Are you newly diagnosed with COPD? Do not make these common mistakes, read this post to learn about what and how to avoid complications early on! 

Getting diagnosed with COPD can seem overwhelming, especially when it catches you by surprise. It's often even more overwhelming to get used to all the new treatments, medications and lifestyle changes required to keep your lungs healthy, especially while you're still trying to come to terms with your diagnosis.

As a chronic disease, COPD requires constant work and careful decision-making to keep the symptoms under control. Because of this, it's no surprise that new COPD patients make a variety of mistakes that can affect their health and well-being.

Between making changes to your diet, exercise routine, medications, and many other activities of daily life, there are a lot of opportunities for error. As you adjust to life with COPD, it's important to avoid making mistakes that could serious consequences for your health, or at least catch and correct them early on.

That's why you should learn and pay attention to the mistakes that other new COPD patients tend to make. It helps you learn more about your disease, what to look out for, and how to keep your body and lungs as healthy as possible.

In this guide, we're going to help you avoid common pitfalls by showing you the mistakes that new COPD patients frequently make. Along with each mistake we've provided solutions so you'll know how to avoid that mistake and do the correct thing instead.

By taking the time to learn from others' mistakes, you'll be much less likely to encounter the same problems yourself. In the next sections, we'll give you all the information you need to avoid falling into the same pitfalls that other patients end up in.

However, it's important to remember that mistakes and struggles are inevitable as you adjust to the many changes that getting diagnosed with COPD brings. But if you educate yourself now, you can easily correct these mistakes and avoid serious problems that could permanently affect your health.

A major part of keeping your lungs healthy and keeping your COPD under control is learning everything you can about your disease. It also means being an active, motivated participant in your treatment and knowing what you shouldn't do just as much as the things you should.

The Mistake: Not Using Your Inhaler Correctly

While inhalers may seem like fairly straightforward devices, a surprisingly large percentage of patients don't use their inhaler correctly. This happens to many patients who never learned the proper technique or forgot the correct steps over time. Other patients get too complacent or careless and skip steps to save time, not realizing each step is important.

Most of the mistakes patients make with their inhalers have to do with preparing the inhaler and using the right breathing technique. This is a serious problem, since these steps are necessary for getting the medication into the lungs where it needs to work.

Unfortunately, many doctors don't do their due diligence in training their patients to use their inhalers correctly. Even though doctors are supposed to check patients' inhaler technique at every appointment, it is often rare for them to take the time to do it properly in practice.

It doesn't help that many doctors don't even know proper inhaler technique themselves, meaning they can't give their patients adequate instruction. Luckily, the medical community has recently acknowledged the extent of this problem and is making efforts to raise awareness among doctors to correct it.

Here are some of the common mistakes to look out for:

• Not shaking the inhaler before each puff
• Not exhaling fully before using the inhaler
• Not holding the inhaler in the correct position
• Not timing your inhale with the spray from the inhaler
• Not inhaling deeply enough
• Not inhaling slowly enough
• Not holding your breath after inhaling the medication
• Inhaling through your nose instead of your mouth

Making any of these mistakes can result in getting too little medication or none of the medication that you need. This can be very dangerous when you suffer from COPD, because you need your full dose to prevent serious symptoms and exacerbations.

The Solution: Learning Proper Inhaler Technique

Because all inhalers are different, the only way to ensure that you're using your inhaler correctly is to re-read your inhaler's instructions and re-evaluate your technique. That means going over all the steps and guidelines in the information packet that comes with your medication.

This is important whether you're a newly diagnosed COPD patient or you have been treating your disease for some time. No matter how well you think you know it, it never hurts to double check.

You should also take your inhaler with you to every doctor's appointment so you can show your doctor exactly how you usually use it. That way, your doctor can identify any mistakes you make and show you the correct technique.

Every time you use your inhaler, make sure you follow every step and don't rush or cut any corners. Don't forget to shake or prime your inhaler if needed, and always remember to exhale before using it.

Timing your inhale with the spray from your inhaler is extremely important, but also difficult, which is why this step tends to cause patients the most problems. It may take some practice to time correctly, and you may need to use a spacer attached to the mouthpiece to help you do it right.

Studies show that when you inhale too early, then you only get about 35% of the full dose you're supposed to get. If you inhale to late, however, you end up spraying the medication in your mouth and throat instead of inhaling it into your lungs. This makes the medication ineffective and puts your lungs at risk.

To make sure you inhale at the right time and get the full dose, start breathing in slowly just before you press the button to release the medicine. Continue inhaling slowly and deeply as you feel the spray to draw the medication all the way into your lungs.

Remember that inhaling the medication isn't the last step; you still have to hold your breath to keep it in your lungs. Most recommend holding your breath for about ten seconds, then you can slowly and gently exhale.

If you are using an inhaler that contains steroid medications, then you still aren't done quite yet. To prevent the medication from drying out your mouth and throat, you need to rinse your mouth out with water before you're done.

If you ever have any questions or concerns about using your inhaler, don't hesitate to talk to your doctor. You can also ask your pharmacist to demonstrate how to use your inhaler(s) or to answer any other questions you have.

You can also find tips and information online for a variety of different types of inhalers. However, this should never be a replacement for the information you can get from your doctor and prescription information.

The Mistake: Not Knowing When to Take Which Medications

Nearly all COPD patients take two major types of medications: maintenance medications and quick-relief medications (also known as rescue medications). Both medications are delivered via inhaler, which is why patients sometimes get them confused.

This can be dangerous, because you need to use both medications correctly in order to treat your COPD effectively and keep your symptoms under control. Mixing up the two medications or forgetting to take them at the right time could make your symptoms worse or cause you to have a serious COPD exacerbation.

Other medications can be confusing to use, too, especially if you are only supposed to take them on certain occasions. For example, many doctors prescribe oral antibiotics and steroid medications for their patients to use as needed to prevent and treat COPD exacerbations.

The Solution: Following Your COPD Action Plan

Every COPD patient should get a COPD action plan from their doctor shortly after getting diagnosed. If you haven't received one yet, ask your doctor to work one up for you, as studies show that they help patients better manage COPD at home.

A COPD Action plan acts like a set of guidelines for you to follow based on how bad your symptoms are from day to day. For example, most action plans have three major “zones” that correspond to the severity of your symptoms; the first zone is for when you are feeling fine, the second for mild flare-ups, and the third for more serious symptoms and complications.

Click here to see what a sample COPD action plan looks like.

Every day, you should evaluate your symptoms to determine what “zone” to look at. Then, you simply follow the instructions in that zone for what medications and what doses you should take. Most action plans also include guidelines to let you know when its safe to exert yourself and at what point you should call your doctor when your symptoms flare up.

Because most COPD patients have several different medications to keep track of, it's extremely important to take the time to learn all of the important facts about each of your medications. That includes learning their full names, what they look like, and what you are supposed to use them for.

This ensures that you can match your medications with the instructions in your COPD action plan and use them exactly as your doctor directs you to. It also makes you much less likely to mix your medications up, take them at the wrong time, or forget about them altogether.

You should also bring a complete list of your medications with you anytime you go to the hospital or doctor's office. This will make it easier for the medical professionals who look after you to ensure you get the best treatment possible.

It is also important to bring this list with you whenever you travel, especially if you will be taking your medication with you on a bus, train, or airplane. You may need to present your list of medications to travel personnel, and it will come in handy if you need medical attention while you're away from your regular doctor.

The Mistake: Not Quitting Smoking

One of the most important things you can do for your health when you have COPD is to stop smoking. Unfortunately, too many patients believe it's too late for them to quit and continue to smoke even after their COPD diagnosis.

The thing is, even after you've developed COPD, there are still enormous benefits to quitting. In fact, having COPD makes it even more imperative to quit, since continuing to smoke can cause your disease to rapidly get worse.

COPD is a result of reduced lung function, often due to smoking, but continuing to smoke after COPD has set in will only harm your lungs even more. Smoking causes you to lose lung function at an accelerated rate compared to COPD patients who are able to quit.

Reduced lung function will make it even more difficult to breathe, do physical activities, and can significantly reduce your quality of life. If you quit, however, you may even see an improvement in your COPD symptoms, and you can enjoy the lung function and lifestyle you have for much longer.

While quitting smoking cannot reverse the damage that's already been done to your lungs, it can slow down the damage from getting worse. It can also increase your lifespan and reduce the number of exacerbations, flare-ups, and hospitalizations you experience because of your COPD.

Don't forget that quitting can reduce your chances for a variety of other serious health problems as well. For example, you can significantly reduce your risk for heart disease, lung cancer, and stroke if you successfully quit smoking.

The Solution: Making the Decision to Quit

It's important for every COPD patient to understand that it is never too late to quit smoking. Whether you are 25 or 65, you can improve your health and possibly even your lifespan by making the decision to quit today.

It's not an easy decision to make, and it's even harder to actually follow through. However, every year at least 350,000 smokers in the US are able to quit completely, and there's no reason why you can't be one of them.

