Are you or a loved one living with COPD and struggling to manage COPD symptoms? The good news is that there are several treatment options available to improve your quality of life. One essential tool for managing COPD symptoms is a portable oxygen concentrator, and the ARYA P5 from LPT Medical is a top-of-the-line option. 

A portable oxygen concentrator is a medical device that provides oxygen therapy to people with breathing difficulties, such as those with COPD. Unlike traditional oxygen tanks, which need to be refilled or replaced, portable oxygen concentrators use technology to extract oxygen from the air and deliver it directly to the patient through a nasal cannula. 

This means that they can be used anytime and anywhere, without the need for bulky and heavy oxygen tanks. Portable oxygen concentrators like the ARYA P5 from LPT Medical are smaller, lighter, and more convenient than oxygen tanks, making them a better option for people who want to maintain their independence and mobility while managing their COPD symptoms. 

Additionally, portable oxygen concentrators offer more precise oxygen delivery, meaning that users can receive exactly the amount of oxygen they need, when they need it, without wasting oxygen or overworking their lungs.

In this blog, we'll explore the five necessities you need to manage your COPD diagnosis, and we'll also dive into four other treatment processes that can help slow the progression of the disease. Finally, we'll take a closer look at how the ARYA P5 portable oxygen concentrator can make exercise more attainable and a more regular option for people with COPD. 

Read on to discover how incorporating these tools and treatment options can help you breathe easier and enjoy a better quality of life.

COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is a condition that makes breathing difficult and can significantly impact a person's quality of life. While there is no cure for COPD, there are ways to manage the symptoms and make life more comfortable. In this blog, we will discuss five necessities that can help people with COPD manage their diagnosis.

5 Necessities That Can Help People with COPD

We are about to discuss five necessities that can help people with COPD manage their diagnosis. In addition, we will explore four other treatment processes COPD patients can apply to their life to make it more manageable.

All of these practices and treatments can improve  your lung function, reduce symptoms, and increase endurance.

It is important for people with COPD to work with a healthcare professional to develop a personalized treatment plan that meets their specific needs. By incorporating these treatment options and making lifestyle changes, people with COPD can breathe easier, feel more comfortable, and enjoy a better quality of life.

Using your Inhalers and Medications

Inhalers and medications are essential for managing the symptoms of COPD. These medications work to relax the muscles in the airways and reduce inflammation, making it easier to breathe. It is important to take these medications as prescribed by a doctor, and to always have a spare inhaler on hand in case of an emergency.

Inhalers are a crucial tool for managing COPD symptoms. 

Short-acting bronchodilator inhalers, such as albuterol, provide fast relief for symptoms like shortness of breath and wheezing. These inhalers work by relaxing the muscles in the airways, making it easier to breathe. 

Long-acting bronchodilator inhalers, like formoterol and salmeterol, are designed to provide sustained relief over an extended period, usually 12 hours or more. These inhalers are used as maintenance medications, taken regularly to prevent symptoms from occurring. 

Both short-acting and long-acting bronchodilator inhalers are prescribed by healthcare professionals and are important components of a personalized COPD treatment plan. It is important to use inhalers as directed and to inform your healthcare provider if you experience any side effects or if your symptoms are not well-controlled.

Portable Oxygen Concentrator is the Best form of Oxygen Therapy 

Portable oxygen concentrators like the ARYA P5 portable oxygen concentrator from LPT Medical are crucial for people with COPD who require oxygen therapy. These devices work by taking in air from the environment, removing nitrogen, and producing concentrated oxygen that is delivered to the user via a nasal cannula. The ARYA P5 is lightweight and easy to carry, making it ideal for people who need to use oxygen therapy while on the go.

Air Purifiers to Clean Indoor Air and Keep Your Airways Clear 

Air purifiers can help people with COPD breathe easier by removing pollutants and allergens from the air. These devices work by filtering out particles like dust, pollen, and smoke, which can exacerbate COPD symptoms. Air purifiers can be especially helpful for people who live in areas with poor air quality.

These devices work by capturing and filtering out harmful particles, such as dust, pollen, and pet dander, and can significantly improve air quality in the home.

In addition to using air purifiers, there are other ways to clean the air in your home. Regularly changing air conditioning filters is one of the simplest ways to improve air quality. Filters should be replaced at least every three months, or more often if you have pets or allergies. 

Another way to clean the air is to keep windows closed during high pollen or pollution days and to use exhaust fans when cooking or showering to remove excess moisture and prevent mold growth. This is especially important in the spring season when there are blooms and allergens in the air that can affect people with COPD. 

Finally, it is essential to avoid using products that can contribute to indoor air pollution, such as candles, air fresheners, and cleaning products with harsh chemicals. By incorporating these tips, people with COPD can significantly improve the air quality in their homes and reduce their exposure to irritants.

Humidifiers For Better Breathing 

Humidifiers add moisture to the air, which can help people with COPD breathe easier by reducing inflammation in the airways. Dry air can be especially problematic for people with COPD, as it can lead to coughing and shortness of breath. Humidifiers can be used at home or in the workplace to help keep the air moist.

Pulse Oximeters To Manage Your Oxygen 

Pulse oximeters are devices that measure the oxygen saturation in the blood. These devices are important for people with COPD who require oxygen therapy, as they can help monitor the effectiveness of the therapy. Pulse oximeters can also be used to monitor breathing during exercise or other activities.

COPD is a chronic disease that affects the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. While there is no cure for COPD, there are several treatment options that can help manage the symptoms and improve quality of life. In addition to the necessities discussed in the previous section, here are four other treatment processes COPD patients should consider incorporating into their lives:

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a program that involves exercise, breathing techniques, and education about COPD. It is designed to help COPD patients improve their physical and emotional well-being. 

Pulmonary rehabilitation can include activities such as walking, cycling, and strength training. By participating in pulmonary rehabilitation, COPD patients can improve their lung function, increase their endurance, and reduce their symptoms.

Nutritional Therapy to Maintain Physical Health 

Nutritional therapy involves working with a dietitian to develop a meal plan that meets the specific nutritional needs of a person with COPD. A healthy diet can help COPD patients maintain their weight, reduce inflammation, and improve their lung function. Nutritional therapy can also help COPD patients manage other health conditions that may be related to their disease.

Smoking Cessation - Its Never Too Late to Quit

Smoking is the leading cause of COPD, so quitting smoking is an essential step in managing the disease. Smoking cessation programs can help COPD patients quit smoking and provide support to help them stay smoke-free. Quitting smoking can reduce symptoms, slow the progression of the disease, and improve overall health.

Getting Regular Exercise with ARYA P5 Portable Oxygen Concentrator

Exercise is an important part of managing COPD, as it can help improve lung function, reduce symptoms, and increase endurance. However, many people with COPD may feel limited in their ability to exercise due to shortness of breath.

The ARYA P5 Portable Oxygen Concentrator from LPT Medical can help make exercise more attainable and regular by providing oxygen therapy during physical activity. This device is lightweight, easy to use, and can be worn during exercise to provide continuous oxygen therapy. By using the ARYA P5, COPD patients can feel more comfortable during exercise and enjoy the benefits of regular physical activity.

Overview 

Managing COPD requires a multifaceted approach that includes medical treatments, lifestyle changes, and support from healthcare professionals. 

By incorporating pulmonary rehabilitation, nutritional therapy, smoking cessation, and regular exercise with the help of the ARYA P5 Portable Oxygen Concentrator, COPD patients can improve their symptoms, increase their endurance, and enjoy a better quality of life. 

It is important to work with a healthcare professional to develop a personalized treatment plan that meets the specific needs of each individual with COPD.

COPD is a progressive disease that gets worse over time, so it is important to take steps to manage symptoms and slow its progression. Here is a list of all the things you need to make your COPD diagnosis more manageable:

Necessities:

• Inhalers and medications to help with symptoms
• Portable oxygen concentrators like the ARYA P5 from LPT Medical
• Air purifiers to help remove irritants from the air
• Humidifiers to help moisturize the air and reduce irritation
• Pulse oximeters to monitor oxygen levels

Treatment Processes:

• Pulmonary rehabilitation to improve lung function, endurance, and reduce symptoms
• Nutritional therapy to develop a meal plan that meets the specific nutritional needs of a person with COPD
• Smoking cessation to reduce symptoms and slow the progression of the disease
• Regular exercise with the ARYA P5 Portable Oxygen Concentrator to improve lung function, reduce symptoms, and increase endurance

By incorporating these necessities and treatment processes, people with COPD can manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life. However, it is important to keep in mind that COPD is a progressive disease, meaning that it will worsen over time. This makes it essential to work with a healthcare professional to regularly monitor and adjust treatment plans to ensure the best possible outcome.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, managing COPD can be a challenge, but there are ways to make life more comfortable. Inhalers and medications, portable oxygen concentrators like the ARYA P5 from LPT Medical, air purifiers, humidifiers, and pulse oximeters are all important tools for people with COPD. By using these necessities, people with COPD can breathe easier and enjoy a better quality of life.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic lung disease that makes breathing difficult. It is a progressive condition that worsens over time, and it affects millions of people around the world. COPD is often caused by smoking or exposure to other pollutants and chemicals, and it is characterized by symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness, and chronic cough.

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While the physical symptoms of COPD are well-known, what is less understood is the emotional impact that the disease can have on patients. 

