9 dos and don'ts for patients suffering from COPD

Living with COPD can be tough, but not if you follow these lifestyle tips. Dr Mitali Agarwal tells you how you can cope with the problem.

Living with COPD is nothing short of a battle. For sufferers, breathing becomes distressing and anything can trigger an episode of breathlessness, wheezing and coughing without any letup. COPD is an umbrella term used for conditions like asthma, bronchitis and emphysema. Although at present there are no means to arrest its progress, a lot can be done by suffers to bring down the severity of the condition. Dr Mitali Agarwal MD Pulmonary Medicine, SRV Hospital, Goregaon sheds light on what causes COPD and what lifestyle changes can help take the edge off the condition.

What puts you at an increased risk for COPD?

Genetic factors

A genetic condition called alpha-1 antitrypsin or AAT deficiency puts you at increased risk for COPD. This is a reason why you can still suffer from the condition even if you are not a smoker.

Smoking

Nothing good can ever come out of smoking, and it is the high time people realise that. People with a history of compulsive smoking can develop COPD over the years. Not only that, but those exposed to second-hand smoke can also develop this pulmonary disorder.

Childhood infections

According to Dr Agarwal, being exposed to infectious pathogens during childhood can increase the chances of the person developing COPD in the later stages life. Not all infections, but conditions like tuberculosis and viral infection of the lungs can make the person more vulnerable to COPD, says the doctor. Studies have suggested that even childhood pneumonia increases the risk of the disorder in the future. [1]

Biomass fuels

COPD is increasingly noticed among the women of rural India. This is because the main source of fuel in the interiors is biomass sources like wood, dung cakes and crop residue. Women in the villages spend a large part of their day in front of rudimentary stoves, burning dung cakes and wood for cooking. In the process, they inhale copious amounts of smoke which triggers various COPD problems like bronchitis and asthma in the long run, says Dr Agarwal.

Environmental pollutants

The environment we live in these days is dangerous even for a person without any major lung ailments, let alone those suffering from COPD. If you live in the city, pollutants like soot, smoke, chemical fumes can exacerbate your COPD symptoms.

What care should you take for COPD?

Avoid obvious triggers -- Mostly dust, allergens and smoke inhaling these can cause irritation of the airway and worsening of lung conditions. Wear a face mask when you step outside. That way, you will be able to keep some of the irritants out of your system, says Dr Agarwal.

Keep your weight under check- COPD patients should neither put on too much weight nor lose too much weight, adds the doctor. The condition already causes breathing problems in patients. If the sufferer is overweight, the lungs have to work extra hard to pump oxygen into the blood. Low BMI is also bad for COPD. Patients should ideally try to maintain their weight, says Dr Agarwal.

Exercise regularly Exercising is a must for those suffering from the condition. Exercise at least for 30 minutes every day. Do not exercise during the early morning hours or late nights because the dust level in the atmosphere is more during those times, says Dr Agarwal.

Carry an inhaler Those suffering from COPD conditions like asthma should not forget their inhalers at home. One needs to stay prepared for any kind of triggers in the atmosphere.

Don t stop treatment Even if you are feeling better, complete the course of the treatment. Stop it only if the doctor instructs you to.

Do not take cough syrups- One should be wary of buying over the counter medications such as cough syrup without prescription. Dr Agarwal says, Many cough syrups contain dextromethorphan, a cough suppressant. In COPD, the patient needs to expel all the mucus and phlegm from the lungs and not suppress it.

Use a humidifier in the house- Dry air conditions are known to worsen COPD because it dries out brochial tissues. A humidifier helps keep the air inside the house moist. It makes it that much easier for the patient to cough up the phlegm.

Practice breathing exercises For COPD, we recommend Pursed Lip Breathing Technique to ease symptoms like shortness of breath in patients, says Dr Agarwal. For this, one needs to breathe in through the nose and exhale through the mouth by pursing the lips. This is an effective form of treatment for COPD patients.

Do not panic If you find your heartbeats getting faster than usual, do not fear says Dr Agarwal. At such times, it is advisable for patients to take in deep breaths and practice breathing exercises discussed above.

Image source: Shutterstock

References: 1. Hayden LP, Hobbs BD, Cohen RT, et al. Childhood pneumonia increases risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: the COPDGene study. Respiratory Research. 2015;16(1):115. doi:10.1186/s12931-015-0273-8.