Name some COPD triggers and ways to avoid them

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a respiratory issue that makes it hard to breathe. People suffering from this condition have chronic bronchitis or emphysema, which increases their chances of catching lung infections. In COPD, patients show signs like nasal congestion, fatigue, headache, muscle ache, sore throat, wheezing, and shortness of breath. The condition is long-term and can be managed by using a non-invasive ventilation machine. Besides, here is a list of some COPD triggers that patients must avoid to prevent their condition from worsening. Here is how you can do it!

Tips to avoid COPD signs from worsening

In COPD, the air flowing in and out of the lungs gets obstructed. Therefore, to manage their condition, the patients suffering from the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are advised to avoid the following triggers:

Trigger 1: Weather:

Those who have COPD should take care of the temperature and weather. Excessive cold, hot air, or cold air can trigger a flare-up that can cause symptoms to worsen. A study suggests that extreme temperatures, below freezing and above 90-degrees F temperature, are particularly harmful. Factors like wind and humidity also add to the risk and should be avoided.

Avoid Cold Weather:

If the weather is not good, you should make sure to cover your mouth and nose, especially when outdoors. For this, you can tie a scarf or get a painter’s mask. If you cannot find these accessories, you can also choose to cup both hands over your nose and mouth so that the cold air cannot get to you. When indoors, you should try to maintain the humidity levels at 40 percent using a humidifier.

Avoid Hot Weather:

If you have COPD and the temperature gets too hot or humid, you should stay indoors to avoid COPD flare-ups. This way, you can minimize the risk. Patients who are serious and have mid to high-level COPD can even move to another part of the country where the temperatures are more moderate.

Trigger 2: Air Pollution

People who have lung problems should take measures not to inhale the polluted air. Unclean air can irritate your respiratory organs and exacerbate COPD signs. So, when outdoors, you should avoid allergens like dust, pollen, odors from industrial plants, smoke from fires, and smog. And, when inside, you should watch out for pet dander, mold, and perfumes.

Outdoor Pollution:

For avoiding damage to the lungs because of outdoor pollution, patients are recommended to wear a mask or scarf around their mouth and nose. Also, when outdoors, they should limit physical activity and exercise as it may make them breathe hard. People are recommended to stay indoors, if possible, especially if the smog levels are high.

Indoor Pollution:

The belief that the indoor air is better than the air outdoors is not quite right. The truth is that the indoor air quality is also poor at times because of pollutants like dust or particles generated from burning coal. So, to protect yourself from these, you should use an air purifier. Or else, if you are willing to opt for a more natural solution, you can also plant trees.

COPD is a serious condition. People suffering from this problem should avoid extreme temperatures and breathing in contaminated air to prevent their situation from worsening.