Ten steps to breathing freedom
Step 1: Quit Smoking
Quitting smoking can improve COPD and your quality of life
The COPD Guidelines state that quitting smoking is effective in relieving the decline in lung function in COPD patients
Quitting requires perseverance and persistence, as tobacco is highly addictive and it usually takes 2-3 sessions to quit successfully
Research proves that each time you quit, you get stronger and gain more knowledge about how to quit successfully.
Step 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 outdoors 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
Step 3: Reduce exertion
Walk slowly to avoid shortness of breath
Use a wheeled cart when moving clothes and dishes to reduce the burden of moving heavy items by walking back and forth
Try to sit to complete various daily activities, such as dressing, undressing, shaving, putting on makeup and cooking.
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.
Step 4: Exercise and movement
COPD can cause the heart and lungs to have difficulty transporting oxygen to other tissues throughout the body. To reduce the stress on your heart and lungs, you should control your weight and improve your respiratory function. All of this can be achieved with moderate exercise
Moderate exercise and avoiding exertion are not contradictory to each other. With proper exercise training, you can improve your respiratory function and also reduce the discomfort you experience from your daily activities
Before embarking on exercise, you need to consult your doctor and work together to develop an appropriate exercise program.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Pulmonary rehabilitation is a series of tailor-made pulmonary rehabilitation programs for patients with pulmonary disease.
Pulmonary rehabilitation mainly includes: exercise training, respiratory muscle training, health education, psychological and behavioral interventions, and evaluation of their effects, among which exercise training is the core of pulmonary rehabilitation, mainly including upper and lower limb exercise training.
Step 5: Healthy diet
Diet and nutrition are also important for COPD patients, and 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 make the stomach swell and are also not good for breathing
Drink more water to thin respiratory secretions and facilitate discharge
Chew and swallow slowly when eating and try not to talk
Step 6: Prevent colds and flu
COPD patients are prone to catching colds during 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 frequently to prevent the growth of bacteria
If someone else uses your phone, clean it with an antibacterial cleaner afterwards
Consult your doctor for flu and pneumonia vaccinations
Step 7: Reduce Stress
Ways to reduce stress
Practice qigong, yoga and other self-relaxation techniques, or listen to relaxing music.
Some of the relaxation methods you can try are: 1. closing your eyes, 2. imagining yourself in a relaxed and comfortable place, 3. doing something you like to do, 4. feeling the soft breeze caressing your head, 5. stepping on soft sand on your feet. Maintain this relaxed state all the time
You can also refer to the breathing method in the “Sports and Exercise” section to relax yourself.
Step 8: Take the right medication
Work with your doctor to develop a medication plan that is appropriate for you.
Inform your doctor of the medications you are 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 condition, ask your doctor if it is suitable for your lung disease.
Step 9: Oxygen therapy
Patients with COPD need oxygen therapy when their disease becomes severe.
Too little oxygen in the blood is hypoxemia. Common symptoms are drowsiness, morning headache, irritability, lack of concentration, and increased shortness of breath. Low oxygen levels also increase the burden on the heart. Therefore, oxygen therapy can effectively relieve the above disadvantages
Oxygen therapy can improve the oxygen exchange in your body and prevent and treat the complications of COPD. For patients who are very sick, the use of oxygen therapy can improve the quality of life
Step 10: Managing COPD in acute exacerbations
COPD in acute exacerbation is a worsening of COPD with a sudden increase in symptoms, usually caused by an infection.
Patients with chronic bronchitis are prone to recurrent infections, and you can intervene by preventing infections, or treating them early when discomfort is detected