Coping With COPD and Asthma - Getting Stronger, Breathing Easier

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a long-term illness that affects the lungs. There are two conditions, which most often occur together, that are diagnosed as COPD. The first is chronic obstructive bronchitis, and the second is emphysema. Asthma, also a disease that affects your airways affects all ages. There are currently 20 million Americans with Asthma. Symptoms include coughing, excessive mucus production, wheezing, shortness of breath, and tightness in the chest.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease develops when the lungs are inflamed or damaged. Oxygen cannot enter and exit the air sacs (alveoli) efficiently because the lung tissue walls are swollen, and/ or because the alveoli cannot expand sufficiently. Lung irritants like chemicals, tobacco smoke, and dust frequently cause COPD symptoms. The body combats these toxins by making a large amount of mucus, which inhibits normal breathing.

Whether you are newly-diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Asthma, or you are already in treatment, it will benefit you to participate actively in your care. While you are following medical advice, you must also modify your lifestyle. Starting an exercise program that includes improving your breathing techniques is essential.

If you worry that having COPD means you cannot get fit or stay fit, there is good news! Many patients with lung disease practice moderate exercise routines. Drs. Simone O'Shea, Nicholas F. Taylor, and Jennifer D. Paratz report in a 2009 article, Progressive Resistance Exercise Improves Muscle Strength and May Improve Elements of Performance of Daily Activities for People with COPD, that weight training helps patients gain and maintain vital muscle strength. Building stronger muscles makes everyday activities like sitting, standing, and taking stairs easier, and weight training prepares people with COPD to remain independent.

Michael Berry, PhD of Heath and Science at Wake Forest University in North Carolina notes that aerobic exercise is also critical. Lower-leg activity like bicycling or walking preserves vulnerable muscle mass in people with COPD. Dr. Berry adds that aerobic activity bolsters heart and lung function, and it can even enhance problem-solving skills.

As you adapt your exercise habits, you must also train yourself to breathe differently. Exertion can trigger an episode of shortness of breath. But it is very important that you continue to exercise. Respiratory therapists teach people with COPD to cope with these sudden symptoms by practicing pursed-lip breathing and diaphragmatic breathing. These techniques help you to empty your lungs completely before you inhale, to fill your lungs to a greater capacity, and to strengthen your diaphragm. Patients who practice breathing retraining report feeling more confident and experiencing less anxiety.

If you have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, you can get fit, stay active, and feel healthier. Exercising and practicing breathing techniques is not just about keeping your symptoms at bay. Adding these new activities will also help you function at your best.