5 common everyday problems COPD patients face and how to tackle them

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Older man in sportswear coughs hard into his fist
COPD can severely affect your life.

COPD, commonly known as smoker’s cough, changes your life profoundly. If the lung disease is advanced, if often restricts patients’ lifestyle. We show five common problems patients with COPD face and give advice on how to deal with them.

#1 COPD everyday problem: Cleaning

Housework and cleaning can be difficult for people with COPD. You have to combine movement and strength – such as pushing and pulling the weight of the vacuum cleaner. Another example is mopping the floor, when you have to apply pressure to the mop. In both cases you also have to bend slightly, which restricts the chest from moving freely, making it more difficult to breathe. Dust can also be swirled into the air while you are cleaning or cleaning products may irritate your airways.

The solution

The easiest solution would be to get someone else to do the housework! But of course, this is not always an option. So if you have to tackle it yourself, the following advice can help:

  1. Use a damp cloth to avoid disturbing dust.
  2. Only use a small amount of cleaning product and make sure it has an environmental accreditation, as this is less likely to irritate your airways.
  3. Avoid sprays because if the cleaning product is dispersed in a spray, tiny particles can enter the lungs.
  4. Prepare yourself physically for the cleaning task: take a few deep breaths and do a gentle warm-up, such as rolling your shoulders and stretching.
  5. Make sure to keep an upright posture while you are cleaning. Maybe you would find it easier to clean the floor on your knees? Try it out!
  6. Take a break when you are doing the cleaning. Sit down and recover if it is too exhausting. To steady your breathing and to avoid or reduce breathlessness, you can use the pursed lip breathing technique.

#2 COPD everyday problem: Doing the shopping

Doing the shopping and especially carrying the shopping to the car or back home can be particularly demanding for patients with COPD. If you can lean on the shopping trolley this will help with your breathing and make life so much easier when it comes to transporting the shopping. Walking and carrying weights at the same time can be a problem.

The solution

Use a shopping trolley! The granny trolley may not be height of fashion, but it does the trick. Pulling is easier than carrying.

#3 COPD everyday problem: Walking long distances

Older couple hiking
With consistent training, it is possible to walk longer distances again despite COPD.

Walking long distances can become more and more of a challenge as COPD progresses. Many patients respond to this by avoiding it and walk less and less, but that only serves to exacerbate the problem. This is why you should not only look at short-term solutions but should tackle the problem with a long-term view.

The solution

The short-term solution for the problem is to drive some of the way by car, so that you then have the stamina to go on the actual walk. Would you like to stroll around the pedestrian area in town or go to a market in the town centre? Then get someone to drop you off close by.

A long-term measure to be able to walk long distances and be independent is disciplined training. You can do targeted fitness training with classes such as in a Pulmonary Rehabilitation group, or find free online exercises, or work with your physiotherapist. It may seem difficult in the beginning, but it is worth it.

#4 COPD everyday problem: Climbing stairs

Old man standing on stairs and holding onto the railing
Climbing stairs can be a real challenge with COPD.

An even greater hurdle for COPD patients than walking long distances is climbing stairs. Many will actively avoid this strain, even though it is actually good for their lungs. What should you do if there is no lift?

The solution

  1. Take a few deep breaths before you tackle the stairs.
  2. Climb the stairs very slowly but steadily.
  3. Concentrate on steady breathing. Breathe in deep through your nose and then slowly breath out using the pursed lip technique.
  4. Use the handrail to support yourself.
  5. Take a break early on if you notice that it is too much.
  6. Don’t give up! You can do it.

#5 COPD everyday problem: Shortness of breath, panic attacks and coughing in public

Anyone with chronic respiratory disease knows that it is not uncommon to be short of breath or have a coughing fit in public. Many people find that unpleasant and embarrassing. What should you do if something like that happens?

The solution

Stay calm and concentrate on breathing steadily. If you are short of breath or have a panic attack, try to concentrate on deliberately breathing in and out slowly.

Coughing fits can sometimes be prevented or alleviated with shallow, short breaths, pursed lip breathing and drinking plenty of water.

And remember: Shortness of breath, coughing and panic are not necessarily brought on by physical problems or an external irritant, such as smoke. People with COPD report that mental stress, for example, can also trigger shortness of breath. Think about which situations stress you out and make a conscious effort to avoid them. One example: Time pressure - always leave yourself a buffer before an appointment so that you don’t have to hurry.

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Note: The information in this blog post is not a treatment recommendation. The needs of patients vary greatly from person to person. The treatment approaches presented should be viewed only as examples. PARI recommends that patients always consult with their physician or physiotherapist first.

An article written by the PARI BLOG editorial team.

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