As many as 90 percent of COPD cases are tied to smoking. So one of the best ways to prevent COPD in the first place, as well as keep it from getting worse, is to steer clear of cigarettes. “Smoking causes oxidative stress, which stimulates inflammation in the airways,” says Michael W. Sims, MD, an assistant professor and director of clinical research for the Penn Medicine Airways Biology Initiative in Philadelphia. These damaging effects cause COPD, and they also cause the condition to decline faster by increasing the risk for acute symptoms. And avoiding secondhand smoke is just as important as quitting smoking.
Beware of Indoor Air Pollution
The second most predominant trigger of COPD symptoms is combustible smoke, "such as breathing in smoke while cooking over an open wood fire, or heating your home with a kerosene heater that is poorly ventilated,” Dr. Sims says. According to the World Health Organization, more than 1 million people each year die from COPD that develops as a result of indoor air pollution. These lung irritants are primarily an issue for people in developing countries, but they should be avoided in general to help prevent COPD. To minimize indoor air pollution, avoid using a fireplace or wood-burning stove, and keep your air filters clean.
“Respiratory viruses, including influenza and pneumonia, are among the most concerning triggers of COPD symptoms,” says Heath Latham, MD, medical director of pulmonary rehabilitation at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City. “These viruses cause a breakdown in the lining of the airways, creating inflammation and increasing the risk of secondary bacterial infections.” For good COPD management, annual flu and pneumonia vaccines are essential. These vaccinations protect against the viruses that can worsen COPD and develop into a fatal infection. In addition to a yearly flu shot, you can avoid viruses and bacterial infections by following good hand-washing hygiene and steering clear of situations where you’re more likely to be exposed to illnesses.
Although it’s important to stay as active as you can with COPD, you do need to be aware of what’s going on outdoors: Traditional city air pollution can trigger COPD symptoms. Of particular concern are the solid chunks of pollution that come from products of combustion, such as car and truck exhaust. “Some of the particles in city air pollution are so small that they can’t be seen with the eye, but can be breathed deep into the small airways, where they deposit and cause inflammation,” Sims says. Translation for daily COPD management: Stay inside on days when ozone exposure is high. Check your local paper for daily air quality reports, or download the Everyday Health COPD Tracker for weather information plus treatment and condition tips.
Keep Your Home Clear of Indoor Allergens
In addition to monitoring the air quality outside, you’ll need to keep your indoor environment as allergen-free as possible, too. “Dust and dust mites, especially for people who also have asthma, can worsen COPD symptoms,” says Luz Fonacier, MD, an allergist at Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, N.Y., and a fellow of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. To prevent COPD flare-ups at home, you may need to make changes to your surroundings. Dr. Fonacier recommends covering mattresses, box springs, and pillows with readily available dust mite-resistant covers, and washing sheets and pillowcases weekly in water that is at least 131 degrees Fahrenheit. To further prevent COPD symptoms, she also suggests removing dust-collecting décor, such as stuffed toys, from bedrooms, and replacing carpets with hard floors when practical.
Remember Your Seasonal Allergies
“Some studies show that people prone to allergies may have an increased risk of COPD in the first place, and COPD symptoms may worsen during allergy season,” Sims says. Expect COPD symptoms to get worse during the season you’re most prone to allergies, be it spring, summer, or fall. “Allergies may act as a lung irritant directly through allergic inflammation, or indirectly through allergic rhinitis and postnasal drip,” he says. “Postnasal drip may stimulate the nerves at the back of the nose, which can enhance cough and aggravate COPD symptoms.” For better COPD management, try antihistamines to help reduce allergic reactions and stay indoors when seasonal allergies strike. Talk to your doctor if you continue to experience allergy symptoms despite these efforts.
Stamp Out Strong Scents
Do you experience COPD symptoms around cleaning agents, air fresheners, diesel fumes, scented candles, paint fumes, and other products with strong odors? “If one of these items is a lung irritant for you, COPD symptoms such as chest tightness and shortness of breath will immediately set in,” Sims says. To better manage COPD, avoid any scents and fumes that cause symptoms for you.
COPD symptoms often get worse when it’s very hot and humid or, for some, bitterly cold outside. You can’t control the weather, but you can create your home environment. “The majority of people with COPD have more symptoms in hot, humid conditions," Dr. Latham says. "For these people, the only way to prevent COPD symptoms is to stay in a cool, air-conditioned environment." For those whose COPD symptoms get worse in the cold, Latham suggests wearing a scarf over your face and breathing through your nose to warm and humidify the air when you’re outside.
Seek Relief for Psychological Stress
Stress can impair even your best efforts at COPD management by dampening the immune system and leaving you more vulnerable to infections that can worsen your symptoms. “Stress can also enhance the sensation of shortness of breath in people with COPD,” Sims says. He adds that former smokers are more likely to turn back to cigarettes when they’re stressed, further worsening COPD. Make stress relief part of your daily plan. Ask your family and friends for help when you need it, and consider joining a support group to talk to others with COPD
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