Coping with COPD
By Deborah Leader, RN, About.com Guide to COPD
Learning how to cope with daily life when you have COPD takes time and patience, but is an essential part of COPD management.
Coping With COPD
Depression - Anxiety - Remorse. Is coping with COPD difficult? You bet it is, but loading your COPD toolbox with effective coping strategies will help you meet your difficulties head-on.
- The Emotional Effects of COPD
- Depression Medication and COPD
- Dealing With Insensitive Comments
- Online COPD Support Group
Living With COPD
When you have COPD, you must discover ways to live that you may not have known about before your diagnosis. Letting go of the past and learning to live differently is challenging, but can be done.
- Living With Lung Disease
- Tour the Respiratory System
- Normal Adult Vital Signs
- Living With COPD
- The Health Hazards of Wood Burning Stoves
- Deaths From Swine Flu Related To Bacterial Pneumonia
- Oxy-View -- Oxygen Therapy Glasses
- Preparing for a Doctor Appointment
- Packing for the Hospital
- 10 Questions Every Patient Should Ask About Surgery
- Sex and COPD: Tips for Enjoying Intimacy
- Washing Your Hands to Prevent COPD Exacerbation
- How Often Should I Wash My Hands?
- Should I Get a Flu Shot?
- 10 Steps to Better Indoor Air Quality
- 10 Ways to Save Money on your Prescriptions
- How to Protect Yourself from Secondhand Smoke When Traveling
- The 10 Most Important Things to Bring With You to the Hospital
- Top New Year's Resolutions for People with COPD
- The 5 Things Everyone Should Know About COPD
Breathing Techniques
Breathing exercises can help clear your airways, strengthen you diaphragm and relieve shortness of breath.
- Breaking the Dyspnea Cycle
- Exercises to Help you Breathe Better
- How to Perform Diaphragmatic Breathing With Pursed Lips
- How to Perform Pursed-Lip Breathing
- How to Use an Incentive Spirometer
Diet and Exercise
Good nutrition and a sensible exercise program are an important part of any healthy living program, but they are crucial if you have COPD.
- Nutritional Guidelines for People With COPD
- How to Increase Your Daily Calories
- Tips for Reducing Sodium in Your Diet
- Tips for Healthy Eating for COPD Patients
- The Role Obesity Plays in COPD
- 6 Tips for Avoiding Weight Gain During the Holidays
- Tips for Avoiding Shortness of Breath While Eating
- Exercise and COPD: Learning the Basics
- Walking and COPD
- 4 Ways to Increase Your Flexibility
- COPD Exercise Warmup: Head Tilt
- COPD Exercise Warmup: Shoulder Rolls
- COPD Exercise Warmup: Calf Stretch
- COPD Exercise Warmup: Quadriceps Stretch
Caregiver Support
Being a caregiver for a patient with COPD can be one tough job, which is why you will need all the support that you can get.
- Normal Adult Vital Signs
- Hiring and Employing a Caregiver
- 8 Coping Tips for the COPD Caregiver
- Where to Find Caregiver Resources
- List of Common COPD Medications for Patients and Caregivers
Share Your Thoughts
One of the best ways to share suggestions or learn information from others about COPD is through User Answers. A unique, interactive tool designed to enrich the reader's experience, User Answers are fun and easy to participate in, and allow readers to have their suggestions and comments be part of real, live About.com articles.
