Living With COPD

Living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be very challenging. People with COPD have symptoms that affect different aspects of their lives. These symptoms make it difficult for them to take part in activities they enjoy.

The number 1 way people with COPD can improve their health is to quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke from other people. But there are other steps you can take to manage symptoms and improve your quality of life.¹

Breathing techniques

Pursed lip breathing and diaphragmatic breathing are 2 techniques to help you breathe easier. Diaphragmatic breathing is also known as belly or abdominal breathing.²

Your diaphragm is the muscle that separates your chest cavity from your stomach. It does most of the work of breathing. If you have COPD, your diaphragm does not work as it should. Muscles in your neck, shoulders, and back are used for breathing, but they do not move your air well.²

A doctor or physical therapist can help you train your diaphragm to do more of the work of breathing. This technique should help you feel short of breath less often, making it easier to complete your daily activities.²

To do pursed lip breathing:²

• Breathe in through your nose for 2 seconds.
• Pucker your lips as if getting ready to blow out birthday candles.
• Breathe out slowly for 4 to 6 seconds.
• Repeat as needed.

Pursed lip breathing helps you focus on your breathing, slow down your breathing, and release trapped air from your lungs. This technique should decrease feelings of breathlessness. Pursed lip breathing should also help you exercise or perform other activity for a longer time.²

The importance of exercise

If you have COPD, you might think that exercising is unsafe or not even possible. But the right type and amount of exercise has many benefits. You just need to make sure not to push yourself too hard. Do not exercise in extreme weather or if the air quality is bad. Also avoid exercising if you have an infection, chest pain, dizziness, or increased shortness of breath.³

Stretching and aerobic exercise such as walking, swimming, and biking are recommended. So is resistance training with weights or resistance bands.³

Exercising for 20 to 30 minutes 3 or 4 times a week can improve your:³

• Shortness of breath
• Cardiovascular fitness (health of your heart and blood vessels)
• Energy levels
• Muscle strength
• Sleep
• Mental health

Pulmonary (lung) rehabilitation combines education and exercise classes to teach you how to be more active with less shortness of breath. These are group classes, giving you a chance to meet others with COPD.³

If supplemental oxygen is part of your treatment, continue to use it when exercising. Check with your doctor to see if your oxygen needs to be adjusted for physical activity. Never smoke while using oxygen, as it could cause a fire and burn you.³

Nutritional counseling

People with COPD need more energy for breathing. Your muscles might need 10 times the number of calories as someone without COPD. There is no one-size-fits-all diet, but eating a variety of foods helps provide the nutrients your body needs. Always check with your doctor before making changes to your diet.⁴

A healthy diet includes:⁴

• Complex carbohydrates, including fresh fruits and vegetables, whole-grain bread, and pasta
• 20 to 30 grams of fiber from fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds
• Protein from meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, nuts, and dried peas and beans
• Unsaturated fats such as canola, safflower, and corn oil

Avoid foods that contain trans fats and saturated fats. Examples include butter, fried foods, cookies, and pastries.⁴

If you are overweight, losing weight can help you breathe easier. It can also help prevent illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease that complicate your health. Stick to lean meats and low-fat dairy products.^4,5

If you need to gain weight, healthy fats like whole milk and full-fat yogurt are a good choice.⁵

Make sure to drink plenty of water. Some people with COPD find taking a multivitamin helpful. If you take steroids, ask your doctor whether you should also take a calcium supplement.⁴

The emotional impact of having COPD

People with COPD have higher rates of anxiety and depression than people without the condition. Treating your mental health does more than lift your mood. Managing anxiety and depression:⁶

• Increases your ability to stick with your COPD action plan
• Improves your physical health
• Lowers medical costs

A mental health professional can help you deal with your anxiety and depression. You can work with a therapist to change patterns of negative thinking and behavior. Medicine can be helpful for some people. Other ways to manage your mood include:⁶

• Staying active
• Spending time with loved ones
• Getting enough sleep
• Managing stress
• Spending time outdoors
• Connecting with others who have COPD

Lifestyle changes to keep you healthier

It's vital not to smoke when you have COPD. You should also avoid irritants that might lead to a flare-up of symptoms. These irritants include:^7,8

• Dust
• Car exhaust
• Perfumes
• Hairspray
• Wood-burning fireplaces
• Strong-smelling cleaning supplies
• Scented candles

Keep track of the air quality in your area. You can sign up for air quality alerts to help you plan your outdoor activities. Also avoid extreme heat or cold, which can worsen COPD symptoms.^7,8

People with COPD are more prone to infections. Staying up-to-date with your vaccinations can offer protection against the flu, COVID-19, pneumonia, and other diseases.^7,8

Make sure to take your COPD medicine as your doctor prescribes. And keep your medical appointments so you can ask questions or discuss concerns about your treatment. If your symptoms suddenly worsen, reach out to your care team right away.^7,8

Preparing for emergencies

People with COPD need to be prepared for an emergency. A COPD travel pack keeps all your essential items together in case you need to evacuate quickly. Your travel pack might include:⁹

• A list of your prescription medicines and their dose schedules
• Your COPD action plan
• Your insurance card
• Quick relief and long-acting inhalers
• A nebulizer or a spacer for your inhalers
• Allergy drugs or any other medicines
• An extra prescription for your COPD drugs
• Your doctor's contact information

Be sure to stay in touch with your family and friends during any emergency. Write down their phone numbers and email addresses in case your cell phone loses power.¹⁰

You can sign up for mobile emergency message notifications from your local power company or the National Weather Service. If you have equipment that requires electricity, tell the local power company, police, and fire departments so they are aware of your needs.¹⁰

If you rely on a CPAP or BiPAP (continuous or bilevel positive airway pressure) machine, keep extra batteries and a car charger on hand. Do the same if you use a portable oxygen concentrator. This will prevent you from losing access to your supplemental oxygen. You can also ask your doctor for an oxygen tank and cylinders as a backup supply. These do not need electricity to work.¹⁰

You might want to consider getting a generator to prepare for power outages. Check with the manufacturer to make sure your devices work with the generator model you have chosen.¹⁰