One of the sure-fire ways to have an exacerbation of COPD is to avoid the flu or pneumonia shot. Contracting a cold or flu can lead to pneumonia in very short order. Having pneumonia can turn deadly for those of us with compromised lungs. It means that either a cold or flu can be a death sentence. Even if you survive an exacerbation, going through it is never easy and usually requires a hospital stay along with handfuls of drugs what make us feel worse before we get better.

Avoiding Exacerbation’s

We have all been told how taxing smoking is on our lungs but no matter how much you want a cigarette, you can no longer smoke, or vape or inhale anything toxic into your lungs. You can not be around anyone who smokes, nor can you be around any open fires, wood-burning fires or open-pit fires.You just can no longer tolerate the residue that these burning materials emit.

Staying as active as possible is a must if you want to have any kind of life. Our lungs are compromised but we are far from dead.I have heard people say that they have lived with this disease for over 20 years! COPD is far from a dead sentence, unless you sit in a chair and wait for death to find you. If you continue to exercise daily, eat a balanced meal that is high is potassium, protein and magnesium you will replace the nutrients that are robbed of us by medications to keep us alive and well.

Staying Active

It is a plain and simple fact that the more we build up our wasting muscle mass the easier it will be to carry our failing lungs. Exercise is as much a medicine for our lungs as our puffer is. It is not easy to begin an exercise regimen because most of us get into a sedentary situation before being diagnosed when we stopped all exertion. Once we receive a proper diagnosis you are prescribed 4 to 5 days of exercise that includes stretching and some weight lifting along with cardiovascular exercise using a bike, treadmill or elliptical. Don’t forget deep breathing exercises. https://www.webmd.com/lung/copd/ss/slideshow-copd-exercises

Washing Your Hands

You can hardly imagine how many billions of germs live in a washroom, especially a public one or a counter top, a door handle, an elevator key or any other hard surface you touch. A person sneezing in a closed area like an elevator can spread his germs to you in a nano second. Always be ready with hand sanitizer and when using the washroom keep your hands well washed. In fact, you should wash your hands to the tune of “Happy Birthday” and not stop when the song is finished. Some people are resorting to wearing masks in public. I am not sure what I think of that idea but it could be just the remedy we need to avoid germs.

 Making Connections

Connections you make with others who have COPD can be more valuable than you realize. There is very little information about this disease and research is relatively new. Past generations died from it and we are the first generation that is actually living with it. The difference between living your chronic illness life successfully is in finding support and having the ear of someone who can empathize with us when we need it. We understand each other’s trial and tribulations as no one else can. Finding your support either on-line or an in person support group is worth more than you can imagine.

Some Ways to Connect:

Join me on Tuesday’s for Tea Time: https://catchyourbreath60.com/tea-time-tuesday-2/

Follow my Pinterest Page:https://catchyourbreath60.com/follow-my-pinterest-page/

Follow my Blog: http://https.www.catchyourbreath60.com

Signs of Exacerbation

• Noisy or irregular breathing,
  • wheezing
  • gurgling.
  • unable to catch your breath or catch a deep breath
• A worsening cough
  • expelling of phlegm that is darker in colour or thicker in texture
• Greyish skin colour or nail colour with a bluish tone
• Trouble sleeping or a loss of appetite
• Medics will talk to you, checking if you can talk in sentences.
  • If you can speak in sentences then you are usually OK
  • If you can not then it could mean trouble.
• Early morning or afternoon headaches could mean a build up of deadly carbon dioxide
• Swollen ankles, legs or belly pain with an extreme feeling of bloat can be from problems of the heart
• A fever is a sure sign that a exacerbation is on its way.

https://catchyourbreath60.com/your-to-go-bag-2

None of us wants to go to the hospital but don’t ignore these signs and symptoms. Call the paramedics and let them decide if you need to go or if you are OK to stay.