Although quitting is hard, there are many things you can do to increase your chances of success. For example, using a quit-smoking medication or joining a quit-smoking program can make your quit attempt more likely to succeed.

When you make the decision to quit, remember that you are not alone and there are many ways to get support. First, you should talk to your doctor to see what kinds of medications and support programs are available to help you.

You may want to try nicotine replacement therapy, which is proven to increase smoking cessation rates. There are many different forms available, too, including nicotine gum, skin patches, tablets, oral sprays, and inhalers.

For more information on how to quit smoking, visit the CDC's website for a variety of helpful links and resources. You can also find helpful quit-smoking tips from the American Lung Association's website or from smokefree.gov.

Don't be discouraged if your first, second, or even tenth attempt to quit smoking ends up failing. It takes most smokers at least six attempts to quit smoking, and sometimes up to twenty, before they are able to quit long-term.

As the CDC puts it, “Quitting smoking is a marathon, not a sprint,” and you have to be in it for the long term if you truly want to live smoke free. Even though it is a long and difficult process, it is more than worth the benefits you will receive through improved health, reduced COPD symptoms, and your overall quality of life.

The Mistake: Not Eating a COPD-Healthy Diet

In order to keep your lungs and the rest of your body strong, you need to feed them the nutrients they need. That means eating a healthy, balanced diet every day to give your body fuel to work as efficiently as possible.

Unfortunately, many new patients find that controlling their weight and eating healthy foods is difficult with COPD. The disease can make it difficult to exercise and prepare healthy meals, both of which are vital for a healthy lifestyle.

COPD can make it difficult to lose weight and difficult to gain weight, which is why some patients struggle with being underweight while others struggle with obesity. Either situation is bad for your health and can make it more difficult to breathe.

If you get too few calories and nutrients, then your lungs won't have enough fuel to keep up with your body's needs. However, eating too much and gaining weight puts extra strain on your muscles and lungs, which can also make your COPD symptoms worse.

Also, because COPD makes your lungs less efficient, it means they have to work harder than healthy lungs in order to get enough oxygen to your body. This means that COPD patients need more calories and more nutrients to fuel the needs of their lungs and breathing muscles.

Another danger that many new COPD are unaware of is eating a diet that's too high in carbohydrates. Carbohydrates actually put extra strain on your lungs when digested, because they release large amounts of CO2 that then has to be processed through your lungs.

The Solution: Eating Whole Foods and Balanced Meals

Changes are occurring within us, both physically and emotionally, our entire lives and yes, one day those changes become stressful and even hard to manage, we call it old age.

Vitality you once had as a young man or woman seems to be fading away, however, it is not gone. This does not go without saying that the aging process can be physically and mentally exhausting even painful, but there are measures you can take to manage the changes that are happening in your body and mind.

In this article, we will take an in-depth look at a few of the changes occurring in your bones, heart, and lungs as you age.

Once you understand some of these changes, you can begin implementing goals into your daily life to make the most out of the vitality in you.

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Your aging bones, why are they thinning?

Age-related bone loss is a gradual decline in bone mineral density. This means that with increased age there can also be a reduction in bone formation, which can result in osteoporosis, bone thinning, and it is perfectly normal.

Bone thinning can occur in men and women, and it puts so many people at risk of breaking bones more easily. Of course, more broken bones means limited mobility and less independence which is something you can work to avoid.

By using the research below, you will have the tools to set goals to in the form of exercise and diet geared towards improving your bone health.

Pursuing one or all of these goals will help you to maintain your bone health and density as you age.

#1. Start doing these effective exercises for enhancing your bone density and bone health

As we grow older it becomes exceedingly harmful to associate older age with a decline in our physical activity, especially when healthy bone density depends on how much you work out your bones.

By exercising regularly, your bones adapt to the changes in force, and your body will generate more cells which strengthens bone density and your overall health.

There are specific types of exercises that will offer the most effective results for building and maintaining strong bones; weight bearing exercises and strength-training exercises.

• Weight Bearing exercises describe any activity you do on your feet that works your bones and muscles against gravity. Activities include:
1. Brisk walking
2. Climbing stairs
3. Jumping up and down or jumping rope
4. Hiking
5. Jogging
6. Step aerobics
7. Tennis
8. Yard work
   
   
• Strength-training exercises involve resistance added to movement in order to make muscles work harder. This can involve:
1. Using free weights
2. Resistance bands
3. Weight machines
4. Push ups
   
   
• Flexibility exercises are to be performed when your muscles are warmed up so that your joints are able to move gently and slowly without pain. For a person at risk of osteoporosis, avoid bouncing, twisting, flexing your spine, and bending at the waist while stretching.
  
  
• Stability and balance exercises will help your muscles work in conjunction with your brain. This is very important to reduce the risk of falling. Try some of these exercises:
1. Standing on one leg
2. Closing your eyes and standing on one leg
3. Tai chi
4. Modified yoga poses

If you are eager to create an exercise training program specific for enhancing your bone density and strength, start by incorporating one of each of these types of exercises into your daily routine. By doing so, you can prevent or reverse almost 1% of bone loss per year.

Your program should be personalized to your body, and should avoid high-impact exercises, bending, and twisting. Also, it is always prudent to speak with your doctor or physical therapist to ensure the exercises you want to accomplish everyday are a good match for your body and bones.

#2. Incorporate calcium and vitamin D rich foods in your diet for stronger bones

Food and drinks can play a critical role in osteoporosis prevention, and by incorporating these foods into your daily diet can prevent further bone thinning.

Important nutrients for strong bones include: Calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, potassium, and vitamin K.

Here is a table with foods that are rich in bone heathy nutrients:

Changing your diet entirely can be intimidating. So try making it more simple by adding one food source from the table above into one meal a day.

From there try starting a meal plan, you can begin your research by searching the most cost effective ways to prep meals for your dollar and your body.

Time to take better care of your aging heart

The most common threat aging has on the heart is increased stiffness of the large arteries, called arteriosclerosis, and this will often lead to heart disease.

This happens when plaque builds up in the coronary arteries and reduces blood flow to your heart muscle, it can cause high blood pressure, or hypertension.

With all of the evidence and information surrounding the causes of heart disease, comes a plethora of preventative and manageable measures one can take everyday to relieve some symptoms and maintain your livelihood with heart disease.

#3 Start doing more physical activity for a healthier heart

Physical activity is one of the most important aspects of preventing and even reversing some risk factors associated with heart disease. Your heart is a muscle, and like any other muscle they must be utilized regularly or they will fatigue and weaken.

Cardiac based exercises aim to restore people with heart disease to health, and exercise has been found to reduce the likelihood of dying from heart disease.

So the question remains, how much exercise is right for you and your heart?

Of course this can be discussed with your doctor, but a basic 30 minutes a day five days a week is recommended by the American Heart Association.

Physical activity can be defined as any type of movement, if you’re moving, you’re likely burning calories. However being physically active when you struggle with heart disease can be daunting.

Take expert advice and start small by integrating some of these steps into your daily routine:

• Start slow:
• do less reps (repetitions of movements), use light weights or no weights, go short distances, move at a slow pace
  
  
• Always begin you workouts by warming up your muscles and bones
• take a short brisk walk around your house or neighborhood. Light jogging or biking are other options for more advanced exercisers
  
  
• Allow yourself to rest after aerobic exercise
• Give your heart time to come down to a normal heart rate. Try stretching and deep breathing exercises in-between activities
  
  
• When it is hot outside, exercise in the morning or evening, or consider walking around the grocery store
• Adding heat to a workout can rapidly increase your heart rate
  
  
• When it is cold outside, cover your nose and mouth when exercising, or consider walking around the grocery store
• Breathing in cold air can cause discomfort in your lungs, making it harder to breath
  

#4 Maintain a heart healthy weight

It is very important to maintain a healthy weight when your heart is at risk of arteriosclerosis and heart disease, this means balancing the calories you eat and drink with the calories burned by being physically active.

If you are determined to maintain a healthy weight, ask your doctor or research the ideal weight for your gender, height, and age. Find out if you need to gain or lose weight or stay relatively the same.

Maintaining a consistent and healthy weight over a long period time of has extremely important health benefits that your heart will thank you for:

• Controlled blood sugar levels
• controlled blood sugar levels are connected to reduced blood pressure and cholesterol levels and subsequently reduce the risk for heart attack, stroke and heart-related death
  
  
• Effectively burn fat
• Burning fat reduces the level of unhealthy cholesterol in your blood.
  
  
• Regulated cholesterol levels
• With high cholesterol, you can develop fatty deposits in your blood vessels and it becomes difficult for blood to flow through your arteries

#5 Start a diet focused on heart health

Diet is critical when heart health is in question, and what you eat has a large impact on how your heart functions. Nutritionists recommend fiber as the most essential nutrient for a healthy heart.

Soluble fiber: Is found abundantly in oats, barley, beans, apples, citrus fruits and carrots. Soluble fiber is so imperative for a healthy heart because its properties bind to cholesterol and sugars preventing their absorption into your bloodstream. Bottom line, It helps reduce cholesterol.

