COPD Basics

COPD Basics

Ask the Expert: How Does Social Isolation Affect Health, and How Do We Reconnect?

Loneliness and isolation can significantly affect overall health. Dr. Yusuf Ransome shares his perspective and research on how pursuing social connections can positively drive mental and physical well-being.

COPD Basics

My Favorite Hack for Chronic Insomnia

I’ve always had difficulty falling and staying asleep. Improving my sleep hygiene has definitely helped, but something even more helpful is noise — white noise, that is.

COPD Basics

Not Everyone Gets It: How to Decide Who to Tell About Your Health

Opening up about your health with the right people can lead to more support and the ability to live a more authentic life. Here’s how I decide who to trust.

COPD Basics

How the ‘Let Them’ Theory Brings Me Peace with Chronic Illness

After over a decade of living with chronic illness, I’ve learned that not everyone will understand — and they don’t have to. The “Let Them” theory helped me reclaim my energy and protect my well-being without apology.

COPD Basics

How Music Can Help You Sleep

Listening to songs with a sound frequency of 432 hertz can help relax your brain and even improve your sleep score. Check out our Spotify playlist to try it.

COPD Basics

Are Those Zzz’s Hard to Catch? Try These Tips

Is it the meds? The stress? The revenge bedtime procrastination? Check out these tips for what may be causing sleep troubles and suggested solutions.

COPD Basics

9 Tips for Combating COPD Burnout

Managing COPD can be exhausting and lead to burnout. Here are some ways to prevent burnout or heal from it.

COPD Basics

Can Foods Cause More Mucus in COPD?

Some foods, like dairy, may cause thicker mucus in COPD. Learn more behind the science of mucus production in COPD and what foods to avoid.

COPD Basics

Women Shouldn’t Be the Wild Card in Health Research: How You Can Help

The lack of representation in clinical trials has led to negative outcomes when it comes to women's health. But we can be part of changing that.

COPD Basics

Working with Chronic Illness: It’s Your Turn to Build a Better Work Experience

You can’t always control the hand you’re dealt with a chronic illness. Here’s a roundup of our tips for getting the most from your employer.

COPD Basics

How to Play the Game: Disability and Insurance Edition

You can't always control the hand you're dealt when you're diagnosed with a chronic illness. Here are our favorite disability and insurance tips.

COPD Basics

Put the Joy Back in Cooking with these Accessibility Tips

Knowing what your specific challenges are can help you create a more accessible kitchen and have more success with cooking. Learn more here.

COPD Basics

Learning to Forgive Our Illnesses and Our Bodies

My relationship with my body and my illnesses is still a work in progress, but I’m learning to accept what is. Experts weigh in on why this may help.

COPD Basics

I’m Not Just Symptoms and Stats: The Importance of a Doctor Who Can See You

We asked Bezzy members if they’ve ever felt like a doctor treated them differently because of their identity. Here's what they said.

COPD Basics

Bezzy COPD Members Share How Wildfire Smoke and Pollution Affect Them

We asked the community if they’ve ever been exposed to wildfire smoke and pollution and how it affects their COPD. Here’s what they shared.

COPD Basics

This Game Wasn’t Built for Women (Here’s How to Play Anyway)

Women living with chronic conditions are at a double disadvantage, as the system isn't designed to recognize their unique needs. Here's why — and what you can do about it.

COPD Basics

Beware Inspiration Porn: Disability Isn’t a Tragedy or Triumph — It Just Is

You've seen those pictures of a person in a wheelchair playing a sport with the caption "What's your excuse?" Those images and other media are prime examples of what is referred to as "inspiration porn." Learn more here.

COPD Basics

3 Crafty Kitchen Hacks for Preparing Meals with COPD

It’s possible to prepare nutritious meals when you have chronic illnesses such as COPD. Here are the gadgets and steps I use to make it easier for me.

COPD Basics

Silver Spoonie Linings: The Role of Gratitude in Chronic Illness

Gratitude journaling can feel like forced positivity, but with the right mindset and approach, it becomes a powerful tool for genuine healing and perspective.

COPD Basics

Progressive Relaxation: A Quick Guide to This Free and Easy Stress Reduction Tool

Looking for a way to reduce stress, improve sleep, and address anxiety without leaving your house or spending any money? This one is worth a try!

COPD Basics

How to Explain Invisible Symptoms to Others

It can be difficult for loved ones to understand the impact of symptoms they can't see. Using relatable analogies, being vulnerable, and other strategies can help make such symptoms more real for them.

COPD Basics

9 Ways I’ve Slowed My COPD Progression

I woke up and knew something had gone terribly wrong. I couldn’t breathe. That’s when I started taking steps to slow the progression of my COPD.

COPD Basics

How I Control My Bronchiectasis and COPD Symptoms

About a year ago, I started waking up during the night coughing. It was bronchiectasis, not my COPD. Here’s what it is and how it affected me.

COPD Basics

How Climate Change Affects Your COPD: What You Need to Know

Climate change is linked to adverse weather events that can affect your COPD. Here's what you need to know about its direct impact.

