Managing COPD Fatigue: What Causes It and How to Overcome Tiredness

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic lung disease that damages the airways and causes difficulty breathing. It is primarily caused by prolonged exposure to harmful particles or gases, with cigarette smoking being the most common cause worldwide, according to StatePearls Publishing.

Why does COPD cause fatigue?
COPD damages the lungs and airways, making breathing difficult, low oxygen levels can make the patient feel tired and fatigued. This also suggests that patients with COPD often feel tired because their bodies are working harder to breathe, and the reduced supply of oxygen makes it more challenging to perform everyday activities.

Can lifestyle changes help manage fatigue?

Aerobic exercise: This type of exercise strengthens your heart and lungs and helps your body use oxygen more efficiently, says Dr. Shah said. Examples include walking, jogging, jumping rope, cycling, cross-country skiing, skating, rowing, and low-impact water aerobics.
Resistance training: This type of exercise can strengthen your muscles, including helping you breathe. You can use weights or resistance bands and you don't have to go to the gym. Some examples include arm curls, bicep curls, and lateral raises.
Muscle-strengthening activities: These activities can build core strength, improve your posture, and tone your breathing muscles. Examples include weightlifting or Pilates.
Stretching: This type of exercise can relax you and improve your flexibility.
Tai Chi: This gentle form of exercise focuses on slow and flowing movements.

Other treatment options

Medications: A doctor may prescribe medications to help breathing, including bronchodilators, steroid inhalers, and oxygen therapy.

Pulmonary rehabilitation: A program that teaches ways to ease COPD symptoms.

"Pulmonary rehabilitation can help you learn how to exercise with COPD. If you're not sure where to start, you can try walking, which is free and you can go at your own pace. You can virtually One can also find options that allow you to watch videos and communicate remotely,” said Dr Shah, advising prior consultation with a doctor.

What is the role of breathing exercises?
According to the American Lung Association (ALA), the two most useful breathing exercises are pursed lip breathing and belly breathing. This mostly helps people with chronic lung diseases like asthma and COPD.While pursed lip breathing keeps your airways open longer by reducing the number of breaths you take, belly breathing, also known as diaphragmatic breathing, involves contracting the diaphragm, the muscle between the lungs and abdomen.