Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a lung disease that leads to long-term shortness of breath. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis examples of this preventable disease, which affects 1 in 7 Australians aged 40+ years old.
Whilst there is no cure for COPD, there are many ways in which it can be treated and managed to protect your capabilities and quality of life.
Use these 5 tips for self-management to improve your COPD today:
- Avoid unnecessary triggers for breathlessness. Whilst you needn’t let COPD prevent you from participating in life, there are a few triggers that can easily be avoided. Take inhaled medications as prescribed, get vaccinated for pneumonia and the flu, stay away from smoking and harsh chemical-based products, and be aware of any other personal triggers that affect your breathing quality.
- Participate in appropriate exercise and physical activity. You can protect your physical functioning and even improve your breathing by doing as little as two hours of moderate exercise per week, according to the Australian Lung Foundation. Group exercise classes like our ongoing Strength to Strength program can help you maintain regular exercise with the support of a Physiotherapist for just $12 per class*.
- Maintain a healthy diet. Being overweight increases the effort required to breathe, whilst being underweight can weaken the muscles and required energy to breathe well. Healthy eating can help you to maintain a healthy weight and enjoy many other benefits to your overall health. For professional support, ask about our dietitian services.
- Use breathing exercises. Simple breathing exercises like these ones from the COPD Foundation can help you to control your breathing and breathe more easily. Be sure to seek advice from a health professional for the most appropriate exercises for you.
- Get free advice and practical support from the experts. Individualised and professional support will help you to better manage your condition and make lifestyle adjustments where necessary. Fortunately, you can access these services for free from our Joondalup, Midland and Osborne Park locations.
Black Swan Health offers individual consultations with a Respiratory Nurse Specialist to develop an individualised plan for your ongoing wellbeing. We also offer group programs that encourage healthy, long-term behaviours to improve your quality of life.
Find out more about these free services here.
*Claimable on private health insurance. Classes must be purchased in blocks of 10 and require a one-off $65 fee if not referred by a health professional. More details here.