Nothing is more stressful than the holidays. Unless of course, smack dab in the middle of them you're like me and decide to move yourself, two horses, a Great Dane, a Rottweiler and two screaming cats 300 miles away while you're sick with bronchitis.
I think most of us can relate to being stressed out, especially during holiday crunch time when multitasking may include everything from frantic trips to the mall to shop for gifts to cooking a holiday dinner on a budget.
Some people, including those with COPD, should pay particular attention to their stress levels during the holidays because, among other things, stress weakens the immune system making people more susceptible to viral and bacterial infections which can lead to COPD exacerbation. In fact, COPD exacerbation is the number one reason people with COPD seek emergency treatment and get admitted to the hospital.
This holiday season, save your breath and your energy by not letting stress get the best of you. Bring yourself back to center by practicing these:
