If you are among the 12 million U.S. adults living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, a over-aching term used to describe several progressive lung diseases (i.e., refractory non-reversible asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema), you may fear a life dominated by breathlessness. However, while COPD can significantly decrease quality of life when symptoms are unmanaged, a patient with well managed COPD can live quite comfortably with very mild symptoms.

If you’ve been diagnosed with COPD, follow your doctor’s treatment plan closely, take your medications as prescribed, and follow these COPD coping tips to reduce your symptoms, decrease hospitalizations, and improve your quality of life:

1. Reduce stress
High amounts of stress in your life can only make your COPD symptoms (i.e., breathlessness) and your energy worse, placing stress on your immune system and your heart. While it’s tough to live completely without stress, you can attempt to reduce common stressors in your day to day life:

• Work pressures
• Financial stress
• Toxic relationships
• Social drama
• Anger and grief

2. Exercise
Getting regular exercise is an ideal way to burn off stress. Daily physical exercise can be as simple as a walk after dinner, yoga, tai chi, swimming, or hiking with your dog. Mental exercises, such as meditation, breathing, journalling, deep breathing, massage, and taking time for yourself when you need a break can also do much to reduce panic and ease COPD symptoms.

3. Get adequate sleep
It’s no wonder your COPD symptoms are worsening if you’re not sleeping enough. Lack of sleep adds undue stress to our lives, zaps us of energy, and leaves us unable to cope with anxiety. However, sleeping well ensures mental and physical strength, including the immune system, which prevents hospitalization and recurrent lung viruses and infections. So create a bedtime routine by turning off a blue screens (i.e., smartphone, tablet, tv) 2 hours prior to bed, avoid caffeine and heavy meals before bed, and go to sleep the same time every night.

4. Consume a healthy diet
While certain foods can make COPD symptoms worse (i.e., trans fatty junk foods and refined sugars), making you feel tired and sluggish; certain healthy foods, such as eggs, lean red meat, fish, poultry, nuts, and beans can help reduce stress and improve COPD symptoms (i.e., fatigue, wheezing, coughing). Many COPD patients also find that consuming smaller meals, more frequently throughout the day greatly help boost energy.

5. Practice self care
Often with the diagnosis of a chronic disease, such as COPD, comes emotional challenges, such as anger, anxiety, and depression. These can weigh heavily on your mental and physical energy as well as your immune system. However, taking control of your condition and your wellbeing will bring positive impacts, such as renewed energy, self confidence, and life enjoyment. If you need to, ask your doctor to refer you to a professional therapist, or seek counseling for support. Don’t wait and ask for help when you need it.