Keep your fitness up
Going shopping, taking a long walk, fooling around with the (grand) children: it all takes more effort if you have COPD. That is why it is smart to adjust your exercise pattern. Then you will use your energy efficiently and you can continue to do a lot of fun things.
It seems so simple. Just walk up the stairs or cycle to work. However, that may not be so obvious to you. As a COPD patient, such things cost you a lot of energy. Especially if you have a severe form of COPD.
Annoying tightness
Who knows, as a result, you may have the idea that there is little that you can do now. Or do you tend to move a lot less, because that is precisely what causes that annoying stuffiness.
The good news is that you can also live a great life with COPD. It is only necessary to adjust your pace and daily schedule. Below are a few tips to help you manage COPD in the best possible way.
keep moving
Exercise is very important if you have COPD. The more active you are, the further you can reduce respiratory symptoms. Movement ensures a better condition. And your muscle cells learn to deal with less oxygen. That means you can do more with less oxygen.
At first, you may find it difficult to become more active. It means that you will suffer more from shortness of breath in the short term. But after a few weeks you will notice that you feel better and that the shortness of breath decreases.
30 minutes
How much you can move is hard to say. That depends on your condition and the seriousness of your condition. It may be an idea to go for a walk, swim or cycle. To take longer walks with the dog. Or from now on take the stairs instead of the elevator. In any case, you do not suddenly have to start exercising very intensively. As long as you move, in your own way and level. Other suitable sports are badminton, golf and yoga.
It is a healthy starting point to be active for at least half an hour a day. You can build this up slowly, for example start with ten minutes a day and add more and more time. Do not forget to take your medicines as prescribed, because this gives you more breathing room so that you can keep moving for longer.
Make a daily schedule
Another thing that can help you to minimize your limitations: organize your life a little more tightly. For example, take half an hour to an hour of rest halfway through the day. Then you can catch your breath and have more energy for the rest of the day. If you want to go shopping, don’t do it on that very busy Saturday afternoon. It is better to choose a quiet moment.
Furthermore, schedule your activities for those times when you generally feel most fit. In short: keep your own physical limits in mind in your daily activities.
Customize the environment
Adjustments to your home can also ensure that you have fewer complaints. For example, make sure you have easy access to everything, so that household chores are less tiring. Because your airways are extra sensitive, you should avoid dusty rooms and products such as strong perfume. Take a shower rather than a bath, because climbing in and out of the bath requires a lot of energy.
