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what is COPD? | |
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causes & symptoms | |
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treating COPD | |
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drugs & inhalers | |
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home oxygen | |
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surgical treatments | |
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eating right | |
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exercise | |
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help someone cope | |
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glossary | |
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expert Q & A | |
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surgical treatments Currently, surgical treatments for COPD are investigative, meaning they are not proven to be effective across the board. Having this type of surgery is also very expensive, and often not covered by insurance. For the most part, surgery is not considered beneficial for most COPD patients. Despite all this, some people do have very positive responses to surgery. And it is important to know that surgery is an option in some cases. New research and studies often become available. So, ask your healthcare professional about the latest developments in surgery treatments for COPD. lung transplantation There have been successful lung transplants in people who have end-stage COPD. After a successful lung transplant, a person has a 70% chance of surviving for 1 year post surgery. The best candidates for this surgery are people under 65 who have good general health, aside from COPD. lung volume reduction surgery Lung volume reduction is an experimental surgery that involves removing severely diseased lung tissue. Since this type of surgery is still under investigation, it's difficult to find a surgeon experienced in this type of operation. |
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