5 Questions To Ask Your Doctor After a COPD Diagnosis 

Having a productive conversation can help refine your treatment plan and reduce anxiety about your condition.

When you’ve just been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you may have a moment of relief because you’ve likely had several concerns and symptoms up until then. Now, you have an answer about why.

But that could be followed by a flood of anxious feelings and questions about what’s next.

“Like any chronic condition, this diagnosis can come with quite a bit of uncertainty and even emotional distress,” says Len Horovitz, MD, pulmonologist at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. “One way to help ease that is to work with your doctor on a treatment plan that helps you feel in control.”

He suggests that a key starting point for that conversation is knowing which questions to ask. Although your doctor will address parts of the disease and how it will be treated, writing your questions down in advance can ensure that the discussion covers what you want to know.

Keep in mind that COPD treatment is a long-term effort, so you don’t have only one shot at asking questions, Horovitz adds. However, jotting them down as they come up can keep you focused on managing COPD more effectively. Here are some starting points, along with common answers.

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1. What are my treatment options?

Your treatment will depend on the severity of your condition, but it’s likely you’ll consider options such as bronchodilators — which help open the airways of the lungs — and corticosteroids to bring inflammation levels down, according to Bindu Akkanti, MD, a pulmonologist with UTHealth Houston and director of heart and vascular care at Memorial Hermann in Texas.

Corticosteroids are often prescribed for COPD because they work quickly to restore breathing. They’re usually handy as rescue medication, she says.

The American Lung Association states that understanding the combination of long-acting medication that you take daily and fast-relief medication you use during flare-ups can help reduce the frequency and severity of symptoms.

2. Should I try pulmonary rehab?

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a supervised medical program that includes breathing techniques and exercises that can help you ease COPD symptoms.

The American Lung Association suggests pulmonary rehab is a good choice for people with lung disease who frequently experience shortness of breath and cannot perform daily activities.

Physical activity has several benefits, but you might not feel safe exercising with COPD, especially if you’re nervous about shortness of breath. The American Lung Association reports that pulmonary rehab can teach you to be more active. Because of these benefits, ask if this rehab is available within your health system.

3. What other lifestyle changes can help?

Quitting smoking if you haven’t already is the No.1 strategy for slowing the progression of your COPD, Horovitz says. If you’re struggling, talk with your doctor about programs at your health system that are geared toward smoking cessation.

He adds that another significant lifestyle factor is sleep. In a 2022 study, the risk of COPD flare-ups was 25–95% higher for people with low sleep quality than for people who had good quality sleep.

The researchers wrote that this connection might come from how poor sleep can weaken the immune system, leaving people with COPD more vulnerable to infections and illness.

4. When should I be seen right away?

With COPD, an exacerbation can cause shortness of breath and a rising feeling of panic, so it’s difficult to know what constitutes an emergency.

One rule of thumb is that if your rescue medication is not working within a specified timeframe — ask your doctor what that would be, based on what you’re prescribed—you should seek medical attention immediately, Akkanti says.

Akkanti says other signs of low oxygen, such as confusion, sudden and severe headache, difficulty catching your breath, chest pain, or blue discoloration on your lips, nails, or skin, are all reasons to seek care right away.

5. How will COPD affect my mental health?

Even if you’ve never had an issue with depression or anxiety, this is a critical topic to bring up with your doctor, Horovitz says. That’s because there’s a connection between COPD and mental health challenges, research suggests.

For example, a 2023 study found that people living with COPD experienced a higher level of psychological distress than those in the general population, including people with diagnosed anxiety or depression.

That research also notes mental health difficulties can prompt sudden flare-ups and more frequent hospitalizations. Your doctor may be able to provide resources that will help, like support groups or access to a social worker or therapist.

Takeaway

Like many conditions, COPD can be different for each person. You may have early, mild symptoms that are slow to progress, while someone else may need supplemental oxygen and require more intensive treatment.

No matter where you are on that spectrum, taking control of your health is a crucial part of COPD management, and working with your care team is an integral part of that effort.