Breathing Exercises for COPD

Anyone diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may understand the breathing challenges that come with walking to the mailbox or up a flight of stairs. While medications can help manage the condition, they cannot cure it. To find relief, many physicians recommend patients engage in breathing exercises. This post will focus on breathing for COPD and breathing techniques that can strengthen lung capacity and stave off symptoms, including using a device such as the PowerLung.

What is COPD?

COPD is a group of progressive lung diseases that can leave people breathless (called dyspnea) and fatigued due to the inability to breathe well. COPD is most often caused by smoking or exposure to chemical irritants, and is incurable, although there are multiple treatments available to help sufferers live successful lives.

The 2 most common types of COPD are bronchitis and emphysema. With emphysema, the air sacs no longer return to their original shape as the space between them grows larger. With fewer or poorly functioning air sacs, your lungs cannot process enough air exchange, and the reduced capacity compromises your ability to breathe effectively. With bronchitis, the airways can also become swollen or thicker than normal due to irritation, and mucus production may increase. The limp airways are blocked or obstructed, making it even harder to exhale air from the lungs. Chronic coughing is another side effect from COPD.

It is Not a Death Sentence: COPD Therapies

Exercise

Just because you suffer from COPD doesn't mean you cannot exercise. In fact, the best way to maintain your lung function is by participating in various forms of physical activity. These activities can include walking, swimming, bicycling, and yoga, provided you do not work so hard that your lungs cannot keep up and your COPD symptoms flare up. Yoga is particularly good for COPD patients since it focuses on controlled breathing and yogic breathing contains some of the breathing exercises which are done during respiratory therapy.

Stop Smoking

This statement goes without saying; smoking damages the lungs and the sooner you stop damaging your lungs, the better recovery you can expect. There are countless smoking cessation tools available to those who are struggling to quit.

Avoid Polluted Air

COPD-weakened lungs are particularly vulnerable to environmental pollution. Heed air quality warnings and avoid situations (open campfires, dust and chemical fumes) where the air quality is expected to be low.

Train Your Lungs--Breathing Exercises

It is a common misconception that only athletes need to "train" their lungs for improved respiratory function. Although premier athletes do work their respiratory systems at an increased level, everyone can benefit from lung training, especially those suffering from COPD! There are several breathing exercises which can slow the progression of COPD, providing patients with improved lung function and a better quality of life:

Pursed-Lips Breathing

This common exercise involves inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth while pursing the lips, at a rate of at least half the speed of the inhalation breath. This method keeps the airways open longer, reduces the work of breathing and improves the oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange.

Belly Breathing

Described in our COPD breathing exercises guide, this type of breathing engages the respiratory musculature, including the diaphragm and intercostals. If you are currently in respiratory therapy for COPD, ask your therapist to show you how to perform this exercise; to try this at home, lie down and place one hand on your belly and one on your chest. As you exhale, the hand on your belly should lower, while your hand should rise when you inhale. This exercise is particularly useful for reducing dyspnea when exercising or doing more strenuous daily activities, such as climbing stairs or lifting heavy objects.

Respiratory Muscle Training for COPD

Respiratory muscle training strengthens the muscles used for exhaling and inhaling by adding resistance to each inhale and exhale as you breathe. You are literally working the muscles used in each direction, building breathing muscle strength breath by breath.

In a nine-week study, 15 older adults trained with a PowerLung BreatheAir. Researchers measured increased maximum voluntary ventilation in 11 participants, and 12 reported that breathing felt easier and/or that they felt less breathless during exercise. Their experience offers a more relatable example than an athlete-focused training routine.

When exercise feels out of reach

Exercise can be recommended as a therapy for COPD. But being told to exercise can be frustrating when breathlessness makes ordinary tasks feel like work. With respiratory muscle training, over time, you build breathing muscle strength. Improved breathing muscle strength promotes a more forceful exhale followed by a deeper inhale. Stronger respiratory muscles can provide better breathing for daily activities and exercise.

Explore breathing exercises and PowerLung models

Breathing exercises and respiratory muscle training can be part of a broader breathing routine. For step-by-step examples of pursed-lip breathing, belly breathing, and other techniques, see our COPD breathing exercises guide.

PowerLung is the only device of its kind that adds resistance to both the inhale and exhale, working the muscles used in both directions. Respiratory therapists who use PowerLung often recommend AireStream® for patients with COPD. To compare it with other models based on your goals, visit our wellness model chooser.