What are common myths about COPD?

The most common myth about COPD is that only smokers get it. Pulmonologist Brian Gelbman, MD, dispels misconceptions and shares accurate information about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Transcript

00:00

There's a whole spectrum of disease severity

00:06

with COPD, anything from mild to severe.

00:13

The most frequent misconception I see about COPD is that patients who are diagnosed with it are ultimately going to need oxygen for their disease

00:21

or die from their disease. This is actually not true. Patients with mild disease may never progress in their lifetime.

00:27

And it may be managed with either no inhalers or just one or two inhalers over their lifetime. Only a few patients with COPD ultimately need oxygen therapy.

01:11

Pulmonary rehabilitation is essentially an exercise program that's performed under the supervision of a trained physical therapist.

01:17

What's important for COPD patients when they do their physical therapy is that they have some of their vital signs, including their oxygen levels, measured during exercise.

01:26

Some patients may need supplemental oxygen during their exercise and may need the help of the physical therapist to determine how far they can push themselves.

01:42

The benefit of pulmonary rehabilitation is that patients generally can improve their exercise tolerance. They'll be able to walk farther, feel less shortness of breath

01:50

during exercise, and overall feel better after doing a series of planned exercises.