Treatment aims to ensure that the disease does not progress and that the affected person can live well with it; changes that have already occurred cannot be reversed. The most important measures are strict nonsmoking and avoidance of environmental stimuli and allergy-causing substances. In addition, respiratory gymnastics, inhalation and tapping massages, medications for inhalation or in tablet form (especially cortisone and agents for airway dilatation) and later long-term oxygen therapy (at least 16 hours daily) are used. In the final stage, there must be a switch to artificial respiration by mask or tube.
Surgical intervention rarely necessary
In individual cases, surgical measures, e.g., volume reduction or, in younger patients, lung transplantation, are indicated but have limited promise. In principle, close cooperation with and checks by the treating physician are important. Medications must be taken regularly and correctly, infections must be avoided (e.g. by vaccinations) and – if they do occur – treated quickly and consistently. The patient should learn to recognize and treat any worsening of the disease at an early stage.
Important body signals in lung disease include coughing, sputum, shortness of breath, the need for medication and falling peak flow values (exhalation values that can be regularly determined by the affected person). Patient education is always useful – addresses can be obtained from the family doctor. Since the changes that have already occurred in the lung tissue are definitive, the prognosis is strongly influenced by how well the progression of the disease can be delayed and complications avoided. In principle, life expectancy and quality of life are severely limited.
