Home Remedies for COPD

by Matson Huff | Sep 11, 2023 | COPD

Are you suffering from the ongoing symptoms of COPD? In its earliest stages, COPD can present with mild effects that you may not even recognize. As the disease progresses, these symptoms can become more severe and impact your ability to function.

Fortunately, there are several treatments available for managing COPD — some of which can be performed at home without any medical intervention. The available home remedies include vitamin D, enhanced air quality, and breathing exercises.

What Is COPD?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive condition caused by restricted airflow. There are two main types of COPD: chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Chronic bronchitis is defined by irritated, swollen bronchial tubes. Emphysema affects the alveoli within the lungs, making it harder for the lungs to transport oxygen into your bloodstream.

Both types of COPD present with similar symptoms, which include shortness of breath, chronic cough, and chest tightness. While there are numerous ways to address these symptoms, many patients choose to use natural, at-home remedies. 

9 Natural Treatments for COPD

If you have mild symptoms of COPD, you may not yet be in need of medical intervention. Stage One COPD causes slight shortness of breath and coughing, both of which can be reduced with home remedies. The following are just nine ways to manage mild COPD symptoms from the comfort of your own home:

1. Improve Your Home’s Air Quality

The first step you should take to manage your COPD symptoms from home is improving the air quality in your environment. Air purifiers with high-quality filters can remove harmful particulates, such as chemical irritants, bacteria, pollen, and more, from the air. 

Air purifiers are especially beneficial to COPD patients who have pets. An air purifier designed specifically for pet owners will remove the dander and dead skin cells your pet leaves behind. As a result, you get cleaner and clearer air quality in your home.

2. Stop Smoking

One of the biggest factors behind COPD is smoke. Tobacco causes inflammation within the airways, which can lead to narrowing and difficulty breathing. If you smoke cigarettes, you should stop doing so immediately. Ceasing to smoke will lead to a rapid improvement in your COPD symptoms, with more clear breathing and less coughing. 

This also applies if you are exposed to secondhand smoke. If you live with someone who smokes, they should either quit or only smoke outdoors. Reducing your exposure to smoke will show a significant improvement in your COPD symptoms. 

3. Reduce Your Stress

Another factor behind COPD is stress. Stress will not cause you to develop COPD, but it can certainly make symptoms worse if you already have the disease. Severe stress has been associated with exacerbated COPD symptoms, such as chronic cough and chest tightness.

When you have been diagnosed with COPD, make sure to manage your stress levels. You can try meditation, drinking green tea, or doing deep breathing exercises to produce a calming effect.

4. Develop Muscle Strength

For many people, being diagnosed with COPD puts an end to their active lifestyles — but it shouldn’t. While COPD symptoms can make it harder to exercise, remaining active will actually improve your symptoms over time. Exercise encourages stronger respiratory muscles and better breathing overall.

One of the best things you can do for your body after being diagnosed with COPD is to build strength. Interval training with alternating periods of high and low intensity can strengthen your muscles without overworking your heart and lungs.

5. Try Water-Based Exercises

Another form of exercise that can benefit your body and reduce COPD symptoms is water-based exercise. Swimming and water aerobics are great ways to improve respiratory function without putting too much stress on the body. 

This type of exercise is low-impact and can even be more effective than land-based exercise in some cases. Water-based physical activity can also improve your overall mood and help manage your stress levels, which will have a positive effect on your COPD.

6. Practice Breathing Exercises

A major way to reduce the severity of your COPD is by taking up breathing exercises such as deep breathing, diaphragm breathing, and pursed-lip breathing. Rotating through these activities can help expand your lungs and allow for more oxygen intake. These breathing exercises can be practiced on a daily basis on your own or on a regular schedule with a group.

7. Use Eucalyptus Oil

Essential oils have been shown to provide a variety of health and wellness benefits when used properly. They may even offer some relief for COPD patients by opening up the airways and encouraging better breathing. 

Specific essential oils are known to have beneficial properties for the respiratory system. The most notable one is eucalyptus oil, which can help clear mucus buildup, expand the airways, and even provide a calming effect.

8. Maintain a Healthy Weight

Some people experience significant COPD symptoms because they are overweight. When you are carrying too much weight, it puts added stress on your entire body, especially your respiratory system.

By losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight, you can see an improvement in your COPD symptoms over time. You should feel short of breath less often and struggle less during physical activity.

9. Take Vitamin D

The final home remedy that you can try to help manage COPD is vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency can increase inflammation throughout the body and lead to excess mucus production. For people with COPD, this can create more severe symptoms. Taking a vitamin D supplement allows you to resolve your deficiency and reduce COPD symptoms.

The Best Ways to Treat COPD

From essential oils to breathing exercises, there are many natural ways to help relieve COPD symptoms. And if these home remedies aren’t enough, there are other ways to approach COPD treatment.

More severe symptoms typically require professional medical treatments, including steroid medication and supplemental oxygen therapy. Regenerative medicine, also known as stem cell therapy, may also provide some relief for COPD symptoms.

 If you feel that your COPD needs more extensive treatment, speak with your pulmonologist and primary physician about your options.