COPD patients often experience significant emotional problems such as depression, anxiety, and social isolation. This article will explore the connection between COPD and emotional problems and provide some tips on how to cope with these challenges.

The Connection between COPD and Emotional Problems

COPD patients often experience a range of emotional problems that can significantly impact their quality of life. Depression is one of the most common emotional problems associated with COPD, with studies suggesting that up to 50% of COPD patients experience depression at some point in their lives. Anxiety is also common, with up to 25% of COPD patients experiencing anxiety symptoms.

Isolation and COPD

Social isolation is another significant issue for COPD patients. The physical limitations of the disease can make it difficult for patients to engage in social activities and maintain social connections. This can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation, which can further exacerbate emotional problems such as depression and anxiety.

The exact reasons for the connection between COPD and emotional problems are not fully understood, but there are several factors that may contribute to this link. One of the primary factors is the impact that the physical symptoms of COPD can have on a patient's quality of life.

The shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest tightness associated with the disease can make it difficult for patients to engage in activities they once enjoyed, which can lead to feelings of frustration, sadness, and hopelessness. This is a normal reaction to having a life altering disease like COPD. 

Decline in Physical Health 

The impact of COPD on a patient's physical health can also contribute to emotional problems. COPD patients may experience fatigue, weight loss, and muscle weakness, which can further impact their quality of life and lead to feelings of depression and anxiety. Additionally, the medications used to treat COPD can have side effects that contribute to emotional problems, such as insomnia, anxiety, and mood swings.

Not being able to perform daily tasks or activities they once enjoyed can lead to mental health decline. The side effect of medication can alter one’s feelings and emotions in a negative way, either directly or indirectly playing into how someone is able to regulate their mood. 

Lack of Social Interaction

Finally, the social impact of COPD cannot be overlooked. COPD patients may feel stigmatized or ashamed of their disease, particularly if it is caused by smoking. This can lead to feelings of isolation and shame, which can further exacerbate emotional problems such as depression and anxiety.

COPD, or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, is a progressive respiratory condition that can have a significant impact on a person's ability to engage in social interactions. Here are some ways in which COPD can lead to social interaction decline:

2. Anxiety and depression: COPD can be a challenging and isolating condition, and it is common for individuals with COPD to experience anxiety and depression. These mental health conditions can make it difficult for individuals to engage in social interactions, as they may feel self-conscious or overwhelmed in social situations.

4. Stigma and discrimination: Unfortunately, there can be stigma and discrimination associated with COPD, particularly if the individual is a current or former smoker. This can lead to social isolation and exclusion, as others may avoid interacting with them or make negative assumptions about their lifestyle choices.

Maintaining Social Interactions 

As we mentioned, COPD can have a significant impact on a person's social interactions, which can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness. 

It is important for individuals with COPD to seek support and resources to help them manage their condition and maintain social connections. AS hard as this can be, finding a way to be motivated to interact with fellow COPD patients or friends can significantly impact a COPD patient’s mental health positively.  

COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) can make it difficult for people to engage in social activities due to shortness of breath and fatigue. However, there are ways to stay sociable despite COPD:

5. Bring along oxygen: If you require oxygen therapy, make sure to bring along your portable oxygen device to social activities. This will allow you to participate without worrying about running out of breath.

By following these tips, people with COPD can remain sociable and enjoy an active social life, while still managing their condition.

More Tips for Coping with Emotional Problems Associated with COPD

While the emotional problems associated with COPD can be challenging, there are several strategies that patients can use to cope with these challenges.

Having Oxygen Equipment that Helps your Mental Health 

COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, which is a lung disease that makes it difficult for a person to breathe. A portable oxygen concentrator is a medical device that can help someone with COPD by providing them with supplemental oxygen.

People with COPD often have trouble getting enough oxygen into their lungs, which can make it difficult for them to do everyday activities like walking or climbing stairs. Portable oxygen concentrators work by taking in air from the surrounding environment, filtering out nitrogen and other gases, and delivering pure oxygen to the user through a mask or nasal cannula.

By using a portable oxygen concentrator, a person with COPD can increase their oxygen levels and make it easier to breathe. This can help them to be more active, improve their quality of life, and reduce the risk of complications from low oxygen levels. The ARYA Airvito Max is a great example of one of the best selling pulse flow portable oxygen concentrators on the market. You can learn more about that device and others like it by calling 1-888-416-3855 today.

Additionally, portable oxygen concentrators are small and lightweight, which makes them easy to carry around and use on-the-go. This can be especially beneficial for people with COPD who want to maintain their independence and continue to do the things they love, even if they require supplemental oxygen.

Overview 

COPD is a chronic lung disease that affects millions of people around the world, and you are not alone in how this disease impacts your mental health. While the physical symptoms of the disease are well-known, the emotional impact of COPD is less understood. 

COPD patients often experience significant emotional problems such as depression, anxiety, and social isolation, which can significantly impact their quality of life. 

However, there are several strategies that patients can use to cope with these challenges and we hope the ideas laid out in this article help you find ways to cope more effectively. 

You can try seeking professional help, staying active, maintaining social connections, practicing relaxation techniques, and focusing on the positive aspects of their lives. By taking these steps, COPD patients can improve their emotional well-being and maintain their quality of life.

If you are a parent or guardian, then you know what it's like to worry about your children's health, whether it's concern about illnesses, unhealthy environments, or risk for future disease. This worry is natural, and even rational, as early childhood experiences can have an effect your children's long-term health.

Childhood is a particularly vulnerable time for young lungs, in fact, which are much smaller, narrower, and more susceptible to injury compared to adult lungs. Because of this, children's lungs need extra protection from illness and airborne hazards like pollution and smoke.

Unfortunately, lung damage sustained during childhood can significantly increase a child's risk for asthma and lung problems later in life. It can even set the stage for more serious lung conditions that appear in older adulthood, including COPD.

Fortunately, there are a variety of different precautions you can take to minimize your child's risk for lung damage and disease. But in order to do so, you first need to understand children's lung sensitivities and how to recognize a variety of different substances and activities and that are hazardous to their lungs.

That's why we created this guide specifically for parents who want to know how to keep their children's lungs safe and healthy as they grow. It includes dozens of practical tips for reducing the number of respiratory hazards in your child's lives and helpful strategies for creating a more lung-healthy home.

We'll start by explaining how illnesses, environment, and lifestyle can affect your children's lungs and even pre-dispose them to lung problems later in life. Then, we'll explain how to make some simple changes to household habits and routines in order to minimize your children's exposure to respiratory irritants at home.

Finally, we'll discuss what you can do to prepare your children with the knowledge and values they need to take care of their lungs for the rest of their life. In these sections, you'll find helpful advice (curated from experts) for talking to your kids about smoking, as well as additional tips for teaching them the skills they need for good respiratory health.

Why Worry About Lung Disease So Young?

Most serious lung diseases, like COPD, begin in older adulthood, which is usually when the first major symptoms start to appear. Because of this, it might seem strange to start worrying about lung disease so early in your child's life.

However, it's important to understand that COPD is caused by lung damage, and lung damage that leads to COPD usually happens much earlier in life. However, because COPD tends to develop very slowly over the course of many years, the results of that damage might take decades to show.

Most cases of COPD are caused by smoking, but research shows that many other factors besides smoking can contribute to the disease. These factors include early childhood experiences, including respiratory infections and exposure to environmental hazards like smoke.

Because children's lungs are small and still developing, they are even more sensitive to these hazards than adults. This makes them more likely to sustain lung damage from breathing toxic substances, and also increases the risk that this damage will result in long-term effects.

This is also one of the reasons why children develop asthma during childhood, and sometimes later as adults. After all, experts have long known that a child's risk for asthma is strongly influenced by illnesses and harmful substances in their environment.

Because of this, it's particularly important to protect children from lung-damaging substances early in life. Doing so can reduce their risk for lung problems in adulthood, both minor (e.g. reduced overall lung function) and severe (e.g. COPD).

If you are a parent who has COPD, or if you know a loved one with the disease, then you probably have an idea of how terrible and painful it can be. Fortunately, if you are willing to take action in your home and in other areas of your children's lives, you can significantly reduce their risk for lung problems both now and later in life.

Is Your Child At Risk for Lung Disease?

Now that we've established that children's lungs are vulnerable at an early age, let's take a closer look at what specific kinds of things can put their respiratory health at risk. Researchers have identified a number of early childhood risk factors for asthma, COPD, and other lung diseases, most of which you can prevent.

Exposure to Air Pollution and Respiratory Irritants

There are many different kinds of substances that can damage the lungs when you breathe them in, including noxious chemicals, gases, and small airborne particles. Unfortunately, we encounter many of these substances every single day both outdoors and inside our own homes.

Because of this, it's not realistic to avoid respiratory irritants entirely; however, you can take steps to minimize how much and how often your children breathe them in. This is particularly important if your child has asthma or another respiratory condition that makes their lungs extra sensitive to irritation.

Fortunately, there are many things you can do to reduce the amount of air pollution and other respiratory irritants your children are exposed to at home. In fact, we'll show you a variety of practical tips and techniques later in this guide to help you make your house a safer environment for developing lungs.

Common respiratory irritants include:

• Air pollution (both indoors and outdoors)
• Fumes from wood-burning fireplaces and stoves
• Chemical fumes from cleaning solutions and household chemicals
• Volatile Organic Compounds (or VOC's) found in products like paints, solvents, perfumes, pesticides, and chemically treated lumber
• Smoke and second-hand smoke

This list covers only a few of many potential respiratory hazards that could affect your children's lungs. We'll go over many more examples, including specific household sources of respiratory irritants, all throughout this guide.

