Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of lung and airway diseases that can make breathing difficult. According to research, while only 6.1% of Black Americans have COPD, they have higher rates of death from the disease than other racial groups. Although there’s no cure for COPD, early detection and proper treatment can slow the progression of the disease.
In addition to treatment, making a few lifestyle changes can help you manage COPD symptoms and improve your overall quality of life. Here are some insights from medical experts and patients on managing this chronic disease.
How often you see your doctor depends on many factors.
If you’ve been newly diagnosed with COPD, you might wonder how often you need to visit your doctor (typically a pulmonologist) for checkups. As a new patient, you may undergo several tests to determine the severity of your COPD or try different medications to see which ones are the most effective in controlling your symptoms.
Once you’ve settled into your treatment, you may only need to visit your doctor every six months. However, your pulmonologist may request monthly checkups if you have frequent flare-ups. If at any point in your treatment journey, you experience complications, such as increased difficulty breathing, frequent need to use an inhaler, or an inability to handle day-to-day responsibilities, please seek medical attention from your doctor or visit an urgent care clinic.
Know what can trigger your exacerbations.
COPD exacerbations, or flare-ups, is the sudden worsening of your symptoms. Typically, these symptoms are much worse than normal and can last up to two or more days.
Common triggers for COPD exacerbations include:
- Smoke
- Weather, pollen, and air pollution
- Exposure to irritants (e.g., dust, chemicals, and fumes)
- Respiratory illnesses, such as a cold, flu, COVID-19, or sinus infection
Understanding what can trigger a flare-up can help you take preventative measures to lower your risk of one occurring.
If you have a flare-up, seek immediate medical attention. “Contact your primary care provider or lung specialist when noticing an increase in shortness of breath, impact of activities of daily living, or if symptoms seem to become progressively worse,” says Ayeshia Wright, DNP, a pulmonary disease provider at Novant Health.
Understand your treatment options.
While you don’t need to be an expert in COPD treatment, having a general understanding of the options available can be helpful. It is important to speak with your healthcare provider to determine the best treatment. Your treatment will vary depending on the severity of your symptoms and lung function needs.
COPD medications
There are many types of medicines available to treat COPD, and they are used in accordance with the “stage” of COPD diagnosis (mild, moderate, severe). You may be prescribed one, several, or a combination of a few based on your needs. Your COPD Medications include short-acting bronchodilators, long-acting bronchodilators, inhaled corticosteroids, oral corticosteroids, and most recently approved biologics.
Pulmonary rehabilitation
Pulmonary rehabilitation is a health program that helps improve the symptoms of COPD. You’ll work with a team of healthcare providers who will guide you through various physical activities, education, and techniques to help you manage your breathing during day-to-day activities.
“I have been going to pulmonary rehabilitation for over two years, and I can say that it makes you feel so much better health-wise and mentally,” says Kandy, a COPD patient on COPD360Social.
Noninvasive ventilation (NIV)
If you have severe emphysema, in-home noninvasive ventilation therapy may improve your breathing and reduce hospital visits. This breathing support technique delivers oxygen to your lungs through a mask or helmet without needing endotracheal intubation. It is typically used for patients with acute or chronic respiratory failure.
Supplemental oxygen
If there’s not enough oxygen in your blood, your healthcare provider may recommend supplemental oxygen or oxygen therapy. This oxygen is administered through a mask or plastic tubing that fits into your nose. This therapy may be used during activities or while sleeping.
If you have questions or concerns about these and other COPD treatments, consult your healthcare provider for professional medical advice.
Make lifestyle adjustments.
Lifestyle adjustments are a crucial part of COPD management. In addition to your treatments, taking care of your overall health and well-being is vital to reduce the chances of exacerbations or flare-ups.
Keep track of your daily activities. Since COPD can worsen over time, it is important to record any changes or adaptations in your daily routine. For example, getting dressed, walking to your mailbox, cooking dinner, and talking with friends. If you need to alter HOW you do these things because of breathing difficulty, your COPD could be getting worse. Talk to your doctor to evaluate if you need a change in your treatment to breathe better.
