COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is a serious lung condition that lasts a long time and gets worse over time. It makes it hard to breathe because the airways in the lungs become narrow and blocked. When it’s tough to breathe, it can make you feel really tired and lacking in energy. This happens because your body has to work extra hard to get the oxygen it needs. So, people with COPD often feel tired, exhausted, and worn out.
Symptoms of COPD
COPD symptoms can differ in how bad they are. At first, they might not bother you much, but as COPD gets worse, they can become more of a problem.
Here are some common signs of COPD:
- Hard time breathing
- Making wheezing sounds
- Producing more mucus
- Coughing often
- Getting lung infections a lot
- Feeling tired
- Chest feeling tight
COPD fatigue can make you feel worn out and lacking energy, which can really affect how you live your life. In this article, we’ll talk more about what COPD fatigue is, and how doctors deal with it. We’ll also give you seven tips to help you handle COPD fatigue better.
What is COPD fatigue?
Feeling tired is really common for people with COPD, especially as the disease gets worse. Studies show that about half to three-quarters of people with COPD also feel tired a lot. The reasons for this aren’t totally clear yet. With COPD, it’s hard to get enough oxygen into your lungs and to push out carbon dioxide. Not having enough oxygen and having too much carbon dioxide can make you feel worn out and low on energy. The damage in your airways from COPD makes it tough to fully empty your lungs, which means more carbon dioxide stays in your body, making you even more tired.
Symptoms of COPD fatigue include breathing that takes a lot of effort, which uses up even more energy and can make you feel even more tired. When you’re tired, you might not feel like doing much, so you might do less over time, which can make you even more tired and less fit. This can make even simple things like chores or going out with friends feel really hard. Feeling tired all the time can also make you feel down and less interested in doing things, which can make COPD even harder to deal with.
COPD Fatigue Treatment
Right now, there isn’t a cure for COPD, but treatments can make you feel better. They can help with tiredness. Managing feeling out of breath and helping you breathe easier might also help with tiredness.
Your doctor can give you medicines to help you breathe better. These include:
- Inhalers that open up your airways.
- Inhalers with steroids that reduce swelling in your lungs.
- Oxygen therapy can help if your oxygen levels are low and you’re feeling out of breath.
Ways to Cope with COPD and Fatigue
Making changes in your daily life can also make you feel better if you have COPD and help boost your energy. Here are some ideas:
Breathing Exercises
Doing special breathing exercises can help people with COPD. One helpful exercise is called pursed lip breathing. It can make you feel less tired by:
Slowing down how fast you breathe.
Getting rid of extra carbon dioxide in your body.
Making you feel less out of breath.
You can try pursed lip breathing when you feel out of breath, like during or after doing something. Here’s how you can do it:
- Breathe in through your nose for about 2 seconds.
- Then, pucker your lips like you’re about to blow out a candle.
- Finally, breathe out slowly through your pursed lips for 4 to 6 seconds.
- Keep doing this exercise.
Balanced Diet
Eating well is important for people with COPD to stay healthy and have enough energy. Here’s what the American Lung Association suggests:
- Eat lots of fresh fruits, veggies, and whole grains, like whole wheat bread and pasta.
- Try to avoid sugary stuff like soda, cakes, and candy.
- Get fiber from foods like fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, bread, and pasta.
- Eat protein from lean meats, fish, poultry, eggs, and beans at least two times a day.
- Limit fatty foods like fried stuff, butter, cookies, and processed foods.
Some people might need a multivitamin. A doctor or dietitian can help pick the right diet for you.
Pacing Activities
Pacing means finding a balance between doing things and resting. You can do this by breaking tasks into small parts and taking breaks between each part. Or you can do activities more slowly and calmly. Pacing helps save energy, reduces tiredness, and lets people with COPD do more. It’s important to pace yourself based on how much energy you have.
Regular Physical Activity
When feeling tired, exercise might be the last thing you want to do. However, it can help people with COPD. Activities like walking, strength training, and yoga are helpful. Regular exercise boosts endurance and strengthens the heart and muscles, reducing fatigue.
For COPD patients, pulmonary rehabilitation classes are great. They’re supervised by doctors and therapists and often held in hospitals or clinics. These classes offer not only exercise training but also education on lung disease, breathing techniques, nutrition advice, and support groups.
Stay Hydrated
It’s important to drink lots of fluids to stay hydrated and keep your energy up. Staying hydrated also stops mucus from getting too thick and making symptoms like coughing worse.
The American Lung Association suggests that people with COPD drink six to eight 8-ounce glasses of water or other caffeine-free drinks every day. Remember to spread out your fluid intake throughout the day.
Dealing with COPD Fatigue to Improve Your Quality of Life
Dealing with COPD fatigue can be tough, but there are ways to manage it and boost your energy. Try doing breathing exercises to ease breathlessness and feel less tired. Eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, veggies, and protein can help keep you healthy and energized. Pace yourself by breaking tasks into smaller parts and taking breaks. Regular physical activity, like walking or yoga, can also reduce fatigue and strengthen your body. Also, consider joining pulmonary rehabilitation classes for extra support.