Childhood Asthma

If your child suffers from asthma, that factor alone can make them more likely to develop COPD later in life. In fact, research has established a very strong link between asthma and COPD, especially severe and persistent childhood asthma.

This connection is at least partially caused by chronic inflammation in the lungs and airways, a symptom that both asthma and COPD share. Over time, the inflammation caused by asthma can cause irreversible changes to lung tissues, resulting in airway obstruction and permanent lung function loss.

In other words, asthma can cause the exact same type of lung damage that leads to COPD.

This is known as Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome, and it's more common in children who experience severe and frequent asthma symptoms. The risk is much lower for children whose symptoms are mild or well controlled.

Unfortunately, having asthma also makes your child's lungs more susceptible to the damaging effects of respiratory irritants (also known as asthma triggers) like allergens, cooking fumes, and smoke. This means that a child with asthma has a higher risk for COPD if they are repeatedly exposed to these hazards.

Respiratory Infections

Research shows that children who have severe respiratory infections—such as pneumonia and bronchitis—in early childhood are more likely to develop COPD in adulthood. The reason for this is that lung infections can damage the delicate, under-developed tissues in a child's lungs, resulting in respiratory decline and sensitivity that can last for the rest of their lives.

One study, for example, found that people who had a serious respiratory infection before the age of five were more likely to have reduced lung function and asthma in adulthood. It also made them more susceptible to the negative effects of second-hand smoke, which can cause severe asthma symptoms and permanent lung function decline.

The risk for for respiratory problems is higher for children whose infections are severe, repeated, or occur at a very early age. Unfortunately, all of the factors we've mentioned—serious lung infections, asthma, and reduced lung function—are all factors that can increase a child's risk for COPD.

Exposure to Smoke and Second-Hand Smoke

Repeated exposure to second-hand smoke is hard on developing lungs, and it can cause measurable, long-term damage that persists into adulthood. It can also make a child's lungs more prone to future damage, which increases the health dangers of smoking—and exposure to other respiratory irritants—for the rest of their life.

Research shows children who were frequently exposed to second-hand smoke grow up to have poorer lung function in adulthood. These children are also more likely to develop COPD decades later, even if they stay smoke-free throughout their lives.

Even smoking while pregnant (or simply being exposed to second-hand smoke during pregnancy) can affect your child's long-term health. For example, children born to mothers who smoked while they were pregnant may suffer from permanently reduced lung function and a higher risk for respiratory conditions like asthma and COPD.

However, the potential for respiratory problems is only one of many reasons why you should protect your child from second-hand smoke. Research shows that second-hand smoke exposure during childhood can lead to a variety of serious health problems later in life, including high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.

Here is a more extensive list of health problems caused by childhood exposure to second-hand smoke:

• Ear infections
• Tooth decay
• Illnesses like coughs and colds
• Respiratory infections like pneumonia and bronchitis
• Increased risk of developing asthma
• Increased risk of cognitive problems and learning disabilities
• Increased risk for ADHD
• Increased risk for heart disease later in life
• Increased risk of being a smoker
• Acute respiratory symptoms, including:
• coughing
• wheezing
• breathlessness
• phlegm

Negative health problems caused by smoking during pregnancy:

• Lower birth weight (which can lead to other health complications)
• Increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
• Increased risk for miscarriage and stillbirth
• Increased risk for developmental problems, including learning disabilities
• Reduced lung function
• Increased risk for asthma and other lung conditions

Early Prevention is Key

It's important to realize that lung damage is cumulative, which means that repeated exposure to lung-damaging particles and environments can add up over time. Too much exposure to respiratory hazards over the course of a lifetime can trigger COPD, even if no single event or exposure can be traced back as the cause.

Most people only get COPD from smoking or from exposure to other airborne substances (e.g. chemical fumes and second-hand smoke) if it happens repeatedly over an extended period of time. But because COPD is such a slow-moving disease, it usually takes years for the long-term damage to show.

Part of the reason it takes so long is that lungs are extremely resilient; they have enough extra capacity built in to compensate for a lot of damage. You can lose a surprising amount of lung function before it begins to noticeably affect your ability to breathe.

Unfortunately, this also means that it's impossible to know whether or not you have COPD until your lungs have already been severely damaged by the disease. You have to lose a large percentage of your lung function before you can be diagnosed with COPD, and it's notoriously difficult to catch in the early stages.

Because of this—and the fact that there is no cure for COPD—prevention is absolutely key. The only true way to prevent COPD, however, is to protect your lungs from hazards like air pollution and smoke as much as possible throughout your life.

This should begin in early childhood, when the lungs are particularly vulnerable to the environment. In fact, it should begin in pregnancy, when any harmful substances a mother gets exposed to can lead to health problems after the baby is born.

How to Reduce Early Childhood Risk Factors for Lung Problems

Fortunately, most of the major childhood risk factors for asthma and COPD are preventable as long as you take the right precautions. Let's take a look at some specific actions you can take while your children are young to minimize their lung disease risks.

Quit Smoking

If you are a smoker, then quitting is—by far—the best thing you can do to keep your children's lungs healthy and safe. After all, research shows that parents are the main source of second-hand smoke exposure during childhood, and that simply living with a parent who smokes can significantly increase a child's risk for lung disease later in life.

One study, for example, found that children who live with a smoker are 31 percent more likely to die from COPD as adults. Smoking can also have an immediate effect on your child's respiratory health, increasing their risk for lung infections and respiratory illness-related hospitalizations.

According to the EPA, second-hand smoke causes up to 300,000 extra cases of lower respiratory tract infections in children under 18 months of age. As we discussed earlier in this guide, childhood respiratory infections are another major risk factor for developing COPD.

Minimize Your Child's Exposure to Outdoor Air Pollution

Outdoor air pollution is a common respiratory hazard that can cause serious damage to lungs. Air pollution is even more dangerous for children because, in addition to being more vulnerable to lung damage, children get higher doses of air pollution due to their faster breathing rate.

In fact, one major air pollution study (pdf link) found that children who grow up in areas with higher than normal outdoor pollution experienced permanent respiratory decline. Their lungs not only developed more slowly than usual, but also functioned less effectively as adults.

Children with asthma are even more sensitive to air pollution, which can exacerbate asthma symptoms and make them more likely to develop other lung problems like bronchitis and COPD. In many cases, the effects of air pollution are irreversible, which means that children who are exposed to heavy air pollution during childhood may have weakened lungs for the rest of their lives.

Because of this, it's a good to get in the habit of checking the the air pollution levels in your city, which can change significantly from day to day. Then, do your best to plan your children's outdoor activities during days when the outdoor air quality is good.

Keep in mind that things like the weather, temperature, and the even time of day can influence both the amount and the types of pollutants in the air. If you keep your children indoors on days when air quality is poor, you can minimize their exposure to the dangers of heavy pollution.

While this might seem inconvenient, limiting how much time your child spends outside breathing polluted air can make a difference in their respiratory health. In most places, you can still ensure plenty of outside playtime on low-pollution days.

However, in some cities, air pollution is so persistent and heavy that it's impossible to avoid. If you live in an area like this, you may have fewer options for protecting your children's lungs.

In some cases, the best option is to move away from the pollution to a city with cleaner air. However, moving your family somewhere new is not a cheap or easy task, and it's simply not a realistic option for many.

But even if you can't get away from polluted outdoor air, what you can do is put extra effort into protecting your children from the respiratory hazards that you do have the power to control (e.g. smoke and chemical fumes). You should also watch your children closely for persistent respiratory symptoms that could indicate a developing problem with their lungs.

Protect Your Child from Respiratory Illnesses

As we've mentioned a couple times already, serious respiratory infections can significantly increase your child's risk for asthma and COPD. That's one reason why it's important to take precaution to prevent your child from getting sick.

Most common respiratory illnesses are minor, but young children have a higher risk of developing complications. If the illness becomes serious, it has the potential to cause permanent lung damage that will follow them through the rest of their lives.

The best way to prevent the spread of illnesses is to practice proper hygiene and teach your kids to look after their own hygiene, too. You should also take care to keep your children away from other children or adults who are sick.

If your child does get sick a with respiratory illness, you should keep a close eye on their symptoms until they get better. Over time, even a simple cold or flu can turn in to a more serious infection like bronchitis or pneumonia.

Unfortunately, it can be difficult to tell the signs of a respiratory infection apart from a less serious illness like a cold, so don't hesitate to call the doctor if you are worried about your child's symptoms. You should also take them to the doctor if their symptoms become severe or if they don't start to get better after being sick for several days.

Here are some of the most common symptoms of pneumonia in children to look out for:

• Rapid breathing
• Difficulty breathing
• Exerting extra effort to breathe
• A grunting or wheezing sound with breathing
• Shaking or chills
• Pain in the chest and/or abdomen
• Vomiting
• Fatigue or reduced energy
• Loss of appetite
• Bluish or gray skin color in the lips or fingernails (this is a sign of a medical emergency)

If you notice any of the above symptoms or otherwise suspect your child might have pneumonia, you should take them to the doctor right away. You should also make sure your child is up to date with all their vaccinations, but especially those that protect against respiratory illnesses like whooping cough, pneumonia, and influenza.