COPD Basics

How to Chill Before a Medical Procedure

If you’re feeling anxious or stressed about an upcoming appointment or procedure, try these tips.

COPD Basics

The Power of Learning to Accept Our Labels

Being able to label your symptoms can help you to get the care that you need, both for your physical and mental well being.

COPD Basics

Avoiding Appointments and Dreading the Doctor? Here’s What Has Helped Me

I've spent years managing my feelings around doctors and hospitals. Check out my tips along with advice from experts.

COPD Basics

Can You Burn Candles While Using Oxygen?

Here are safe alternatives to enjoying ambiance and soothing scents without the hazards of candles while using an oxygen concentrator for COPD.

COPD Basics

COPD Stole My Breath and My Voice

Throat problems from COPD used to affect my quality of life. I’ve learned not to let it. Here are the reasons why it happens and how I deal with it.

COPD Basics

Lung Transplants: Who’s Eligible and How Can It Help?

Getting a lung transplant for end stage COPD is a serious decision between you and your healthcare professional. Here are the ins and outs of what it involves.

COPD Basics

Meet the Editor: Naomi Farr

Meet Naomi Farr, the copy editor behind all Bezzy communities. Learn about her connection to the communities, a day in her life, and her editorial superpowers.

COPD Basics

Physical Changes I’ve Experienced from COPD

I'm barrel-chested and have taken medication for osteoporosis. Here are all the ways I've found COPD to change us.

COPD Basics

COPD and Type 2 Diabetes: What’s the Connection?

Living with COPD may increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and vice versa, due to shared risk factors. Here are tips for managing both.

COPD Basics

It’s My Pity Party, and I Can Cry, Scream, or Throw Things If I Want To

When the effects of my chronic illness feel particularly overwhelming, I throw myself a pity party. I take 20 minutes to cry, scream, and wallow. And then I move on. Here’s how they might help you, too.

COPD Basics

Meet the Editor: Samantha Costa

Meet Samantha Costa, the editor behind Bezzy COPD, T2D, and IBD. Learn about her passion for health advocacy, editorial superpowers, and go-to lunches.

COPD Basics

Finding Warmth in Cold Months: Overcoming Isolation with Chronic Illness

When we're struggling with a chronic illness or a flare-up, it can be tempting to stay inside our homes and inside ourselves, especially as the weather turns colder outside. But isolation can often make things even worse. Try one of these strategies for staying connected, even if you’re not quite ready to venture outdoors.

COPD Basics

How to Use a Nebulizer for COPD

Using your nebulizer correctly is a great way to improve your COPD symptoms. Here's a step-by-step guide for getting the most from your medication.

COPD Basics

4 Teas That Get Me Through Winter With COPD

I enjoy drinking tea to warm me up this time of year. I've also found that some have calmed my coughing from COPD. Here are my favorite teas.

COPD Basics

Using AI to Manage Your Health Condition

I live with ulcerative colitis, a form of inflammatory bowel disease, as well as several other chronic health conditions. I wanted to see if ChatGPT could help me track my symptoms, plan meals, provide educational resources, and help me better manage my sleep and exercise routines. It was more useful in some areas than others.

COPD Basics

Asthma vs. COPD: What’s the Difference?

COPD and asthma have similar symptoms and treatments. However, there are important differences and questions to ask your doctor.

COPD Basics

An Open Letter: The 2 Words Not to Say to Someone with Chronic Illness

This open letter explains that the words “Feel better” can sting when said to a person with multiple sclerosis (MS) or another chronic illness. This phrase does not acknowledge the condition’s permanence or often invisible symptoms and can leave the person you’re trying to help feeling worse.

COPD Basics

GERD and COPD: What’s the Connection?

Treating your GERD alongside COPD can improve your symptoms and reduce your risk for more complications from both conditions.

COPD Basics

6 COPD Sounds to Listen For

COPD sounds to listen for include wheezing, crackling, and more. Learn which sounds might signal worsening COPD or complications.

COPD Basics

Biologics for COPD: What You Need to Know

Biologics are a class of medication that's new to the COPD treatment toolbox. Learn what they are, how they work, and who they're for.

COPD Basics

How COPD Has Changed My Evening Routine

Having an evening routine can help us stay on top of our condition, feel productive, and help us navigate our new normal. Here’s how mine has changed.

COPD Basics

Shop Small and Spoonie-Owned: Here’s Where to Start

Discover the resilience and creativity behind these incredible businesses run by individuals living with chronic illnesses.

COPD Basics

8 Tips for Financial Planning with COPD

Managing COPD or any chronic condition comes at a cost. Bezzy COPD spoke with financial experts on budgeting and saving to alleviate stress.

COPD Basics

When the Holidays Aren’t Joyful

Financial burdens, the stress of travel, the inability to enjoy many holiday foods, and other factors all conspire to make the holidays a time when it's easy to give in to depression.

COPD Basics

Smut, Spice, and Self-Love: Reclaiming My Sex Life with Chronic Illness

Chronic illness symptoms can sometimes interfere with your sex life. Romance literature, or smut, is one method that has helped me rekindle the spark.