Insoluble fiber: comes from whole grains like whole wheat flour, wheat bran, nuts, beans and vegetables, such as cauliflower, green beans and potatoes.

Beyond fiber, you can follow this list below to incorporate other heart healthy nutrients in your diet like omega 3 fatty acids, monounsaturated fats, folate, quercetin, lycopene, magnesium, plant sterols and stanols.

1. Leafy green vegetables supply a wealthy dose of vitamin k and will help protect your arteries and prompt proper blood clotting.
   
   
2. Dark green vegetables are packed with nitrates that can reduce blood pressure and relieve arterial stiffness.
   
   
3. Whole grains such as oatmeal, whole wheat bread, brown rice, and quinoa have been proven to improve heart health because of the high fiber content and subsequent reduction of systolic blood pressure.
   
   
4. Berries like strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries are packed with antioxidants and protect against oxidative stress and inflammation which contributes to heart disease.
   
   
5. Avocados are a source of monounsaturated fats
   
   
6. Fish like salmon are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids 
   
   
7. Walnuts contain fiber and micronutrients like magnesium and copper
   
   
8. Dark chocolate is loaded with antioxidants including flavonoids
   
   
9. Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, and lots of antioxidant properties
   
   
10. Almonds are an incredibly good source of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and fiber
    
    
11. Seeds including chia seeds, flaxseeds, and hemp seeds are all great sources of fiber and omega-3 fatty acids
    

#6 Get a goodnight's sleep

Sleeping better and sleeping more are underrated goals associated with promoting heart health, but it should become a high priority if you are dedicated to improving your heart and your livelihood.

Lack of sleep leads to health problems that will negatively impact your heart, these include:

• High blood pressure. During normal sleep, your blood pressure goes down. If you are not sleeping well your blood pressure will stay high for a longer amount of time. High blood pressure is one of the leading risks for heart disease and stroke.
  
  
• Type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is a disease that causes sugar to build up in your blood, a condition that can damage your blood vessels and subsequently your heart. Getting more sleep and better sleep can help improve your blood sugar control.
  
  
• Obesity. Not getting enough sleep can affect a part of the brain that controls hunger, leading to unhealthy weight gain and more heart issues.
  
  

Sleeping is not always an easy goal to task yourself with, even if you do not have a sleep disorder, sleeping better and sleeping more is a job that requires discipline and consistency.

Now that you understand how impactful a restless night’s sleep can be for your aging heart, here are some ways you can sleep through the night, fall asleep quicker, and sleep more consistently:

• Find a pattern in your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle. Try to go to sleep and get up at the same time every day, avoid sleeping in, even on weekends, limit naps to 15 to 20 minutes, fight giving into drowsiness before bedtime

• Control your exposure to light, and blue light in particular. Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone controlled by light exposure that helps regulate your sleep-wake patterns. Your brain emits more melatonin when it’s dark, making you sleepy, and less when it’s light, making you more alert.
  
  
• Exercise during the day. Even light exercise such as walking for just 10 minutes a day improves sleep quality
  
  
• Keep your room dark, cool, and quiet

#7 Oxygen therapy may benefit heart patients with intense breathing complications

Congestive heart failure means that your heart can no longer pump blood as well as it should. It is most common as you age, because over time your heart begins to weaken.

There are 4 stages of heart failure and treatments vary based on the stage and condition of an individual's heart. Oxygen therapy or supplemental oxygen is commonly prescribed for patients in certain stages of heart disease.

While this is not a cure for heart failure, oxygen therapy can help you breathe in the extra oxygen your heart is unable to pump on its own. Utilizing supplemental oxygen could be a wonderful option for you if you are eager to be more active and mobile by reducing your shortness of breath.

There are a lot of personal goals you must be willing to set in order to reap the benefits of supplemental oxygen therapy. One place you can start is understanding the benefits of using a portable oxygen concentrator.

The first several, most obvious, benefits of using a portable oxygen concentrator:

1. You won’t have to worry about a lack of oxygen or your oxygen tank running out- this peace of mind alone will open reduce anxiousness and open up space to care for your loved ones and expand on new and exciting endeavors
   
   
2. It is much more discreet and lighter weight than bulky oxygen tanks
   
   
3. You can find a sense of independence just being able to move about the house more easily
   
   
4. You will have the ability to exercise without shortness of breath, improving your heart beat, bone structure, and mental health
   
   
5. Sleeping better is very important for avoiding heart problems associated with high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity.
   
   
6. Stamina and vitality boosts when you are capable of accomplishing tasks you couldn't do before due to breathing implications and tiredness
   
   
7. Overall mood increases when steps 1-6 kick in

Aging lungs

Lung health requires growing attention as we get older, but it is not something to become discouraged or shy away from.

The loss of strength and ability to breath easily as we age is a normal development in many people’s bodies, whether it is due to genetics, inhaling smoke, or working in a hazardous environment.

While there are natural effects of aging lungs, you do not have to accept a fate that leaves you immobile, unhealthy, and bored. Instead use the goals listed here to help you reduce the breathlessness associated with lung disease, and reduce your risk of lung problems over-all.

#8 Your lungs need more physical activity

If you are struggling with COPD or any long-term lung conditions, regular exercise and physical activity can help improve your breathing threshold, allowing you the freedom to breathe more easily while going about your daily activities.

It can be very uncomfortable to become quickly out of breath for anyone with or without healthy lungs, and motivation to exercise is sometimes hard to muster up.

That being said, It is important for the health of your lungs to avoid temptation of letting another day go by with no exercise. By accomplishing more physical activity, you become more fit and capable to handle daily activities with ease.

The first step towards a more active lifestyle, is to ask your doctor or physiotherapist for the best exercise plan that falls within your lung capacity and is safe for you. From there, you can begin to develop a high quality exercise program. It should be built up over time to allow your body to adapt and strengthen at your own pace.

If you reach a point where you are too breathless to talk, slow down the pace, or take a short pause, don't feel discouraged. Instead, remind yourself that the more you do, the more you will be able to do!

Intermittent exercises can help you to deal with shortness of breath when you are beginning to implement physical activity into your life. To accomplish these exercises, you will move for 1–2 minutes, and in between movements you rest or slow down your pace.

Aerobic exercises are the best form of physical activities for lung disease patients because these exercises involve large muscle groups moving in rhythmic and steady movements.

By using multiple muscle groups at one time, your heart and lungs will be working hard to move oxygen to all of your muscles involved, and subsequently enhancing the capabilities of your lungs.

Here are some examples of great aerobic exercises for your lungs:

• Walking
• Biking
• Swimming
• Jogging/ running
• Elliptical
• Low-impact aerobics works outs
• Water aerobics
• Dancing 
• Hiking
• Low intensity kick boxing

#9 It is never too late to quit smoking, even if you already have COPD

While quitting smoking won't cure COPD, kicking the habit can stop the rapid rate of decline in lung capacity that happens in smokers with COPD.

By quitting smoking, you're giving your lungs more capacity, this means more chances to exercise, and more exercise leads to more freedom accomplishing daily activities with less shortness of breath.

Studies show that COPD smokers who quit:

1. Have fewer COPD exacerbations
2. Have fewer hospital admissions
3. Have less risk of dying from COPD

Quitting is much easier said than done, and like kicking any habit, it may take a few attempts before anything really sticks. Oftentimes, hearing your doctor tell you, “Quitting is your only option” will get the ball rolling in the right direction.

And for patients with COPD, quitting is a nonnegotiable treatment plan.

There are countless efforts you can take to kick the hardest habit in the book, and it may take time and research to find the right process for you.

Here are some places to start:

• Do not smoke at all
• Stay busy
• Attend a stop-smoking group or follow a self-help plan
• Drink more water and juice
• Drink less or no alcohol
• Avoid individuals who are smoking
• Avoid situations wherein you have a strong urge to smoke
  

#10 Limit exposure to air pollutants

As you age, you must also grow aware of the air surrounding you. Over-saturation in the air, usually meaning relatively high humidity or pollution, can introduce a variety of respiratory issues.Those with pre-existing lung issues are particularl

There's always so much to look forward to during the summer months: warm weather, lush trees, and all kinds of outdoor activities. It's a beautiful season, and for many of us it provides a much-needed rest from the cold, harsh winter weather.

However, many of the things that make the summer months so pleasant are at odds with COPD. If you don't take the right steps to protect yourself from heat, pollen, and humidity you might find that the summer weather makes your COPD symptoms even worse.

Luckily, many people with COPD have found ways to beat the summer heat and minimize their symptoms during the hottest season of the year. In this guide, we'll help you learn what to look out for and give you plenty of simple, effective solutions for managing your COPD during the summer months.

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Why the Summer is Challenging for People with COPD

Heat

Spending time in the hot, summer sun can be a major energy sapper for anyone. When you have COPD, however, high temperatures can be particularly hard on your body.