You should be extra cautious with children under the age of five, whose lungs are the most sensitive to to the damaging effects of infection. After all, pneumonia is one of the leading causes of death in young children, especially children under the age of two.

How to Create a Lung-Healthy Environment at Home

Believe it or not, the place where your children are most likely to be exposed to hazardous respiratory irritants is inside their own home. There are two main reasons for this: First, children tend to spend a large quantity of their time indoors, and the majority of that time is spent at home.

Second, many homes have poor indoor air quality due to unhealthy levels of airborne particles and fumes. In fact, research shows that a large percentage of houses have air quality that's poor enough to cause noticeable respiratory effects, especially in children with asthma.

Because of this, one of the best ways to protect your child's lungs is to minimize the amount of respiratory hazards they are exposed to at home. There are many simple ways to this, including removing sources of airborne irritants and making adjustments to household habits (e.g. cooking and cleaning).

Keep Your Home Smoke Free

Tobacco smoke, and smoke in general, is one of the most dangerous respiratory hazards you can have in your home. Even long after the source of smoke is gone, dangerous gases and airborne particles can persist for days or even months indoors.

As a result, no amount of indoor smoking is ever considered safe, especially in a house with children. Even if you only smoke in the house when your kids are not around, the air will still be contaminated when they return.

Because of this, making your house 100% smoke free is a vital part of creating a safe and clean environment for your kids. That means prohibiting any kind of smoking inside your house, and also outside the house near any open windows and entrances that could allow the smoke to drift indoors.

Other sources of smoke, like

For people with COPD, life is often filled with uncertainty: uncertainty about health, uncertainty about the future, and uncertainty about how bad your symptoms will be on a given day. That's why it's especially important for people with COPD have a safe, familiar place to retreat to when they need to get away from the stresses and inconveniences of the outside world.

For most people, that safe space is their home.

Home is one of the only places where you have the power to control your space and the environment that surrounds you. This is an advantage that you shouldn't take for granted—especially if you have a mobility-limiting condition like COPD.

When you're living with chronic disease and/or disability, the design of the space you live in can be a critical factor in your overall quality of life. It can mean the difference between being able to navigate your home comfortably and not being able to complete basic household tasks.

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Unfortunately, many people with COPD never get to see their true potential because their home was never adapted to accommodate their COPD. Fortunately, making your home more COPD-friendly doesn't have to be a large or expensive project, regardless of the size or shape of the space.

Even small, simple changes—if made in the right places—can have a significant impact on your everyday life. That's we created this guide to show you how to make any space in your home more accessible, more functional, and more comfortable to live in with COPD.

We cover everything from how to arrange specific rooms to make household tasks less physically taxing to how you can use affordable gadgets and accessibility equipment to make everyday activities more convenient. No matter what kind of budget, time, or skill level you're working with, you can find an idea for something practical, simple, and meaningful you can do.

We'll also cover:

• How to spot problem areas and identify opportunities for improvement in your home
• How to organize your belongings for maximum efficiency and accessibility
• How to optimize your space to save energy and reduce breathlessness at home
• How to eliminate safety hazards and make it easier to move around your home
• How to choose furniture and appliances that require minimal effort and strain to use
• Inexpensive adaptive tools and gadgets to make everyday tasks easier to do with COPD.

Making Your Home a Refuge That Accommodates Your COPD Needs

Your home (or your private living space) is a special, sacred place, because it's one of the only environments you can adapt to fit your personal wants and needs. It's a place where you should feel capable, comfortable and safe—a refuge from the uncertainties of life and the expectations of the outside world.

Home is also where you should be able to live life the way you want to and do the things you love. It should empower you to be as independent as possible, and help you perform daily tasks in a way that's comfortable to you.

This is especially important if you COPD, which can have a significant impact on your mobility, endurance, and overall strength. Having a space that works with rather than against your physical limitations can make a radical difference in your daily life and your ability to live comfortably with COPD.

People with COPD often have special needs that others do not, such as the need to conserve energy, avoid lung irritants, or use supplemental oxygen during the day. These needs can significantly affect how you go about daily activities, but how much they limit your activities depends heavily on how well your living space is designed to accommodate those needs.

Because of this, people with COPD (and other chronic diseases) have more at stake—and more to consider—when arranging their living space. You not only have to think about what you need in the present, but also about how your physical needs abilities might change in the future; for example, when you have an exacerbation, or as your COPD progresses (causing further lung function decline).

Taking It Room by Room

Though we often think about our homes in abstract or aesthetic terms, at its core, a house is primarily a functional space. It's not just a place that you live in, it's a place made up of many distinct rooms and functional areas, each of which is designed for a specific purpose.

Because of this, each separate room or area in your home will have a different set of requirements for “optimal” design. That's why creating a luxurious home is all about creating optimized spaces, and why you have to consider each part of your living space as a separate part of the whole.

That's why, in this guide, we're going go through each room (or functional space) in the home one-by-one. This lets us focus on optimization with an emphasis on the kinds of tasks and activities that tend to be the most difficult for people with COPD.

In the following sections, you'll find a wide variety of tips, techniques, and ideas—both big and small—for how to make your home more comfortable, efficient, and COPD-friendly. Most of them utilize simple tools and straightforward techniques that anyone can pull off with minimal cost and difficulty.

We know that everyone has different preferences, abilities, and constraints to consider, so we did our best to include a little bit of something for everyone. And since each section in this guide addresses a different type of living area, you can easily skip around to find tips for whichever rooms you're most interested in.

Defining the Scope of Your Project

As you begin working on your home, it's important to remember your end goal and what you're really trying to achieve: greater comfort, accessibility, and convenience in your home. Otherwise, it's easy to get caught up in unimportant details or end up working on a totally different project than the one you set out to do.

It's also important to consider the specific parameters of your home improvement project. Everyone has time, budget, and resource limitations, and these limitations will help you determine the scope of what you can and can't do.

Of course, there are also physical limitations to consider, like the amount of space you have to work with and the floor plan of your home. While some people can afford to make extensive renovations or move to a more accessible home, many people can't, which is why the focus of this guide is how to do the best you can with the space you already have.

However, it's important to be realistic about the things you can and can't change or control in your home. Doing so will help you get the most out of your efforts by directing your energy and resources toward the the things that will make the most difference.

Still, limitations don't have to be the end-all-be-all, and you don't have to let them discourage you or stop you in your tracks. Even when you're faced with unchangeable circumstances, you might still be able to get at least some of what you want, even if you have to go about it in a different way.

For example, if you live in a multi-level home, you might not be able to change the fact that you have to go up and down stairs. However, you can make your stairs easier to navigate, or organize your home in such a way that you don't have use the stairs as often.

Whenever you run in to snags or difficulties, try to take a step back and consider different approaches. That's the best thing about taking the initiative to improve your space on your own; you can be as creative and unconventional as you want to be, as long as the end results work for you.

Things to Keep Mind For Any Space

Starting any kind of home improvement project can be a daunting task, but you don't have to jump into it blind. Knowing some basic home design principles and organizational techniques can help guide you through a wide range of different projects in every area of your home.

Here are some tips to help you help you get started—and stay focused—no matter what part of your home you're working to improve:

• Start by identifying problem areas, clutter, and sources of inconvenience or strain.
• Prioritize the areas that get the most use and matter most to you.
• Pay close attention to how each room's design and furniture layout affects how you use and navigate the space.
• Arrange each area to facilitate the activities you do most often, or the activities that you struggle with most because of your COPD
• Organize things by category and function so you don't have similar items spread out (and likely forgotten) between multiple rooms.
• Minimize clutter by making space to store all of your belongings; as the old saying goes, there should be “a place for everything, and everything in its place.”
• In general, stick with simple solutions; complex designs and intricate organizational systems are difficult to pull off.

While the rest of this guide focuses on room-specific strategies, we'll continue to discuss these and other general organizing principles throughout this guide. That's why we recommend reading through all of the following sections, even if you only plan to work on a certain part of your home; you might find an idea or find inspiration in one section that can be adapted to a variety of different rooms.

Improving Your Home for COPD Room by Room

The Bathroom

Let's start by talking about the bathroom, a unique space that serves as a multi-functional hub for a variety of different hygiene and grooming activities. The bathroom plays a huge role in most people's morning and evening routines, and can even be a place for relaxation and respite during the day.

Unfortunately, bathrooms can also be difficult spaces to navigate (and tolerate) if you have COPD.

First, bathrooms tend to be full of mobility barriers like tight spaces, slick surfaces, and tall tub sides. Second, bathrooms tend to have more air quality issues than other places in the home due to their propensity to collect mold, trap excess humidity, and accumulate noxious cleaning product fumes.

Luckily, there are many ways to make your bathroom more accessible and keep the air inside it fresh. Mostly, it comes down to establishing proper ventilation, practical organization, and outfitting your bathroom with a few key features to mitigate safety and mobility concerns.

Because everyone uses the bathroom so often, it's important to make it a place that feels comfortable, functional, and safe. With some work, you can even turn it into a place you want to spend time in, which can open up new opportunities for pampering and self care.

Organizing Your Bathroom for More Practical Use

Bathrooms, like most frequently-used spaces in the home, are prone to clutter and disorganization. It's easy to end up with crowded cabinets full of disorganized bath and skincare products while everyday toiletries and medicine bottles pile up on the counter top.

