If you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, these strategies can help you breathe easier and be more active.
By Leslie Quander Wooldridge
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is actually a group of progressive lung diseases like emphysema and chronic bronchitis, which can make it hard to breathe. More than 15 million Americans have been diagnosed with COPD, but many more probably don’t know they have the disease.
Although smoking is one of the main causes of COPD, up to 30% of people with the disease have never smoked. Asthma, certain genetic factors, and long-term exposure to dust or chemical fumes are also risk factors. If you have chronic shortness of breath, cough or sneeze, or produce excessive mucus, your doctor may diagnose you with COPD after taking a medical history, evaluating your symptoms, and ordering tests that may include a lung function test and chest X-ray.
People with COPD may have flare-ups of symptoms (also called “flare-ups”). If you ever have severe shortness of breath or your lips turn blue, call 911.
There is no cure for COPD, but treatments and lifestyle changes can help relieve symptoms, keep you out of the hospital, and even slow the disease’s progression. According to a January 2022 review from the Cochrane Collaboration, people who made these changes to better control their COPD symptoms were less likely to end up in hospital and experienced an overall better quality of life.
Here’s what you need to know about medical therapies for COPD, plus what you can do on your own to ease symptoms.
How to find relief
Stay away from harmful situations. “The first thing is to reduce the damage,” says MeiLan Han, MD, spokeswoman for the American Lung Association and professor of medicine and chief of pulmonary and critical care at the University of Michigan. So if you smoke, quit, and avoid breathing secondhand smoke and polluted air whenever possible.
Receive treatment. Your doctor often prescribes inhaled treatments, such as bronchodilators (including albuterol inhalers) and steroids, which can help keep your airways open, Han explains. They can be used as needed or regularly, depending on symptoms. (People with advanced disease may need oxygen or lung surgery.) But there’s no one-size-fits-all approach, and it’s important to get regular checkups.
Control breakouts. Not being able to breathe can create “panic,” Han says. Along with inhalers, there’s a technique called pursed-lip breathing that can help in non-emergency situations by getting more oxygen into the lungs. To do this, inhale through your nose, then purse your lips like you’re going to whistle and exhale, Han explains. See if you can exhale longer than you inhale, and repeat the operation.
Follow an exercise routine. Physical activity is critical for people with COPD, Han says, and should be tailored to the amount of exertion you can tolerate. There are supervised or monitored pulmonary rehabilitation programs, both in person and online, that can reduce flare-ups and improve quality of life, says Dr. Sarath Raju, a specialist in pulmonary and critical care medicine at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. If you can’t participate in a program, walking or using a stationary bike or treadmill to increase your stamina can help, Raju adds.
Maintain a healthy weight. Being underweight or overweight are related to complications of COPD disease. Stock up on easy-to-prepare nutritious foods, such as pre-cut fruits or vegetables, suggests the American Lung Association.
Seek support. It’s normal to feel depressed or anxious if you have COPD, Han says. If so, ask your doctor for a referral to a mental health specialist. Also consider joining a support group for people with COPD, such as the American Lung Association’s Better Breathers Club or COPD360social, an online community run by the COPD Foundation.
Why it is key to avoid COVID-19
People with COPD are at risk of serious complications from COVID-19. And recurrent respiratory infections in people with COPD can lead to worsening lung function and health over time, Raju says. That’s why, in addition to the flu and pneumococcal shots, people with COPD should stay up-to-date with their COVID-19 shots and boosters, he says.
According to the American Lung Association, it’s also good to take extra precautions, like wearing a high-quality mask in crowded spaces. If you get sick with COVID-19, tell your doctor right away because you may be a candidate for the antiviral Paxlovid.
Editor’s note: A version of this article was also published in the November 2022 issue of Consumer Reports On Health.
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Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with the advertisers on this site. Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works with consumers to create a fair, safe, and healthy world. CR does not endorse products or services and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2022, Consumer Reports, Inc.