How To Live Well With COPD

Although there is no cure for COPD, you can still live a healthy life by learning how to cope with your COPD. Use these healthy living tips so you can reduce the effects of COPD and learn how to live well with COPD.

Get Vaccinated

Lung infections can be particularly deadly to patients with a lung disease, such as COPD. Therefore, it is important to get the flu vaccine and the pneumonia vaccine.

Follow A COPD Diet

Monitoring your diet can have significant affects on your COPD. Certain foods are beneficial for maintaining good health. If you have COPD, you should use this COPD Diet to ensure you're eating foods that are best for your health.

Drink Plenty of Fluids

Drinking fluids helps to thin mucus and make it easier to cough up. Try to drink at least three quarts of liquid per day. Water is best, but other sugarless drinks can also be helpful.

Use Pursed-Lip Breathing

Can't catch your breath? Are you huffing and puffing trying to get some air? Get control of your breathing with pursed-lip breathing. Find out how pursed-lip breathing can help you catch your breath and get control of your breathing.

Stay Active

A daily walking program exercises many muscles in your body, including your heart. Walking also improves circulation and helps your blood deliver oxygen to your lungs and tissues more efficiently. Find out how a simple walking program can improve your COPD.

Use Effective Coughing Techniques

Coughing spells can make you feel tired, anxious, and short of breath. When you cough in public, you may feel embarrassed. Instead of coughing uncontrollably, take control of your cough - make it useful. A cough is only useful when it brings up mucus and helps clear your airways. An effective cough should not tire you. Learn how to cough with control, so you can breathe better.

Exercise Your Chest Muscles

Relaxed, controlled breathing uses the chest muscles and diaphragm to get more air into the lungs. Learning how to use these muscles during breathing relieves shortness of breath and makes the muscles do the work for you. As with building any muscle, strength is also developed, which in turn, helps you to breathe easier.

Rest Often and Break Down Tasks

As COPD worsens, breathing becomes more difficult. Even the easiest tasks can become cumbersome. Break down tasks into smaller tasks, allowing for resting breaks between each task. Get help with tasks, when possible, and place chairs around your home to allow for a place to rest when needed.

Improve The Air Quality of Your Home

There are many things you can do to your home to help you breathe easier. These ten secrets to better breathing will explain how you can reduce respiratory irritants in your home so you can breathe easier.

Know The Warning Signs

Know the warning signs to look for so you know when you should call your doctor. Use this list of questions to determine when you should be concerned enough to call your doctor.