COPD Basics

Why I Don't Make New Year's Resolutions

Resolutions have a way of implying that we're not enough. And trying to live up to the pressure of resolutions when the future is unpredictable is nearly impossible. Instead, I've learned to focus on the gifts of the present moment, and to celebrate small joys.

COPD Basics

8 Simple Changes to Make Life with COPD a Little Bit Easier

We asked our Bezzy COPD community members which simple changes they’ve adopted to manage the condition. Here’s what they shared.

COPD Basics

Does COPD Increase Your Risk for Hair Loss? Plus, Tips to Manage It

Some research suggests COPD can increase your risk for hair loss. We're breaking down the facts to share the info you need on this connection.

COPD Basics

9 Ways Connecting to the Senses Can Make Life More Meaningful with Chronic Illness

Connecting to the present moment through the senses can make life richer, even in difficult circumstances.

COPD Basics

Living with Chronic Illness? Artificial Intelligence May Be Your New Ally

Artificial intelligence could help to make healthcare more equitable and inclusive. Read on to discover what this could mean for chronic illness care.

COPD Basics

I’ve Had 3 Collapsed Lungs with COPD — Here’s What It’s Like

COPD complications are always top of mind when symptoms flare. I've had three lung collapses. Here's what it was like and what to keep in mind.

COPD Basics

The Gift of Music: Bezzy Members Share Holiday Songs and Memories

Here are Bezzy members' favorite holiday tunes, and how listening makes them feel.

COPD Basics

Born Prematurely? It May Explain Your COPD Diagnosis

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a long-term breathing condition that can occur in premature babies can increase your risk for developing COPD.

COPD Basics

How Honoring Your Limits Can Help You Do More

If chronic illness fatigue and lack of energy mean you often feel like you can't get things done, try these energy conservation strategies to make the most of the energy you do have.

COPD Basics

What It’s Like to Get Shingles with COPD and What You Should Know

Shingles causes a painful, itchy, or tingly rash with blisters that open and scab. My COPD put me at risk for developing the virus. Here's what it was like.

COPD Basics

What It’s Like to Get Pneumonia with COPD and What You Should Know

I live with COPD and didn't recognize the signs that I'd developed pneumonia until I needed to call an ambulance. Here's what happened.

COPD Basics

Patience, Perseverance, and Luck: Ardra’s Entrepreneurship Story

While medically retired, Ardra Shephard blogged about multiple sclerosis like it was her full-time job. Here's how it led her to a podcast, TV show, and book deal.

COPD Basics

What’s Triple COPD Therapy?

Triple COPD therapy usually involves three inhaled medications to improve your breathing. These may be combined into one or separate inhalers.

COPD Basics

Are You Using Your Inhaler Correctly?

It's important to use the proper COPD inhaler technique so you can get the right amount of medicine to your lungs.

COPD Basics

What Do You Wish Your Family and Friends Understood About COPD?

We asked our Bezzy COPD community members to share what they wish their family and friends understood about COPD. Here’s what they shared.

COPD Basics

Your Story, Your Rules: Choosing How Much You Share

I was once an open book about my chronic illness on social media. But then I felt like I wanted to close that chapter for good. Here's why I now share my stories in moderation.

COPD Basics

How to Mentally and Physically Prepare for Winter with COPD

As more people gather indoors, germs are easily spread. The cold dry air can also pose problems for COPD. Here are ways to prepare physically and mentally.

COPD Basics

How to Pace Yourself in the Kitchen with COPD

It’s important to take your time and pace yourself when preparing for a gathering for the holidays or any time of the year with COPD. Here’s what I’ve learned.

COPD Basics

Job Satisfaction Beyond Health: Finding the Right Workplace Fit with a Chronic Illness

In this Patients Getting Paid column, Kathy Reagan Young unpacks why workplace culture matters for your health and shares tips for finding a company that fits.

COPD Basics

What Does Oral Health Have to Do with COPD?

Experts share how COPD and oral or dental health are connected. Plus, get tips on how to improve your oral health.

COPD Basics

When an Invisible Illness Turns Visible: The Challenges and Surprises of Being Seen

I've previously advocated for my invisible illness to be seen. As my symptoms have progressed and become more visible, I've sometimes found myself longing for it to be invisible again. Here's how I've navigated this change.

COPD Basics

Convenient Thanksgiving Meals to Help You Enjoy the Holiday with Less Stress

Planning a feast can be exhausting, especially when living with a chronic condition. From convenient meal options to simple hosting tips, discover ways to make holiday gatherings more manageable and stress-free.

COPD Basics

How Practicing Non-Attachment Helps Me Let Go and Be Present

Letting go of my attachment to expectations and outcomes helps me accept chronic illness and find the beauty in what I can do.

COPD Basics

How 2 Sisters with Chronic Illness Have Grown Closer Than Ever

When my sister got sick, I felt like someone finally understood my experience with chronic illness.

