Air Pollution alone is responsible for 1/3 of COPD deaths, reports World Health Orgainsation (WHO). We MUST stop this invisible killer that is rapidly turning numerous more into patients of respiratory diseases! It’s time to Breathe Life. Not just smoking but climate as well as increased pollution are responsible for aggravation of pulmonary diseases like COPD, asthma, bronchitis, emphysema etc. Pulmonary Rehab (PR) or Pulmonary Physiotherapy treatment remains an essential part of treating patients with Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD treatment) in order to ease symptoms of coughing and breathlessness.
There’s no cure for COPD, but effective COPD management can make COPD patient feel better and eventually aid COPD prevention by reducing acute exacerbation. In this post, ReLiva physiotherapists bring to you Tips for COPD management and how a Physiotherapist can teach you breathing exercises and specialized physiotherapy techniques to cope with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and COPD symptoms.
Pulmonary Rehab in the Safety of your Home
Brought to you by ReLiva’s Cardio Respiratory Physiotherapists
What causes coughing with COPD?
If you’ve had COPD for a while, you probably know how much you usually cough. If you find yourself coughing more than usual, or coughing up sputum that looks different than it normally does, it may be time to go to the doctor to make sure you’re not having a flare-up or an exacerbation.
An increase in coughing can have several causes. Your body may be producing more sputum or mucus. Exposure to irritants, especially cigarette smoke or harsh fumes, can also increase coughing.
You may also be coughing more because you’ve developed another illness alongside your COPD. Common examples include infections like pneumonia or influenza, or issues such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). When you lie down, GERD can push stomach acid into your throat and mouth and cause you to cough.
Remedies for COPD
Most people will see a pulmonologist and start medication once a clear diagnosis has been established. But a complete and effective treatment does not stop here. One should go for Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) with a trained physiotherapist to learn various techniques and breathing exercises to manage and in some cases prevent COPD exacerbations. [Continue reading. We shall detail how PR works, in the latter section of this post]
How can I help myself with COPD?
Living with COPD can be stressful but small changes can make a bigger impact on the disease. Following tips will help a COPD patient live better:
- Understand your lungs and breathing
- Take Oxygen therapy & medications (as prescribed)
- Stay healthy & avoid exacerbations
- Quit smoking & related aggravating factors
- Be active. It’s important for everyone to stay active and control their weight, but especially if you’re living with COPD. …
- Have your flu vaccine regularly
- Keep warm
- Go for Pulmonary Rehab & special breathing exercises (Read more about pulmonary physiotherapy)
A physiotherapist will teach you techniques to cough which will help to:
- Strengthen your lungs and
- Ease your COPD symptoms
Goals of treatment for COPD include:
- Relieving symptoms
- Slowing progress of the disease
- Improving exercise tolerance (ability to stay active)
- Preventing and treating complications
- Improving overall health
COPD: What to do when I get breathless?
Better Breathing Tip: Stop, Reset, Continue
When you are feeling short of breath during exercise or regular activities, use these 3 steps:
- Stop your activity.
- Reset by sitting down, relax your shoulders, until you catch your breath.
- Continue activity, doing pursed-lips breathing as you go. Go at a slower pace if you need to.
[A Physiotherapist can teach you various breathing techniques including pursed-lips breathing.]
Chest Physiotherapy and COPD
Physiotherapy is an essential for the treatment of COPD patient / those with chronic respiratory non-inflammatory diseases especially for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Physiotherapists trained in pulmonary function (chest physiotherapy) are specially trained to run the pulmonary rehab for COPD patients. They use specialized physiotherapy techniques to help people cope with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and its symptoms.
Does Pulmonary Rehab help COPD?
Pulmonary rehab programmes significantly improve the patient’s health by:
- reducing breathlessness,
- providing ways to control the disease and
- by improving the patient’s ability to carry out daily activities, such as bathing and dressing.
COPD patients are heavy users of health care resources. Among the multiple benefits of Physiotherapy based Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR), reduction in the use of the health care system is an important goal of PR. A large study1 examining benefit of PR program found that, in comparison with a control group who received “usual care,” patients in the rehabilitation group spent less time in hospital (10 versus 21 days) during the 1-year follow up.
Find more about how Pulmonary Rehab helps treat COPD by clicking here.
How does Physiotherapy for COPD work?
At ReLiva, physiotherapists use specialized physiotherapy techniques to help people cope with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and its symptoms.
A physiotherapist works with a COPD patient with the following aims:
- To remove excess bronchial secretion and reduce the airflow obstruction.
- To establish the coordinated pattern of breathing
- To promote relaxation and improve posture
- To improve the mobility of thorax, shoulder girdle and neck
- To increase the exercise tolerance
- To encourage a full and active life style.
Physiotherapists trained in pulmonary function are specially trained to run the pulmonary rehab for COPD patients. They use specialized physiotherapy techniques to help people cope with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and its symptoms.
Need COPD Treatment with Pulmonary Rehab?
ReLiva is there
Book an appointment for COPD treatment today!
Pulmonary experts at ReLiva Physiotherapy & Rehab can design a program specific to your COPD condition and lifestyle and help you lead a better life with fewer incidents of flare-ups. Call us at +91 99209 91584 or ask for call back and we will put you in touch with the concerned physiotherapist near you.
Related Reading:
Believe in Yourself : Story of COPD Patient Recovery
Dos and Don’ts for Managing Asthma
Managing & Preventing Asthma Attacks
Scientific References:
1] Results at 1 year of outpatient multidisciplinary pulmonary rehabilitation: a randomised controlled trial. Griffiths TL, Burr ML, Campbell IA, Lewis-Jenkins V, Mullins J, Shiels K, Turner-Lawlor PJ, Payne N, Newcombe RG, Ionescu AA, Thomas J, Tunbridge J. Lancet. 2000 Jan 29; 355(9201):362-8. [PubMed] [Ref list]
