1881 is joining the American Lung Association to recognize November as COPD Awareness month. Our motto is, “Breathe well. Live well,” and we mean it. We believe healthy breath is the foundation of a healthy life – in mind, body, and spirit. COPD is a chronic progressive disease, but there’s much that can be done to prevent it, slow its progression, or improve quality of life with it.

What is COPD?

Put simply, COPD makes it harder to breathe. Damage to the lungs restricts air flow in and out, depriving a person of oxygen and causing excess carbon dioxide to build up in their body. Someone suffering from COPD experiences wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, coughing, and fatigue. Like other chronic illnesses, these symptoms become worse during flare-ups. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are both subcategories of COPD. COPD usually occurs later in life, but risk begins to increase at 40. There is no cure for COPD, but there are a ton of self care strategies to make the disease more manageable.

What causes COPD?

COPD is usually caused by damage to the lungs from smoking, which accounts for over 70% of cases in countries like the US. Air pollution is another major factor, which is why a community approach to COPD is important, even if you’ve never smoked.

Preventable pollution from manufacturing, transportation, agriculture, and wildfires all take a major toll on our lungs. Unfortunately, those who receive the brunt of this impact are often the most vulnerable. Those living in urban areas and throughout the Global South encounter higher levels of air pollution. Compounded with obstacles to accessing health care, preventative education, and good nutrition, this makes diagnosing and treating chronic illnesses like COPD harder for some than others.

Women also carry unique risks for COPD. According to the American Lung Association, women are more likely to see severe COPD symptoms at a younger age. They also say that estrogen and lung size contribute to the severity of disease. Women have been the target of relentless marketing campaigns by cigarette companies who were eager to play on social norms around body image, weight, and independence to maximize their profit. Lastly, a gendered lens historically taught doctors to view COPD as a men’s disease and continues to leave many women feeling dismissed when it comes to their health concerns.

What can we do about COPD?

Raise Awareness

It’s important to know the risk factors and early warning signs of COPD. If you know anyone who’s at a higher risk, you can use the month and articles like this to gently broach the conversation. If you yourself are at risk, make sure you talk to your doctor about any symptoms you have and what you can do to lower those factors. Those who already have a COPD diagnosis can consider sharing your stories and struggles with other people. The American Lung Association even facilitates support groups called the Better Breathers Club for people with COPD and other lung diseases like asthma and pulmonary fibrosis.

Lifestyle

Staying Active

Exercise is essential for good lung health. The better your cardiovascular condition, the more efficiently you move oxygen through your body. Unfortunately, exercise can really exacerbate COPD symptoms if a person gets out of breath. The negative experience of losing breath can deter people from pursuing activity, creating a vicious cycle. If you are looking to prevent COPD, make cardio a top priority. If you are living with COPD, look for activities that give you a good workout while allowing you to stay in control of your breathing. Go at a slower pace with walking, stretching, and swimming (though be careful to avoid too much chlorine if it irritates your lungs).

If you know someone with COPD, you know the fear of losing their breath and losing control in a public setting can keep them indoors and limit their lifestyle. If they are on oxygen, the extra effort required to move around can be another deterrent. Find opportunities to invite your loved ones out for some gentle activities and offer to help them with transportation and mobility. This is another way in which a community approach is necessary to combat COPD.

Breathwork

Breathwork is another great way to keep your lungs healthy. People with COPD are advised to use pursed lip breathing when they start to have trouble, a method in which a person inhales through their nose and exhales forcefully through pursed lips. It helps to regain control of the breath and strengthen the diaphragm. Other types of breathwork that will be familiar to yoga practitioners like square breathing and alternate nostril breathing can help people with COPD. If you have advanced COPD, talk to your doctor about different breathing techniques before trying them as some may be contraindicated.

Treatments

Doctors prescribe a variety of treatments for COPD. People often receive inhalers, which rapidly deliver medication through the breath. In advanced stages, oxygen therapy may be required to deliver a constant stream of oxygen from tanks through a nasal cannula. Corticosteroids and antibiotics are used to treat acute inflammation and infections.

Natural Support

Halotherapy

1881 is a salt sanctuary, so it’s fair to say we’re pretty partial to this particular type of supplemental care. Halotherapy, or dry salt therapy, has a wide range of benefits to the body, but lung health is without question the shining star. The benefits of salt inhalation were first discovered in salt mines in Europe in the 19th century. Physician Feliks Boczkowski opened a salt therapy spa after observing the markedly improved health of salt miners over their counterparts in other industries. Ever since, people have turned to salt therapy for lung health.

It’s believed that salt therapy works in a number of ways. Inhaled salt particles help to thin the mucus in a person’s airways, allowing them to expel it more easily. Imagine the particles as little scrubbers that go in and help to clean things out. Salt is also known to have anti-inflammatory processes, which can help to reduce swelling in the air sacs and bronchi of the lungs. Salt also has antibacterial properties and is thought to boost the immune system. Relaxing in a salt room can also reduce stress and improve sleep quality, facilitating better overall health.

Herbs and Tinctures

A variety of herbs are used to support people suffering from COPD and other lung disorders. Thyme, peppermint, mullein, horehound, and eucalyptus are just a few of the usual suspects we call upon when dealing with a respiratory ailment. COPD specifically creates a great deal of oxidative stress on the body and can be benefited by adaptogens. But there is no one size fits all solution to lung health, and the best approach is multi-pronged. You’ll want to talk to an herbalist about your symptoms to narrow your focus to the right herbs. For instance, you may suffer from spasms, a dry cough, a wet cough, or airway constriction.

We have a few favorite tinctures we turn to for lung health. From David Winston’s Herbalist & Alchemist, we love the Lung Relief line. It breaks tinctures down into Hot/Dry, Cold/Dry, Hot/Damp, and Cold/Damp. They also have an excellent anti-spasmodic tincture. Their blog does a great job explaining how to distinguish between different needs.

A Last Thought

Our deep dive on COPD has given us clarity on two major points:

1. COPD requires a community approach. We do not get sick in a vacuum, we do not suffer in a vacuum, and we cannot heal in a vacuum. Supporting each other and making serious efforts to reduce environmental and social factors to this disease are essential.
2. COPD requires a holistic approach. In addition to working closely to doctors and other healthcare providers, we need to consider our lifestyle choices and focus on putting good things into our bodies.

If you or someone you know is suffering from COPD and want to learn more about our perspective, halotherapy, or our apothecary, please don’t hesitate to stop by. In the meantime, breathe well. Live well.