COPD Basics

Finding Balance: Working and Resting with Chronic Fatigue and Brain Fog 

Fatigue and brain fog from chronic illnesses can put a serious damper on your productivity. Whether you're trying to tackle work, personal projects, or just have a social life, it can sometimes be difficult to get through everything. With a little flexibility and adaptation, though, I've found the following hacks help.

COPD Basics

Celebrating Life’s Milestones with Chronic Illness: How to Avoid the Overwhelm

Planning a wedding, a coming-of-age party, or any other big social function can take a toll on anyone's energy. Here's how to do that with a chronic illness like multiple sclerosis — without exacerbating symptoms.

COPD Basics

Here’s How COPD Has Changed My Social Life

Being in a wheelchair and living with COPD doesn’t stop me from having a social life. Here’s everything I have to consider before making plans.

COPD Basics

What’s In My Bag: How I Stay Prepared with COPD

Marcia shares what's in her go-bag, like medications, documents, and essential items in case of a COPD emergency.

COPD Basics

‘Pink Puffer’ vs. ‘Blue Bloater’: Outdated COPD Terms and What They Mean 

"Pink puffers" and "blue bloaters” were once used to describe types of COPD. Learn why doctors no longer use them.

COPD Basics

13 Ways to Navigate Social Media for Chronic Condition Support

Social platforms can be a convenient place to find health advice, but it's crucial to recognize fact from fiction. These practical tips will help you evaluate the credibility of your sources, empowering you to make informed decisions about your health care.

COPD Basics

Culinary Medicine: 10 Herbs and Spices That Help Reduce Inflammation

Herbs and spices like garlic, turmeric, and ginger may help reduce inflammation, among other whole-body health benefits. Here's how to use them in the kitchen.

COPD Basics

Supporting Employees with Chronic Illness: Quick Guide to Employee Assistance Programs

Many large companies offer counseling services and health resources to employees. If you're self-insured, your insurance company may offer a similar program.

COPD Basics

9 Ways a Respiratory Therapist Can Help You Manage COPD

A respiratory therapist is a healthcare professional who will work with your care team to manage your COPD treatment plan.

COPD Basics

How COPD Has Changed My Morning Routine

My morning routine involves feeding pets, taking medications, using COPD breathing devices, reading the news, and exercising. It helps me stay on track.

COPD Basics

I Went All In on Alkaline Products to Go Acid-Free ... Here’s What Happened

I was influenced by social media to try alkaline supplements. After a trip (or two) to the hospital, and several surgeries later, I've learned the hard way about the dangers of misinformation.

COPD Basics

COPD Remedies, ‘Noncentrators,’ and Questionable Research Clinics to Avoid

I've learned how to track down legitimate oxygen concentrators, treatments, and clinics and ignore the scams that companies claim will improve my COPD symptoms. Here's what you need to know.

COPD Basics

What Chest Tightness Really Feels Like with COPD

We asked our Bezzy COPD community members to describe what chest tightness feels like. Here’s what they shared.

COPD Basics

Don’t Let Chronic Illness Scare Away the Fun: Alternatives to Trick-or-Treating

Some years, I can’t take my kids trick or treating due to weakness or fatigue. But we have lots of other tricks up our sleeves to make the holiday spooktacular.

COPD Basics

Cracking the Code on Supplements: How to Spot the Best and Avoid the Rest

Buzzy marketing can make herbs and supplements seem enticing, but do you really need them? Here's what to look out for.

COPD Basics

Food Sensitivity Testing: The Fictions Behind the Fad

Food sensitivity testing is making the rounds, with companies suggesting their test results can help you select a diet to treat your chronic condition. But is there truth to the headlines? Here's what you should know.

COPD Basics

Believing In COPD Myths Delayed My Care. Has The Same Happened to You?

I’ve learned the hard lesson that hearing or reading health misinformation can delay COPD treatment. Here are the myths I've encountered.

COPD Basics

Truth or Hype? How to Spot Health Misinformation

False health claims are out there, but you can sharpen your spidey sense so you don't fall for the fictions.

COPD Basics

Beyond Oxygen: Supportive Therapy for COPD

Supportive therapy includes medication, lifestyle, social support, and more, to manage the symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

COPD Basics

Facing My Fears: What I Learned When the ‘Natural Cures’ Didn’t Work

I’m the type of person who fell for the promises of natural things curing my condition. I tried “cures” advertised on the internet because I was terrified of starting medication. Here’s what I learned.

COPD Basics

Cooking with COPD: My Favorite Quick and Simple Meals 

I live with COPD and other conditions. That's why it's important for me to find simple recipes that don't require too much clean up. Here are my favorites.

COPD Basics

The Psychology of Misinformation: Why We Buy into BS

The internet means everything is at our fingertips, even misinformation. Here's why it spreads, plus how to protect yourself and your community.

COPD Basics

What Is Emotional Competence, and How Can It Help You Manage Chronic Illness?

Emotional competence, or feeling, expressing, and coping with emotions effectively, can make managing chronic illness easier. Here's how to get there.

COPD Basics

I’m an Educator: Here’s Why I Talk to My Students About Chronic Illness

By talking to my students about chronic illness, I hope to empower them to communicate their needs so they can have fulfilling careers.

