COPD affects your lung health and breathing; however, a strategic lifestyle improves your wellness. It’s a long-term (chronic) lung disease that causes damage to the airways. Now, this damage restricts airflow into and out of the lungs, causing swelling and discomfort, often known as inflammation.
There isn't a cure at the moment, but the good news is that you may prolong your independence and activity, slow its progression, and enhance your quality of life by adopting the appropriate lifestyle choices. Get in touch with your pulmonologist doctor in Siliguri to get personalized COPD management care.
Whether you've recently been diagnosed or have been managing COPD for years, these are the most effective health and lifestyle suggestions for preventing COPD from progressing.
Keep from Lung Irritants
Your lungs become more susceptible to irritants and pollution if you have lung conditions like COPD. Reducing exposure to these can help avoid COPD flare-ups and airway swelling.
Things not to do:
· Before venturing outdoors, check for air quality alerts (try to keep yourself updated about such places)
· Secondhand smoke
· Dust and strong chemical vapors (such as paints, fragrances, and home cleaners)
· Dry, cold air can cause airways to constrict.
· Thinking about wearing a mask in dusty or polluted areas
· Keeping windows closed on days with bad air quality
Give Up Smoking Right Away and Totally
Quitting smoking is the most crucial action if you’ve been diagnosed with or are living with COPD. It can help stop the advancement of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). The primary cause of COPD is smoking, and if you quit smoking, it can make COPD worse.
Advice for quitting:
· Consult your physician or pulmonologist about prescription drugs or nicotine replacement treatments (go for effective and secure choices).
· Use reliable helplines or support groups to get accountability and encouragement.
· Avoid anything that makes you desire to smoke, such as stress or alcohol.
Over time, this practice can greatly improve your symptoms and overall lung function, even if you have smoked for years. You might see the top pulmonologist doctor in Siliguri for COPD, Dr. Tarun Baid.
Stick to Your Medication Plan
Besides reducing inflammation and opening up the airways, COPD medications can help control symptoms and reduce the risk of flare-ups. Bronchodilators, corticosteroids, and combination inhalers are common medications for COPD patients.
Advice to Follow:
· Even if you feel well, take your meds as directed.
· If you're not sure how to use an inhaler, consult your pharmacist or doctor and get the appropriate instructions.
· Have an emergency plan and additional medication on hand in case of a COPD flare-up.
· Ensure routine checkups because your doctor may modify your medicine based on how your symptoms change.
Stay Physically Active
Being physically active is one of the best things you can do for your respiratory health. Yoga or exercise enhances oxygen consumption, muscular strength, and cardiovascular health, all of which eventually facilitate better breathing and improve blood circulation.
Good Things to Do If You Have COPD:
· Strolling
· Mild aerobic activity
· Chair workouts
· Mountain Pose
· Hasta Uttanasana
Always get your doctor's advice before starting a new fitness regimen for COPD management, and start slowly. Make sure to pay attention to your body and avoid going overboard because results come with time.
Eat a Nutritious Diet
Energy levels and lung function are maintained in large part by nutrition. By boosting your immune system, a nutritious diet can also lower your risk of respiratory infections, which exacerbate COPD.
Advice on How to Eat Better:
· Eat more often and in smaller portions to prevent feeling too full, which can make breathing difficult if you have COPD.
· Lean protein, whole grains, fresh produce, and healthy fats should all be prioritized.
· Consume plenty of fluid/water to keep mucus thin and manageable with COPD.
· Keep yourself from processed meals, too much salt, and sugary drinks.
While inactivity may cause some persons with COPD to gain weight, increasing breathing effort may cause others to lose weight. Consult a nutritionist to discover a customized food plan that meets your requirements.
Learn Breathing Techniques
Your lungs' capacity to absorb oxygen and eliminate carbon dioxide can be enhanced via breathing exercises.
Typical Methods:
Breathe in through your nose and out gently through your pursed lips using pursed-lip breathing, beneficial for COPD.
The goal of diaphragmatic (belly) breathing is to breathe more efficiently by using the diaphragm rather than the chest muscles.
You can feel more in control of your breathlessness spells by using these techniques on a daily basis if you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Even though COPD is a progressive condition, living an active and healthy life is still possible. Consistency is essential; little daily routines may have a big effect when combined. Be proactive, educate yourself, and surround yourself with a team of supportive healthcare professionals. Consult the top pulmonologist in Siliguri City.