Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Do you suffer from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)?

The number of Australians affected by chronic lung conditions is steadily increasing. COPD, which includes conditions such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, is most commonly linked to a history of smoking. Unfortunately, COPD is a progressive condition, meaning symptoms often worsen over time. In more advanced cases, oxygen therapy becomes a daily necessity as even simple activities can leave sufferers gasping for breath.

Although there is no cure—since damaged lung tissue cannot be regenerated—there are ways to manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

The Overlooked Problem: Disordered Breathing

What many people with COPD don’t realise is that their breathing pattern itself can sometimes make things worse.

In the struggle for air, it's common for COPD sufferers to develop a disordered or inefficient breathing pattern. Ironically, the more they try to breathe, the more breathless they can feel. This occurs because over-breathing, or hyperventilation, reduces the amount of oxygen released into the body’s tissues—even if blood oxygen levels appear normal.

Here’s how it happens:

• Hyperventilation lowers carbon dioxide levels in the blood

• This raises blood alkalinity

• As a result, oxygen binds more tightly to haemoglobin

• Less oxygen is released where it's actually needed—in the body’s muscles and organs

So, even with adequate oxygen saturation, the body’s cells may still be starved of oxygen.

A Smarter Way to Breathe

The good news is that inefficient breathing patterns can often be corrected.

If you're living with COPD, a breathing assessment by a trained health professional can help determine whether your breathing technique is contributing to your symptoms. In many cases, simple but targeted interventions can:

• Improve breathing efficiency

• Reduce breathlessness

• Increase energy

• Support better daily function