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COPD: questions to ask your doctor

Last published:Dec 06, 2021

Here are some things you may want to talk to your doctor about if you have (or think you may have) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

  • How can you tell if I have COPD?

  • What do my test results mean?

  • What treatments should I have?

  • How will the treatments help me?

  • Should I do regular exercise? If so, what kind of exercise might I be able to do?

  • Do the treatments have any side effects?

  • What should I do if I get any of these side effects?

  • How often should I come back to see you if my treatment is helping?

  • How will you know if my treatment is working?

  • What should I do if I get a flare-up of my symptoms (doctors call this an "exacerbation")?

  • How can I find out more about COPD?

  • What is "self-management" and how can it help?

  • How does having COPD affect how long people live?

  • How can I get help to stop smoking?

  • Besides giving up smoking, is there anything I can do to help myself?

The patient information from BMJ Best Practice from which this leaflet is derived is regularly updated. The most recent version of Best Practice can be found at bestpractice.bmj.com. This information is intended for use by health professionals. It is not a substitute for medical advice. It is strongly recommended that you independently verify any interpretation of this material and, if you have a medical problem, see your doctor.

Please see BMJ's full terms of use at: bmj.com/company/legal-information. BMJ does not make any representations, conditions, warranties or guarantees, whether express or implied, that this material is accurate, complete, up-to-date or fit for any particular purposes.

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