COPD Basics

10 Tips for Tackling Nicotine Withdrawal for People Who Recently Quit

Have your COPD doctors recommended quitting smoking recently? Here are tips for managing nicotine withdrawal.

COPD Basics

Is Water Therapy a Safe Option for COPD?

Cold water therapy has been touted by celebrities. But is it safe for people living with COPD? Get the details on this alternative therapy.

COPD Basics

Tips for Avoiding or Managing COPD Environmental Triggers

Poor air quality and how you cook your meals can contribute to COPD symptoms. Here are tips to avoid or manage flares from environmental triggers.

COPD Basics

My Favorite Anti-Inflammatory Recipes for the Fall

Discover easy, convenient, and delicious anti-inflammatory recipes perfect for fall. These simple meal ideas are packed with nutrients, making them ideal for anyone looking to support their skin health and overall wellness.

COPD Basics

Prebiotics and Probiotics: Quick Guide to Feeding Your Gut

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria and prebiotics are food for these bacteria. Eating foods with both can help balance your gut and lead to other health benefits.

COPD Basics

Bezzy COPD Members Share How They Stay Active Indoors and Out

We asked our Bezzy COPD community members for their favorite ways to stay active. Here’s what they shared.

COPD Basics

COPD Indoor Hazards Lurking in Your Home

COPD triggers aren't always obvious. Here's a list of all the hazards lurking in your home and how to address them.

COPD Basics

How to Build a Better Workday

Here’s how Bezzy MS guide Kathy Reagan Young pursues her health and professional goals at the same time.

COPD Basics

Medications Can Be a Hard Pill to Swallow Amidst Pressures to Heal Naturally

Pressures to “go the natural route” can feel overwhelming when living with chronic illness. Here’s why this can be dangerous.

COPD Basics

Palliative Care Helped Me Identify My Long-Term Needs for COPD 

Palliative care is different from hospice. Learn what it is, when to consider it for COPD, and frequently asked questions you might have.

COPD Basics

The Decision Fatigue of Living with Chronic Illness — and How to Manage It

Adults make thousands of decisions each day. Multiple sclerosis and other chronic illnesses add even more to the burden. Here's how simplify the process.

COPD Basics

How Masks Can Help You Manage COPD Symptoms in Cold Weather

Here's your guide for the types of masks that will help you control your breathing in cooler temps this fall and winter with COPD.

COPD Basics

10 Steps to Mindfully Manage Grief and Loss

Mindfulness can help you accept and navigate what you feel with kindness toward yourself.

COPD Basics

How to Manage Unintended Weight Loss from COPD

Unintended weight loss from COPD is common. Using inhalers (which can change your taste), bloating, and difficulty breathing can all affect your appetite.

COPD Basics

Am I Overidentifying with My Chronic Illness?

My illness is not my identity. Here's how I'm working to decouple them.

COPD Basics

What to Know About Plant-Based Protein

Here's what to know about plant-based protein and how to incorporate it into a healthy diet.

COPD Basics

What to Keep in Mind When Traveling to Higher Altitudes with COPD

Higher altitudes can worsen COPD symptoms, but that doesn't mean you can't travel. Here's what to know about higher elevations and COPD.

COPD Basics

Navigating Accessibility: A Review of the Friendly Like Me App

This app can help you find the accommodations you need at local restaurants, events, and more.

COPD Basics

12 Simple Snack and Meal Ideas from People Living with COPD

We asked our Bezzy COPD community members for their go-to healthy meals and snacks. Here are their breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack ideas.

COPD Basics

It’s Not Just You – Sleep Apnea Is Common in COPD  

If you're living with both COPD and sleep apnea, you're not alone. Here's more on what makes them different and treatment options.

COPD Basics

How Finding Your Flow with Immersive Activities Can Help You Live with Chronic Illness

Activities that improve health, well-being, and a sense of meaning can help you find meaning during chronic illness.

COPD Basics

How My Service Dog Transformed My Life with COPD

Pets can make us feel comforted during challenging life events, especially after a chronic illness diagnosis like COPD. Here's what I've learned.

COPD Basics

Balancing Act: Tips for Managing Time and Stress with a Chronic Illness

Bezzy MS guide Kathy Reagan Young shares her tips and tools for balancing time and stress when working with a chronic illness.

COPD Basics

Clearing the Air: Can CBD Help COPD?

Some people living with COPD have used CBD to help with symptoms. There are risks and benefits to every treatment. Here's an overview.

COPD Basics

Here’s Why and How to Stay Hydrated with COPD

Drinking enough water daily is important for everyone, but especially people living with COPD. Here are practical tips to keep you hydrated.

COPD Basics

What’s Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, and What’s Its Link to COPD? 

Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency might make your lungs more sensitive to damage. But there are ways to treat it and COPD.

COPD Basics

How to Choose: Nasal Cannula or Portable Oxygen Mask for COPD Treatment

Oxygen therapy for COPD comes with choices for equipment. Here are the pros and cons of nasal cannula and face masks.

