Can I live a normal life if I have COPD?

With the right medical treatment, good self-care, vaccinations to minimise the risk of infections, and stopping smoking, it’s possible to live a happy and long life with COPD. Getting fitter by exercising more and completing programmes such as pulmonary rehabilitation is also very important for patients with COPD. Some things may be more difficult, such as specific exercise, and you may get more infections, which can slow you down, but doing what you can to look after your health can help limit the severity of your symptoms.