Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (or COPD) is an inflammatory lung disease that causes breathlessness and other symptoms. Many natural remedies for COPD are available that can be tried at home easily. There are different options available to treat this condition, but many patients find the natural remedies for COPD listed in this article (used in conjunction with doctor-prescribed medications and therapies) may help improve your overall health, strengthen your lungs, and help in reducing symptoms of this disease:

1. Give up smoking
One of the easiest and most important natural remedies for COPD is to give up smoking. Almost 90% of the fatalities from COPD are those who smoke extensively. Smoking severely affects your lungs and can reduce the effectiveness of the medicines you take. Smoking inflames the airways in the lungs and exacerbates the symptoms of COPD. If you have COPD, there is no option left you must give up smoking starting today. If you don’t, then be prepared to destroy your lungs permanently.

2. Exercise
COPD leaves you with weak lungs. To strengthen the lungs and the immune system in general, you need to exercise. It strengthens your muscles and makes your lungs strong enough to fight the symptoms of COPD. Around 30 minutes of moderate exercise like walking, jogging, cycling, or swimming can be done for at least 5 days a week. However, it is advisable to consult a doctor before starting an exercise regimen.

3. Yoga

Yoga is one of the ways of building lung health. Yoga involves a lot of breathing exercises that are excellent for strengthening your lungs and reducing breathlessness episodes. This acts as a natural remedy for COPD

4. Avoid exposure to allergens
Many allergens exist that can cause a sudden increase in the symptoms of COPD. These allergens vary from person to person. You need to identify what affects you and remove these allergens so that you don’t get exposed to it. Take the help of an allergy specialist, if needed. Dust, pollen, paint, tobacco smoke, pet dander, chemicals, and pesticides can aggravate your symptoms, and, hence, should be avoided.

5. Reduce stress
It is a well-known fact that when you are stressed, your body is weakened. Stress leads to the release of certain hormones that can worsen the symptoms of COPD. The immune system becomes weak due to stress, making it more difficult for the body to fight COPD symptoms. Reducing stress can be done by avoiding stressful situations at home and in the office. Meditation is also a good way to reduce stress. Studies have shown that meditation has a positive effect on reducing COPD symptoms.

6. Lose weight
Being overweight can be problematic for those who suffer from COPD. Excess weight on the stomach tends to protrude and press the lungs, especially after a heavy meal. It can worsen the symptoms of COPD. Weight loss is important for those having COPD. There are various things that can be done to reduce weight:

• Cardio exercise with weight training
• A diet that is low in fat and high in proteins with lots of fruits and vegetables
• Avoid unhealthy snacks and junk foods
• Eat a lot of smaller meals rather than three large meals