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.
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