Stop smoking.
Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of COPD in the United States. If you’re a current smoker, consider smoking cessation as part of your treatment plan. “It is important to gain the support needed to quit smoking,” Stockdale says. “This may mean joining a smoking cessation group program or using quit-smoking aids like medication or patches. This is the single most important thing to slow the progression of the disease.”
Here are some resources for smoking cessation:
- Freedom From Smoking
- 1-800-QUIT-NOW
- quitSTART
- Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
If you’re struggling to quit smoking, know that you’re not alone. It can take trial and error to find something that works for you.
“I quit cold turkey, and while the first week was tough, I managed to get through it,” says Bret, a COPD patient on COPD360Social. “That approach may not work for everyone, but my advice is to find a method that works best for you, be it hypnosis, gum, gradually cutting down, etc. The important thing to remember is to never stop trying, and if you slip, start all over again the next day.
Maintain a healthy weight.
According to Norman Edelman, MD, a pulmonologist at Stony Brook Medicine, being overweight or underweight could worsen your COPD symptoms. That said, it’s important to take the necessary steps to get to a healthy weight. “People who are overweight should try and lose weight, so they don’t have to supply excessive oxygen to support a larger body,” he says. “If they’re underweight, they should try to eat the nutritional supplements to get their weight up to normal.”
Be physically active.
Although COPD can reduce physical abilities, daily physical activity is still important. According to Wright, exercise should be done in moderation based on lung status and activity tolerance.
Some exercises that are safe for people with COPD include:
- Stretching
- Aerobic exercise (walking, biking, and swimming)
- Resistance training (weights or resistance bands)
If you pursue pulmonary rehabilitation, your healthcare team can teach you how to exercise safely while managing COPD.
To stay physically active, Deen Mohr Dar, a patient living with COPD, takes daily walks. “The side effects of medication made me feel very lazy and drowsy throughout the day,” they said. “I began taking a morning walk for half an hour, which has helped me a lot.”
The American Lung Association (ALA) recommends that people with COPD exercise for 20 to 30 minutes three to four days a week.
Take care of your mental health and well-being.
Research reveals that people managing COPD have a higher risk of developing mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. If COPD is taking a toll on your mental health, please reach out for support.
“Join social groups and therapy such as pulmonary rehabilitation, COPD support groups, or activities in the community to increase awareness,” Wright says. You can also reach out to loved ones for support.
In addition to having support, there are other ways to improve your mental health while managing COPD.
“When I need to boost my spirits, there are several things that do the trick,” says Debbie, a COPD patient on COPD360Social. “I look through cookbooks for a cookie recipe, reorganize something in the house, write a letter to a friend, plan a nice Sunday dinner, work on a craft project, spend time with my pets, and watch the birds and squirrels. There are so many things that I can do that I don’t have the time anymore to think about or even remember feeling down.”
Be proactive to protect yourself from illnesses.
- Limit exposure to people with respiratory illnesses — especially during flu seasons.
- Frequently wash hands or sanitize when touching things like shopping carts, doorknobs, and handrails. “I bought an air purifier, keep my room clean, and use cotton bedding,” says Dar.
- Limit exposure to crowded spaces like grocery stores, movie theaters, shopping centers, etc.
- Regularly vaccinate against the flu, COVID-19, pneumonia, and other illnesses.
Have a COPD Action Plan
A COPD Action Plan is a 3-in-1 personalized worksheet that lists all the steps you need to take to manage your COPD, depending on how you feel. This plan comes in handy if you have a flare-up.
“[In the plan] your doctor should tell you exactly what to do when you get a flare-up, how to change your medications, and when to go to the emergency room,” Dr. Edelman says.
You’ll partner with your pulmonologist to develop a comprehensive plan for your unique health needs. This plan will include ways to track how you feel, what to do to feel better, and your medications, including any new treatment options. This is a resource to help you speak to your doctor about how you are doing living with COPD.
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