Living with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) means that a patient is very likely to face difficulties even when performing common everyday activities like climbing stairs, throwing rubbish away, taking a shower, etc. The main reason for not being able to complete such simple tasks is breathing difficulty which may be exacerbated by exposure to pollen, dust, chemicals, and perfumes.
Unfortunately, there’s no cure for COPD. However, getting the right treatment helps in managing the disease and improving the overall quality of life. What’s more, by following some healthy lifestyle tips you may also relieve symptoms and keep your respiratory system strong. Here’s what you should do:
- 1. Quit Smoking
The number one recommendation is to quit smoking as this bad habit is one of the main causes of COPD. Although stopping smoking cigarettes won’t provide a cure, it will decrease the progression of the disease and ease breathing.
- 2. Stay Active
Having a chronic respiratory condition doesn’t mean you have to spend all your day in bed. On the contrary, you have to keep active and do light to moderate exercises, like taking a walk or doing stretching exercises, nothing strenuous or heavy, to improve your respiratory strength.
- 3. Eat Healthily
Obesity can make your COPD symptoms even worse and make breathing even harder than it is. Therefore, following a healthy and balanced diet is essential if you want to alleviate your symptoms. Also, ensure you eat smaller meals throughout the day.
- 4. Drink Water
Staying hydrated is another thing you should pay attention to if you’ve developed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Drinking water is key to keeping the mucus thin and avoiding build-up. Hence, drink six to eight glasses of water a day.
- 5. Improve Air Quality
You can certainly try to improve the quality of the air inside your home. Start by prohibiting smoking indoors, then eliminate all cleaning and personal care products with strong scents, vacuum your carpets regularly, and get yourself a good-quality air purifier.
- 7. Get Vaccinated
If you get any respiratory infection, your COPD symptoms will immediately exacerbate. Thus, you should consider but first consult your doctor, of course, getting a flu shot every year. Similarly, you may even get the pneumonia vaccine if you are a good candidate.
- 8. Practice Breathing Techniques
When your symptoms flare up, the key thing is to know how to control and improve breathing. Hence, ask your doctor about any helpful techniques or refer you to pulmonary rehabilitation where you will learn about different ways to breathe and strengthen your lungs.
- 8. Use a Portable Oxygen Tank
Oxygen therapy is really beneficial when it comes to combating COPD symptoms but may sometimes limit your movement as it is difficult to carry a large oxygen unit. Instead, get yourself a lightweight portable oxygen tank to easily carry it wherever you go.
- 9. Get a Humidifier
Finally, we’ve already recommended getting an air purifier which is great for alleviating symptoms and avoiding flare-ups. Getting a humidifier is also a great idea as it will help loosen mucus and prevent it from building up, making breathing harder.
The Bottom Line
Even though there’s no cure for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, following your treatment plan and switching to a healthy lifestyle can truly provide relief. That said, follow the above-listed tips and manage COPD successfully.