Hot weather can quickly make you dehydrated and even cause bronchospasms, which constrict your airways and make it hard to breathe. Hot air alone can make you feel short of breath, and dehydration from the heat can thicken mucus in your airways and make it even more difficult to breathe.

When your body is fighting a disease like COPD, the muscles in your chest and respiratory tract have to work harder to help you breathe, especially when you are physically active. When you're out in the summer sun, the heat puts even more strain on your body and can make you feel exhausted very quickly.

That's because, when you're baking in the sun, your body has to work particularly hard keep your internal temperature at a healthy 98.6 degrees. That means sweating, panting, and using extra energy to help your body cool down fast.

This can make you feel exhausted and fatigued after even short bouts in the heat, and can be dangerous if you don't take steps to protect yourself. In extreme cases, you could get heat stroke or experience an  exacerbation of your COPD symptoms.

One study from John Hopkins University found that people with COPD are more likely to experience reduced lung function, increased symptoms, and exacerbations when exposed to temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. They were also more likely to require rescue medicine and medical intervention when exposed to extreme heat.

Humidity

Have you ever stepped outside on a hot, humid day, taken a deep breath, and felt like the wet, heavy air was difficult to breathe? Extreme humidity during the summer can have that effect on most healthy people, and it can be an even bigger problem for people who have COPD or other respiratory problems.

Humidity tends to peak during the summer months, and the sweltering heat makes it all that much more of a problem. Breathing hot, humid air just isn't easy or comfortable for most people, and if you have COPD, it can make it very difficult to breathe.

However, humidity affects people, including patients with COPD, in different ways. While studies show that the optimum level of humidity for people with COPD is usually about 40 percent, individual preferences for and reactions to humidity vary widely from person to person.

One of the things that makes humidity problematic for many people with respiratory problems is the fact that it tends to trap smog and other toxic particles that contribute to air pollution. It also allows harmful microbes like mold, fungi, and dust mites to thrive, which can cause significant respiratory irritation.

Because of this, air quality in the summer tends to be poorer than other times of the year, especially on the hottest, most humid days. That's why doctors and other health professionals recommend that people with COPD carefully plan their time outdoors and take extra precautions to avoid making their symptoms worse in the summer.

Humidity and worsened air quality in the summer can take a huge toll on your energy and ability to breathe if you're not careful. Make sure to regularly check your local weather report or airnow.gov for the day's heat, humidity, and air quality so you can plan and prepare your days accordingly.

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Pollen

Along with increased smog and air pollution, the summer air brings with it another major respiratory irritant: pollen. It's one of the most common triggers for allergic reactions that affect the respiratory tract, and at least ten to thirty percent of people worldwide suffer from these types of allergies, known as allergic rhinitis.

If you suffer from allergies and COPD, exposure to pollen can cause a variety of symptoms, including sneezing, wheezing, and increased mucus in the respiratory tract. Allergies can also cause your lungs and airways to become irritated, swollen, and inflamed, which can increase chances of infection and make it even more difficult to breathe.

These allergic reactions stack on top of already existing symptoms and can make your COPD even worse. That's why it's important to do everything you can to reduce allergens in your home and reduce your symptoms when they cannot be avoided.

Techniques for Managing Your COPD This Summer

When you have COPD, it's important to protect yourself from extreme weather and take care when doing any activities in the summer heat. Luckily, there are a lot of things you can do to protect yourself and your lungs from the temperature, humidity, and poor air quality during the summer.

In this guide, we're providing you with a huge list of tips and ideas for staying cool, healthy, and active this summer. You'll see that, with a little thought, planning, and prevention, you can find a way to enjoy all your favorite summer activities without letting it take a toll on your breathing.

How to Manage Hot Summer Days with COPD

Managing the extreme heat of the summer when you have a disease like COPD requires a bit of extra planning and preparation. If you spend too much time in the heat without proper protection, it can worsen your symptoms and leave you dehydrated and fatigued.

The following section will give you a variety of tips and ideas for keeping safe and cool during the hottest days of the season. Using these techniques, you can find a way to enjoy all your favorite summer activities without risking your health and wellness.

Schedule Time Outdoors During Cooler Parts of the Day

During the height of the summer, the daytime weather just gets too hot to bear. On these days, going outside anytime near midday, when the temperature peaks, can be risky.

But as long as you keep tabs on the daily weather forecast it's possible to plan around the heat. That way you can always stay indoors during the hottest parts of the day, and then plan outdoor activities for when the temperature is more mild.

If you limit your time outside to cooler times like the early morning and late afternoon, you will have more energy and less difficulty managing your COPD symptoms. You'll be able to better regulate your body temperature, breathe easier, and have better physical endurance.

Go Indoors When Necessary

When it's bright and sunny and there's fun to be had outside, it can be hard to force yourself to take it easy. But when the temperatures are extreme, it's completely okay and necessary to pace yourself and take breaks from the sun.

When you plan to spend time in the heat for any extended period of time, make sure you have an air-conditioned, indoor, or shaded area to retreat to when needed. Make it a habit to drink plenty of water and take regular, planned breaks so your body doesn't have a chance to get too overheated or fatigued.

Even healthy people often don't realize that they're suffering from heat exhaustion until it's too late, which is why it's so important to be prepared. When you have COPD, the risks of heat exhaustion are even greater, and even spending short times in extreme temperatures can cause your symptoms to get significantly worse.

Dress for the Heat

When you're outside in the summer heat, your first line of protection from the sun is your clothing. Make sure to wear lightweight clothing and choose light colors that won't absorb the sunlight.

Clothes that are thin and loose-fitting are best at keeping you cool because they allow air to flow through and won't stick to your skin when you sweat. Wide-brimmed hats can also be surprisingly effective at keeping your face and neck cool.

Drink More Water than Usual

It can sometimes be difficult to remember to drink enough water on normal days, but on hot, summer days it's absolutely necessary to stay hydrated. Dehydration alone can make your symptoms worse when you have COPD, but combined with high heat and humidity it can be dangerous and make it very difficult to breathe.

The summer heat makes your body lose water more quickly and require extra fluids to stay healthy. You'll have to increase the amount of water you drink from what you're used to in order to compensate for this loss.

Whenever you leave the house or spend time outside, make sure to bring a large bottle of water along so you won't get dehydrated. If you're going to be out in the heat for an extended period of time, make sure you have access to extra water and an air-conditioned space to cool down when necessary.

Don't Over Exert Yourself

Physical activities that are easy under normal circumstances can be difficult or exhausting when the sun is beating down. That's why it's important not to get discouraged if you find yourself having less endurance during the summer.

Even if you find the summer heat makes you unable to do as much as you are usually able to, don't push yourself too far. But don't use the heat as an excuse to give up on your exercise plan or other activities you enjoy, either.

It's important to stay active at all times of the year, and you can always move your plans indoors or make other adjustments when the heat is wearing you down. You might find it helpful to break up your exercise into smaller chunks, take more breaks throughout the day, and give yourself more down time to recover in-between activities.

Spend Plenty of Time in Air-Conditioned Spaces

The John Hopkins study on the effects of heat on people with COPD confirms that cooler air is not only more comfortable, but is also healthier for people with the disease. Spending too much time in the heat can cause worsened symptoms in both the short and long term, and increase the chances of exacerbations and hospitalizations.

Extended time in the heat can also increase your risk of illness and symptoms if you are overweight, elderly, or have another chronic disease like diabetes or heart disease. These illnesses are often associated with COPD, and may make the summer heat even more harmful to your body.

If you have an air conditioner at home, make sure it gets regular service and stays working properly during the summer. If you don't have air conditioning or you have an older, inefficient unit, consider investing in a new one or getting window AC units for the rooms in your home that you use the most.

If you don't have AC, try to go out and spend the hottest times of the day somewhere that does have air conditioning. You might go to a friend or family member's house, the library, or another public indoor space.

Get a Portable Air Conditioner

Image courtesy of Best Digs

Just like many people use a space heaters to warm up small rooms in the winter, you can use a portable air conditioner to cool down in the summer. You can use one in your home to cool a single room and save money on whole-house AC, and you can also take it with you on-the-go.

A portable AC unit is especially handy at work, where you don't have control over the thermostat. Especially if you have a partially enclosed area, like an office cubicle, a portable air conditioner can be very effective at keeping you cool without forcing your coworkers to turn up the office AC.

Use a Buddy System

If your COPD is very severe or you are recovering from an exacerbation, it might be a good idea to recruit a friend or family member to help you stay safe and healthy during the summer. Just having someone call and check up on you a couple times a day can help you avoid heat-related problems and get help when you need it.

When you are exhausted or ill from being in the heat too long, it can make you feel tired and confused to the point that you don't realize you're in danger. Sometimes it takes someone else checking in with you to notice the signs of heat-induced illness and realize that you need to go inside and cool down.

A buddy system is a support system that will allow you to feel more secure and ask for help and supplies when you need them. If your windows get stuck, your AC unit isn't working properly, or any other problems crop up, you can always ask for advice or assistance whenever someone checks in.