COPD Basics

Is My COPD Causing Urinary Tract Infections? What to Know When You’ve Got to Go

I’ve had more than my share of urinary tract infections (UTIs). Here's why COPD and UTIs are connected and signs you should look out for.

COPD Basics

Preparing for Surgery Looks Different with COPD

Over the years, I've learned how to prepare for surgery, especially with COPD. Here's what you should know before you undergo surgery.

COPD Basics

Your COPD Medications Explained: How and Why They’re Used 

After your COPD diagnosis, your doctor may prescribe different types of medications, including inhalers. Here's a guide of all the meds and why they're used.

COPD Basics

I’m a Yoga Teacher Who Quit Yoga When I Developed a Chronic Illness: Here’s Why

I had to mourn the things my body could no longer do, but I found a different kind of strength in listening to my needs.

COPD Basics

How Much Water Do I Really Need to Drink?

Registered dietitian Christine Byrne explains why drinking water is important and how to figure out your daily hydration needs.

COPD Basics

How Ecstatic Dance Helps Me Manage Chronic Illness

Ecstatic dance has broadened my community and given me a unique hobby I can access anywhere in the world.

COPD Basics

How Emotional Repression Impacts Chronic Illness, Plus How to Make Peace with Powerful Feelings

Being mindful of negative emotions can grant you the freedom to choose how you respond to chronic illness and life. 

COPD Basics

Finding My People and Protecting My Boundaries in the Chronic Illness Community

The chronic illness community brought me back to life, but I had to learn to navigate it's darker side.

COPD Basics

COPD Complaints: The Frustrations of Oxygen

Getting used to taking supplemental oxygen for COPD can be challenging. Here’s what Bezzy members shared about it.

COPD Basics

COPD and Travel: How to Prepare for Your Next Trip

Living with COPD doesn't mean you can't travel. Here are tips to prepare for your next trip, whether it's by plane, train, cruise, or car.

COPD Basics

5 Water-Rich Foods That Help You Stay Hydrated

Watermelon, cucumbers, and yogurt are water-rich foods that can help you stay hydrated. Here's why hydration matters when you live with a chronic condition.

COPD Basics

COPD Coughing and Incontinence: How to Balance Breathing and Bladder Issues

If you've had bladder control issues or incontinence, you're not alone. Learn how your COPD might be behind this frustrating experience.

COPD Basics

8 Steps to Accept the Things You Can’t Fix About Chronic Illness

Accepting the things you can’t fix can help you go from surviving to thriving when living with a chronic illness. 

COPD Basics

I Tried Salt Therapy for COPD — Here’s How It Works

Salt therapy is an alternative therapy for COPD. Here's my experience in salt caves, the benefits of salt therapy, and more.

COPD Basics

It Happened to Me: A HIPAA Violation

HIPAA should protect your health information. Here's my experience of a HIPAA violation while receiving home healthcare.

COPD Basics

Too Hot to Handle? Why Heat and Humidity are Hazards for COPD

Heat and humidity can lead to COPD flare-ups or exacerbations. Here are my tips to prevent or manage them.

COPD Basics

Bloated and Breathless: The Connection Between Bloat and COPD

One lesser-known feature of COPD is bloating. Learn what causes this uncomfortable symptom and how to manage it.

COPD Basics

Why Being a ‘Good Patient’ Could Be Harmful to Your Health

Good patient syndrome can be a response to trauma. Those of us with chronic illnesses may exhibit people-pleasing behaviors to stay on doctors’ good sides, but that can ultimately endanger our health.

COPD Basics

Follow Your Instincts: When to Get a Second Opinion for COPD

Seeking a second opinion for COPD can empower you to make informed decisions about your health.

COPD Basics

Why You Should Eat More Nuts

Nuts contain vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support overall health and help reduce inflammation. Here's how to add them to your diet.

COPD Basics

Why Kizik’s Hands-Free Shoes Work for Me

Living with a chronic condition means I sometimes need help from others. But I also want my independence, and Kizik shoes give me just that.

COPD Basics

Is Your COPD Getting Worse? Here Are the Signs

Your chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has the potential to get worse over time. Learn the signs and make an action plan.

COPD Basics

Staying Fit While You Sit: 5 Chair Exercises for COPD

Even gentle physical activity can be beneficial for managing your COPD, and chair exercises can be a good starting point.

COPD Basics

How to Manage Allergies When You’re Already Short of Breath

Seasonal allergies may make COPD symptoms worse. Avoiding allergens such as pollen can help.

COPD Basics

How to Manage Sleep Anxiety So You Can Rest Well and Prevent Flare-Ups

Getting a good night's sleep can mean the difference between a flare-up or not. Here's how to get one.

COPD Basics

5 Things to Know About Using Supplemental Oxygen for COPD

Here are some facts to remember if your doctor recommends oxygen for your COPD treatment.

COPD Basics

Navigating the Workplace with Chronic Illness: How to Advocate for Yourself and Others 

In this column, Kathy Reagan Young shares advice on how to raise awareness about chronic conditions and advocate for accommodations in the workplace.

