There is no cure for COPD, but it can be managed and treated by working with your healthcare team to develop a plan to keep your COPD under control. Along with quitting smoking, staying up to date with vaccinations, following your treatment plan and regularly seeing your healthcare provider, there are lifestyle changes that can help you stay more active and improve your quality of life.
Prevent COPD Exacerbations
Learn ways to reduce exposure to triggers that can worsen your COPD symptoms, such as tobacco smoke, lung infections like the flu or COVID-19, and air pollution.
COPD Management Tools
Get the Most Out of the Foods You Eat
Cope with Your Emotions
Stay Physically Active
Learn about COPD Stages
Manage Your Daily Activities
Plan for the Future
Hospital to Home Care
Comorbid Conditions
You may have another chronic health condition like asthma, heart disease, diabetes, depression or arthritis that you are also managing. When you have multiple health conditions, it is important that each member of your healthcare team know about all your diseases, so they can find the best treatment for you.
If you have an underlying lung disease like COPD, you may be at higher risk of infection or developing another lung disease. Learn about the lung-related health conditions that may affect people living with COPD.
Reviewed and approved by the American Lung Association Scientific and Medical Editorial Review Panel.
Page last updated: September 3, 2025
