At Home: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Understanding COPD and Caring for Yourself at Home
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD, is a lung disease that includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. It happens when damage and inflammation in the lungs make breathing difficult.
COPD is a progressive illness. This means its symptoms may develop slowly but will worsen over time. There is no cure for COPD, but learning about it can help you manage COPD, have fewer complications, reduce your chances of hospital readmissions, and have a better quality of life.
What is COPD
COPD is a chronic, long-term lung condition that worsens over time. There is no cure for COPD, but it can be managed with medical treatment and lifestyle changes.
Smoking is the primary cause of COPD, but other factors like exposure to pollutants and your genetics can also contribute. Emphysema (damage to air sacs) and chronic bronchitis (long-term inflammation of the airways) are the main components of COPD. These conditions can occur together or alone.
Common symptoms of COPD include shortness of breath, chronic cough, wheezing, and mucus production. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms, preventing further damage, and improving quality of life. This may include medications, oxygen therapy, and pulmonary rehabilitation.
COPD exacerbations
A COPD exacerbation, or flare-up, occurs when your COPD symptoms suddenly get worse. They can become life-threatening if left untreated. Recognize the warning signs and get prompt treatment if you experience:
• Increased wheezing, shortness of breath, or coughing
• Swollen legs, feet, and ankles
• Changes in the color, thickness, or amount of mucus
• Mucus that is more difficult to cough up
• Difficulty sleeping or not feeling rested after sleep
• Fatigue that lasts more than a day
• Feeling like you need to increase your oxygen flow
• Measured oxygen levels that are lower than usual
Call 911 right away if you:
• Have trouble breathing
• Have chest pain
• Cough up blood
• Experience confusion or difficulty speaking
• Have blue lips, tongue, or fingers
Managing COPD at home
Each time you have a COPD flare-up, your overall lung health may decline. For this reason, it’s important to know how to manage your COPD at home. If you’ve just been released from the hospital, following these steps can help reduce your readmission risk.
Stop smoking. If you smoke, quitting is the best way to improve your lung health and slow disease progression.
Follow your COPD treatment plan. Your doctor created a treatment plan to meet your specific needs. This plan will typically involve a combination of medications and therapies. Make sure you follow your treatment plan exactly as prescribed, and talk to your care team if you have questions or concerns.
Eliminate indoor triggers. Keep your home free of common COPD triggers like smoke, aerosol sprays, dust, mold, and fumes from cooking or cleaning products. Consider using an air purifier.
Avoid outdoor triggers, too. Stay indoors when outdoor pollution levels are high. You can use airnow.gov to check the air quality in your area. Smoke and very cold air can also trigger COPD.
Know your equipment. Be sure you know how to use your inhaler, nebulizer, and oxygen therapy correctly. If your medical equipment is used incorrectly or inconsistently, you will not get the treatment you need.
Nutrition and Hydration. Maintain a healthy diet and stay hydrated to support overall health and energy levels. The American Lung Association recommends eating a good source of protein at least twice daily to help build respiratory strength.
Regular Checkups and Monitoring. Attend regular appointments with your healthcare team to monitor your lung function and adjust your treatment, if needed.
Physical Activity. Engage in regular, low-impact exercise. Talk to your doctor about an exercise plan that is right for you, and whether it should be used with pulmonary rehabilitation.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Pulmonary rehabilitation is a medically-supervised program designed to improve breathing, exercise tolerance, and overall quality of life for people with COPD.
Pulmonary rehabilitation for COPD focuses on exercise, education, and psychosocial support to help manage COPD symptoms and improve functional abilities. Talk to your doctor to learn more about this therapy.
The key components of pulmonary rehabilitation for COPD include:
Exercise training. This is the core of the program, and may include endurance training (like walking or cycling), strength training (using weights or resistance bands), and flexibility training (like stretching).
Education. Patients receive education on COPD management, medication use, and techniques to manage breathlessness.
Psychosocial support. Addressing emotional and psychological aspects of living with COPD, such as anxiety, depression, and social isolation, can be an important part of the program.
Breathlessness management techniques. Learning and practicing techniques like pursed lip breathing can help improve airflow and reduce breathlessness.
Benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation for COPD:
Improved exercise tolerance. Pulmonary rehabilitation can help individuals exercise for longer periods and at higher intensities.
Reduced breathlessness. By improving breathing control and muscle strength, pulmonary rehabilitation can reduce the feeling of shortness of breath.
Improved quality of life. By improving physical function, managing symptoms, and reducing anxiety, pulmonary rehabilitation can enhance the overall quality of life for people with COPD.
Reduced risk of hospitalization. One study found that pulmonary rehabilitation significantly lowers the rate of readmission to the hospital after an acute exacerbation of COPD.
Increased survival. A study in the Rheumatology Advisor found that pulmonary rehabilitation was significantly associated with a 44% risk reduction of death or lung transplant at five years.
Have an Emergency Plan
If you ever have a COPD exacerbation, or flare-up, medical personnel will need certain information about you to help ensure the best medical treatment in an emergency.
Be prepared by writing down the following information and keep it with you at all times. You can also use the ICE (in case of emergency) feature on your smartphone.
Be sure to include:
• The name of an emergency contact who is familiar with your care
• The names and contact information for your healthcare providers
• Your medication list and oxygen dose
• Your insurance information
• Medication allergies
Use Oxygen Carefully
Oxygen can be a vital therapy for COPD, but getting the correct dose is crucial. Too much oxygen can suppress your drive to take deep breaths, which can become life-threatening.
• Always talk to your doctor before adjusting your oxygen settings.
• Maintain a backup oxygen supply both at home and when you're out.
• Learn how your equipment works to use oxygen safely and effectively at home.
References:
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The American Lung Association.
2023 GOLD Report. Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease.
What Is COPD? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Centers for Disease Control.
COPD. The American Thoracic Society Guidelines.
My COPD Action Plan. The American Lung Association.
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