Learn what a typical Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease prognosis is at Consumer Reports Health.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

What will happen to me?

There is no cure for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but there are treatments that can help your symptoms.

COPD gets worse slowly. But everyone is different. Some people's COPD stays the same for years. For other people, the disease gets worse more quickly, especially if they keep on smoking.

Source:
Anthonisen NR, Connett JE, Kiley JP, et al.
Effects of smoking intervention and the use of an inhaled anticholinergic bronchodilator on the rate of decline of FEV1. The Lung Health Study.
Journal of the American Medical Assocation. 1994; 272: 1497-1505.

If you stop smoking, there's a good chance that you can slow down how quickly the disease gets worse. Your doctor can help you stop smoking.

See Why stop smoking? for more information. You may also want to read our section on Nicotine addiction for advice about how to quit.

When COPD becomes severe

If your COPD gets very bad, you will find it hard to breathe and you will need to make a big effort to get air in and out of your lungs. If you can't get enough oxygen into your bloodstream, you will feel tired and you may not be able to walk very far.

You may need to breathe oxygen through a mask or through tubes that go into your nostrils. If you're finding it very hard to breathe during a severe attack, you may need to use a machine called a ventilator to help you breathe.

Some people with COPD die as a result of their disease. It's difficult to predict what will happen to you. But you can live longer with COPD if you stop smoking.

Sources for the information on this page:

Anthonisen NR, Connett JE, Kiley JP, et al.Effects of smoking intervention and the use of an inhaled anticholinergic bronchodilator on the rate of decline of FEV1. The Lung Health Study.Journal of the American Medical Assocation. 1994; 272: 1497-1505.

This information was last updated on Jul 14, 2009

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
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