Steroids for COPD – Risks and Benefits

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a term used to describe a few serious lung conditions. These include emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and nonreversible asthma. The main symptoms of COPD are:

• shortness of breath, especially when you’re active
• wheezing
• coughing
• buildup of mucus in your airways

While no cure exists for COPD, several types of medication are available that can often reduce the severity of symptoms.

Steroids are among the medications commonly prescribed to people with COPD. They help reduce the inflammation in your lungs caused by flare-ups.

Steroids come in oral and inhaled forms. There are also combination drugs that include a steroid and another medication. Each type of steroid works a little differently in controlling or preventing symptom flare-ups.

Our friends at Healthline put together a great read on some of the risks and benefits inherent in several of the popular steroids for COPD.

Read more here.