What Are the Stages of COPD?

by Matson Huff | Aug 21, 2023 | COPD

COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This disorder is characterized by decreased airflow to and from the lungs. It is a progressive respiratory condition that can impact your ability to breathe properly. When you develop COPD, your body receives less oxygen than it needs to function properly. 

What causes COPD? People develop COPD for several reasons, but smoking is one of the most common causes. Exposure to air pollution, genetics, and early childhood respiratory infections can all increase your risk of developing the disease later in life.

You may not know that COPD occurs in four distinct stages. Each of these stages produces different symptoms, and the treatment approaches vary depending on the stage of the disease.

Stage One

The first stage of COPD is mild and produces very subtle symptoms, if any. During this stage, many people aren’t aware that they have COPD or that anything is wrong with their lung function. Some people mistake their symptoms for a simple flu or respiratory infection at this stage.

Symptoms

While symptoms are minor during the first stage of COPD, you may notice the following:

• Cough
• Increased mucus production
• Shortness of breath with moderate exertion

Often, stage one COPD is diagnosed through an incidental finding on a routine diagnostic exam. Your doctor can perform a spirometry test during a yearly physical and find that your lung function is abnormal. 

From there, they may order a pulmonary function test or PFT to assess your lung function with a FEV1 score. FEV1 measures your forced expiratory volume or the amount of air you breathe out when you exhale. In stage one, your FEV1 should be between 80 and 100 percent.

Treating Stage One COPD

In the first stage of COPD, your doctor may prescribe a bronchodilator as the first line of treatment. This is an inhaled medication that can help open up the airways and allow for increased airflow. They may also suggest lifestyle modifications, like quitting smoking and avoiding exposure to secondhand smoke.

Stage Two

Stage Two COPD is still relatively mild for most patients, but there is a slight increase in the severity and frequency of symptoms. Many people see a decrease in their activity levels and quality of life during this stage because their symptoms have become more noticeable and ongoing.

Symptoms

During the second stage, you can experience any combination of the following symptoms:

• Chronic cough
• Increased mucus production
• Shortness of breath with mild exertion

It is during this stage that most COPD patients are officially diagnosed because they seek an answer to their ongoing symptoms. 

Your primary doctor may perform a preliminary spirometry test before referring you to a pulmonologist for a pulmonary function test. In stage two, a PFT will typically reveal an FEV1 score of 50 to 79 percent.

Treating Stage Two COPD

Treatment becomes pertinent when you are in the second stage of COPD. Your doctor will likely prescribe a bronchodilator medication to provide increased airflow and open up the airways. Steroids may also be provided to help ease your symptoms during flare-ups. 

You may also start a pulmonary rehabilitation program. These programs are designed to further educate you on COPD and give you additional ways to manage the condition.

Stage Three

Stage three is considered to be the severe stage of COPD. It is during this stage that most patients find their quality of life significantly impacted, with a decreased ability to function. More extensive treatment methods are started during this time as the condition continues to progress in severity.

Symptoms

When you are in the third stage of COPD, you will likely experience the following symptoms and more:

• Chronic shortness of breath
• Continued coughing
• Excessive mucus production
• Frequent respiratory infections
• Chest tightness
• Pain or discomfort when taking a deep breath
• Wheezing
• Trouble getting a full breath
• Swelling in the ankles

During stage three of COPD, many people find it difficult to perform their activities of daily living. You may find yourself too out of breath to complete daily chores, work duties, and more. Most patients are unable to exercise to any extent and experience extreme lethargy from even short periods of physical activity. 

A pulmonary function test often shows the FEV1 to be at 30 to 50 percent during this stage.

Treating Stage Three COPD

Treatment options during stage three of COPD are very similar to stage two, but supplemental oxygen is added. You may also find yourself using prescription steroids more often due to frequent flare-ups or an increase in the severity of your symptoms. 

Stage Four

Stage four is the most pronounced and severe stage of COPD. When you are in this stage, your ability to function is significantly diminished. Blood oxygen levels will be low, and you are now at an increased risk of developing heart failure or lung failure. Most people are completely dependent on oxygen at this point.

Symptoms

Symptoms of stage four COPD are very pronounced and seriously impact your quality of life. Many patients experience:

• Difficulty breathing, even at rest
• Heart palpitations or tachycardia
• Wheezing
• Extreme mucus production
• Severely decreased airflow
• Intense lethargy and fatigue
• Inability to partake in any physical activity

In the fourth stage of COPD, you will experience frequent flare-ups that could be fatal if not immediately addressed. You will likely be entirely dependent on oxygen to get any oxygen intake. FEV1 readings at this stage are below 30 percent.

Treating Stage Four COPD

When you reach the fourth stage of COPD, extensive treatment options are required to maintain oxygen intake. Ongoing supplemental oxygen is necessary, and surgical intervention may be needed. These interventions include lung transplants or lung volume reduction surgery.

Seeking Treatment for COPD

From bronchodilators to surgical intervention, there are many ways to approach COPD in its different stages. In recent years, some patients have looked to regenerative medicine to alleviate COPD symptoms. 

If you are struggling with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder at any stage, speak with your pulmonologist about alternative treatment options.