This is especially true for small bathrooms that have limited storage space. That's why, in most cases, organizing and paring down all your bathroom belongings is the best place to start.

First, get everything out of your cabinets, drawers, and all the other nooks and crannies in your bathroom. Then, sort those items by priority: what do you and others in your household use every day, versus every week, down to those that you very seldom (or not at all).

Next, it's time to pare things down. Consider what actually needs to be in the bathroom, what would be better stored elsewhere, and what you wouldn't mind getting rid of altogether.

If you've whittled it down to the essentials but you still don't have enough room to store everything neatly, you might need to expand your bathroom storage capacity. There are plenty of ways to do this without having to add any permanent cabinets or shelving; for example, you could use cabinet organizers, over-the-door storage devices, or small, stackable plastic storage containers

When you put all your belongings back, do it neatly and in order of importance, placing the most frequently-used items in the most convenient-to-reach places. This will ensure that you can access everyday items with the minimal amount of physical strain.

Make Your Shower a Safer and More Comfortable Place to Be

Showering is often a challenge for people with COPD, and many find it to be the most taxing part of their daily routine. When you combine the heat and humidity with physical strain of standing and washing, showering is a recipe for breathlessness if you don't have the right tools.

Luckily, you can make showering much more tolerable—and even pleasant—in just a few simple steps. First, you need to establish good ventilation in your bathroom, and then consider installing some basic (and relatively inexpensive) accessibility aids.

Proper Ventilation

Ventilating your bathroom sucks away excess heat and humidity, making it easier to breathe while you bathe. It also helps to get rid of stagnant humidity after you're out of the shower, reducing the risk that air-polluting mold will grow.

It's also important to ventilate the bathroom when you clean it to protect your lungs from the harmful fumes that many cleaning products generate. This is especially important for small, enclosed bathroom spaces that tend to trap and concentrate noxious fumes.

There are many different ways to ventilate your bathroom, and the easiest by far is by using a proper ventilation fan, the kind that's usually installed in the ceiling and turns on with a switch. Alternatively, you can open up the windows and doors attached to the bathroom and help the airflow along using one or more fans.

Equipment that can help you improve your bathroom ventilation:

• A well-functioning ventilation fan that vents outdoors
• A window fan that adjusts to fit snugly in your window frame
• A standing fan or table fan to blow air out the windows and/or doors

Safe & Comfy Floors

Drips and splashes are inevitable in the bathroom, which—unless your bathroom is carpeted—leads to damp, slick floors. This can be a very dangerous fall risk, not to mention an uncomfortable inconvenience when you step into a cold puddle on the floor.

That's why, if your bathroom has hard flooring, it's a good idea to place a non-slip bath mat near the shower and/or sink. Just make sure you choose a mat that's not too bulky (to reduce the risk of tripping over the edges) and has a sufficiently grippy rubber backing to hold it firmly in place on the floor.

That said, you should never use throw rugs or traditional bath mats (that don't have non-slip backings), as they can significantly increase your risk of trips and falls. In fact, studies show that poorly-secured bath mats are one of the biggest causes of fall injuries in the home.

In addition to the safety benefits, a non-slip bath mat is an extremely simple and affordable way to add an extra bit of luxury to your bathroom. Even though it's a simple comfort, having a soft, warm mat to greet you in when you step out of the shower, or when you make a bare-footed trip to the bathroom in the middle of the night, is something that you can enjoy and appreciate every day.

Shower Accessibility Tools

There are lots of different adaptive aids and equipment to help in the bathroom, and most are designed to make the bath and shower easier to use. They include shower chairs, handles, and bars to provide extra stability, as well as equipment that makes it easier to wash yourself when you bathe.

Here is a list of some of the most common and practical shower accessibility tools:

• In-shower handles and bars: these make it easier to stabilize yourself in the shower and reduces the risk of falling when you get in and out of the tub (avoid handles that use suction cups or other insecure methods of attaching to the wall).
• In-tub non-slip mat: this can help you get extra grip on the floor in the bathtub while providing a softer, more comfortable surface for your feet.
• Shower chair: this allows you sit while you shower, which not only helps you save energy (which reduces breathlessness), but also significantly reduces your risk of slipping on the slick floor.
• Removable, Hand-Held Shower Head: this type of shower head gives you full control over the water angle and flow, a must-have if you shower sitting down in a shower chair.
• Long-handled scrub brush: this can help you reach all areas of your body without having to strain or contort yourself.
• Tub Transfer Bench: this is a simple seat that forms a bridge over the edge of the tub so that you can easily sit and slide yourself over to get into the tub.
• Raised toilet seat or toilet safety frame: either or both of these are great solutions for those who struggle to get up and down from a sitting position, or get breathless doing so because of their COPD.

Addressing Mold and Other Air Quality Problems

There are a number of causes of air quality problems in the bathroom, the main culprits being mold, strongly-scented products, and noxious cleaning fumes. Mold tends to be the most dangerous because it can hide in unseen places and continually release toxic spores that can damage your lungs.

It's important to check your bathroom for mold regularly, keeping an eye out for black spots or a musty, moldy smell. If you find mold, get it cleaned up immediately to prevent it from spreading or causing structural damage to floors, ceilings, and walls.

In most situations, it's best to let someone else do the cleaning; messing with mold tends to stir up the spores, which can be dangerous for sensitive lungs. Consider asking a friend or family member to help you take care of minor mold problems or hire a professional for bigger jobs.

You should also pay attention to what kinds of products you (and others in your household) use; do any of them make you cough, feel breathless, or otherwise irritate your lungs? Strong fragrances are a common COPD trigger, and many people find it easier to breathe when they use unscented and fragrance-free products in their home.

If your lungs are scent-sensitive, you should also avoid using air fresheners and aerosol spray products, especially in an enclosed bathroom space. You should also avoid using noxious cleaning products (opting instead for lung-safe alternatives) and make sure to let the bathroom air out after it's cleaned.

The Bedroom

While the bedroom might not seem like a top-priority place for a re-design, your bedroom is actually one of the more important environments in the home. Your bedroom not only sets the stage for how you start and end your day, but it also plays a major role in your ability to get a good night's sleep.

This is especially important for people with COPD, who often experience difficulty getting to sleep and staying asleep at night. And while changing up your bedroom won't solve all of your sleeping problems, it can help you control certain COPD triggers and create an environment that's more conducive to sleep.

To do this, you need to consider ambient factors, like temperature and noise control, in addition to tangible factors like bedding, furniture layout, and décor. You might be surprised at how much a bit of optimization in the bedroom can improve your sleep and quality of life.

Making Your Bed More COPD-Friendly

If you're going to optimize anything in your bedroom, your actual bed is probably the best place to start. It's centerpiece of every bedroom and, arguably, the most important piece of furniture you own, since you spend hours lying in bed every single night.

Making your bed more comfortable starts with the mattress and bedding, both of which should be comfortable and suited to your temperature needs. If you tend to get hot at night, for example, you might want to avoid memory foam mattresses and thermal bedding that are more likely to make you overheat.

You should also make sure to wash your sheets and blankets often to get rid of dust, allergens, and other irritants that can accumulate in your bedding and aggravate your COPD. This is especially important if your lungs are very sensitive or you notice your COPD symptoms getting worse after you go to bed.

It's also important to have the right tools for good sleep posture, which often means having some extra pillows for support. Whether you prefer to lay on your back, side, or stomach, some extra cushioning in the right places can help you sleep more comfortably and keep your spine aligned correctly while you sleep.

Some experts suggest that sleeping on

Fall injuries aren't something that most people think much about on a day-to-day basis, let alone take specific measures to avoid. But as people who have experienced a serious fall injury can attest to, falling is a very serious threat that many adults just can't afford to ignore.

Your risk of falling inevitably increases as you age, but your risk may be even higher if you have COPD. That's because, while COPD doesn't cause falls directly, it does cause a variety of physical effects that can significantly increase your risk of having a fall.

Studies show that people with COPD are both more likely to experience accidental falls and more likely to get severely injured from falling compared to similarly-aged adults without COPD. And this is no minor risk; according to the CDC, falls are the leading cause of injury-related and accidental death in adults over the age of 65.

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Fortunately, many—if not most—falls are avoidable, and there are plenty of ways to reduce your risk of falling if you have COPD. And since the place that you're most likely to experience a fall is at home, thoroughly fall-proofing your house is one of the best things you can do to prevent accidental falls.

That's why we created this guide to explain everything you need to know to get started fall-proofing your home for COPD. In it, you'll learn how to identify common fall hazards and make a variety of practical safety improvements to fall-prone areas in your home.

We'll also take a closer look at the link between COPD and falling to help you better understand the magnitude of the risk. You'll learn about how COPD exacerbates fall risk factors, how it affects recovery from fall injuries, and how people with COPD can benefit from fall-proofing in a variety of different ways.

Our goal is to show you that fall-proofing is worth the effort and provide you with practical fall-proofing knowledge that you can put to use in your home right away. We hope that the strategies, tips, and resources in this guide will inspire you and empower you to make your home a safer environment for living with COPD.

COPD & Falling: What's the Risk?

Every year, more than one quarter of adults over the age of 65 have a fall. Among people with COPD, the rate is significantly higher: studies show that COPD patients are 55% more likely than non-COPD patients to have a history of falling, and that they have about 85% more falls, on average, compared to people without COPD.

