Working with your doctor or other healthcare provider to manage your COPD can help slow its progression, reduce the risk of flare-ups, and keep symptoms under control. There are practical steps you can take to change your lifestyle habits and self-manage your symptoms. These may include:
Practicing breathing exercises.  Quitting smoking.  Taking regular exercise. Maintaining a healthy weight and eating a healthy, balanced diet. Taking medication as prescribed. Staying up to date on vaccinations. Attending to your emotional wellbeing. Avoiding potential triggers such as traffic fumes, tobacco smoke, and dust. Using a damp cloth to wet dust your home and remove dust particles.  Let’s discuss some of these in more detail. Breath management exercises Breathing techniques and breath management exercises can help you manage breathlessness. Exercises such as pursed lip or diaphragmatic techniques are worth practicing regularly. They can help strengthen the muscles you use for breathing and boost your self-confidence, so you’ll know how to handle things if your breathlessness temporarily worsens. Some studies have found that combining the techniques and practicing several methods can improve COPD symptoms and quality of life.[18] Pursed lip breathing  Pursed lip breathing is simple to learn. It helps slow down your breathing, making it easier for the lungs to function, and helps keep your airways open for longer. It can be practiced at any time and used to help regulate your breathing when exercising.
Sit or stand and breathe in slowly through your nose. Purse your lips, as if you were about to whistle. Breathe out as slowly as you can through your pursed lips and aim to blow out for twice as long as you breathed in – it may help to count as you do this. Repeat the exercise five times, building up over time to doing 10 repetitions. Diaphragmatic breathing
Diaphragmatic breathing is a technique where you aim to breathe from your diaphragm, rather than your upper chest. It’s often also called ‘breathing from your belly’. Sit or lie down comfortably and relax your body as much as possible. Place one hand on your chest and one on your stomach. Inhale through your nose for up to five seconds, feeling the air move into your abdomen and your stomach rise. Ideally, you should be able to feel your stomach move more than your chest does. Hold it for two seconds, then breathe out again for up to five seconds through your nose. Repeat the exercise five times. Breathing out hard or the ‘blow-as-you-go’ method  The breathing out hard method is another to use when you’re being active. It can make it easier to do tasks that require effort.
Before you make the effort (such as standing up), breathe in. While you are making the effort, breathe out hard. You may find it easier to breathe out hard while pursing your lips. Exercising with COPD When you’re diagnosed with COPD, it can be easy to fall into a cycle of inactivity. You may avoid activities that make you feel breathless or worry about coping if you experience breathing difficulties while exercising. However, exercise has been shown to help relieve COPD symptoms and improve your quality of life. Exercise can also help improve your physical strength and endurance, as well as build up the muscles you use to breathe. When these muscles are stronger, you won’t need to use so much oxygen, which will help reduce your breathlessness in daily life. There is no single best exercise for someone with COPD, but there are plenty of good options you can try. People with COPD may find walking, tai chi, cycling (outdoors or on a stationary bicycle), using hand weights, or stretching to be helpful. If you need help staying with activity, find an exercise buddy or a friend with whom you can walk. Having company can help distract you from the fact that you are exercising and may boost your confidence if you’re concerned about being out of breath while on your own. Before starting a new exercise program, speak to your medical practitioner for advice. They may even recommend a structured pulmonary rehabilitation program to help you exercise, learn more about your COPD, and connect with others who have lung conditions. Although exercise is important, it’s not good to push yourself to exercise when you’re not feeling well or you are experiencing a flare-up. Talk to your doctor about using an oximeter (a device that measures oxygen in your blood) when exercising to check the oxygen level in your blood. Be sensible and, if you have any concerns about your symptoms, consult a medical practitioner. Nutrition Like many other health conditions, eating a healthy diet is beneficial. Combining a nutritious diet with regular exercise can help you to maintain a healthy weight -- one that is neither too low nor too high for you. It can be difficult to determine what constitutes a healthy diet and what weight range is ideal for you. If you are unsure what is best for you to eat, ask your doctor or healthcare team for guidance. If available to you, a nutritionist can help you identify healthy foods and meals and achieve a balance that works for your lifestyle. Emotional wellbeing Living with COPD can put a strain on your mental and emotional wellbeing and that of your family and friends. Living with a chronic illness can wear you out and leave you feeling anxious, depressed, or low. In turn, this can make you less likely to be active, which can have an impact on your COPD. It is important to look after yourself and take time to practice self-care. Make time to focus on yourself and do activities that are important to you. Talk to your doctor about the things you would like to be able to do. Explain to other people how you feel and consider joining a local or online support group or talking to a counselor. You do not need to manage COPD alone. Vaccinations COPD can also put you at higher risk of getting seriously ill from influenza (flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), pneumonia, and COVID-19. It’s important to have the vaccinations that are recommended by your doctor and available in your country (e.g., an annual flu jab, pneumococcal vaccination, tDap, as well as COVID-19, RSV, and herpes zoster/shingles vaccinations, where available). Ask your doctor what vaccination schedule is right for you. It will also help to avoid crowded places, wear a face covering, keep your distance, and wash your hands often to reduce your risk.  COPD management plans A COPD management or COPD action plan is a guide to how to manage your condition on a day-to-day basis. This plan should be developed by you and your doctor specific to your personal goals and symptoms. Your plan should include prescribed medications, breathing exercises, diet and exercise, and emotional support. Another key part of a COPD management plan is to avoid potential triggers where possible (for example, exposure to air pollution, secondhand smoke, traffic fumes, smoking tobacco, and dust). If you currently smoke, quit smoking. Taking these steps can help reduce the risk of symptoms worsening or causing flare-ups.  You will also agree with your doctor or healthcare team on what steps to take should your symptoms get worse. Be sure to revisit your plan regularly – at least every six months – so it is up to date.