COPD is a lifelong condition, but you can manage symptoms and work toward preventing flare-ups. You can avoid smoking, manage your diet, and try using a humidifier or oxygen mask to help with worsening symptoms.

There is no cure for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but the right treatment can help you manage the disease and help improve your quality of life.

You can also make lifestyle changes to help manage your COPD, and to keep your body strong and your respiratory system out of harm’s way.

If you’re a smoker living with COPD, quitting is one of the best things you can do for your health.

Smoking is one of the main causes of COPD, and many who live with the disease have a history of smoking cigarettes.

You won’t be able to cure COPD by quitting smoking, but that step can go a long way in helping to slow the progression and make it easier for you to breathe.

Consult your healthcare team about ways to stop smoking and how it may help you manage COPD. They may also be able to advise you on nicotine replacement therapies or medications that might help curb cravings.

Learn how you can stop smoking to help treat your COPD and live a healthier life.

Aside from smoking cessation, you can also take steps to avoid other possible COPD-contributing factors, such as secondhand smoke and exposure to dirty air and airborne irritants.

Exposure to these irritants can worsen your COPD symptoms and affect your respiratory health.

You can take these steps to help with air quality in your home:

  • do not allow smoking inside
  • avoid perfumes, cleaning products, and personal care products with strong odors that can possibly trigger coughing or shortness of breath
  • opt for natural, nontoxic items instead
  • vacuum your carpets regularly, using one that has a HEPA filter
  • periodically steam your curtains and other fabrics
  • use an air purifier with a HEPA filter to reduce airborne pollutants and allergens inside

Learn about improving indoor air quality to help with COPD symptoms and allergies.

You might be concerned about working out with COPD. It can be challenging, and strenuous or heavy exercise might trigger breathlessness. You might not be able to run a marathon, but gentle workouts can improve your respiratory strength and breathing.

You can try aerobics, light stretches, short walks, resistance training, and other moderate activities that don’t irritate your breaking. Some research suggests that yoga may also be helpful as part of your exercise routine if you live with COPD.

Your healthcare team can also help recommend activities that work best for you and your health.

Tip: You may also consider bringing an emergency rescue inhaler when you exercise in case your symptoms worsen. You might keep this handy with you or share it with other people who may be alert to your health condition.

If you have obesity or overweight and COPD, this may also make it harder to breathe.

You can manage weight, including eating balanced food choices. This may help improve your COPD symptoms and health overall.

Eating large meals or being too full can also make breathing difficult. Rather than heavy meals, eat smaller meals throughout the day.

Also, avoid any foods that make you feel gassy or bloated. These side effects can exacerbate breathing problems.

Drinking enough water is important for keeping mucus thin and preventing it from building up. For many, a good goal is 6 to 8 glasses daily. Your healthcare team can best guide you on how much water is best for you.

However, be careful not to drink too much water at one time. Getting full from too much water can make breathing harder. Instead, spread out your water consumption over a day, and limit liquids with meals.

Respiratory infections can make COPD worse.

That is why staying vaccinated is important, especially if you live with a health condition like COPD.

Talk with your doctor to see if you’re a candidate for the flu shot. If so, get a shot each year around October or November, in the early part of the season.

You can also ask your doctor about the pneumonia vaccine. Take steps to prevent getting the common cold, which can cause complications like pneumonia or bronchitis. Avoid sick people, wash your hands frequently, and avoid touching your face with your hands.

If you don’t have access to soap and water, use hand sanitizer before eating and after shaking hands with someone.

Ask your doctor about techniques to control your breathing during flares.

Pursed-lip breathing can open your lungs, allowing you to breathe more air. This is how it works:

  1. Fix your lips as if you’re about to whistle.
  2. Breathe in slowly through your nose and count to 2.
  3. Next, breathe out through pursed lips and count to 4.
  4. Repeat this technique up to 5 times to control your breathing.

You may also ask your healthcare team about pulmonary rehabilitation, a rehab that teaches you different breathing methods. The purpose is to strengthen your respiratory muscles so that you can enjoy more activities without breathlessness.

Try these 5 breathing exercises as a way to help your COPD health.

Having COPD puts you at risk for bronchitis, which is when your body produces a large amount of mucus.

Breathing becomes harder when mucus collects in your airways. Using a humidifier may be helpful because it adds moisture to the air. Keeping the air in your home moist can loosen mucus, allowing you to cough it up.

Oxygen therapy may start to interfere with the quality of your life. You might have difficulty carrying a large oxygen unit on errands and spend more time at home.

Switching to a lightweight, portable oxygen unit can make it easier to move around when you’re away from home. Activities like going to restaurants, running errands, and traveling can become much more convenient.

Even if your doctor and family members provide great support and encouragement, it’s comforting to speak to people who understand what you’re going through.

Living with COPD can cause depression and anxiety.

You may feel overwhelmed at times. Joining a support group provides an outlet to chat with people who also live with this condition. You can share your experiences, offer tips for living with COPD, and more.

The American Lung Association offers many support resources for people with COPD and their families in order to find support in a community.

COPD is a lifelong disease. But you can take certain steps to stay healthy and live happily with COPD. These may include smoking cessation, eating a balanced diet, and using certain tools, like a humidifier or oxygen mask, to help with any of your symptoms.

This may also help slow the disease progression and lower your overall risk for complications and related health issues, including respiratory infections, heart problems, and lung cancer.

Your healthcare team is best equipped to advise you on managing your COPD and adjusting your care plan to accommodate changing symptoms or life events.