How to Manage Summer Humidity with COPD

Keeping out of the heat can be as simple as staying indoors, but avoiding humidity is a bit more tricky. When the weather outside is humid, it can be very difficult to keep it from making the air in your home damp and humid as well.

Most doctors recommend keeping the humidity levels in your home under 60 percent, because anything higher can encourage mold growth. For people with COPD, most doctors recommend an optimum humidity level of 40 percent, although individual preferences may vary.

Luckily, there are steps you can take and devices you can buy to keep your home from becoming a damp, musty swamp during the summer. The following section will give you a variety of ideas and techniques you can use to protect yourself from the humidity.

Vent Home Appliances Outdoors

Some common home appliances like dishwashers, washing machines, and stoves can significantly increase the humidity levels in your house if you're not careful. But if you make sure to properly vent these appliances, you can keep your home's humidity levels low.

Dishwashers and clothes dryers often already have ducts installed to vent humid air outdoors. However, sometimes these ducts can become clogged with dust and lint and need cleaning.

If you notice that your home gets humid when you run the dishwasher or dryer, you might want to get the air ducts checked to make sure they're clean and working effectively. If your dishwasher and stove don't have outside vents, you can turn on the stove fan or open a nearby window when they're running to help vent the moist air.

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Vent the Room When You Shower

Anyone who's taken a hot shower knows how humid and sticky it can make the air in the room. It's a common source of increased moisture in many people's homes, and it can be particularly problematic for people with COPD.

Without proper ventilation, running a hot shower produces extremely humid air that can encourage mold growth and increase humidity in other rooms in your home. Luckily, most places in the US have strict building codes for bathrooms that require a window or a fan-powered vent to allow you to vent the humid air outside, instead.

Before you shower, make sure to open a window or run the vent fan so the humid air doesn't build up in your house. If you find that the humidity still bothers you or you experience increased breathlessness while showering, using cooler water or installing an extra vent can help.

Get a Dehumidifier for Your Home

Most people are familiar with humidifiers, and many use them during the winter to add moisture to the bothersome, dry air. However, many people are unaware that you can also get dehumidifying devices to pull extra moisture out of the air during the hot, humid seasons.

There are many different types of dehumidifiers to choose from and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes. What kind you should get depends on how humid the air in your house gets and how large of a space you need it to work for.

There are many small, affordable dehumidifiers that work in smaller rooms and spaces. These are great for bedrooms, offices, and other small areas that you spend a lot of your time in. You can even get a portable dehumidifier if you think you will need to carry your dehumidifier from room to room often.

Although it can get quite expensive, you can also get a whole-house dehumidifier that attaches to your house's main HVAC ventilation system. These large devices filter moisture out of all the air that flows through your air ducts and is the most effective way to make your home less humid.

Run the AC

Even if you don't want to install a whole-house dehumidifier, an efficient AC unit is often enough to do the trick when the humidity is mild. Air conditioners remove a certain amount of moisture from the air as part of their normal air-cooling process, and it can be an effective way to reduce the overall humidity in your home.

However, when the humidity gets very high, a regular air conditioner probably won't be enough to keep you comfortable. AC units can only scrub so much moisture from the air, which is why having a good dehumidifier is important if you want more control over the humidity in your home.

Check Weather Reports and Plan Accordingly

Your local daily weather report should include a variety of information about the temperature and humidity levels. If you keep track of the forecast, you can plan your week around the days that are most humid.

Sometimes the best way to avoid worsened symptoms is to just stay indoors as much as possible on very hot, muggy days. Keeping your doors and windows shut will keep the air in your home as dry as possible and also keep out pollen, mold, and smog.

If you have a dehumidifier, daily weather reports will help you know when to turn it on before your house gets unbearably humid and you notice your symptoms acting up. Running your AC along with your dehumidifier is even more effective, and it's the best way to stay cool and dry during the most uncomfortable parts of the summer.

How to Manage Summer Irritants with COPD

Along with the heat and humidity, summer brings a greater risk of respiratory irritation from pollen, mold, and smog. That's why it's important for people with COPD to monitor and prepare for poor air quality during the summer months.

The following tips and techniques will help you protect your lungs from air pollution and other irritants both outdoors and in your home. By taking these steps, you can reduce your allergy symptoms, prevent respiratory irritation, and make it easier to breathe this summer.

Check Air Quality and Pollen Reports

There are many air quality factors you have to take into account during the summer when you have COPD. Pollen, mold, smog, and other respiratory irritants can worsen your symptoms and make it more difficult to breathe if you don't take steps to avoid them.

Luckily, local news stations and other organizations release air quality reports and allergy forecasts every day to help people like you. You should always check the day's air quality index (AQI) before planning outdoor activities and stay indoors if the outlook is not good.

The AQI rates air quality on a six-point scale from good to hazardous, and you can check it here at airnow.gov. If you have allergies, you should also keep an eye on the daily allergy and pollen report, which you can check at pollen.com.

Get a High Quality HVAC Air Filter for Your Home

Image courtesy of Ivy Dawned on Flickr

Even when you're indoors, you can't totally escape the effects of the dust, pollen, and mold that the summer weather brings. That's why choosing a high-quality HVAC air filter, and replacing it regularly, is important for managing COPD symptoms in the summer.

Air pollution and other irritants come in through your windows and vents and cause you to experience worsened symptoms indoors. Pollen, mold, and dust from outdoors can also hitch a ride on you and your pets, sticking to shoes, clothes, and hair.

When you go inside, all of these irritants get transferred to your carpets and furniture, where they collect and build up. Then they kicked up into the air as you go about daily activities, worsening your indoor air quality, inflaming your lungs and airways, and making it more difficult to breathe.

The best way to combat the pollen, dust, and mold that circulate through your house is to get a high-quality air filter that catches pollen, mold, dust, and other particles that could aggravate your COPD. It's important to choose carefully and look at the filter's specifications before purchasing, because some filters remove many more types of irritants than others.

Clean Carpets, Rugs and Furniture Often

All of the air pollutants, pollen, and dust that come in from the outdoors tend to settle and build up in your carpet, couches, drapes, and other places. That's why it's important to keep your floors, furniture, and other surfaces clean, especially when allergens and air pollution are more prevalent.

Regular vacuuming, dusting, and sweeping is one effective way to remove respiratory irritants that have settled on surfaces in your home. It keeps these particles from building up, inflaming your lungs, and making it hard to breathe.

If you have a choice, hard flooring is much better than carpet when it comes to keeping dust, pollen, and other lung irritants at bay. Getting rid of rugs, drapes, and other fabrics that attract and collect particles can help improve your symptoms and the air quality in your home.

Change Clothes and Shower Often

When you spend time outdoors, mold, pollen, and other lung irritants cling to your clothes and hair. To avoid tracking these harmful particles and allergens int

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease that causes lung irritation and therefore challenges breathing.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) it’s the fourth most common cause of death among people in the United States. Getting treatment and developing healthy lifestyle habits are essential to improving your quality of life with this condition.

In addition to breathing difficulties, coughing, and lack of energy, COPD can also lead to other weird symptoms that are not as commonly talked about. In this article we will talk about some of these symptoms and what you can do to relieve them.

Irritation, mood swings, and depression

It might not be your first connection when it comes to how COPD will affect your life, but your emotions play an important role in your breathing patterns and vice versa.

People with COPD will sometimes experience emotional problems that they previously didn’t have before they were diagnosed with COPD. They also may be found to have started having symptoms of depression not long before the COPD diagnosis that can be attributed to COPD because their diagnosis might be well after they actually started to have COPD. People who have anxiety or depression even before they have COPD are more at risk for having frequent and severe exacerbations. This is simply because emotions have a big impact on your breathing.

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Some of the lifestyle changes and hardships that come with COPD can lead to feelings of loss, frustration, or sadness and if you can’t do the things you once did it is easy to get caught up in depression and anxious feelings. You may even experience a mood disorder that causes you to feel irritated and disinterested.

When you’re depressed, you can get stuck mourning life as you knew it before COPD. One study from The National Center for Biotechnology Information estimated that 40 percent of those with COPD suffer from depression.

So what can you do?

While the physical challenges are hard to face, it is the mental challenges of COPD that are hard to portray to caretakers and your loved ones. The best way to get better is to express your feelings and speak with a professional about how you can communicate these feelings better. You can also talk to your doctor about antidepressants and COPD.

If it is fitting, your doctor might want to prescribe a medication to help alleviate your depression. It’s crucial to find the right medication for you because many antidepressants can interfere with medications you may already take for your COPD.

Two medications that doctors prescribe for depression in people with COPD are sertraline (Zoloft) or citalopram (Celexa). Do not be discouraged if the medication does not work right away, It can take up to 8 weeks for an antidepressant to take full effect.

If you are trying to avoid taking additional medication, but are still suffering from depression, you might find relief by seeing a mental health specialist. You can learn from others in group therapy or find individual help with one on one therapy, both of which can help you learn how to cope with your disease and adapt to your life with COPD.

Ask your pulmonologist or primary care doctor for a reference for a well reviewed therapist who helps people in your particular condition or with similar backgrounds.