COPD Basics

How Valve Treatments Work for COPD

Have you ever wondered about valve treatments for COPD? Here are the basics so you and your doctor can decide whether this therapy is right for you.

COPD Basics

Love, Connection, and Chronic Illness: A Dating App Designed for Us

Dating with chronic illness can involve uncomfortable conversations. This app can make it easier.

COPD Basics

What Are the Tests for COPD?

Learn which tests are used to diagnose and monitor your COPD and how they can determine your best treatment options.

COPD Basics

How to Find Control When It Feels Like Your Chronic Illness Makes All the Rules

It can easily feel like chronic illness makes all the rules. Here’s how I found control.

COPD Basics

6 Strategies for Swallowing Safely with COPD

Swallowing can become more difficult if you have COPD. Here are six tips to help you get your food down safely.

COPD Basics

Figuring Out Life with Multiple Chronic Illnesses: How I Did It

Take it from me, pacing yourself is key.

COPD Basics

Should You Try a Clinical Trial as a Treatment Option? What to Know

Clinical trials may offer cutting-edge treatment options for your condition. Here's what to know.

COPD Basics

Marcia Shares Lessons Learned to Help Others Living with COPD

Marcia is a Bezzy COPD ambassador who is sharing a little bit about herself and lessons on what it's like to help others in the community.

COPD Basics

Staying Active: Exercise Types and Tips with COPD

Living with COPD doesn't mean you should skip staying active. Research suggests that adding movement to your routine can be helpful.

COPD Basics

Am I Getting Enough Protein?

Registered dietitian Christine Byrne explains why eating protein is important and how to add more to your diet.

COPD Basics

10 Ways to Embrace Uncertainty When You Experience Chronic Illness

Chronic illness isn't predictable, but you can learn to surf the waves for greater well-being.

COPD Basics

Resisting the Lure of Toxic Positivity While Chronically Ill

It’s easy to fall prey to toxic positivity, refusing to acknowledge your true feelings. While toxic positivity may be well-meaning, finding coping mechanisms that work for you may look a little different.

COPD Basics

Feel-Good Fuel: 10 Yummy Foods to Boost Your Mood

Foods rich in omega-3s and antioxidants can boost your mood by supporting your brain and reducing inflammation.

COPD Basics

How to Recognize COPD Complications

Some complications may be due to the damage from COPD, while others may be due to an unrelated illness that is made worse by COPD.

COPD Basics

The Sun Makes Me Sick: Why I Love a Cloudy Day

The sun plays a major role in how I'll feel with my COPD, lupus, and other conditions. Here's why I love a cloudy day.

COPD Basics

5 Questions To Ask Your Doctor After a COPD Diagnosis 

Having a productive conversation can help refine your COPD treatment plan and reduce anxiety about your condition.

COPD Basics

The Honest Realities of Chronic Illness We Don’t Often Discuss

Here's how I've found ways to share unspoken realities in ways that feel right for me.

COPD Basics

10 Ways Pharmacists Can Help You Manage COPD

Pharmacists offer unique insight into medications, side effects, proper inhaler use, and more. Here's how they can help you manage COPD.

COPD Basics

How Entrepreneurship Empowers a Nutritionist to Support Her Health with MS

Alene Brennan shares why she started her own nutrition coaching business and how it allows her to take care of her health with multiple sclerosis.

COPD Basics

How to Make a Plan for COPD Exacerbations

Making a plan and discussing your options with your doctor can relieve some stress about COPD exacerbations or flares.

COPD Basics

The Benefits of Self-Compassion When You Live with Chronic Illness, Plus 13 Tips to Practice It

Being kind to yourself can reduce stress and potentially inflammation too. Here's how to start.

COPD Basics

This Silly Thing My Primary School Science Teacher Taught Me Helps Me Get Through Hard Days

A simple change in perspective can go a long way.

COPD Basics

What’s the Link Between Smoking and COPD?

Smoking is the main cause for COPD. Here's how smoking affects lung health and tips for quitting smoking.

COPD Basics

Juggling COPD and Other Conditions

I live with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but I also have a host of other conditions. Here’s how I manage them all.

COPD Basics

10 Ways to Find Support When You Live Alone with Chronic Illness

Living alone with a condition can be challenging, but there are people who want to help.

COPD Basics

What to Expect from Pulmonary Rehab

Specialists will help you learn more about COPD, how to manage it, and improve your breathing capacity at pulmonary rehabilitation.

COPD Basics

5 Workplace Accommodations You Might Be Able to Request Because of COPD

If your COPD limits you, you can request reasonable workplace accommodations from your employer under the Americans With Disabilities Act.

COPD Basics

What Are Ultra-Processed Foods?

Here's what to know about ultra-processed foods, how they can affect your health, and how to spot them.

COPD Basics

How Mainstream Brands Are Making Furniture Accessible for All

From beauty to fashion, industries have begun to make their products more inclusive. But what about furniture?

COPD Basics

Here’s How Food Fits into COPD Management

What we eat affects every system in the body, including the respiratory system. Here's a guide to eating well with COPD.

