If doctors cannot reliably distinguish between shortness of
breath from CHF and COPD, both conditions are often treated
together. Treatments for COPD focus on the lungs and the
airways, the branching network of tubes inside the lungs. The
main treatments for COPD are bronchodilators, inhaled medicines
that help open the airways. Heart failure treatments reduce the
workload on the heart and help prevent unhealthy growth of heart
muscle. Categories of treatments for heart failure include: -
Diuretics, which increase urination and reduce the heart strain
from fluid overload. - Beta-blockers, which prevent excessive
stress on the heart and reduce blood pressure. However, these
would not be used if a person is having an acute episode of
heart failure. - Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, which
lower blood pressure and reduce heart stress. - Other blood
pressure medicines, which prevent long-term damage to the heart.
People with severe shortness of breath from COPD and heart
failure may receive other treatme