If you live with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), it’s essential that you have an action plan for flare-ups. According to COPD.net, actions plans serve three purposes: to help prevent flare-ups, to realize when you are having a flare-up, and what to do when you’re experiencing a flare-up.
MORE: Six ways to help you take care of your lungs
Prevention
The best course of action is to try and prevent flare-ups from occurring in the first place. While you won’t always be successful, putting into practice good health habits will help.
Here are a few ways you can help prevent flare-ups:
- Quitting smoking
- Taking medication as directed
- Eating healthily
- Drinking plenty of water
- Resting well
- Exercising regularly
- Avoiding people who are ill
- Washing your hands regularly
- Avoiding lung irritants like pollution, dust, pet dander, secondhand smoke
- Getting yearly flu and pneumonia vaccinations
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The flu and pneumonia vaccines did not prevent me from contracting both at the same time this year. I do not think they are beneficial and may in fact be harmful