If you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you know how the condition can make it hard to breathe and impact your life. COPD is a group of lung diseases, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
“Symptoms include shortness of breath, chronic cough, chest tightness, increased phlegm and wheezing,” said Madhav Chopra, MD, an interventional pulmonologist with Banner – University Medicine. Symptoms can range from mild to severe depending on your condition and they can even change over the course of the day.
Some lifestyle habits or environmental factors can make COPD symptoms worse. But by making a few simple changes, such as eating the right foods, exercising regularly and managing stress, you can improve your lung function, help keep symptoms under control and improve your quality of life.
Managing COPD with a healthy diet
A well-balanced diet is important for keeping your lungs as strong as possible and staying healthy overall. “For people living with COPD, breathing requires more energy and your muscles may require more calories. Eating a diet with less carbohydrates and more fat may help you breathe easier,” Dr. Chopra said.
A healthy diet for lung health may include:
- Fruits and vegetables: Berries, leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli are rich in antioxidants that can help fight inflammation.
- Salmon, walnuts and flaxseeds: Foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids may reduce inflammation and promote lung health.
- Lean meats, eggs and legumes: Protein-rich foods help maintain muscle mass, which is important for respiratory health.
It’s a good idea to limit or avoid:
- Too much salt: Sodium can cause fluid retention and make it harder to breathe. Try using herbs and spices to season your food instead of salt.
- Processed foods: These are often high in carbs and may contain additives that can increase inflammation and make COPD symptoms worse.
A registered dietitian can help you modify your diet and provide COPD nutrition tips so you can manage your symptoms and still eat foods you enjoy.
Breathing techniques can improve your airflow
Breathing exercises for COPD can help strengthen your diaphragm, improve lung function, open your airways and make it easier to breathe.
Pursed-lip breathing
- Inhale slowly through your nose for two counts.
- Pucker your lips as if you were going to blow out a candle.
- Exhale slowly through your pursed lips for four counts.
Diaphragmatic breathing
- Sit or lie down in a comfortable position.
- Place one hand on your chest and the other on your belly.
- Breathe in deeply through your nose, allowing your belly to rise, not your chest.
- Exhale slowly through your mouth, feeling your belly fall.
“These exercises may seem simple, but they can take time and practice to master. You should practice them several times a day for them to be effective,” Dr. Chopra said.
Staying active: Exercise for COPD
“Regular exercise can help you breathe easier by strengthening the breathing muscles in your chest. It will also help improve your lung capacity, reduce the risk of COPD flare-ups, maintain a healthy body weight, maintain independence, build stamina, reduce feelings of stress and improve your mood,” Dr. Chopra said.
It's important to talk to your doctor before starting any exercise program. Your doctor can tell you which activities are best for you and help you plan an exercise program based on your abilities. If you're new to exercise, start slowly and increase the intensity as you get more fit.
For COPD-friendly workouts, you may want to try:
- Walking, which increases your stamina and strengthens muscles.
- Swimming, which offers resistance training without straining your joints.
- Yoga, which can help improve flexibility, balance and breathing.
COPD and mental health
Living with COPD can sometimes take a toll on your mental health, leading to stress, anxiety or even depression. It’s important to address these COPD challenges.
“It is not possible to get rid of all the stress in your life, but you can learn to manage it effectively,” Dr. Chopra said.
These strategies may help in managing stress with COPD:
- Identify the people, places and situations that cause stress and avoid them or prepare for them when possible.
- Practice relaxation exercises such as deep breathing, visualization, meditation or mindfulness.
- Stay involved with friends and family.
- Get enough sleep so your body can heal and function well.
- Seek help if these steps aren’t managing stress or anxiety or if you have symptoms of depression.
Creating a COPD-friendly home
Your living space plays a big role in managing COPD. A comfortable, clean environment can help reduce symptoms and flares and improve your overall well-being.
Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke. If you smoke, get help quitting. Smoke-free spaces are important for your health.
“It is never too late to quit smoking. Even after a lifetime of smoking, quitting can improve lung function in as little as two months. By nine months without cigarettes, most people cough less often and have less shortness of breath,” Dr. Chopra said.
These COPD home tips can also help:
- Use air purifiers to help remove pollutants, allergens and irritants from the air.
- Reduce dust and allergens by regularly cleaning your home and vacuuming your rugs and carpets.
- Routinely change furnace and air filters.
- Avoid using harsh chemicals and scents, which can harm the air quality for COPD.
- Frequently clean all respiratory equipment, such as CPAP/BIPAP masks and hoses and nebulizer tubing.
- Use hypoallergenic bedding.
- Keep windows closed on high-pollen days.
- Ensure you have working carbon monoxide and smoke detectors.
- Test your home for dangerous gases like radon. In many states, you can order a low-cost radon test kit from the American Lung Association.
Staying on track with medication and treatment
While there’s no cure for COPD, treatment can help with breathing and improve quality of life. Your provider may recommend COPD medications and treatments like inhalers, supplemental oxygen therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, endobronchial valves or lung transplant to help open up airways, reduce inflammation and manage symptoms.
“Talk to your primary care provider or pulmonologist (lung doctor) about possible treatment options,” Dr. Chopra said.
It can be helpful to set reminders so you remember to take your medication and to keep track of your symptoms so you can tell how well treatments are working. Talk to your provider if your symptoms get worse or you have trouble managing COPD flare-ups or following your treatment plan.
Building a support team
A supportive care team, including your primary care provider, pulmonologist and family members, can give you the guidance, encouragement and resources you need to manage COPD symptoms.
Be sure to have regular check-ups with your provider to monitor your condition and adjust your treatment plan. Lean on family and friends. Their support can help you stay motivated and manage day-to-day tasks. Connect with others who understand your experience through in-person or online support groups.
The bottom line
Smart lifestyle choices can help with COPD management. By focusing on nutrition, exercise, stress and medication, you can live well with COPD and improve your quality of life. Small changes can lead to big gains.
If you or a loved one is living with COPD, reach out to a Banner Health expert to learn more about managing symptoms and improving your quality of life.
