Treating emphysema: Lifestyle changes

Every day the average person takes about 17,000 breaths, but emphysema can make each one a real struggle. If you have this problem, there are a number of positive steps you can take to breathe more easily and greatly improve your quality of life.

The goal of emphysema treatment is to slow or even halt the disease’s progression. And there’s no debate: the single most important step you can take is to stop smoking cigarettes. To further ease your distress, your physician will prescribe medications that open your lungs, reduce airway irritation and, when the need arises, short-circuit potentially dangerous infections.

You can help reduce your symptoms by taking certain precautions, starting an exercise program and learning special breathing techniques. Many other actions will confer benefits as well. To get the best health payoff, try to incorporate the following suggestions into your lifestyle.

1. Quit smoking. If you smoke cigarettes, it’s absolutely critical to quit. Should you continue to smoke, your emphysema is certain to become worse, regardless of the medical care you receive. If you stop smoking, it will vastly improve your life — not to mention prolong it — and allow you to maintain your independence. Committing to this lifestyle change is admittedly very difficult for many people, but it can be done. And you don't have to do it alone; there are various proven options to help you kick the habit, including therapy, medications and support groups.
2. Learn breathing techniques. It can also be very helpful to learn new breathing techniques, either through a hospital program recommended by your doctor or by doing pursed-lip breathing on your own.
3. Seek out "good" air. Avoid smoke-filled rooms or places with high levels of particulates in the air. And stay indoors on cold days or when air quality is poor.
4. Get plenty of fluids. Drink water — at least eight glasses a day — to thin mucus secretions. Moisten indoor air with a humidifier.
5. Protect against infections. Steer clear of people with colds or the flu; emphysema lowers your resistance to infectious diseases, which can pose a serious threat. Wash your hands frequently to reduce the risk of contracting a respiratory infection. And get vaccinated against influenza annually and pneumonia as often as your doctor deems necessary.
6. Follow an exercise routine set up with the help of your doctor. Mild to moderate exercise improves endurance and cardiovascular health, reduces breathlessness and boosts your sense of well-being.
7. Find out about postural drainage, a method of draining mucus by hanging your head lower than your torso. Ask your doctor or physical therapist to teach you this technique.

Help yourself breathe easier with a 10-minute exercise called pursed-lip breathing. Here’s how:

1. Just before beginning an activity, lie flat on a bed with your head on a pillow.
2. Inhale through your nose for about four seconds, consciously moving your abdominal muscles to fill your lungs with air.
3. Purse your lips and exhale through your mouth, making a hissing sound. The exhalation should last twice as long as the inhalation. You should feel pressure in your chest and windpipe.
4. Repeat the exercise a number of times. You can do pursed-lip breathing any time you need more air, even while standing.