Breathing Problems (COPD and Asthma) -

'Breathlessness is an unpleasant sensation, I feel I have got to catch my breath every few minutes just to make sure I can get air into my lungs

Luke COPD patient

How it might affect you

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Symptoms of asthma include:

• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing – making a noise like a whistle when you breathe out
• Tightness in the chest
• Coughing

Sometimes the airways only narrow a little, resulting in mild symptoms. But some people’s airways can become so narrow that they can’t get enough oxygen into their lungs and their bloodstream. This is very dangerous and requires immediate medical attention.

Symptoms of COPD include:

• Getting short of breath easily when you do everyday things such as going for a walk or doing housework
• Having a cough that lasts a long time
• Wheezing in cold weather
• Producing more sputum or phlegm than usual

You might get these symptoms all the time, or they might appear or get worse when you have an infection or breathe in smoke or fumes.

If you have severe COPD, you can lose your appetite, lose weight and find that your ankles swell.

What’s the difference between COPD and asthma?

With COPD, your airways have become narrowed permanently – inhaled medication can help to open them up to some extent.

With asthma, the narrowing of your airways comes and goes, often when you’re exposed to a trigger – something that irritates your airways – such as tobacco smoke, dust or pollen. Inhaled medication can open your airways fully, prevent symptoms and relieve symptoms by relaxing your airways.

So, if your breathlessness and other symptoms are much better on some days than others, or if you often wake up in the night feeling wheezy, it’s more likely you have asthma.

How to improve your health

For Asthma: It’s important you and your doctor or practice nurse manage your asthma together. Make sure you have regular appointments to review your symptoms and a full review at least once a year.

An asthma review should cover

• measuring your breathing by spirometry or peak flow
• reviewing your inhaler technique
• discussing your asthma triggers
• adjusting your treatment. If your asthma has been well controlled for six months, it may be possible to reduce your medication
• discussing your asthma action plan

You should agree a written asthma action plan with your health care professional. If you have a plan, you’re more likely to control your asthma and be less at risk of a severe attack.

Your plan should cover:

• what’s normal for you when your asthma is under control
• which medications you should take
• what to do about worsening symptoms: who to contact and how to alter your medications. You may be prescribed a rescue course of steroids to keep at home.

For COPD: If you have a long-term condition like COPD, you’ll feel better if you self-manage your condition and take some control of your life.

Knowing all you can about your condition, your symptoms, your medications and how to cope with flare-ups will make your day-to-day life easier.

Controlling your breathing

There are techniques to help you reduce breathlessness. Try to practise them every day. They can also help if you get out of breath suddenly. Being in control of your breathing means breathing gently, using the least effort, with your shoulders supported and relaxed.

Find out more about breathing techniques HERE

If you are still smoking STOP

If you smoke, stopping can help slow down or prevent further damage to your lungs.
Help is available from your GP and NHS stop smoking services.

Eating well and keeping a healthy weight

It’s important to eat a balanced diet and maintain a healthy weight. Your doctor or nurse can help you to work out what your healthy weight should be and can refer you to a dietician or local scheme to help you.
• if you’re overweight it will be harder for you to breathe and move around.
• If you’re losing too much weight because eating makes you feel breathless, or find it difficult to shop and prepare meals, try to eat little and often.

Exercise regularly

If you have COPD or Asthma, being active and exercising can help you to improve your breathing, your fitness and your quality of life. Don’t avoid activities that make you breathless: you’ll get less fit and out of breath more easily. Regular exercise can help reverse this by strengthening your muscles. Exercise also benefits your heart and blood pressure, and makes you less likely to develop conditions such as diabetes and osteoporosis (fragile bone disease).

If you have COPD the best way to learn how to exercise at the right level for you is to take part in pulmonary rehabilitation. Ask your doctor to refer you.
Pulmonary rehabilitation or PR is a programme of exercise and education designed for people living with COPD. It combines physical exercise sessions with advice and discussions about your lung health.
learn more about pulmonary rehabilitation here

Get vaccinated

COPD and Asthma can put a significant strain on your body and mean you’re more vulnerable to infections.
Everyone with COPD or Asthma is encouraged to have the annual flu jab and the one-off pneumococcal vaccination.
You can get these vaccinations at your GP surgery or a local pharmacy that offers a vaccination service.

Watch what you breathe

There are certain things that should be avoided if possible to reduce COPD symptoms and the chances of a flare-up, including:
• dusty places
• fumes, such as car exhausts
• smoke
• air freshener sprays or plug-ins
• strong-smelling cleaning products (unless there’s plenty of ventilation)
• hairspray
• perfume

Further Information can be found HERE

Support and Advice

Whether you are managing your condition well or you are struggling to stay well, you are not on your own.

It’s important to take good care of yourself if you have COPD or Asthma and there is a lot of help and support out there to help you stay well and manage your condition better.

It’s important to take any prescribed medication, including inhalers, as this can help prevent bad flare-ups.
It’s also a good idea to read the information leaflet that comes with your medication about possible interactions with other medicines or supplements.
Check with your care team if you plan to take any over-the-counter remedies, such as painkillers or nutritional supplements. These can sometimes interfere with your medication.
Also speak to your care team if you have any concerns about the medication you’re taking or you’re experiencing any side effects.

Organisation such has the British Lung foundation and Asthma UK have a wealth of information and advice about your condition please follow the links below to find out more about

ASTHMA UK

British Lung Foundation

Locally there are support networks and groups that you can join or get involved such as the Tameside & Glossop Breathe easy support group.

Singing for Health

Singing can help with lung function, breathlessness and mental health for people with a long-term lung condition.

Learn more

Stay Active

Staying active will help with your symptoms and there are plenty of local activities you cab take part in

Learn more

Quit Smoking

If you are still smoking, quitting is the best thing to improve your health and respiratory symptoms

Learn more

Join a group

Staying connected with people will help both your physical and mental health. There are lots of local groups you can join

Learn more

What to do if you're having a bad day

For people with Asthma and COPD every day is different- Some days are better than others, and some days are spent recovering from sickness or fatigue. Living with a chronic respiratory condition can be challenging for some, especially when you’re feeling fatigued or breathless, and for individuals affected by a chronic condition, it’s easy to focus on the tough days. Fortunately, for many with Asthma or COPD, good days happen too! Enjoying the good days can improve your Asthma or COPD journey, and by taking advantage of the good days, you’ll experience so much more.

Knowing all you can about your condition, your symptoms, your medications and how to cope with flare-ups will make your day-to-day life easier. Make sure you sleep well and get enough rest every day. This will help with your energy levels. If you have trouble sleeping, try to exercise each day and don’t have tea, coffee or alcohol before bed time. Talk to your doctor if that doesn’t help.

If you think your symptoms are worse than normal speak to you GP or if you are a member of a Breathe Easy group, contact them for some advice.

Learn more

About Breathing Problems (COPD and Asthma)

How it might affect you

How to improve your health

Support and Advice

Singing for Health

Stay Active

Quit Smoking

Join a group

What to do if you're having a bad day