Exercise And Eat Well Exercise and good nutrition are important parts of maintaining optimal health for everyone, but especially if you have COPD. Keeping your muscles and lungs strong will make it easier to breathe. Maintaining a proper diet helps maintain your energy and wards off potential infections. As with exercise, establishing good eating habits — for example, consuming plenty of fruits and vegetables — will only help your health.
Before starting any type of exercise program, consult your family doctor.
Control Your Coughing And Breathing Controlled breathing methods and controlled coughing can help you breathe easier.
One method is the Pursed-lip Breathing method
The airways of people with COPD often lose their tone and have a tendency to narrow during exhalation, making efficient lung emptying difficult (the lungs never completely empty). The purpose of this method to prevent the narrowing of the airways using slow, controlled exhalation.
- Inhale deeply through your nose if you can. The nose helps to warm, filter and moisten the air you breath.
- Exhale slowly through your pursed lips. To purse your lips put them together like you are blowing out a candle or whistling. Remember to blow out slowly and gradually.
- Always take about double the amount of time to exhale as it takes you to inhale. For example if it takes you 2 seconds to inhale make sure to exhale for at least 4 seconds.
- Practice makes perfect. Although this technique may seem odd at first after doing in several times a day everyday it will become natural to you.
- This method is helpful during stressful times of the day and times when you may find it most difficult to breath.
|
