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Australian Prescriber Vol. 24 No. 6 2001

Management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, commonly known as chronic bronchitis, is caused by smoking. The bronchial tubes in the lungs become narrow and blocked with mucus. This can cause a cough and make the patient breathless.

The disease usually gets worse with time. There is no treatment which stops this progress, but stopping smoking slows it down.

Some of the medicines used to treat asthma may help patients with chronic bronchitis, but others have no effect. Sometimes the doctor will ask the patient to try one of these medicines to see if they work. If the medicine does not work it should not be continued.

Patients with chronic bronchitis are prone to chest infections. They should be vaccinated against influenza and pneumonia.

A rehabilitation program can help the patients feel better.

In chronic bronchitis prevention is better than cure. For information on stopping smoking talk to your doctor or pharmacist, call the national QUIT line 13 18 48 or visit the QUIT website (www.quit.org.au).

See also: Australian Prescriber Vol. 30 No. 3 2007