Living with

Managing breathlessness

Breathlessness or being ‘short of breath’ is common with COPD. Learn how breathing techniques, special positions and even some handheld fans can help.

Quit smoking

If you smoke, quitting is the most important thing you can do. The sooner you quit, the better your chances of living well with COPD. Don’t feel guilty about smoking. Most smokers want to quit and have tried before. Some succeed the first time, but many try several times before quitting for good. Ask your doctor about a quit plan to get you started, or visit our quit smoking page for more information.

Exercise

If you get breathless doing normal activities, you might think about avoiding exercise.  This, however, can weaken your muscles. Exercise strengthens muscles and reduces breathlessness. Aim for 30 minutes, 5 times a week, broken into smaller sessions if needed. The activity should make you a little breathless. 

There are exercise and education programs run by specially trained health professionals for people living with a lung disease or lung cancer. These programs teach you the skills to exercise safely, manage your breathlessness and stay well.

Prevent infections

Protect yourself from infections by washing your hands regularly and cleaning your home. If you do get sick, stay home. Flu, pneumonia, and COVID-19 are especially important to avoid. Make sure your flu, COVID and pneumonia shots are up to date. Ask family and friends with a known infection to visit at another time when they’re well.

Eat well and stay active

People with chronic lung conditions can use up to 50% more energy than healthy people. This is because breathing is more challenging, and they usually have to fight off more infections or deal with symptom flare-ups.  

Here are some things you can do that can help:

• Stay within a healthy weight range*
• Eat a healthy diet
• Be active
• Get enough rest and sleep
• Enjoy time with friends, family and hobbies. Relaxation can help with stress or anxiety.

*An Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) can help you understand your healthy weight range and make a healthy eating plan.

Support your mental health

Anxiety and depression are common with COPD. Remember that you’re not alone, and support is available. Talk to your doctor regularly about your mental health and find ways to support your wellbeing. Explore our resources for more information and guided mindfulness exercises.

Managing flare-ups

A “flare-up” is when your symptoms get worse quickly, usually over a few days. It can be caused by an infection (often a virus) or by things in the air that irritate your lungs. Flare-ups are more common in winter and can make everyday things harder. 

Know the signs: increased cough, breathlessness, phlegm changes, fatigue. See your doctor quickly.

You might need to go to hospital if you have any of the symptoms above and at least one of these:

• Difficulty talking or walking
• Difficulty sleeping due to breathlessness
• Drowsiness or confusion
• Your lips or fingernails turn grey or blue
• Your heartbeat is very fast or irregular.

It’s better to act early. Waiting for more than 24 hours before getting treatment for a flare-up doubles your chance of needing to go to the hospital.  

Tips for COPD flare-ups

It’s normal to feel anxious during a flare-up. These tips can help you recover: 

• Drink lots of water or fluids and rest. If you’re on fluid restriction, stay within your prescribed amount.
• Take it easy and pace your activities over the day or week
• Use breathing techniques
• Keep taking your inhalers
• When you’re ready, start exercising slowly. Try a walk inside or stretching exercises before returning to your usual routine. 
• Return to your doctor to review or update your COPD Action Plan.

Know your triggers

Triggers are things that worsen your condition, and these can be avoided. Knowing your triggers and using your Action Plan to reduce them is key to managing COPD. Common triggers include:

• Smoke
• Strong smells and chemicals
• Cold, dry air
• Hot humid weather
• Air pollution and pollen
• Lung infections.

Additional help for your recovery

Talk to your doctor about pulmonary rehabilitation. This program can teach you how to exercise safely and manage your symptoms. 

The 6-8 week program covers:

• Increasing your physical function
• Breathing techniques
• Using your medications
• Energy conservation.

Pulmonary rehabilitation is one of the best things you can do to improve your breathing and wellbeing. It also reduces flare-ups.

Support

We’re here for you with many services and resources that can help. Head to our support page for more information.