- Chronic Care
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) treatment available online today
In order to treat your COPD, consult with one of our board-certified doctors online today to get a prescription that will help you breathe easier. Get a new prescription to treat COPD or refill an existing prescription today.*
Book an appointment
Manage COPD concerns conveniently from anywhere
Expert screening for COPD
Breathe better with doctor-recommended prescriptions
*Prescriptions are provided at the doctor's discretion. Learn more about our controlled substances policy and how to save up to 80% with our prescription discount card. PlushCare doctors cannot treat all cases of COPD. Our primary care physicians can conduct an initial evaluation of your symptoms but may need to refer you to a specialist or for in-person treatment. If you are experiencing life-threatening symptoms, seek emergency medical attention immediately.
About chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of progressive lung diseases that make it harder to breathe. Of these conditions, chronic bronchitis and emphysema are the most common.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or chronic obstructive lung disease, happens when damage occurs in the small airways and air sacs in the lungs. When these structures become damaged, they block normal airflow, leading to airway obstruction.
According to the American Lung Association, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease affects millions of people in the United States. Fortunately, this lung disease is often preventable and treatable. Treatment options for COPD can help you manage symptoms, make healthy lifestyle changes, and find support.
COPD Causes
Over time, irritants can damage the lungs, causing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These lung irritants can come from:
Smoking
The toxins in cigarettes can weaken the lungs' defense against respiratory infections, narrow air passages, and cause airway inflammation.
Environmental factors
Environmental lung irritants can play a role in COPD. For example, long-term exposure to air pollution, secondhand smoke, and chemicals can lead to COPD.
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
A rare form of COPD, alpha-1 deficiency-related emphysema, is caused by an alpha-1 deficiency. A genetic condition that affects the body's ability to produce Alpha-1, which protects the lungs, can cause people to develop COPD.
COPD symptoms
For most people, COPD symptoms don't appear until the lungs have experienced significant damage. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease symptoms typically worsen over time, and continued exposure to lung irritants can further aggravate COPD symptoms.
Common symptoms of COPD include:
Shortness of breath and breathing difficulty, especially during physical activity
Wheezing and/or chest tightness
Frequent respiratory infections
A chronic cough, which may produce white, yellow, or greenish mucus
Lack of energy
Swelling in the ankles, feet, or legs
Unintended weight loss (in severe cases)
How to treat COPD
Many people with COPD experience mild symptoms, where little treatment is needed beyond smoking cessation. For more advanced COPD, treatment focuses on relieving symptoms, reducing the risk of complications, and treating chronic breathing problems.
Not all people with COPD have the same symptoms, and treatment will vary from person to person. Treatment options for COPD include:
COPD medication, such as anti-inflammatory drugs or bronchodilators
Endobronchial valve (EBV) treatment
Oxygen therapy to provide supplemental oxygen
Pulmonary rehabilitation
Quitting smoking
Lung surgery, such as lung volume reduction surgery, for severe COPD
Lung transplantation in very severe COPD
COPD Medication
Multiple COPD medications are used to treat symptoms, and there's no "best" medication for all people. COPD medication can help you breathe easier, live an active life, and have fewer symptom flare-ups.
Your doctor will consider your medical history and symptoms to determine the best treatment for you. Medications for COPD treatment include:
Antibiotics
Many people with COPD experience flare-ups with increased coughing, mucus production, and shortness of breath. These flare-ups can be caused by bacterial or viral lung infections. If you develop a bacterial infection, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics.
Anticholinergics
Anticholinergics are short-acting bronchodilators. These medications prevent the muscles around your airways from tightening, which helps keep your airways open and clear mucus from your lungs.
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids help reduce airway inflammation and mucus production. They can be inhaled with an inhaler device or swallowed as a pill.
How to prevent COPD
COPD is highly preventable. If you're concerned about developing COPD, take the following steps to lower your risk.
Avoid exposure to secondhand cigarette smoke
Take care to protect yourself from lung irritants, such as air pollution
When to see a doctor for COPD
Talk to your doctor if:
Your symptoms aren't improving with treatment
You're experiencing new or severe COPD symptoms
You notice symptoms of an infection, such as a fever
Seek immediate medical attention if:
You can't catch your breath
You notice blueness on your lips or fingernails
You feel foggy or have trouble concentrating
COPD treatment FAQs
What is the best treatment for COPD?
There's no "best" treatment for COPD, and the right treatment for you will depend on your specific symptoms. For most people, short-acting bronchodilator inhalers can help make breathing easier by relaxing the airways.
What is the best medicine for COPD?
Depending on your COPD symptoms, your doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory medications, bronchodilators, or other medications to make breathing easier.
In some cases, your doctor may recommend antibiotics or antihistamines to treat infections or improve symptoms.How do you quit smoking to treat COPD?
If you're quitting smoking to treat COPD, talk to your doctor about smoking cessation medication. Some common smoking cessation medications we prescribe include:
Can lungs heal from COPD?
No, damaged lung tissue cannot repair itself. However, seeking COPD treatment can help you slow the progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, manage your symptoms, and live a healthy life.
3 simple steps to request COPD treatment today
Step 1
Book a COPD treatment appointment.
Book a same day appointment from anywhere.
Step 2
Talk to your medical provider regarding your COPD symptoms.
Visit with a doctor on your smartphone or computer.
Step 3
Pick up a prescription to treat COPD.
We can send prescriptions to any local pharmacy.
Related conditions to COPD
Emphysema
Emphysema, a type of COPD, causes shortness of breath. Emphysema happens when the air sacs in the lungs become damaged. Over time, these air sacs can weaken and rupture.
Bronchitis
Bronchitis happens when the bronchial tubes become inflamed. This inflammation can lead to increased mucus production, wheezing, and chest discomfort. There are two types of bronchitis: acute bronchitis and chronic bronchitis.
Smoking cessation
Smoking is the most common cause of COPD, and quitting is the most important thing you can do to reduce your risk.
Dyspnea
Dyspnea, or discomfort with breathing, is a marker of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Over time, the severity of dyspnea increases as the disease progresses, leading to disability.
COPD treatment pricing details
How pricing works
To request COPD treatment and get a new or refill on your prescription, join our monthly membership and get discounted visits
Paying with insurance
Membership
$14.99/month
First month free
First visit
Copay
For all visits
30 days of free membership
Same-day appointments 7 days a week
Unlimited messages with your Care Team
Prescription discount card to save up to 80%
Exclusive discounts on lab tests
Free memberships for your family
Cancel anytime
Visit price with insurance
Often the same as an office visit. Most patients with in-network insurance pay $30 or less!
- We accept these insurance plans and many more:
Paying without insurance
Membership
$14.99/month
First month free
First visit
$129
Repeats only $99
30 days of free membership
Same-day appointments 7 days a week
Unlimited messages with your Care Team
Prescription discount card to save up to 80%
Exclusive discounts on lab tests
Free memberships for your family
Cancel anytime
Visit price without insurance
Initial visits are $129 and follow-ups are only $99 for active members.
If we're unable to treat you, we'll provide a full refund.
COPD treatment resources
Sources:
PlushCare is dedicated to providing you with accurate and trustworthy health information.
American Lung Association. COPD Causes and Risk Factors. Accessed on June 25, 2022. https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/copd/what-causes-copd
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Accessed on June 25, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/copd/index.html
Mayo Clinic. COPD. Accessed on June 25, 2022. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/copd/symptoms-causes/syc-20353679