Airway Oxygen Inc COPD management page

Do:

Take medications as prescribed. Most medications work best when used on a regular basis. With antibiotics, it is especially important to finish the entire prescription.

Get a yearly flu shot. This can prevent approximately 80% of occurrences of the flu and may diminish the symptoms even if you contract the flu.

Practice special pulmonary exercises. See the links below.

Prepare ahead when traveling. Make sure you have enough medications, bring a list of your medications and their doses, and ask your doctor for the name of a doctor in the area you'll be visiting.

Don't:

SMOKE! Smoking is the single largest contributor of pulmonary disease. Smoking is the single largest cause of lung cancer. Smoking also contributes to the risk of cardiovascular disease. Smoking also has been linked to various other cancers (head and neck, bladder etc.).

Overexert yourself. Know your limits and learn to pace yourself.

Forget medication, including oxygen. While you may not notice immediate benefit from some of your medication, they have long-term beneficial effects.

Delay in seeing your doctor when ill. Early treatment of certain conditions (infections) may prevent their progression and/or complications.