Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease - Lifestyle Changes

Lifestyle Changes

Quitting Smoking and Avoiding Other Irritants

Quitting smoking is the first and most essential step in treating chronic obstructive lung disease and slowing its progress. In many people who quit, lung function stabilizes and eventually declines at about the rate of nonsmokers in the same age group. In some people, lung function may even improve slightly after quitting. A number of effective aids, including nicotine replacement devices and antidepressants, such as bupropion (Zyban), are available to help people quit.

Preventing Upper Respiratory Infections

Good Hygiene. Everyone should wash his or her hands before eating and after going outside. Ordinary soap is sufficient. Antibacterial soaps add little protection, particularly against viruses. One study suggests that common liquid dish washing soaps are up to 100 times more effective than antibacterial soaps in killing respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which is known to cause pneumonia.

Vaccines. Two important vaccinations help protect against respiratory infection.

• Influenza vaccination. People with emphysema should be vaccinated against influenza each year at least 6 weeks before flu season. Severely ill patients may experience mild initial adverse side effects. In general, however, the vaccination is very safe and appears to help reduce the severity of COPD during flu season.
• Pneumococcal vaccine. The pneumococcal vaccine protects against the major bacterium that causes pneumonia. The vaccine remains effective for years. Flu and pneumococcal vaccines can be administered at the same time without increasing any adverse effects.

[For more information, see In-DepthReport #94: Colds and Flus.]

Breathing Exercises

Pursed-Lip Breathing. A technique called pursed-lip breathing can help improve lung function before starting activities. It takes about 10 minutes. When first learning the technique, the patient should lie flat on a bed with his or her head on a pillow. Later, the technique can be performed while walking or enduring any activity requiring extra air.

• First, the patient inhales through the nose, moving the abdominal muscles outward so that the diaphragm lowers and the lungs fill with air.
• The patient then exhales through the mouth with the lips pursed, making a hissing sound.
• The exhalation should be twice as long as the inhalation, so that pressure is experienced in the windpipe, and chest and trapped air is forced out.