Top tips for living well with COPD

Most of us will know someone affected by COPD. According to NHS England, there are around 900,000 people in the UK with the condition and a further two million are living undiagnosed.

Living with COPD is no easy feat. Many struggle with difficult symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, phlegm, fatigue and frequent chest infections. And these symptoms are often worse in winter; people with COPD will have regular flare-ups during the colder months which can often lead to a stay in hospital.

The damage to the lungs caused by COPD cannot be reversed. Instead, treatment aims to slow down the progression of the disease and alleviate the symptoms. In addition to medications, there are lots of things someone with COPD can do to help make living with the condition easier.

Vanessa Holmes is a Highly Specialist Respiratory Physiotherapist, helping people with COPD maintain a good quality of life. Here are Vanessa’s top five tips for living well with COPD.

1. Stop smoking
If you smoke, the best way to prevent COPD from getting worse is to stop smoking, to avoid further damage to your lungs. Research has shown that you are up to four times more likely to give up smoking successfully if you use NHS support. Talk to your GP or visit NHS Smokefree.

2. Get vaccinated
Make sure you get vaccinated against flu and pneumonia to avoid getting infections in the winter. The pneumonia vaccination is given just once but you should have a flu vaccination every year.

3. Keep taking your medicine
Take your medicine as instructed by your doctor even if you start to feel better; taking medication continuously can help to prevent flare-ups. You should also visit your GP at least twice a year for a check-up. Talk about your medicines at each visit and, if you’re not sure how to use your inhaler, ask.
 
4. Plan ahead
It’s important you know what to do if your breathing suddenly worsens. Make sure you have telephone numbers handy and information all in one place so you can act fast if you become unwell. If you need an ambulance, make sure you tell the emergency staff that you have COPD.

5. Exercise
Exercising or keeping active helps to improve breathing and lessen symptoms. If you have COPD, you may be eligible for a pulmonary rehab programme which can help you to become more active and manage your condition. Ask your GP, nurse or consultant about being referred.

Need more information? Come along to our COPD awareness stand on 18 November at Mansfield Community Hospital to find out more about COPD and the support that is available in Nottinghamshire.

The British Lung Foundation also has lots of information online about living with COPD.