Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD for short), is a chronic progressive disease that has not been cured by modern medicine worldwide. Therefore, daily health care and self-treatment of COPD is particularly important. Here we can outline ten elements. Patients can do well in these ten points, which can surely help your disease a lot, improve the quality of daily life and reduce the chance of hospitalization.
1. Quit smoking.
According to a questionnaire and spirometry study conducted on more than 20,000 people over 40 years of age in seven Chinese provinces/cities, smoking is positively correlated with the incidence of COPD. Smoking causes an inflammatory response in the lungs and the free radicals in the smoke cause oxidative damage to the lungs, and so far the only measure that has proven effective in slowing down the progressive decline in lung function is to quit smoking. Therefore, doctors recommend: COPD patients need to quit smoking immediately.
2. Avoid exposure to harmful gases or particles.
In addition to smoking, inhalation of other harmful gases or particles can also affect COPD
Avoid exposure to smoke and strong odors
Do not go outside or reduce physical work when the air pollution index is high
Wear a mask to protect your mouth and nose when you go outside in cold weather
If you have allergies, stay away from pollen or other allergenic sources
Adjust the humidity in your home to avoid the growth of mold and mildew
3. Reduce exertion.
Walk slowly to avoid shortness of breath
Use wheeled carts when moving clothes and dishes to reduce the burden of moving heavy things by walking back and forth
Try to sit to complete various daily activities, such as dressing, undressing, shaving, makeup and cooking, etc.
Place items in your home within reach, avoid bending down and climbing high to get things
Try to sit on a stool when taking a bath, and use a bathrobe to dry your body
Use assistive tools to complete daily activities, such as long-handled reachers to assist in putting on shoes and socks and fetching objects from high and low places
4. Sports and exercise.
COPD can make it difficult for the heart and lungs to transport oxygen to other tissues throughout the body. In order to reduce the pressure on the heart and lungs, you should control your weight and improve your respiratory function. All of this can be achieved through moderate exercise.
Moderate exercise and avoiding exertion do not contradict each other. With proper exercise training, you can improve your respiratory function and also reduce the symptoms of discomfort that occur with your daily activities. Before embarking on exercise, you need to consult your doctor and work together to develop an appropriate exercise program.
For COPD patients, one of the most beneficial, is pulmonary rehabilitation exercises. Pulmonary rehabilitation is a series of pulmonary rehabilitation programs tailored for patients with pulmonary disease, including: exercise training, respiratory muscle training, health education, psychological and behavioral interventions and their effectiveness evaluation, of which exercise training is the core of pulmonary rehabilitation, mainly including upper and lower extremity exercise training. Related exercise methods are described in more detail in this newspaper. If you are interested, our respiratory medicine department will conduct relevant patient education in our hospital on the afternoon of the second and fourth Thursday of each month, and you can see the hospital’s notice for the specific time and place.
5.Healthy diet.
Diet and nutrition are also important for COPD patients. The following are some tips for a healthy diet.
Eat smaller and more frequent meals. Because the stomach is located just below the lungs, a full meal will cause your stomach to compress the diaphragm, which is not conducive to breathing in the lungs.
Avoid foods that produce gas, such as apples, cabbage, cabbage, corn, cucumbers, and carbonated beverages. They can distend the stomach and are also detrimental to breathing.
Drink plenty of water to thin the secretions from the respiratory tract and facilitate discharge.
Chew and swallow slowly when eating and try not to talk.
6. Prevent colds and flu.
COPD patients are prone to catching colds during the flu season, and viral infections can increase the chances of developing pneumonia. For this reason COPD patients should do the following.
Stay away from people who have colds and flu.
Wash your hands regularly to prevent the growth of bacteria.
If someone else uses your phone, wash it with an antibacterial cleaner afterwards.
Consult your doctor for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
7. Reduce stress.
Self-regulation of mind is important. Increased psychological stress can also increase the suffering caused by the disease. Communicate more with your doctor, fully understand the disease, and maintain a healthy mindset in order to fight the disease in the best way possible. Patients can try the following methods to relieve stress and adjust their mindset
Practice qigong, yoga and other self-relaxation and adjustment techniques, or listen to relaxing music
Intentional relaxation methods that can be tried: Close your eyes. Imagine yourself in a relaxed and comfortable environment. Doing something you like to do. Feel the soft breeze caressing your face. Feel the soft sand on your feet. Keep this relaxed state.
You can also refer to the “sports and exercise” in the breathing method for relaxation and adjustment
8, reasonable use of medication.
COPD is a long-term disease, most of which requires long-term medication, regular lung function tests, and adjustment of medication when necessary. Therefore, patients should pay attention to the following points in order to cooperate with the doctor to set up a medication plan that is suitable for you and achieve the best results.
Inform your doctor of the medications you are currently taking, including over-the-counter and herbal medications.
Inform your doctor which medications you are allergic to.
Let your doctor know the therapeutic effects and side effects of the medication after taking it.
Tell your doctor if you have any problems taking the medication, and he or she will change the medication to a different one depending on the situation. Some people experience side effects when taking medications, so it is important to tell your doctor if you notice any discomfort.
When taking a new medication for another disease, ask your doctor if it is suitable for your lung disease.
9. Oxygen therapy.
Patients with COPD need oxygen therapy when their disease becomes severe. Because the disease causes too little oxygen in the blood and leads to hypoxemia, common symptoms are drowsiness, morning headache, irritability, lack of concentration, and increased shortness of breath. Low oxygen levels can also increase the burden on the heart. And oxygen therapy can improve the exchange of oxygen in your body and prevent and treat the complications of COPD. For patients who are very sick, using oxygen therapy can improve the quality of life
The principle of oxygen therapy for COPD is: long-term continuous low level oxygen. In general, long-term is recommended for a lifetime of oxygen, and continuous is defined as greater than 15 hours per day. Low concentration means that the oxygen concentration is less than 2-3 liters per minute. Oxygen therapy is administered by both nasal cannula and mask oxygen. In short, you need to work with your doctor to develop a treatment plan that is right for you before treatment. Inappropriate treatment may be harmful. Remember: COPD does not go away on its own, it needs to be treated, and the sooner it is treated, the better.
10. Manage acute exacerbations of COPD.
Acute exacerbation of COPD is a deterioration of COPD with a sudden worsening of symptoms, usually caused by infection. Patients with chronic bronchitis are prone to recurrent infections, and you can intervene by preventing infections, or by treating them early when discomfort is detected.
Our Respiratory Medicine Department conducts related patient education in our hospital on the afternoon of the second and fourth Thursday of each month, and you can see the hospital’s notice for the exact time and place. All patients are welcome to attend. Pay attention to your COPD, protect your lungs, guard your breath and let go of your freedom.