Reduce the level of stress
If you are the type who runs up and down staircases as you go about your daily activities, you have to really go slower on yourself now that you have been diagnosed. COPD is worsened with stress, both mental and physical stress. Too much stress can make you go breathless. The fact that you will not be actively involved like before in some things, you will be missing out in normal social functions, and even your career opportunities are life-changing and can break you down, make you disoriented and confused, leading to mental and emotional stress. You need to learn how to manage stress well. As researched, COPD causes sudden flare-ups referred to as exacerbations and disorientation, anxiety and depression can increase these flare-ups. [8]
