Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an umbrella term for chronic lung diseases, such as emphysema and bronchitis. The progressive illness can make breathing challenging and cause several symptoms, including chest infections, coughing, and wheezing. Exposure to dust, pollen, and perfume can exacerbate these symptoms and affect the quality of life significantly. People with COPD are susceptible to severe conditions like anxiety and depression and have to deal with a lot of complications.
There is no cure for COPD but the right treatment and a healthy lifestyle can manage the illness. It can keep the body strong and protect the respiratory system from any serious harm.
Here are a few lifestyle shifts that can help live well with the disease.
1. Identify and Avoid Triggers
The presence of pollen, dust, pet dander, and mould in your environment can aggravate COPD symptoms. Try reducing frequent exposure to airborne allergens, especially at home to make breathing easier. Know and avoid COPD triggers as much as possible by covering your pillows, keeping pets out of the bedroom, and using an air purifier. Also, you can use a High-efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter to remove irritants from the air.
2. Take Timely Medications
If you are facing breathing issues, start taking COPD medications without any delay. Consult a doctor to seek tailored drug treatment and monitor your health. Take timely and correct medicines as prescribed by the doctor and ask about your concerns immediately. Use a checklist to track your medicines and ensure that you don’t miss a single dose. In case of any side effects, visit a healthcare expert to change medications.
3. Adopt a Healthy Diet
Food is the fuel that runs our body to perform different tasks, including breathing. Therefore, eat the right mix of nutrients to help ease breathlessness and improve your energy level. Healthy living and a balanced diet are important to maintain the perfect weight, which is important for people with COPD. While your diet plan must be according to your current body weight, make sure to include smaller portions rather than heavy meals.
4. Keep Air Clean at Home
You might not fully control outdoor air quality but spare no effort to reduce air pollution at your home. Ban smoking indoors and steer clear of strong odours, hairsprays, perfumes, and other strong scented products as they can cause shortness of breath and trigger coughing. Choose non-toxic and natural products, vacuum carpets & pillow covers, and use an effective air purifier to eliminate airborne pollutants.
5. Keep Yourself Hydrated
Staying hydrated is essential for everyone, and when it comes to people with COPD, it is even more important. Due to the illness, mucus produced by the lungs can become sticky and thick, thereby, making it difficult to cough up. Drinking plenty of water keeps mucus thin and prevents it from building up. To manage COPD symptoms, doctors recommend six to eight-ounce glasses of water every day. But check your water intake because taking excess fluid can result in heart failure at times.
6. Seek Oxygen Treatment
People with severe COPD conditions may need oxygen therapy as their body can’t get enough oxygen on their own. This can hamper daily activities and cause inflammation of the lungs. Therefore, doctors recommend oxygen treatment to prevent further damage to organs, improve daily activity, and enhance sleep. You can use a lightweight, portable oxygen tank that you can carry easily anywhere. Moreover, you can switch to an oxygen concentrator that is more economical and extracts O2 from room air.
7. Practice Breathing Exercise
To handle COPD complications and flares, ask your healthcare expert about the best techniques to control breathing. One such exercise is pursed-lip breathing which relaxes airways, opens up lungs, and allows patients to take in more oxygen. The right technique is to sit calmly, take in a deep breath, purse your lips like you are trying to whistle, and breathe out the air.
8. Other Lifestyle Changes
Making small changes in your routine can keep you active and ensure a healthier life. Join pulmonary rehabilitation to learn different ways to breathe, which strengthen your respiratory muscles and make routine activities easier without causing breathlessness. An experienced team of health specialists will provide nutrition advice and suggest the right breathing exercises. They also educate you about COPD and ways to deal with it.
Conclusion
COPD is a lifelong disease with no cure. However, switching to a healthier lifestyle and taking the right treatment provide a line of defence. It will help you cope with the condition and prevent further damage to the heart and lungs. Also, stay positive and take enough rest.
Author Bio Krishma Patel: Co-founder and the Superintendent Pharmacist at MedsNow, an online pharmacy in the UK that provides health and wellness products and treatments along with free online consultations. She is passionate about showcasing the integral function community pharmacies can play in supporting the healthcare system and the NHS by providing patients with high quality, safe and discreet access to healthcare at their convenience. Along with being the co-founder of MedsNow, Krishma is also the Director and the Superintendent Pharmacist of Enimed Ltd., an independent pharmacy group comprising 32 branches.