise with a walking test. A common type of lung function test for COPD is spirometry.
• Chest X-ray  or CT Scan to take pictures of your lungs. These images can reveal structural changes.
• Lab tests to see if a genetic reason has caused your COPD. Lab tests can also give information about immunity. Your doctor may also want to know your blood’s oxygen and carbon dioxide levels.

There is no cure for COPD. The goal of treatment is to improve symptoms and quality of life as well as prevent flare-ups. Treatment can also slow disease progression.

Watch for flare-ups if you get a cold or flu or are stressed. You can also get flare-ups from irritants like smoke or air pollution.

Some COPD treatments your doctor may recommend include: 

• Quitting smoking to improve your symptoms. Quitting also prevents further damage to your lungs. Providence Health Care’s Smoking Cessation Clinic helps patients reduce or quit smoking.
• Inhalers to deliver medicine to your lungs as you breathe in a mist or powder. Your doctor may recommend an inhaler that dilates the breathing tubes in your lungs. Some inhalers also contain anti-inflammatory medication to control lung inflammation.
• Nebulizers to make it easier to inhale medication. Some people use these devices because they find inhalers difficult. Nebulizers use an air compressor to turn liquid medication into a mist. You breathe the mist through a mask or mouthpiece.  
• Lung (pulmonary) rehabilitation to strengthen your breathing muscles. You can learn strategies for managing your COPD and get an action plan on what to do when you experience a flare-up. You can find this service at Providence’s Respiratory Education Centre. 
• Oxygen therapy if your lungs are not getting enough oxygen into your blood. You will breathe in compressed gas from a container. 
• Surgery is helpful for a small number of patients if doctors can remove damaged lung tissue. Doctors can also install stents or special valves to help the lungs empty. In younger patients with severe disease, lung transplantation is an option. 

Hospital at Home is a Providence program for patients who live near St. Paul’s Hospital. If your COPD is severe you can receive hospital-level care in your home.

Clinics that treat COPD

The Indigenous Wellness Liaison Team is here to support your health journey. Team members offer cultural support and healthcare advocacy. Learn more below or call them at 604-682-2344,62937 or email IWL@providencehealth.bc.ca.

Advances in treatments are all thanks to medical research. While participating in research is a decision you should make for yourself in consultation with your care team, there is much activity in this area so please ask us about our research programs if you’re interested.

By taking part in research, you can help us all learn more about advancing health outcomes and find better ways to help people live and thrive. While you cannot assume benefit to yourself, your participation can make a difference in improving care for future patients.

The following clinical trials are currently enrolling volunteers. Please ask your care team for more information or contact the research team listed on each study or trial. For other information about research at Providence Health Care, please visit Providence Research.