5 Breathing Exercises for COPD

The term COPD refers as Common Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. This is mainly a breathing disorder which can lead to bronchitis and emphysema. Progressively worsening airflow obstruction. It is often present in 6th decades of life or later in patients. More permanent airflow obstruction, less reversibility and less normalization of airflow obstruction. Cellular inflammation like neutrophils, macrophages, eosinophils and mast cells may occur. Emphysema frequently found in COPD.

Notable symptoms are dyspnea, mucositis in pulmonary cavity and cough. Medical research and scientific evidence have revealed the following beneficiary exercises.

5 Breathing Exercises for COPD

The following are the disorders and ailments of COPD.

  • Pursed-lip breathing
  • Coordinated breathing
  • Deep breathing
  • Huff cough
  • Diaphragmatic breathing Conclusion

How to breathe efficiently?

  • Start by lying on your back with your head on a pillow.
  • Breathe in through your nose.
  • Tighten your abdominal muscles to push up on the lungs from below, and breathe out through your mouth. As you do so, purse your lips so that you hear a hissing sound and feel pressure backing into your windpipe and chest.
  • This pressure helps keeps the bronchial tubes from collapsing shut and allows the lungs empty out the stale air more fully. Exhaling in this manner should take at least twice as long as inhaling takes. Use this method until you are comfortable with it. Then try it in a sitting position, while walking climbing stairs, etc.
  • Practice this method for 10 minutes which day and use it whenever you feel out of breaths during the day. You may feel some abdominal or chest discomfort at first because you are exercising muscles you are not used to using. This should resolve quickly if you stick with the exercises.

1. Pursed Lip Breathing

Reduces the hardness of and shortness of breath and enhances relaxation. During the breathing process, one has to take a deep breath and inhale in short amounts. Forcing the air out will cause tremor. Hence it is advised to breathe out slowly via the mouth.

2. Coordinated Breathing

Dyspnea leads to anxiety. Inhale via the nose and breathe out via mouth.

3. Deep Breathing

Breathing deeply prevents air from getting trapped in your lungs, by this it may lead to SOB shortness of breath. As a result, you can breathe in more fresh air. It is advisable to perform this exercise 4-5 times in a 24-hour period.

4. Huff Cough

COPD can lead to mucus build up more easily in your lungs. A huff cough is a breathing exercise designed to help you cough up mucus effectively without making you feel too tired. Here’s how to practice a huff cough:

  • Be comfortable in an area
  • Inhale via mouth
  • Generate your pelvic muscles to perform efficiently as if you are blowing hard into a mirror.

5. Diaphragmatic Breathing

The diaphragm is a vital muscle of breathing activity. People who have COPD disorder rely mainly on the neck, shoulders to receive oxygen. This mode of breathing aids in improving the efficiency of muscles.