The Best Breathing Exercises for COPD

4 breathing exercises for COPD

Although you can practice deep breathing on your own at home, the first step a COPD patient should take is to see a doctor. They will assess the severity of your symptoms and recommend a treatment plan that includes targeted exercise. Pulmonary rehabilitation is a supervised program that provides education and training to improve lung function and is also part of many treatment plans for COPD.

Not everyone has the same COPD treatment plan. A respiratory therapist will often teach you how to perform specific breathing exercises selected for you and how to perform them correctly. Some people may need additional support, such as oxygen or medication, so it’s important to work with your doctor or respiratory therapist before adding new exercises.

Some of the most helpful breathing techniques for COPD include:

1. Pursed lip breathing

Dr. Onuga recommends pursed-lip breathing as the most important exercise for people with COPD. To perform this exercise:

Breathe in through your nose while counting to three.
Breathe out through pursed lips to a count of three, as if blowing out a candle.

Lin also recommends using this breathing technique while exercising. For example, when climbing stairs, inhale before going up, and after every few steps, purse your lips and begin exhaling, repeating this every 2-3 steps.

2. Abdominal breathing

Abdominal breathing, also known as diaphragmatic breathing, helps empty your lungs by focusing on breathing through your chest and abdomen. Belly breathing lowers your diaphragm, allowing your lungs to fill up.

Here’s how:

Place your hand on your stomach and feel it expand, then breathe in through your nose. Keep your shoulders, neck, and chest as relaxed as possible.
As you exhale, feel your stomach and exhale all the air through your pursed lips.

Lin recommends practicing abdominal breathing while at rest, such as sitting in a chair or lying down, until it becomes a habit.

3. Take a deep breath

As the name suggests, deep breathing is a simple procedure.

Take a deep breath and hold it for a few minutes.
When you are ready, exhale slowly through your nose.

Similar to abdominal breathing, you can practice deep breathing while at rest.

4. Breathe consciously and with purpose.

According to the American Thoracic Society, practicing mindful breathing may improve shortness of breath and may also help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, which are common in people with COPD. This exercise can be done at any time during any activity. Here’s how:

Breathe in for a count of 1 as you prepare to perform an activity or exercise.
Breathe out for a count of two as you perform any part of an activity or exercise when you are at your hardest.

The idea is to just focus on your breathing, without rushing or judging.