Living with COPD 

It's important to take good care of yourself if you have COPD.

Some of the main things you'll be advised to do are outlined below.

Take your medication

It's important to take any prescribed medication, including inhalers, as this can help prevent bad flare-ups.

It's also a good idea to read the information leaflet that comes with your medication about possible interactions with other medicines or supplements.

Check with your care team if you plan to take any over-the-counter remedies, such as painkillers or nutritional supplements. These can sometimes interfere with your medication.

Also speak to your care team if you have any concerns about the medication you're taking or you're experiencing any side effects.

Stop smoking

If you smoke, stopping can help slow down or prevent further damage to your lungs.

Help is available from your GP and NHS stop smoking services.

Read advice about stopping smoking.

Exercise regularly

Exercising regularly can help improve your symptoms and quality of life.

The amount of exercise you can do will depend on your individual circumstances. Exercising until you're a little breathless isn't dangerous, but don't push yourself too far.

It's a good idea to speak to your GP for advice before starting a new exercise programme if your symptoms are severe or you haven't exercised in a while.

You may be advised to participate in a pulmonary rehabilitation programme, which will include a structured exercise plan tailored to your needs and ability.

Read about treatments for COPD for more information about pulmonary rehabilitation.

Maintain a healthy weight

Carrying extra weight can make breathlessness worse, so it's a good idea to lose weight through a combination of regular exercise and a healthy diet if you're overweight.

Alternatively, some people with COPD find that they lose weight. Eating food high in protein and taking in enough calories is important to maintain a healthy weight.

You may see a dietitian as part of a pulmonary rehabilitation programme if necessary.

Get vaccinated

COPD can put a significant strain on your body and mean you're more vulnerable to infections.

Everyone with COPD is encouraged to have the annual flu jab and the one-off pneumococcal vaccination.

You can get these vaccinations at your GP surgery or a local pharmacy that offers a vaccination service.

Check the weather

Cold spells and periods of hot weather and humidity can cause breathing problems if you have COPD.

It's a good idea to keep an eye on the weather forecast and make sure you have enough of your medication to hand in case your symptoms get temporarily worse.

The Met Office has cold weather alerts during the winter, which can warn you about cold spells.

Watch what you breathe

There are certain things that should be avoided if possible to reduce COPD symptoms and the chances of a flare-up, including:

• dusty places
• fumes, such as car exhausts
• smoke
• air freshener sprays or plug-ins
• strong-smelling cleaning products (unless there's plenty of ventilation)
• hairspray
• perfume

The British Lung Foundation has a leaflet about living with COPD (PDF, 721kb).

You'll have regular contact with your care team to monitor your condition.

These appointments may involve:

• talking about your symptoms – such as whether they're affecting your normal activities or are getting worse
• a discussion about your medication – including whether you think you might be experiencing any side effects
• tests to monitor your health

It's also a good opportunity to ask any questions you have or raise any other issues you'd like to discuss with your care team.

Contact your GP or care team if your symptoms get suddenly worse or you develop new symptoms between your check-ups.

There are various breathing techniques that some people find helpful for breathlessness.

These include breathing control, which involves breathing gently using the least effort, with the shoulders supported. This can help when people with COPD feel short of breath.

Breathing techniques for people who are more active include:

• relaxed, slow, deep breathing
• breathing through pursed lips, as if whistling
• breathing out hard when doing an activity that needs a big effort
• paced breathing, using a rhythm in time with the activity, such as climbing stairs

If you have a chesty cough that produces a lot of phlegm, you may be taught a specific technique to help you clear your airways called the active cycle breathing technique.

The British Lung Foundation has more information about breathing control techniques for COPD.

If you have questions about your condition and treatment, your GP or nurse may be able to reassure you.

You may also find it helpful to talk to a trained counsellor or psychologist, or someone at a specialist helpline. Your GP surgery will have information about these.

Some people find it helpful to talk to other people who have COPD, either at a local support group or in an internet chat room.

Want to know more?

• British Lung Foundation: Breathe Easy local support groups
• HealthUnlocked lung disease community

Relationships with friends and family

Having a long-term illness such as COPD can put a strain on any relationship.

Difficulty breathing and coughing can make you feel tired and depressed.

Your spouse, partner or carer may also have a lot of concerns about your health. It's important to talk about your worries together.

Being open about how you feel and what your family and friends can do to help may put them at ease. But don't feel shy about telling them that you need some time to yourself, if that's what you want.

Your sex life

As COPD progresses, the increasing breathlessness can make it difficult to take part in strenuous activities. The breathlessness may occur during sexual activity, which may mean your sex life can suffer.

Talk to your partner and stay open-minded. Explore what you both like sexually. Simply touching, being touched and being close to someone helps a person feel loved and special.

Your doctor, nurse or physiotherapist may also be able to suggest ways to help manage breathlessness during sex.

Want to know more?

• Sex as you get older
• British Lung Foundation: sex and breathlessness

If you have COPD and are planning to fly, go to your GP for a fitness-to-fly assessment. This involves checking your breathing using spirometry and measuring your oxygen levels.

Before travelling, remember to pack all your medication, such as inhalers, in your hand luggage.

If you're using oxygen therapy, tell your travel operator and airline before you book your holiday, as you may need to get a medical form from your GP.

If you're using long-term oxygen therapy, you'll need to make sure you have an adequate oxygen supply for your flight as well as for your time abroad.

Airlines generally don't allow you to bring oxygen cylinders with you, but may permit portable oxygen concentrator devices.

Want to know more?

• Cover your healthcare abroad
• British Lung Foundation: going on holiday with a lung condition

People with COPD often have to give up work because their breathlessness stops them doing what they need to do for their job.

If you're unable to work, there are several benefits you may be eligible for:

• If you have a job but cannot work because of your illness, you are entitled to Statutory Sick Pay from your employer.
• If you do not have a job and cannot work because of your illness, you may be entitled to Employment and Support Allowance.
• If you are caring for someone with COPD, you may be entitled to Carer's Allowance.

You may be eligible for other benefits if you have children living at home or if you have a low household income.

Want to know more?

• Benefits for carers
• Citizens Advice Bureau
• British Lung Foundation: welfare benefits
• GOV.UK: benefits

COPD is a serious condition that can eventually reach a stage where it becomes life threatening.

Talking about this and planning your end of life care, also called palliative care, in advance can be helpful.

It can be difficult to talk about dying with your doctor, and particularly with family and friends, but many people find it helps. Support is also available for your family and friends.

It may be helpful to discuss which symptoms you may have as you become more seriously ill, and the treatments available to reduce these.

As COPD progresses, your doctor should work with you to establish a clear management plan based on your wishes. This will include whether you would prefer to go to hospital or a hospice, or be looked after at home as you become more ill.

You may want to discuss drawing up an advance decision, also called a living will, which sets out your wishes for treatment if you become too ill to be consulted.

This might include whether you want to be resuscitated if you stop breathing, and whether you want artificial ventilation to be continued.

Want to know more?

• End of life care planner
• British Lung Foundation: end of life care