While the association between COPD and falling might seem strange at first, it makes sense if you consider the multitude of ways that COPD can affect your balance and mobility. For example, COPD symptoms (like shortness of breath) can make you feel lightheaded and unsteady, while COPD-related health complications (like osteoporosis) can increase your risk of breaking a bone if you fall.

COPD is also associated with numerous well-known fall risk factors (PDF link), including muscle weakness, dizziness, lightheadedness, and fatigue. It's also associated with an increased risk of getting injured from falling, and a more difficult time recovering from injuries caused by falls

In the following sections, we're going to take a closer look at these and other COPD-related fall risk factors to better understand the relationship between falling and COPD. We'll also discuss how COPD impacts recovery, and why fall injuries tend to be more serious in people with COPD.

How does COPD make you more susceptible to falling?

It might seem surprising that COPD, as a respiratory condition, could affect your risk of falling. However, COPD is a complex disease that has a wide variety of effects on the body, many of which can affect your balance and susceptibility to falls.

If you or someone you love has COPD, understanding these effects can give you a better idea of what kinds of fall hazards you need to look out for. It can also help you focus your fall-prevention strategy on the things that are most likely to pose a danger to people with COPD.

COPD Symptoms

COPD symptoms can make you feel dizzy, lightheaded, or even drowsy at times, which can easily throw off your balance and make you more likely to fall. This could happen during a bout of coughing or breathlessness for example, or when you're feeling fatigued.

COPD Medications

Certain COPD medications can also make you dizzy or drowsy, which increases your risk of accidents, including falls. The risk might be even higher if you take other medications (e.g blood pressure medications) or take multiple medications (including over-the-counter medications) that interact with one another or have compounding side-effects.

Other Health Complications Caused by COPD

COPD can cause a variety of other health problems that can increase your risk of falling, usually because they affect your ability to balance or reduce your physical strength. For example, chronic hypoxemia (low blood oxygen levels) is a common COPD complication that can cause you to frequently feel lightheaded and unsteady on your feet.

COPD also increases your risk for a variety of cardiovascular problems (such as high blood pressure and right-sided heart failure) that can lower your blood oxygen levels and make you feel dizzy as well. The worst thing about dizziness from low oxygen levels is that it tends to strike during physical activities (e.g. walking, standing up, and climbing stairs), which is when you need your balance the most.

Having COPD can also interfere with your ability to do activities that help you maintain muscle strength and balance, including exercise, eating, and getting enough sleep. Many people with COPD also suffer from Vitamin D deficiency, which is another known risk factor for falls.

What's more, some research suggests that having COPD can reduce balance and stability irrespective of the factors mentioned above. While researchers are still unsure why that is, some believe it could be related to a kind of nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy) that is relatively common in people with COPD.

How Does COPD Increase Your Risk of Injury (from Falling)?

In addition to increasing your chances of falling, COPD also increases your chances of getting seriously injured when you fall. The main reasons for this are muscle weakness and osteoporosis, both of which are quite common in people with COPD.

Muscle Weakness

COPD makes it difficult to exercise and stay active, which (in addition to other factors, like inflammation and malnutrition) often leads to physical decline. One of the biggest contributors to this decline is the loss of muscle mass and resulting muscle weakness, which is a major risk factor for falls.

Muscle strength is not only important for maintaining balance, but also for being able to “catch yourself” and avoid getting hurt when you fall. This can cause you to fall harder or land in a way that causes you to get injured; e.g. on top of a hard object or on a fragile bone or limb.

Osteoporosis

People with COPD also tend to have risk factors that make them more prone to osteoporosis; these risk factors include things like older age, poor nutrition, lack of exercise, and chronic inflammation (a common symptom of COPD). Some medications used to treat COPD symptoms—particularly steroid medications, including steroid inhalers—can also increase the risk of bone density loss and osteoporosis over time.

Osteoporosis weakens your bones and makes them more brittle, which can cause them to break from even little accidents like minor bumps and falls. One study found that COPD patients were 50% more likely to have osteoporosis than people without COPD and were 1.6 times as likely to have suffered a major osteoporosis-related bone fracture.

Unfortunately, people with very severe COPD symptoms often have trouble eating and exercising enough to keep their bones and bodies strong. Because of this, those with advanced COPD tend to have a higher risk for osteoporosis, muscle weakness, and getting severely injured from a fall compared to those with milder COPD symptoms.

To learn more about COPD and osteoporosis, check out our guide on that topic here.

How COPD Can Make Recovery Harder After a Fall

Having a chronic health condition like COPD can make recovering from injuries harder, even injuries that are completely unrelated to COPD. The opposite is true as well: unrelated injuries can make your COPD worse by making it harder to to take care of yourself and manage your COPD.

A fall injury that makes it difficult to walk or requires hospitalization, for example, could prevent you from exercising for weeks or even months at a time. In the time it takes to recover, you could lose much of your strength and endurance as well as the many other health benefits you get from regular exercise.

This alone can have far-reaching health consequences, including worsened COPD symptoms and an increased risk of developing other health problems like heart disease. Long periods of inactivity can also increase your risk of falling in the future due to decreased muscle strength, balance, and increased COPD symptoms like breathlessness and fatigue.

What's more, if you have a fall that requires you to be hospitalized, having COPD could complicate your treatment. It could make certain procedures like surgery more risky, for example, or limit the number of medications that doctors can safely prescribe you in addition to the medications you're already taking for COPD.

Being hospitalized can also be dangerous in and of itself because it can increase your risk of getting sick from certain types of infections (e.g. hospital-acquired pneumonia) that can be especially deadly for people with COPD. Unfortunately, because COPD weakens the lung's defenses against infection, COPD patients are particularly vulnerable to respiratory infections both in general and during prolonged hospital stays.

As you can see, falls can result in more than just a single injury; they can set off a chain of consequences that can affect your strength, your mobility, and your ability to manage your COPD long term. That's why avoiding accidental falls is vital for maintaining your physical independence and maintaining a good quality of life as you age.

The Benefits of Fall-Proofing: Why It's Worth the Hassle

Fall-proofing can do more than just prevent falls and fall injuries; it can make your home a more comfortable—and more accessible—place to live with COPD. It can help you conserve energy, stay independent, and even build up the confidence to do a wider range of activities around your home.

Now that you better understand how COPD can make you vulnerable to falling, you can hopefully see why fall prevention for COPD patients is such a serious concern. Now, let's take a look at what you can gain from fall-proofing, and why it's more than worth the time and effort it takes to fall-proof your home.

Reduced Risk of Injury and Hospitalization from Falls

It goes without saying that the main point of fall-proofing is to reduce the risk that you (or someone else in your household) will fall and get injured in your home. However, we do want to emphasize why preventing falls is so important by showing you how bad even a “minor” fall can be.

First, it's important to know that serious fall injuries among older adults are very common. CDC research shows that one-fifth of falls cause serious injury, and that 3 million older adults are admitted to the emergency room for fall injuries every year.

Second, you should know that even ground-level falls (falls from standing height or lower) can result in a wide range of serious injuries, including broken bones and head injuries. These injuries can require long recovery periods, long hospital stays, and sometimes even serious medical procedures like surgery before they can fully heal.

Unfortunately, recovering from fall injuries is often especially difficult—and particularly lengthy—for older adults and people with chronic diseases like COPD. Injuries in older adults are also more likely to result in permanent health problems, including muscle weakness, loss of physical mobility, and chronic pain.

The lasting effects from fall injuries can lead to further physical decline can make it difficult—or impossible—to return to the life you had before. In this way, fall injuries can have huge, long-term effects on your quality of life even long after they heal.

It's also important to acknowledge that some people never make it out of the hospital or home recovery because they die of their injuries or complications during recovery. In fact, studies show that deaths from falls in adults over the age of 65 have steadily increased in recent years.

Increased Confidence At Home

One of the more difficult parts of living with COPD is the gradual decline in physical ability, which can have a huge effect on just about every part of your life. Along with that often comes a sense of fear and vulnerability that can further restrict what kinds of activities you do.

Studies show that a large number of senior adults restrict their activities for fear of falling, and that this can have a significant negative effect on their quality of life. It's often not even a conscious decision; you just slowly start to limit yourself to the areas and activities that feel safest, not realizing what you've given up along the way.

You might be surprised at how much fall-proofing can improve your sense of safety and security at home. It can even boost your sense of confidence in your own abilities and help you feel less limited by COPD.

Increased Comfort & Convenience at Home

Making the effort to fall-proof your home will not only make it safer, but also much more functional and comfortable to use. That's because getting rid of fall hazards makes your home easier to navigate in general, which is a particularly important benefit for people with COPD.

This can make a huge difference during COPD exacerbations or anytime your feeling breathless and fatigued. It can also help reduce the stresses of daily life just a little by making it easier to get around when you're in a hurry or have your hands full.

More Energy and Independence

Fall-proofing can help you adapt your home environment to one that's much better suited to your mobility needs. In this way, fall-proofing can allow you to do more activities independently and generally expand the range of activities that you can do safely in your home.

For example, fall-proofing often involves adding practical tools (like shower chairs and handlebars by the toilet) that make it easier to do regular household tasks. This can allow you to live more independently and do more everyday things around the house on your own.

By making your home more accessible, fall-proofing can also help you conserve energy, which is often in short supply for people with COPD. Then, you can use that saved energy on other things, allowing you to do more and accomplish more throughout the day.