Support groups may also be beneficial for people with COPD who are experiencing depression. Being in a setting with others who are facing many of the same problems can help you feel less alone. You may discover some real life tips and advice for taking better care of yourself by talking to others. With the right combination of treatments and communication, you’ll be better able to cope with your COPD and your changing lifestyle.

A variety of online support groups are also available for people with COPD. You can simply search on Facebook “LPT Medical COPD & Respiratory Support Group” and find a community of people willing to help others with COPD. There are many other popular sites that have forums or discussion groups where members can share their feelings to an understanding group of peers.

Always remember that you aren’t the first person to feel this way and someone out there might have found a way of handling their emotions effectively. Taking the time to talk with someone from the comfort of your home can be a great first step to reaching out for help with depression.

How to manage showering

Showering with COPD can be very difficult and leave patients feeling exhausted just by simply standing in the water. Usually people use hot water to shower, and that humidity builds up creating a difficult breathing environment for yourself if you have COPD. You can also be exerting a lot of energy just standing for long periods of time in the heat, so your breathing will be affected by that.

So what can you do?

Here are a few suggestions to help conserve your strength and not become so short of breath while you shower.

1. Use a shower chair

If you have COPD it can take a lot of energy just to stand, bathe, and hold your arms above your head when washing your hair.

Using a shower stool can help you avoid exacerbating your condition. Sitting down alleviates the cost of energy you would exert by standing and bending over. By conserving energy, you are lowering the risk of injury from a fall or slip.

2. Keep a fan in the bathroom

Steam from a shower increases the humidity level in the room. This can also exacerbate COPD, triggering coughing and shortness of breath.

To avoid worsening symptoms, only shower in well-ventilated bathrooms either using a fan or keeping the door open or both. If you have a window in your bathroom you can keep that open as well.

You can also place a portable fan in the bathroom with the door open to ventilate the room, and minimize the humidity.

3. Use your portable oxygen concentrator in the shower

It is ok to use your oxygen in the shower, and it might make it so that you are able to handle the energy it takes to do so.

If you use a portable oxygen concentrator, make sure it is not plugged in to charge, and then you can always add an extension to the cannula tubing so that your concentrator does not get wet.

4. Take less hot showers

This one is easier said than done, because most people love a good hot shower, however this might be the reason you don't feel energized enough to take a shower comfortably.

The heat from the water creates steam so not only is the hot air harder to breath in, the humid steam also poses a lot of issues for people with trouble breathing.

Extreme or Sudden Weight Loss

Weight loss is a sign of severe COPD.

When the damage to your lungs becomes so severe your lung volume will expand in size, which leads to flattening your diaphragm, thereby reducing the amount of space between your lungs and stomach.

You might have noticed that before you were diagnosed with COPD, that you had lost a lot of weight without really doing anything. This is because people with COPD use more calories to breathe than people who don’t have the disease.

So, If you don’t know that you have COPD, this can be perplexing, especially if you’ve tried to gain the weight back and nothing works to do so. This can lead to feeling very run down and weak.

So what can you do?

Try not to eat too fast or eat certain foods that may trigger bloating or indigestion. Doing so can make it harder to breathe and being uncomfortable might discourage you from eating regular, healthy meals as well.

Try to avoid these common triggers:

• salty foods
• spicy foods
• fried foods
• high-fiber foods
• carbonated drinks
• caffeine

To increase your body weight while making sure you get the proper nutrients, it may help to:

• Eat small but frequent meals throughout the day
• Find ways to eat higher calorie foods, such as full-fat milk (“whole milk”) products instead of low fat milk products
• Reduce your intake of fluid during meals to allow more space in your stomach for food
• Drink more fluids in between meals
• Avoid foods and drinks that trigger bloating
• Eat while using oxygen treatments
• Rest before you eat
• In some cases, your doctor or dietitian may encourage you to add a nutritional supplement to your diet.
• Simplify your snacks and meals
• Find ways to prepare snacks and meals more easily might also help you meet your nutritional needs.

For example, you can reduce some of the physical work cooking involves by buying:

• Precut produce
• Microwaveable meals
• Other packaged products
• Cut back on sodium
• When you’re shopping for pre prepared or packaged food products, look for low-sodium options. Eating too much sodium causes your body to retain water, which puts more pressure on your lungs.

It is also important to pay attention to your mental health if you notice that you’ve lost weight around the same time that you’ve been experiencing feelings of depression, anxiety, or stress, consider asking your doctor about ways to improve your mental health.

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Antidepressants and other treatments may help you manage your weight while improving your mood and outlook on life.

For more tips and support, your doctor may refer you to a registered dietitian or other specialist. A registered dietitian can help you develop ways to adjust your diet while coping with COPD.

Feet swelling

If you have COPD, you may develop peripheral edema (fluid retention), This causes swelling of the feet, ankles, and legs. This lower body swelling can limit your activity and can be very uncomfortable. It is also a sign of advancing COPD.

As COPD begins to negatively impact your lungs and heart, your blood circulation is eventually affected as well, which causes edema. There are other causes of edema, so you will need a medical evaluation to determine if it is caused by your COPD.

So what can you do?

Medications and lifestyle changes can help reduce leg edema, both of which we will discuss in detail. The important thing is that since edema is a sign that your COPD may be progressing, you might also need to adjust your COPD treatments, for example, your doctor may increase your oxygen therapy prescription.

If you have a hard time doing physical activity due to COPD, it can be difficult to distinguish edema from weight gain.

If you are experiencing lower body swelling from your COPD, fluid management is an important part of the treatment, and it involves lifestyle strategies as well as medication.

Medications that can help reduce edema include diuretic prescriptions, which trigger the elimination of fluid in the urine.

Other methods you should try to minimizing leg swelling include:

• Rest with your feet up: By lifting your feet up at the same level as your heart (or higher) you are reducing the blood flow into your legs which should bring down the swelling.
• Wear compression stockings: Supportive socks may also help bring down the swelling of blood in your feet and ankles. These can normally be purchased at any drugstore.
• Keep up with hydration: You must closely follow your doctor's instructions when it comes to fluids because your fluid intake can be tricky when you have COPD-associated leg edema. Drinking too much fluid can cause edema if your kidneys can't catch up with urine production and on the other hand not drinking enough water may also cause swelling if your kidneys retain excess fluid to prevent dehydration.
• Reduce salt: Your salt intake can influence the edema in your legs. Salt concentration managed by your kidneys, so too little or too much salt can result in swelling or dehydration.
• Get regular exercise: Staying active can help your lungs and heart function properly even if you have COPD it is important to maintain healthy circulation.

Oxygen therapy as treatment for COPD 

When you start to get extra oxygen into your system while taking oxygen therapy it can help you have fewer intense bursts of being breathless.

It can also:

• Helps you to sleep better
• Increases your energy and ability to exercise
• Helps you focus 
• Boosts your mood
• Improves sex
• Lowers your chance of heart failure (when your heart doesn’t pump enough blood to your body)
• Even prolongs your life expectancy 

If your doctor prescribes you oxygen therapy at any point, it is crucial to work with a oxygen supply company that is a licensed distributer and has a dedicated team of experienced respiratory specialist that can connect you with a portable oxygen concentrator that fits into your life with ease. 

Overview 

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There are a lot of other random feelings and discomforts that people can attribute to their COPD, and because this disease effects everyone differently, you might also experience something completely different than someone that is you same age and gender with COPD. Therefore, there is not one single treatment plan that works for everyone. 

For the most part, the COPD diagnosis means a few things across the board. It is time to take control of your lifestyle, eat healthy foods and eat consistently to maintain a healthy weight, you should continue or start to exercise as much as possible, and you need to quit smoking if you do. 

After you have incorporated these healthier lifestyle choices in your daily life, you might recognize other aspects of your life that you need to work on or you need help to mange. These weird symptoms in this article are just a few of the realities COPD patients face, and you might experience one, some, or none of these, but whatever you do, remember you are not alone and there are almost 30 million people in the United states alone with this incurable disease, however you can choose to live a well-balance life or not.

If your doctor prescribes you oxygen therapy at any point, it is crucial to work with a oxygen supply company that is a licensed distributer and has a dedicated team of experienced respiratory specialist that can connect you with a portable oxygen concentrator that fits into your life with ease. 

If you have a respiratory impairment like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or pulmonary fibrosis, you’re probably used to carefully planning your day-to-day life. From following your treatment plan to scheduling doctor’s appointments, you need to have an acute understanding of your medical needs and how to address them.

One of the medical needs you may struggle with is supplemental oxygen therapy. Depending on how severe your respiratory illness is, your pulmonologist will ask you to use medical oxygen anywhere from several hours a day to 24 hours a day. Either way, this could mean making sacrifices like staying home from activities to ensure your oxygen needs are met.

Fortunately, there is an alternative to standard oxygen therapy methods like oxygen gas cylinders and liquid oxygen devices. Portable oxygen concentrators were invented in the early 2000s and they offer the same medical-grade oxygen as traditional delivery methods, but they offer it in a much more convenient way that allows you to live life freely and on your own terms.

