Lifestyle changes to help manage your COPD
There are actions you can take to help manage your everyday symptoms of COPD, which may reduce the likelihood of an exacerbation and the associated risk of causing irreversible damage to your lungs:2-5
Stop smoking
Smoking cessation decreases the amount of harmful chemicals in your lungs that can trigger exacerbations. Speak to your healthcare professional for advice and support to stop smoking.
Keep Active & Exercise with COPD
Movement, as recommended by your healthcare professional, can help you continue to do the things you care about. Pulmonary rehabilitation may be recommended, however ask your healthcare professional if this is right for you. It is not suitable for everyone and will be recommended by your healthcare professional on a case-by-case basis.
Connect with others
In support groups, you can talk about your COPD openly. You can relate to one another, share strategies, and find connections.
Patricia’s Story: Navigating Life with COPD
Meet Patricia Ireland, a 78-year-old. In this video, Patricia shares her journey from diagnosis to discovering the power of staying active. Despite daily challenges with breathlessness and fatigue, she's learned how to stay proactive.
COPD support for caregivers
Knowing how to support someone with COPD can be challenging. You deserve to take back control in your life knowing that your loved one is receiving the right care and information to manage their condition.6-8
Ask for help
You may feel isolated, frustrated and upset when looking after your loved one. But friends, family, and other members of your community may be waiting for you to reach out.
Join a COPD caregiver support group
You’re not alone. Joining a support group for caregivers of people with serious illnesses is a great way to connect and find help. Asthma + Lung UK have a great helpline and support groups you can reach out to https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/groups-support
Practise self-care
While it can be easy to focus solely on your loved one, it’s essential to prioritise your own health, including your mental and social wellness.
Supporting organisations
You don't need to live alone with COPD. There is a community of COPD patients and support groups that can make it easier for you to understand your COPD and live well with it.
Asthma + Lung UK provides information and resources for COPD patients and caregivers, as well as local support groups near you.
Asthma + Lung UK
To meet with other patients and access some additional resources about COPD, visit the Asthma + Lung UK website
Find local Breathe Easy groups offering support, advice, and community for people living with COPD.
COPD References
- Treating COPD. American Lung Association. Apr 2024. Available at: https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/copd/treating. Date accessed: Oct 2024.
- What can you do to manage your COPD? Asthma + Lung UK. May 2022. Available at: https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/conditions/copd-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease/what-can-you-do-manage-your-copd. Date accessed: Oct 2024.
- Kerkhof M, et al. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2020;15:1909–1918.
- Living with Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). NHS. Apr 2023. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-copd/living-with/. Date accessed: Oct 2024.
- Treatment Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). NHS. Apr 2023. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-copd/treatment/. Date accessed: Oct 2024.
- How to care for someone with a lung condition. Asthma + Lung UK. Feb 2023. Available at: https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/living-with/caring/how-care-someone-lung-condition. Date accessed: Oct 2024.
- Farquhar M. Chron Respir Dis. 2018;15(1):26–35.
- The COPD Caregiver's Toolkit. How do I take care of myself while managing someone else’s care? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Apr 2022. Available at: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/sites/default/files/publications/COPD-CaregiversToolkit-Taking-Care-of-Self.pdf. Date accessed: Oct 2024.