How to Fall-Proof Your Home For COPD

Now that we've covered the basics of why fall-proofing is important, it's time to learn exactly how to fall-proof your home for COPD. In the following sections, we'll go through all the major steps of fall-proofing, showing you plenty of practical strategies you can use to address a wide range of fall hazards in your own home.

But that's not all; toward the end of this guide, you'll find a curated list of expert resources and thorough fall-proofing checklists you can use. And in the very last section, we'll discuss a variety of other things (besides fall-proofing) that you can do to improve your balance and reduce your risk of falling if you have COPD.

How to Make Your Floors Fall-Proof: It's All About Where You Step

The surfaces you walk on have a major impact on your balance and fall risk, which is why the majority of fall-prevention strategies focus on floors. That includes the floors themselves as well as the obstacles that end up on them, such as furniture, doorway thresholds, power cords, and rugs.

Unfortunately, no matter what kinds of floors you have or how clean you keep them, walking on them will always carry some risk. However, you can reduce those risks substantially by eliminating trip hazards and making simple—yet effective—safety improvements to your floors.

Beware of Rugs

When you think about floor fall hazards, rugs probably aren't the first things that come to mind. But even though they might seem harmless, rugs are the most common—and possibly most dangerous—trip hazards in the home.

Studies show that rugs cause a significant number of fall injuries. In the US alone, nearly 17,400 adults over the age of 65 have to be treated for fall injuries associated with rugs every year.

However, not all rugs are created equal; some rugs are much more likely to cause falls than others, and—in some situations—certain types of rugs can actually help prevent falls. The difference comes down to a few different factors: what kind of rug you're using, where you place it, and what you're using it for.

Throw rugs, for example, are particularly easy to trip on, especially when their edges get curled up, folded, or frayed. Additionally, most throw rugs are not (or cannot be) secured in place properly, meaning they can easily shift, slip, and bunch up under your feet.

On the other hand, non-slip rugs can be safe to use on hard flooring, as long as they're properly designed and they firmly stay in place. In fact, non-slip rugs can actually help you avoid slipping on slick patches on floors that tend to get wet, like your entryway, bathroom, or in front of the kitchen sink.

Unfortunately, even non-slip rugs can be a trip hazard, especially if they're bulky, damaged, or poorly placed. That's why it's important to only use rugs where they're really needed, and to carefully consider whether a particular rug's potential safety benefits are worth its potential risks.

One thing that all fall-prevention experts agree on, however, is that getting rid of loose, decorative throw rugs should be a first priority when fall-proofing any home. When it comes to non-slip rugs, however, evidence is mixed, though many experts agree that non-slip rugs can be beneficial when used cautiously and sparingly on potentially-slippery floors.

Here are some basic rules and criteria for using non-slip rugs safely in your home:

• Only use non-slip rugs with rubber backing that firmly grips the floor.
• Choose thinner rugs over bulky ones; it's more of a trip hazard the farther it sticks up from the floor.
• Ideally, you should use non-slip rugs with tapered edges that sit flush (or as flush as possible) with the floor.
• Only use non-slip rugs on hard floor surfaces where they can get an adequate grip and stay in place (e.g. tile, hardwood, acrylic, smooth concrete, etc.)
• Consider placing non-slip rugs on hard-floored areas near places that get wet, which can include your entryway, bathrooms, any anywhere else that's near a water source like a shower, washer, or sink.
• Make sure the floor is completely dry before placing a rug; any moisture trapped underneath the rug (e.g. from water splashes or mopping) could cause the rug to slip.

Keep Up With Floor Maintenance & Repairs

Keeping your carpet and other flooring in good repair should always be a top home maintenance priority, especially for people with mobility-limiting conditions like COPD. Unfortunately, damaged flooring is one of those inconvenient problems that far too often get ignored.

People often put off floor repairs due to the expense and/or effort it takes to complete them, not realizing how big of a risk they are taking. In reality, floor damage

If you or someone you love has COPD, then you might have heard about a treatment known as pulmonary rehabilitation. This treatment is essentially a breathing and exercise training program specifically designed for people with COPD and other respiratory problems that make it difficult to breathe.

Traditional pulmonary rehabilitation programs come in a lot of different forms, including group classes and one-on-one instruction. You can also do pulmonary rehabilitation by yourself at home, an option that many patients choose instead of—or in addition to—taking a traditional class.

This is a great option for anyone who needs the flexibility, convenience, and easy accessibility that you get from practicing pulmonary rehabilitation at home. If you live in a rural area or lack the physical ability to take classes outside the home, home pulmonary rehab might be the only option that is realistic for you.

That's why we created this practical guide for practicing pulmonary rehabilitation at home. Whether you are simply interested in learning about the treatment or you're ready to try it out yourself, this guide will give you just about everything you need to get started, including direct links to all kinds of useful expert resources.

We'll start by explaining how both traditional and home pulmonary rehabilitation works, and why it's such an important therapy for people with COPD. Then, we'll explain all the elements you need to set up your own home-based pulmonary rehab program, including how to find the materials and resources you need.

What Pulmonary Rehabilitation Can Do for You

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a versatile, multi-faceted program that teaches practical strategies for managing everyday life with COPD and other serious respiratory conditions. It teaches you how to manage your breathing better, exercise more effectively, and stay active in spite of reduced lung function and uncomfortable respiratory symptoms.

As the Merck Manual puts it: “Pulmonary rehabilitation is the use of exercise, education, and behavioral intervention to improve how well people with chronic lung disease can function in daily life and to enhance their quality of life.”

Research shows that pulmonary rehab is a very effective treatment for COPD, offering a wide range of physical, mental, and educational benefits. Doctors often recommend pulmonary rehabilitation as a way to build physical endurance and learn how to manage the disease more effectively.

Pulmonary rehabilitation is particularly helpful for those who suffer from severe shortness of breath or have trouble keeping their symptoms under control. However, even people with well-controlled COPD symptoms can benefit from learning how to live a healthier life with their disease.

Here are some of the major health benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation for people with COPD:

• Reduced shortness of breath
• Improved exercise tolerance and endurance
• Improved physical strength
• Fewer COPD exacerbations
• Fewer hospitalizations
• Improved mental health
• Improved sense of well-being
• Greater knowledge and ability to manage COPD symptoms
• Greater knowledge and ability to make healthy diet and lifestyle choices

The main feature of pulmonary rehabilitation is a series of exercise training sessions designed to build physical strength and endurance. These sessions teach you exercises for improving respiratory health along with helpful breathing techniques to help you manage shortness of breath.

Pulmonary rehabilitation classes are a great way to begin exercising if you're used to being inactive or you struggle to exercise because of your symptoms. They help you learn to cope with physical exertion, gradually work up to more exercise, and teach you strategies to help you better manage everyday life activities.

This makes pulmonary rehabilitation particularly helpful for those with reduced physical mobility and endurance who want to learn how to exercise more effectively within the constraints of their disease. However, pulmonary rehabilitation offers more than just physical benefits; it also includes education on a variety of topics related to managing COPD.

A huge part of pulmonary rehabilitation is education and training on diet, lifestyle, COPD treatment, and general respiratory health. They include lessons about diet and nutrition, medications, and how to deal with the emotional hardships of living with COPD.

After completing pulmonary rehab, you'll have more of the skills that you need to get around better, do more, and live the best life you can in spite of your disease. These factors alone can do wonders for your mental health and your ability to live a good quality of life.

Whether you have mild COPD or a later stage of the disease, taking a pulmonary rehabilitation class can make a significant difference in your health and everyday life. Even after the course is over, doing pulmonary rehab at home can help you stay active, informed, and motivated about your health.

Pulmonary rehabilitation is helpful for everyone with COPD, but this treatment can be particularly helpful in certain circumstances. You might want to give it extra serious consideration if:

• You have severe COPD symptoms
• You are having trouble adjusting to life with COPD
• You are recovering from a COPD exacerbation or hospitalization
• You live an inactive or sedentary lifestyle
• You are too weak or breathless to exercise on your own
• You struggle with light physical activities like walking and going up stairs
• You want to work toward a specific physical goal (e.g. being able to walk around the grocery store or make it up a full flight of stairs on your own)

However, people with COPD are not the only ones who can benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation. It can treat a variety of different health conditions that affect your ability to breathe, including asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, severe pneumonia, and serious cardiovascular diseases like heart failure (especially coexisting COPD and heart failure).

What is Home Pulmonary Rehabilitation?

Most traditional pulmonary rehabilitation classes are group classes held in hospitals, medical clinics, and pulmonary rehabilitation centers. The class is run by a team of instructors—which often includes specialists like physical trainers and respiratory therapists—who conduct educational lectures, exercise classes, and hands-on skill workshops.

Home pulmonary rehabilitation, on the other hand, packages many of the same types of lessons and training that you'd get from a traditional pulmonary rehabilitation class into a format you can do at home. It's almost like taking an online or self-driven course; you gather the information and materials you need for each main topic, and complete the lessons on your own time.

Unfortunately, you may not be able to get the same kind of expert instruction and interaction that many group classes offer if you practice pulmonary rehabilitation at home. However, you can still get many of the same physical and mental benefits through self-driven lessons and activities.

This requires some planning and self-discipline, but it certainly doesn't mean that you will be completely on your own. You will be able to access to a wide variety of helpful resources and expert advice as you prepare for and work through the program at home.