What’s more, if you live in a state like Colorado, the last thing you want is to be stuck at home when there are so many better things you can be doing. In this post, we’re going to take a look at 7 reasons you should be using a portable oxygen concentrator rather than other medical oxygen devices in Colorado. Remember to always consult your pulmonologist before making any changes to your respiratory treatment plan.

They Work Great at Higher Elevations

Whether you’ve lived in Colorado your whole life or you’re an out-of-stater looking to come here for work or retirement, you likely already know the state’s most defining feature: The Rocky Mountains. People come from all around the country to ski, mountain bike, and simply enjoy the fresh mountain air.

Unfortunately, as an oxygen patient, you know there’s one slight problem with this: the air is much thinner at higher altitudes. What this means is that the higher you go in altitude, the less air pressure there is, and in turn, the less oxygen you have to breathe. This doesn’t just apply to the mountains though; even Denver, the Capital of Colorado is a mile above sea level.

If you have lived at sea level most of your life and don’t travel to higher altitudes very often, you might experience something called acute mountain sickness (AMS). This typically happens when you moved to a higher elevation without giving your body enough time to acclimate to the lower oxygen levels. Anyone can experience acute mountain sickness, but it’s more common and oftentimes more severe in people with COPD or other respiratory illnesses.

Some of the symptoms of AMS include:

• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Breathlessness
• Nausea
• Headache or lightheadedness

If someone experiencing AMS stays at a high altitude or they continue to climb in altitude, they may experience more severe symptoms including confusion, chest pain, and reduced consciousness. Another condition that can result from AMS is something called high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE). This is a neurological syndrome that causes the brain to swell with fluid and can even result in death if it’s left untreated. 

Generally speaking, it’s easier for COPD patients to live at lower altitudes where it’s easier to breathe, but if you want to live at a higher altitude, you should consult your doctor in order to learn how to do it safely. He/she will likely recommend that you start supplemental oxygen therapy or alter your current oxygen therapy plan to adjust for the change of altitude. For example, if you want to travel into the mountains, you may need to use oxygen intermittently in order to maintain your blood oxygen levels while at higher altitudes.

While this is not a commonly known fact, portable oxygen concentrators work great at high altitudes. The Inogen One G5, for example, works at altitudes up to 10,000 feet above sea level meaning you’ll have no problems living in Denver and traveling to the mountains. Be aware, however, that there are several towns in Colorado that are higher than 10,000 feet like Leadville and Alma, so you should only travel to these towns if your doctor specifically advises you to.

Most portable oxygen concentrators manufactured within the last decade or so offer similar results as the G5 in terms of operating altitude. However, you should be sure to speak with an oxygen concentrator expert before making any decisions. 

They’re Great for Road Trips

Taking a road trip is about as American as baseball and apple pie. While not everyone enjoys driving for hours on end or putting thousands of miles on their car, it’s hard to deny its benefits when it comes to seeing more of the country. Colorado is packed with landmarks, but you’re going to need to take a lot of road trips in order to see everything the state has to offer.

Unfortunately, traditional oxygen therapy devices like compressed oxygen cylinders and liquid oxygen tanks make road tripping an impossible feat for most oxygen patients. Oxygen tanks only provide several hours of freedom before they need to be refilled or replaced and this simply isn’t feasible for a long road trip. It’s never easy to find a place to refill oxygen tanks while you’re on the road and bringing a bunch of extra oxygen tanks is cumbersome and takes up a lot of room in the car.

Portable oxygen concentrators, on the other hand, were specifically designed with travelers in mind. These oxygen machines run off of electricity and can be charged from any wall outlet or cigarette outlet in a car via a DC charging cable. So, instead of struggling to find a place to refill your oxygen tank or carrying a bunch of backup units, you’ll have access to an infinite supply of oxygen just by plugging your POC into your car. One thing to note, however, is that most POCs will not run on their maximum flow setting while plugged into the car and you should not charge your POC while the car is off in order to prevent the battery from dying. Refer to your user manual for more information on this.

Another reason portable oxygen concentrators are so much better for road trips is that they’re far safer than traditional oxygen devices. In order to drive with an oxygen tank, you need to take a number of safety precautions because they can explode in certain circumstances. They’re also very bulky and heavy so if they end up getting jostled around in the car, they could injure someone. POCs don’t have these problems because they’re lighter, easier to handle, and don’t have any compressed oxygen.

Hiking is a Breeze

In Colorado, hiking is a popular pastime for people of all ages, and for good reason! Just a short hike every day or two can reduce stress levels, reduce the risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure, and most importantly, allow you to explore a new area that you’ve never been to before. But without an oxygen device that’s manageable, you won’t be able to hike, even if you are physically able.

‘Hiking’ implies that you will be away from pathed paths meaning it won’t be easy to wheel your oxygen device around with a rolling cart. Rocks and other obstacles will make this a lot more trouble than it’s worth and you’ll likely need to take your eyes off where you’re going which can be dangerous. On top of all this, your oxygen tubing will need to run all the way down to the oxygen tank which can be a tripping hazard as well.

While continuous flow portable oxygen concentrators like the Respironics SimplyGo are too heavy to carry on your back or shoulder, pulse dose portable oxygen concentrators like the Caire FreeStyle Comfort are not. Weighing in at just 5 pounds, you’ll be able to hike all day without experiencing back or shoulder pain and with the ergonomic curve of the FreeStyle Comfort, it won’t slide around causing you to lose balance as you walk.

Many pulse dose machines like the Inogen One G3 offer plenty of options in the way of accessories in order to make it more comfortable and easy to carry. For example, there is the G3 backpack which has a compartment to hold the G3 and keep it secure and plenty of other pockets to hold personal belongings like keys, your wallet, or a camera. A similar carrying backpack was also available for the Inogen One G5.

If you’d like to learn more about hiking with a respiratory condition, please refer to one of our latest posts titled “You are Never Too Old for A Walk in the Woods.”

They Could Save You Hundreds of Dollars

There’s no denying that Colorado is a great place to live, especially for seniors and others looking to settle down after retirement. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s the cheapest state to live in. In the grand scheme of things, Colorado is actually pretty average when it comes to the total cost of living, but as we age and stop working, we have to get a little creative with how we spend and save our money.

As an oxygen patient, it may seem counter intuitive to look for ways to save money on your oxygen device. After all, you depend on it every day in order to feel better and improve your life expectancy. However, there are ways to reduce the amount of money you’re spending without increasing your risk of experiencing complications like COPD exacerbations.

While portable oxygen concentrators have a higher upfront cost, they’re actually much more affordable in the long run. For example, the Inogen One G4 retails at $2,295. Given that this machine is set to last 5 to 7 years on average, that’s around $0.90 to $1.20 per day of oxygen use. Compare this to oxygen tanks which cost an average of $5 or more a day to refill and maintain.

Another thing to consider is that most portable oxygen concentrators come with 3-year warranties. This will cover you with a full replacement unit in the event that you received one that is defective. And if you want an extra layer of protection, you can typically upgrade to a 5-year or lifetime warranty for an added cost. This will vary based on the unit that you’re purchasing so be sure to consult with an oxygen concentrator specialist.

Improved Self-Image

COPD and anxiety are two closely linked conditions. Physical symptoms such as chest pain and tightness can lead to natural increases in stress within the body, and people who are naturally predisposed to stress may experience even higher degrees of anxiety. Another thing that can lead to anxiety and even depression in COPD patients is their mindset. For example, someone who has a negative view of their disease and its outcome.

Believe it or not, the oxygen device that you use can also impact how much anxiety you experience. Someone who uses an oxygen tank may feel less capable and thus, experience lower self-esteem. On the other hand, someone who uses a portable oxygen machine may feel more confident because they’re thinking less about their oxygen delivery device and concentrating more on what they’re doing. POC users also report feeling more youthful and active than their oxygen tank counterparts.

If you own an Inogen One G3 we highly recommend accessories like the GO2 Carryalls. This is a stylish carrying bag specifically designed to hold your G3 and other personal belongings. The greatest thing about this bag is that it looks like any ordinary purse or handbag so you don’t have to be self-conscious about carrying around a supplemental oxygen device. It has a sleek leather look and comes in either brown or black so it can match with just about any outfit. It also has a conveniently located zipper so that you have easy access to your oxygen cannula and the G3’s user interface.  

Conclusion

Colorado has a reputation as one of the most “outdoorsy” and “active” states in the country. If you have COPD or another chronic respiratory illness, that doesn’t mean you need to give these things up; it just means you need an oxygen device that can match your lifestyle.

Portable oxygen concentrators offer significantly more freedom and independence than other oxygen devices because they’re lighter, smaller, cheaper, and they allow you to stay out of the house for longer without having to search for a place to refill.

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Pulse dose portable oxygen concentrators like the Inogen One G5 or Caire FreeStyle Comfort tend to be the best option for most people because they’re more reliable than their continuous flow counterparts. If you’re ready to learn more about our portable oxygen concentrators for sale, don’t hesitate to fill out the form at the side of the page or give our respiratory specialists a call.  

