How to breathe better with COPD?

Caution : You must consult your doctor for your health. This page presents only a personal and alternative point of view which should not be considered as an attempt to prescribe medicine.

Stay active when suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (or COPD) can be laborious.

This disorder is characterized by an obstruction of the airways, which leads to difficulty in breathing.

Indeed, with this pathology, breathing requires more effort than usual.

In addition to the daily follow-up of a treatment, you can relieve your pain by controlling your breathing.

Here are some exercises to practice to breathe better with COPD.

Practice pursed-lip breathing

To breathe better when suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the practice of pursed-lip breathing is useful.

Indeed, when you inhale through your nostrils and reject the air through the half-open mouth, it helps restore a normal respiratory cycle, on the sole condition that the exhalation is long.

This breathing exercise is practiced in three stages.

First, you should breathe in gently through your nostrils until you notice that your lungs are filled with air.

Inflate only your belly, not your rib cage.

Then you have to purse your lips as if you are blowing to extinguish the flame of a candle.

Finally, exhale slowly, without straining, while keeping your lips pursed.

You can even keep your teeth slightly clenched by making the sound: CHHHHhhhhhhh

At this step, make sure you take more time to breathe out than when you breathe in.

Do not forget to keep your lips pursed (or in "cul de poule") and do not especially force your lungs to empty.

Do it in a comfortable way by contracting the abdominals slightly, but without creating tension.

Also, in an acute attack of shortness of breath due to COPD, you should learn to adopt a more comfortable position for your breathing.

You should stand with your back straight, pushing your head upwards, in order to decompress your vertebrae but also your diaphragm.

In addition, you should stay calm and practice pursed-lip breathing until you have mastered your breathing.

The technique is to be applied for at least 5 minutes.

Do abdominal breathing exercises

Abdominal breathing is breathing through the stomach.

It is innate in newborns, but it is also performed by professional musicians.

Here's how to apply it.

Adopt a standing position with your back straight and take care to spread your legs slightly.

Then place the back of one of your hands on the lower back and the inside of the other hand under your navel.

Without thinking and moving, inhale and exhale naturally while paying attention to the movements of your stomach and lower back.

Expel as much air as possible from your lungs by breathing slowly and for a long time through your mouth, then breathe in gently and firmly through your nostrils.

As you put your hand on the navel, you will feel your belly expand.

Breathe out again, but slowly through your mouth, gently tucking your stomach in.

Don't hesitate to take an empty-lunged break if the need arises, if you don't feel like taking a breath right away.

Repeat the exercise, trying to find the right tempo for the inspiration and the expiration.

For example, you can breathe in on 4 beats and breathe slowly over 8 beats.

This exercise must be repeated every day ten times (no more).

Apply the breath while lying down

To breathe better in the event of the onset of a COPD attack, breathing in a lying position remains a good alternative.

You can practice this simple breathing exercise in the evenings in your bed or on your sofa.

Start by lying down and adopt a comfortable position by raising your knees.

Make sure to keep your feet on the ground.

Then take a deep breath and count from 1 to 5, making sure your tummy bulges out.

However, your shoulders and chest should remain still.

Finally, count from 1 to 10 as you exhale slowly.

Finally, contract your abdomen towards your spine.

For more efficiency, perform a cycle of 10 to 20 deep breaths.

Breathing exercise on all fours

This simple breathing exercise will help improve your breathing if you have COPD.

First, get on all fours on your living room floor and make sure you have your knees at your pelvis level.

Then arch your back and gaze up at the sky while inhaling through your nostrils.

Then, exhale while bending your back and bringing your chin closer to your chest.

Make the back round.

Finally, take a break for a few seconds after you exhale and keep your back arched.

This exercise should be repeated 5 times in order to improve the mobility of your spine while working the muscles of breathing.

In conclusion, to breathe better with COPD, it is necessary to devote the necessary time to balance your breathing.

Also, always remember to do your exercises slowly, the slower your inhales and exhales, the better off you will be!

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