Valley Of The Sun Homecare Blog Breathe Easier with These COPD Tips | Scottsdale Home Healthcare

Taking a deep, cleansing breath can relieve stress, help us relax, reduce pain, and even create a better acid/alkaline balance in our bodies. But for those with COPD, the thought of breathing deeply can have the exact opposite effect: inducing feelings of anxiety about the coughing and wheezing to follow. In fact, COPD fears can create a vicious cycle that can actually exacerbates symptoms: The senior with COPD is so concerned about engaging in any activities that might cause symptoms to flare, she avoids them altogether Reduced activity leads to weakened muscles Muscle weakness results in more breathing problems, causing feelings of depression or despondency Depression causes the senior to limit activities...and so on In celebration of COPD Awareness Month, Valley of the Sun's Scottsdale home healthcare experts want to help COPD patients learn to breathe easier, lessoning symptoms of flare-ups and creating a new cycle of better health. These two breathing techniques are especially helpful for those with COPD: Breathing with Pursed Lips: Breathe in with the nose for a count of two. Blow out through puckered lips for a count of four, and repeat. Breathing from the Abdomen: Relax in a seated or lying down position. Hold one hand over your chest, and the other over your stomach. Breathe in for a count of two, ensuring that your stomach expands more than your chest. Pressing gently on your... Read More »The post Breathe Easier with These COPD Tips | Scottsdale Home Healthcare appeared first on Valley of the Sun Homecare.