You can work with your doctor to put together a personalized plan, or you can simply learn from existing guides. Either way, you will likely draw from a variety of different educational tools and materials as you go through your home pulmonary rehab program.

In the following sections, we'll introduce you to many resources you can use, including instructional videos, educational guides, and tele-health support. First, though, let's take a look at some of the benefits of doing pulmonary rehab at home, as well as some of the major reasons why you might choose to do a home-based program instead of—or in addition to—a traditional pulmonary rehab class.

Why Do Pulmonary Rehabilitation at Home?

Traditional in-person classes are the most studied form of pulmonary rehabilitation, but research suggests that home pulmonary rehabilitation programs may be just as effective, even if you only have minimal resources. Most experts also agree that home-based pulmonary rehabilitation offers many of the same benefits as in-person classes.

But even if traditional classes were the best option, there are many reasons why someone with COPD might choose to do pulmonary rehabilitation at home.

First of all, many people do pulmonary rehabilitation at home after completing a group class; it's a great way to continue practicing important skills and techniques. Second, many people simply don't have access to a traditional in-person class.

Pulmonary rehabilitation classes aren't offered everywhere, and they tend to be particularly sparse in rural areas. Because of this, many patients don't have any nearby pulmonary rehab options, or would have to drive hours to make it to the nearest class.

In areas where you can find a local pulmonary rehab program, there is often a very high demand for only a small number of classes. In fact, one 2019 study found that there were only 831 pulmonary rehabilitation centers in the US, which is far too few to serve the more than 16 million people in the US who have COPD.

The result is that many pulmonary rehabilitation centers have long waiting lists to get into classes. This forces some patients to wait weeks or months before they can begin getting the treatment they need.

Because of this, some people with COPD are better off starting with a home pulmonary rehabilitation program. It allows you to skip the wait and begin treatment right away, and it's certainly better than doing nothing at all.

Additionally, traditional in-person classes simply aren't the best option for every patient. Some people, for example, are too sick to leave their home for multiple weekly classes, while others find it impossible to fit it into their lives or budget.

You also need a doctor's recommendation to attend most traditional pulmonary rehabilitation classes, and sometimes these classes are reserved for highest-priority patients. In those cases, you might not even be eligible for a class unless you have very advanced COPD or serious complications.

For all of these reasons and more, researchers are increasingly recommending home-based pulmonary rehab, especially for patients who have trouble accessing traditional classes.

You might want to consider doing pulmonary rehabilitation at home if:

• You are not eligible to attend a traditional class
• You cannot find a class in your local area
• You are on a waiting list or all local classes are full
• You are unable to afford the cost of attending a traditional pulmonary rehabilitation class
• You are unable to get transportation to and from a local class
• Your physical condition prevents you from attending an in-person class (because of severe COPD symptoms or another health problem)
• You are unable to attend a class because of travel distance, time commitment, or another scheduling issue
• You will be attending an in-person class soon, and want to prepare by practicing ahead of time
• You are anxious about attending a group class and would like to try it out on your own first
• You have already taken a pulmonary rehabilitation class and want to continue building on the skills and benefits by practicing at home

How to Create Your Own Home Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program

In these next sections, we're going explain all the different components that a pulmonary rehabilitation class is made up of and how you can recreate each of these lessons at home. We'll start with a brief overview of the major topics and activities, and then we'll show you how to get the equipment, educational materials, and all the other information you need to begin your own home-based program.

The Basic Components of Pulmonary Rehabilitation

All pulmonary rehabilitation classes are different, but they all have the same basic makeup. Specific lessons and activities vary, but all pulmonary rehab programs aim to teach a similar set of practical, evidence-based skills for managing respiratory diseases.

These are the major components of a pulmonary rehabilitation class:

• Exercise training
• Breathing muscles training
• Nutritional counseling
• Education on proper medication use
• Psychological counseling and support

Your home pulmonary rehab program should address each of these topics, but how you approach them may depend on what kinds of resources you have. Because you may lack the specialized equipment and access to experts that traditional programs have, your home pulmonary rehabilitation programs may benefit from a couple of extra components:

• Working closely with your primary care doctor
• Tele-health support

Now, lets take a closer look at each of these components and how you can re-create them for your pulmonary rehabilitation program at home. For each of these topics, we've included links to a variety of helpful, high-quality resources you can use to get started right away.

Working With Your Doctor

Traditional in-person pulmonary rehabilitation classes are usually staffed with doctors, trainers, and specialists that facilitate each class. Since you won't have access to these experts at home, it is vital to work with your doctor—and any other members of your COPD treatment team—as you plan your home pulmonary rehabilitation program.

Your doctor can help you determine your primary health and lifestyle goals, and help you make a plan to get you there. It's also important to tell your doctor before you make any major changes to your lifestyle or exercise routine; this is not only for safety, but also so you can ask your doctor for advice—for example, on what kinds of exercises are appropriate for your physical condition.

Working with your doctor is also a great way to learn about lesser-known resources that you might not otherwise find. Your doctor might be able to give you helpful guides or pulmonary rehabilitation tools, or even refer you to a telehealth program.

Telehealth Support

It's certainly possible to do pulmonary rehabilitation successfully on your own with the guidance of your primary care doctor. However, it's always good to have some extra guidance and support along the way.

Luckily, modern technology makes it possible to work with doctors and other medical experts remotely without ever leaving your home. These are known as telehealth services, and they allow you to communicate with specialists and trainers from home using phone calls, text messages, and/or online platforms.

Research shows that home pulmonary rehabilitation supported by telehealth can be very effective at reducing hospital re-admissions and may work just as well as in-person, institution-based pulmonary rehabilitation programs. Unfortunately, it can be somewhat tricky to find a telehealth service that is both available in your area and suited to your needs.

The best place to start looking is local hospitals and pulmonary rehab centers, which sometimes offer their own telehealth programs and services. You can also ask your doctor to help you locate any other telehealth resources in your area.

Exercise Training

Exercise training is one of the largest and most important components of an effective pulmonary rehabilitation program. It helps you build strength and endurance by teaching you movements and techniques that are specifically tailored for people with respiratory diseases.

To get the best results, your home exercise training program should be as comprehensive as possible, including both cardiovascular and strength training components. You should do exercises that target all the major muscle groups in your body, including your arms, shoulders, back, legs, abdomen, and chest.

Arm exercises, leg exercises, and walking are cornerstones of most COPD exercise programs, because they work the muscles you need the most to function in everyday life. Start small and work your way up gradually, slowly adding more steps and repetitions to your routine as you go.

Even though you won't have an in-person trainer while exercising at home, you can get a similar experience from following exercise videos and DVDs. You can choose from a variety of high-quality instructional videos for exercising with COPD, some of which are specifically tailored for pulmonary rehabilitation.

In general, it is safe to exercise with COPD as long as your doctor says it is okay. However, you should still take care not to overexert yourself and to take breaks to catch your breath when needed.

If you experience any of the following symptoms when exercising, you should stop and rest:

• Severe shortness of breath that is worse than usual
• Excessive fatigue
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Nausea
• Pain in the chest, neck, or arm
• Irregular heartbeat or palpitations

Here are some tips for including exercise training in your home pulmonary rehab program:

• Find instructional videos (and other materials) for exercise techniques suited to your skill level, including videos made for pulmonary rehabilitation.
• Practice doing the exercises yourself step by step, modifying them to your ability if needed (e.g. try a lower-impact version of an exercise, or find exercises you can do while seated in a chair).
• Take regular walks to improve your endurance, trying to make it a little bit farther every day.
• Practice aerobic and strength training exercises in 15-30 minute long sessions; ideally, you should exercise 4-5 days per week
• Do not exercise if you are sick or experiencing a COPD symptom flare-up (ask your doctor if you are not sure)

Resources and Guides for Exercising with COPD

Exercise Training Videos for Pulmonary Rehabilitation

• Exercise and COPD Guide (PDF Download Link) from the Lung Association (Canada): This 16-page manual includes instructions for performing specific exercises and guides you through the process of starting a COPD exercise program.
• The Toronto Western Hospital Pulmonary Rehabilitation Home Exercise DVD (You can watch this instructional video on YouTube)
• Pulmonary Rehab Exercise Video from NHS Forth Valley
• Upper Body Exercises for COPD Treatment and Rehab from Burke Rehabilitation
• Arm Exercises for Pulmonary Rehab from Burke Rehabilitation

Text Resources for Exercising with COPD:

• Tips for Exercising at Home (for Pulmonary Rehabilitation) from Wexner Medical Center
• COPD Exercise and Activity Guide from the Cleveland Clinic
• Integrating an Exercise Program Into Your Life (PDF Link) from Living Well with COPD

Exercise Guides from Our Respiratory Resource Center:

• How to Exercise at Home with COPD
• Tips and Tricks for Exercising on Oxygen Therapy
• What Exercise Tests Can Tell You About Your COPD

Breathing Muscles Training

Another major component of pulmonary rehabilitation is strengthening and training the muscles in your chest that help you breathe. This is known as inspiratory muscle training, and research shows that it can both reduce shortness of breath and improve exercise endurance by reducing the amount of effort it takes to breathe.

In pulmonary rehabilitation, inspiratory muscle training is done through a combination of exercises and breathing techniques that target certain muscles in your chest. In order for these exercises to be effective, you'll need to practice them regularly and use proper technique.

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Just like with exercise training, video lessons can be an effective substitute for in-person ins