A common symptom of COPD is to feel short of breath when you exercise. You may be tempted to stop exercising to avoid shortness of breath. But the less you move, the shorter of breath you will become. Regular exercise is one of the most important ways to help manage COPD.
Avoid the downward spiral of inactivity. Here’s how it happens:
You get short of breath when you exercise, so you become less active.
When you are less active, you become less fit and shorter of breath.
This increased shortness of breath in turn causes you to be even more inactive.
Exercise is important for everyone including people with COPD. Learning other aspects of managing COPD such as breathing and energy management and medication can help you to exercise more. You may also want to join a pulmonary rehabilitation program if there is one in your community.