In the meantime, check out the infographic below to see how pulse dose portable oxygen concentrators stack up against portable oxygen cylinders.

COPD is an invasive disease and living with this chronic illness will change your life in more ways than one. In this article we will talk about how you can take back your freedom and independence by exercising regularly and having the right oxygen equipment.

Freedom and independence

One of the most common sources of stress between the COPD patient and their caregiver is adjusting to a different level of independence and freedom than they were both used to before the patient started experiencing symptoms, which was likely before they were ever diagnosed.

Both persons are responsible for adjusting to a lifestyle where the COPD patient depends on their caregiver more than they had in the past, which is not always easy, especially if you are an independent person.

COPD is an obstructive disease that inhibits your ability to breath making everyday activities like showering seem nearly impossible. This is obviously hard for a person who is used to doing things on their own and now has to ask for help. The caregiver may also struggle with this because they are not used to being needed for so many tasks, and might feel used up by the end of each day.

Rather than focusing on how much your life has changed since being diagnosed with COPD, try focusing on a plan to find independence in parts of your life you hadn’t noticed you had before this can be as simple as adjusting to a new from of oxygen therapy and exercising more often.

Oxygen therapy

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There are a lot of ways people with COPD can find more independence in their lives starting with their oxygen therapy.

If the COPD patient uses oxygen tanks or a home oxygen concentrators, the issue of portability comes in the picture. This lack of maneuverability can be very frustrating and leave oxygen patients at the will of their caregivers as far as transportation and accomplishing chores and tasks around the house.

This is obviously frustrating for you because you are probably not used to asking for help.

Being able to be active and portable is a very beneficial thing for both you and your caregiver, and the most effective option is to switch from using heavy bulky tanks, and buy a portable oxygen concentrator.

Portable oxygen concentrators range in weight from 4 pounds to 18 depending on your flow rate and oxygen prescription. All portable oxygen concentrators run off of batteries, batteries that can last anywhere from 2-16 hours depending on your flow rate and the brand, unit, and model. All portable oxygen concentrators are FAA approved, meaning you can take them on the airplane, cruise ship, or car with you when you travel.

One of the most beneficial aspects of portable oxygen concentrators is how portable they really are compared to traditional home oxygen therapy, where people had to carry around heavy tanks or little oxygen canisters that would barely last a day before they had to get it refilled.

Portable oxygen concentrators never have to be refilled. This modern form of oxygen therapy extracts the surrounding air, compresses and purifies it into medical grade oxygen for the oxygen user.

Most people prefer this more modern technology for their oxygen device because portable oxygen concentrators gives people the ability to travel alone, carry their oxygen device on their own, and helps them get into a strict exercise regime because the device is so easy to bring along with them for a walk, to the gym, or to their pulmonary rehabilitation class.

Being able to accomplish your own tasks, do lawn work or other chores around the horse, run your own errands, gives you a valuable source of independence and also allows your caregiver a break from doing all the things they once did before you had a portable oxygen concentrator.

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Exercise

Exercise is your ticket to freedom and independence, and the sooner you start on an exercise regime for COPD, the better you will feel. Exercising is the one way you are going to strengthen your lungs.

Even olympic athletes will train at higher altitudes where there is less oxygen saturation in the air, so their blood oxygen levels are lower. When they go down to lower altitudes to compete, there is a lot of oxygen in the air so their body will perform very well in these conditions.

It is the same for a person with COPD. Even though environmental factors, genetics, or smoking has caused your COPD, and the damage to your lungs is irreversible, exercise will help your body adjust to your lung’s capacity, and even slow down the deterioration happening in your lungs.

Remember if you are ever exercising and become short of breath, you can take a break and let your breathing come back to normal.

Also talk with your doctor about your exercise regime, so you know if you need to increase your oxygen intake while you exercise compared to your normal prescription.

Here are the best exercise you can do everyday in order to strengthen your lungs and muscles:

Walk

Walking is one of the easiest and the best exercises you can do if you have COPD. There is no excuse for anyone with COPD not to walk, because even if you have very severe COPD, you can walk to and from your living room everyday as your form of exercise. Each day you could increase the speed of your walk or the distance. You can walk anywhere- outside, in a grocery store, on a treadmill. Even a slow pace and short distance will be beneficial for you.

Bike

Biking is a great low impact exercise that will work out your leg muscles, it's good for your cardiovascular system, and will help your lungs increase breathing capacity over time. You can get a stationary bike for your home so you can stay connected to your oxygen device inside. You could also choose to bring your oxygen device with you if you have a portable oxygen concentrator! The Caire Freestyle Comfort or the Inogen One G3 and G5 are great options for carrying with you outside while you bike, so you also get sun shine and fresh air. These POCs offer long battery life, which allows you to go further distances, and they are lightweight, so they won’t significantly increase the weight you are already riding with.

Weights - arm curls

Working out by lifting light weights can help you gain independence because you will be able to reach a high shelf on your own or carry heavier grocery bags. You can use hand weights, stretchy bands, or water bottles to try arm curls.

Here's how to do a basic arm curl:

1. Hold the weights at your sides with your palms facing forward
2. Breathe in
3. Now lift toward your chest
4. Keep your elbows down
5. Exhaling slowly
6. Slowly lower your arms back down as you breathe in
7. Build up to two sets of 10-15 repetitions

Forward Arm Raises

Whenever you are doing weight lifting exercises, you should start with light weights and increase the weight every two to three weeks to challenge your muscles. Arm raises strengthen your upper arms and shoulders so you are able to mow the lawn or do other upper body intensive chores on your own.

Here is how to do arm raises:

1. Hold weights down at your sides, palms facing in.
2. Inhale
3. Exhale slowly as you raise both arms straight out front to shoulder height.
4. Inhale as you slowly lower your arms
5. Build up to two sets of 10-15 repetitions.

Calf Raises

Adding a leg exercise to your routine will allow you to walk easier and further. Your legs carry your weight everyday, by working out those muscles you will not feel as drained after doing simple activities throughout the day because your legs will be stronger.

To to a calf raise:

1. Stand 6-12 inches behind a sturdy chair with your feet hip-width apart.
2. Hold on for balance
3. Inhale
4. Lift up high on your toes
5. Exhaling slowly
6. Hold the raised position briefly
7. Lower your heels back to the ground, inhaling slowly.
8. As you get stronger, do one leg at a time. Work up to two sets of 10-15 reps.

Leg Extensions

Leg extensions are very low impact. Doing these will build the muscles in your legs, but you can sit down while you do them! This means there will not be weight on your joints, and if you already have a hard time standing up, this is a great exercise to do everyday until you can stand more easily, and eventually start trying other exercises like walking.

1. Sit in a chair that supports your back
2. Inhale
3. Exhale slowly as you stretch one leg as straight as you can, without locking your knee.
4. Breathe in as you slowly lower your foot back to the floor
5. Do one set with your right leg, then one set with your left
6. If this is too easy, Add ankle weights or try both legs at one time for a core workout
7. Work up to two sets of 10-15 reps.

Exercise your diaphragm

Your diaphragm is a key breathing muscle underneath your rib cage and lungs. Strengthening your diaphragm is great for people with COPD because this muscle helps your lungs inhale and exhale, and your lungs are not pressured to work so hard on their own.

1. Lie down with your knees bent or sit in an easy chair -- one hand on your chest, one below your rib cage
2. Slowly inhale through your nose so that your stomach raises one hand
3. Exhale with pursed lips and tighten your stomach
4. The hand on your chest should not move
5. Do this for 5 to 10 minutes, three or four times a day
6. Breathing this way will become easy and automatic

Tai Chi and yoga

Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese practice of gentle, flowing movements so this is a great workout for people with COPD both for physical wellness, but also mental calmness and stress relief. It's a mild workout for your heart and lungs and helps tone your muscles. It is so important to find an activity that helps you relax. These calm moments will help you practice mindful breathing and make it easier to breathe in your everyday life. You can find a class that you can attend, or watch videos online to learn the moves.

Exercise and oxygen overview

Having COPD can strip you of your freedom an independence, but only if you let it. The more time you let go without freedom and independence the harder it will be to grasp when you so desperately want it.

This does not mean that living a normal independent lifestyle is going to be easy if you have COPD.

With the help of a portable oxygen concentrator you are able to accomplish your own chores and travel on your own confidently and with ease. With a lightweight breathing device that is powered off of battery and will never run out of oxygen you can go out alone and spend time enjoying your day without having to ask for help or feel uncomfortable leaving your home alone.

If you doctor gives you the "OK" to start exercising, you can begin your customized workout routine everyday, which will help you build muscles and endurance. COPD researchers and health expert strongly encourage exercise for people with COPD in order to slow down this progressive disease from getting worse.

Exercise is so good for strengthening your bones and muscles, but it also increasing your lung's capacity and actually makes you lungs stronger and more capable of inhaling and exhaling.