If you have COPD, there are many ways you can manage the disease and live a happy and healthy life. Researching and learning about COPD will help you have a better understanding of how it can affect your everyday life and will help you to take charge of your health. We are sharing five tips to best manage your COPD, so keep reading to learn more!
1. Exercise and Eat Healthily
Shortness of breath from COPD can make it difficult to eat a balanced diet and get in the recommended exercise. We recommend eating small, balanced meals often and avoiding generous portions. Drinking water before you eat can also help. Exercising often is a wonderful way to build muscle strength. Lifting small objects in your home is a convenient way to build muscle.
2. Give Up Smoking
Giving up smoking and quitting nicotine is imperative to your health. There are several different techniques that can help you quit. Before quitting, it is important to discuss your options with your doctor. We recommend counseling, medication, nicotine replacement therapy, or group programs.
3. Get Adequate Sleep
Getting adequate sleep is important for your health but COPD can make it difficult. We recommend maintaining a sleep schedule and no caffeine or large meals after 6:00 p.m. Another tip we have is not to take naps throughout the day, so you are tired when you go to bed. Make sure you keep your bedroom dark and cool and wear socks, so your feet stay warm.
4. Maintain a Moderate Temperature in Your Home
Temperature and weather have an enormous impact on COPD flare-ups. Elevated temperatures outside and inside your home can cause your COPD symptoms to worsen, so it is helpful to stay indoors on hot days and make sure the air conditioning is turned on. On the contrary, extremely low temperatures can also cause a flare-up. If you need to be outside on a cold day, make sure you layer up and cover your nose and mouth.
5. Learn Coughing Techniques to Bring Up Mucus
When mucus is clogged in your airways, it can make it hard to breathe and it could potentially lead to an infection. We recommend huff coughing and deep coughing to help bring up mucus. Huff coughing is when you take a deep breath and force the air out with your mouth open. This is like fogging up a window. Deep coughing is when you breathe in slowly and then cough two or three times to remove all the air from your lungs.
There are many tips to manage COPD, but we believe these five are the best. Remember to consult with your doctor before trying any of these suggestions. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us or visit our website!