If you are having difficulties breathing or catching your breath, your first instinct may be to avoid exercise and exertion. But did you know? It’s actually good for you to do some exercise. It sounds counterintuitive. If you’re having trouble breathing, as people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) do, you might think it best to rest. … Read more
It seems like everyday we hear that exercise is key to better health, and it’s true. Unfortunately for a lot of us, it feels impossible to begin an exercise regimen. I mean where should we start? As a less-than-expert exerciser, it can be difficult to figure out how to break into the exercise world. Thankfully, … Read more
For people dealing with a chronic lung disease like emphysema, every breath doesn’t come easy. As the disease progresses over time, the amount of oxygen the lungs can absorb gets worse. Luckily, it’s not all doom and gloom for emphysema sufferers as there are many ways to change one’s lifestyle to improve quality of life. Some … Read more
Pulmonary fibrosis is a type of restrictive lung disease that causes scarring to the lungs. The scarring hardens and thickens the lungs’ passageways. The scarring inside the lungs makes it difficult to breathe normally. People with pulmonary fibrosis cannot fully fill their lungs with air or fully expand their lungs. Often, people with pulmonary fibrosis have … Read more
Better lung function can be beneficial to all, but can exercise get you there? For people with a chronic lung disease, the thought of improving lung function is a recurring one. Life with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be physically exhausting, leaving those who suffer from it breathless from simple activities such as getting dressed or … Read more
People living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often have trouble breathing every day. Many people describe the shortness of breath associated with COPD as air hunger. You avoid the activities that make you feel breathless when you feel breathless. As you avoid activities, you do less, your muscles weaken, and breathlessness often worsens. As shortness of breath worsens, … Read more
COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is an umbrella term for various conditions that affect the lungs and breathing. Many things can exacerbate COPD, bringing about an array of challenging symptoms. It’s essential you know what to do during a COPD exacerbation. In addition, understanding what to do can greatly help in the event of … Read more
Pulmonary fibrosis is a condition in which the tissue of the lungs becomes damaged and scarred. Many things can lead to pulmonary fibrosis, although doctors often cannot identify a specific cause. If you’re living with a chronic lung disease like pulmonary fibrosis (PF), interstitial lung disease (ILD) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you’ve likely heard your doctor talk … Read more
My patients with chronic lung disease often report difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep and sleeping deeply. Respiratory symptoms, medications and anxiety or depression can contribute to poor sleep if you have lung disease. A way to improve the quality of your sleep is to practice good sleep hygiene, which is a set of nighttime behaviors … Read more
For millions of Americans diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the first question to their doctor may be, “How long do I have?” Coping with COPD symptoms and living well may seem nearly impossible. COPD causes shortness of breath, fatigue, wheezing and persistent coughing. Often, people with COPD need to use supplemental oxygen to ensure … Read more