Shortness of breath is a characteristic symptom for patients with
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A major cause of
breathlessness in COPD is hyperinflation of the lungs due to air
trapping, which happens mainly due to airflow limitation. Breathlessness
and the inability to engage in normal activity are the most distressing
symptoms that COPD patients deal with. Starting early treatment and
learning breathing and relaxation techniques are vital to coping with
sudden bouts of breathlessness.
Anxiety and COPD
Breathlessness during COPD flare-ups is severe and is a cause for anxiety for COPD patients even when they are not in the middle of such an episode.
Understanding how the body reacts to stress and anxiety is very important. Panic and anxiety make the muscles in the body tighten which makes breathing even harder. This is precisely why patients and their caregivers need to learn to stay calm when they sense the coming of an attack, normally referred to as COPD exacerbation. As patients sense or find themselves in an episode of exacerbation, they panic causing their breathing to quicken. This is counter-productive and puts added stress on the respiratory system making it work harder.
Breathing Techniques
Learning to stay calm during flare-ups and actually slowing down breathing will have a calming effect. One can restore the regular pattern of breathing faster by learning breathing techniques such as pursed lip breathing. Here the patient inhales air through the nose and then gradually lets out the air through pursed lips, while keeping the mouth nearly shut. This forces air to stay longer in the body and opens up airways that much longer. Using this technique at least 10 times when a patient begins to feel breathlessness or stress can slow down breathing. Breathlessness tends to cause stress and stress seems to cause breathlessness too. So practicing pursed lip breathing several times through the day can keep panic away that worsens COPD symptoms.
Visualization Techniques
The
power of suggestion is known to be very strong. Thoughts of stress
bring on stress. Visualization is a relaxation technique where a person
retires to a quiet place, isolates all disturbing sounds and very often
darkens the room or lies with eyes closed. The entire body is then
relaxed by focusing on each part. Then you lead your mind through
peaceful images and enliven the scene in the mind with sounds that
accompany the scene in reality. For instance, you think of a stream of
water and then the green grass around it, the trees chirping in the
trees, the gentle gurgling of water and the sweet smell of soil and
water mixing together. Conjuring up such images works for many people
and they experience immediate relaxation. Some use classical music, yoga
and tai chi to that effect.
Recovering from Flare-ups
Remember to use whatever works for you during and after an episode of breathlessness. It is important to lay still for a minimum of five to ten minutes after a bout to help the body restore normal breathing. Do not be in a rush to get up and start normal activity.
All of these techniques should be used alongside prescribed medications and therapy. They are not a replacement for conventional medication.
Anxiety and COPDBreathlessness during COPD flare-ups is severe and is a cause for anxiety for COPD patients even when they are not in the middle of such an episode.
Understanding how the body reacts to stress and anxiety is very important. Panic and anxiety make the muscles in the body tighten which makes breathing even harder. This is precisely why patients and their caregivers need to learn to stay calm when they sense the coming of an attack, normally referred to as COPD exacerbation. As patients sense or find themselves in an episode of exacerbation, they panic causing their breathing to quicken. This is counter-productive and puts added stress on the respiratory system making it work harder.
Breathing Techniques
Learning to stay calm during flare-ups and actually slowing down breathing will have a calming effect. One can restore the regular pattern of breathing faster by learning breathing techniques such as pursed lip breathing. Here the patient inhales air through the nose and then gradually lets out the air through pursed lips, while keeping the mouth nearly shut. This forces air to stay longer in the body and opens up airways that much longer. Using this technique at least 10 times when a patient begins to feel breathlessness or stress can slow down breathing. Breathlessness tends to cause stress and stress seems to cause breathlessness too. So practicing pursed lip breathing several times through the day can keep panic away that worsens COPD symptoms.
Visualization Techniques
Recovering from Flare-ups
Remember to use whatever works for you during and after an episode of breathlessness. It is important to lay still for a minimum of five to ten minutes after a bout to help the body restore normal breathing. Do not be in a rush to get up and start normal activity.
All of these techniques should be used alongside prescribed medications and therapy. They are not a replacement for conventional medication.
For people suffering from COPD, it is important for them to know that they are not alone. I was also a victim.
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