Trying something new doesn’t always yield good results, which is why those of us with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) need to vet any new device we may wish to try. I did my due diligence before trying out an exercise tool that has fascinated me for several years:…

March is a difficult month for me. I can relate to Bill Withers’ song “Ain’t No Sunshine.” The bleak winter months in southern West Virginia get me a little (or a lot) down. Those of us with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) struggle daily to “Keep on the Sunny…

For those of us with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), routines become an essential tool for coping with the changes that our disease brings. The focus is often on morning routines, but my evening routine has become increasingly important over time. My evening routine starts at 6 p.m., when…

Last week, I noticed that it took very little for me to find an excuse to put off exercise. This isn’t normal for me, so I decided it was time for a change. I recalled an article I’d recently read about the benefits of changing up your workout routine.

May brings sunshine and Mother Nature’s renewal with the blooming of flowers and the greening of leaves. This month has also brought the parting of the clouds of my oppressive thoughts, and the sunshine has lightened my dark mood. I am no longer struggling to stay positive, but wake with…

Those of us with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often complain of fatigue, which is much different from simply being tired. Tiredness can be addressed by a good night’s sleep. Fatigue is a different story. The short and sweet of it for me is that tired = good,…

What types of exercise benefit patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)? In my opinion, the quick answer is “all of them,” but let’s take a closer look. According to Harvard Health, the four most important types of exercise — and this is generally speaking, not specifically for…

One topic in the most recent edition of the COPD Foundation’s Faces of COPD newsletter is staying healthy while pursuing hobbies. This subject struck me smack in the face because I’d gotten on the computer to find a squash casserole recipe. I had a beautiful summer squash in the…

Staying active can help ease the symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Sometimes I find this challenging because I get tired of doing the same exercises or going to the same places to walk. I have tried to lessen the boredom by changing up my…

When I was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in 2013, my first emotion was relief. I had a diagnosis; the feeling that I was slowly deteriorating was not just in my head. I did what I always do and began researching. While studying the disease, I…