Johns Hopkins Health Alert
Breathing Advice From Dr. Terry
If you have COPD, you may have to learn how to breathe all over again! Breathing exercises, such as pursed-lip breathing or diaphragmatic breathing techniques can help you control your breathing and improve the function of your respiratory muscles. In this health alert, Dr. Peter B. Terry answers the question, "I have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). I notice that I become short of breath when I bend over. Why is that?"
Dr. Terry: When you have COPD, the elastic fibers in your lungs that hold open your breathing tubes are partially destroyed, so they are not kept open as readily as if you had all the elastic fibers in your lungs intact.
This means that your breathing tubes have a tendency to collapse when you're breathing quietly while at rest. To counteract this, your ribcage tends to become enlarged and your diaphragm, or main breathing muscle, moves down to enlarge your lungs and help your airways remain open. This stretches the few remaining elastic fibers that are available to keep your airways open.
When you bend over, you raise the pressure in your abdomen, and that pressure pushes up on the diaphragm, causing the lungs to be confined to a smaller space. Because of this, the airways tend to narrow, making it feel like you're breathing through a straw.
What to do … Whenever possible, try to avoid bending over. One easy way to do this is to get rid of shoes with laces, and buy slip-on shoes instead.
If you have to bend over, take a few deep breaths before you bend. Then as you're bending over, blow as much air out of your lungs as you can. Breathing extra breaths before bending over and then blowing out as you bend down does two things. It reduces the carbon dioxide in your blood, decreasing slightly your desire to breathe, and reduces the pressure buildup that is narrowing your airways.
Posted in Lung Disorders on September 25, 2008
Medical Disclaimer: This information is not intended to substitute for the advice of a physician. Click here for additional information: Johns Hopkins Health Alerts Disclaimer
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I was diagnosed with severe COPD 14 months ago--was actually close to death by the time I was forced to go to the hospital. My advice to anyone out there #1 QUIT SMOKING_NOW_TODAY #2 IF YOU'RE HAVING SYMPTOMS OF ILLNESS, HAVE IT CHECKED OUT--BY THE TIME I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL, I ONLY HAD 28% OF ONE LUNG WORKING AND O2 WAS 40. AFTER MONTHS IN PHYSICAL THERAPY, LEARNING HOW TO WALK AGAIN, BREATH PROPERLY, SLOW DOWN IN EVERYTHING I DO, PULMONARY REHAB (WHICH I"M STILL DOING), I'M BETTER THAN I HAVE BEEN IN YEARS--THIS DISEASE IS SILENT FOR YEARS AND THEN ONE DAY, SOMETHING COMES IN AND "SWEEPS THE CARPET RIGHT OUT FROM UNDER YOUR LIFE AND IT WILL NEVER BE THE SAME, BUT IT CAN IMPROVE WITH ALOT OF HARD WORK, PATIENCE, PRAYERS, FRIENDS, AND FAMILY". HOPES THIS HELPS SOMEONE OUT THERE THAT FEELS HOPELESS BECAUSE, BELIEVE ME, I AM A WALKING MIRACLE ACCORDING TO MY PULMONARY DOCTOR. GOD BLESS YOU ALL, JENNIE COLLINS
Posted by: Jennie Collins | May 10, 2009 9:28 AM
Hi Jennie Your comments are helpful. I was feeling sorry for myself because I was stupid enough to keep smoking till I got down to 31% and back in the hospital for the 2nd time in 4 years. I realize that I am really not as bad off as alot of copd suffers, but it's hard to deal with it sometimes. Then I read your post and thought I should be thankful for what health I still have and make the most of it. Thanks for your encouraging words and God bless you too! Kim L
Posted by: Kim L | May 16, 2009 5:08 PM
Hi Jennie, and Hi Kim-
Jennie We are all so very proud of you!! Glad you shared your story - how we all wish we had done something sooner, right? Easy to say. In 6 days I will be cigarrette fee for 2 years! I was feeling so much better, had more oxygen,etc. But I caught some bad virus my first winter smoke free, and breathing has never been the same. No doc has mentioned pulmonary rehab, but that sound just liike what I need!
Thanks for the input , and good luck and good health to you all! And remember you are never too old to quit smoking!
Linda
Posted by: lfukuchi | February 12, 2010 12:22 AM
I went to do a spirometry test just to find out i was at 40%. This is after a second stay in the hospital. The second time i was in ICU for 2 days. I have known for some time I was really hurting myself with smoking. I had quite for almost 8 years after i turned 32. When i started back at 40, within a month it seemed as if i had never stoped. When i hit 50 i started feeling my health go downhill and even then i continued to smoke. When i finally decided to quite i was is such bad shape i was in the hospital the next week. My whole point is don't be like me. When you know something IS WRONG --- see a Doctor. No matter what the results it is not getting better by avoiding the answer. If you smoke STOP. Have a good attitude and life can still be a great thing.......
HERES WISHING YOU THE BEST.
hopeful57
Posted by: hopeful57 | July 27, 2010 6:02 PM
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what about somekind of valve put into the tubes to krrp tham open and what to do when the change in temperture going outside causes breath to be taken away? eddie lynch
Posted by: eddiel lynch | November 1, 2008 2:45 PM