COPD Basics

This Wise Little Narwhal Has Something to Teach Us All About Invisible Illness

Migraine representation in children's books is important for everyone, not just kids.

COPD Basics

My Mobility Has Changed Because of COPD

It's tough to know when it’s time for a cane or wheelchair. Here’s how I made my choice for my mobility issues and how it‘s helped.

COPD Basics

6 Tips for Remembering Medications

It’s time to get organized. Here are six tips for remembering to take your medications from someone living with diabetes.

COPD Basics

How COPD Changed My Career

My career was upended by my COPD and other chronic illnesses. My symptoms became too severe for me to travel as a wine and spirits writer.

COPD Basics

5 Foods to Lower Triglycerides

Filling your diet with fatty fish, soy protein, and other whole foods can help lower triglyceride levels. Here’s how to get more of them in your diet.

COPD Basics

7 Tips for Aging Healthy with COPD

Eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and managing stress and sleep habits can all help you age gracefully with COPD.

COPD Basics

How Stress Triggers COPD Flare-Ups

Stress is a trigger for COPD flare-ups. It can cause shortness of breath, worsening symptoms, and increased risk for hospitalization.

COPD Basics

The Challenges of Moving Cities with COPD

Moving out of your home and into a new living space comes with a checklist of considerations, especially with a chronic illness like COPD. Here are helpful tips.

COPD Basics

How to Adapt to Life with an Incurable Condition

When we accept the painful parts of life, it can become more beautiful.

COPD Basics

Can Chronic Pain Relief Be Playful? The Unexpected Benefits of Sexual Activity

Living with chronic pain may hamper sexual desire. But it just might offer the pain relief you've been searching for.

COPD Basics

How Music Can Level Up Your Next Walk

Listening to music can boost your mood and make walking feel easier. Check our feel-good song recommendations for your next walk around the block.

COPD Basics

How to Manage Anxiety or Panic Attacks Alongside COPD

Having an anxiety or panic attack when you live with COPD can feel overwhelming. Here are tips to stay grounded.

COPD Basics

I Was a Technophobe — Then I Got Tech-Savvy to Manage My Chronic Condition Better

I used to hate technology. Then, I learned it could help me manage costs, communicate quicker and more effectively with my doctors, and save me time and energy. And it wasn’t nearly as difficult as I’d imagined!

COPD Basics

Can I Work While Receiving Social Security Disability Benefits?

You can still earn income while receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). In this column, Kathy Reagan explains SSDI work incentive policies.

COPD Basics

How Can I Be Short of Breath When My Oxygen Is Normal?

This is a question I’ve asked many times. Sometimes, my COPD isn't to blame for my shortness of breath. Here are some other causes.

COPD Basics

How to Prepare for an Emergency or Disaster When You Have COPD

Preparing for a personal emergency or natural disaster looks different for someone who lives with a chronic condition like COPD. Here are some tips.

COPD Basics

The Link Between Situational Depression and Chronic Illness

Learn about the difference between clinical and situational depression among people with chronic illnesses like COPD.

COPD Basics

When the Fairy Tale Ends: Divorce with a Chronic Illness

Divorce is difficult under the best of circumstances. Having a chronic illness complicates matters further. Be sure to consider all the legal, financial, social, and other implications before you proceed.

COPD Basics

Does Albuterol Keep You Awake at Night?

Some people notice sleep-related issues from the COPD medication albuterol. Here are some ways to combat restlessness.

COPD Basics

3 Ways I Manage Thrush Caused by COPD Medications

Oral thrush is also known as an infection you might develop as a side effect of COPD inhalers.

COPD Basics

How Rejecting the Hollywood Ending Has Helped Me Cope With MS

I used to be annoyed by movies with sappy, happily-ever-after endings. Then, I discovered the wisdom and realism in indie films and older flicks and found they had a lot to teach me about coping with a chronic illness.

COPD Basics

6 Anti-Inflammatory Breakfasts to Start Your Day

Eating antioxidant-rich foods can help reduce inflammation and kickstart your morning. Here are 6 anti-inflammatory breakfast recipes to get started.

COPD Basics

How I Use the Spoon Theory for COPD

The Spoon Theory can help you learn what you can or cannot accomplish based on your energy or spoons. Here is how it helps me with my COPD.

COPD Basics

The Medicinal Magic of Music

Bezzy RA guide, Ashley Boynes-Shuck, shares her relationship with music and how it's helped her through hard times.

COPD Basics

10 Herbs or Natural Remedies for COPD

There are a number of natural remedies people take to compliment their COPD treatment. Here's a list to help you decide.

COPD Basics

5 Tips for Keeping a Symptom Journal

Keeping a journal of my chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) symptoms helps me keep track of good and bad days.

COPD Basics

What Self-Care Means When You Live with a Chronic Condition

It can be hard to prioritize your own needs when it feels like your body has let you down. But self-care is important for those living chronic conditions.  

COPD Basics

How Chronic Illness Led Allison to Entrepreneurship

Allison Ratkovich shares how multiple sclerosis led her to entrepreneurship and how starting a business allows her to prioritize her health.

COPD Basics

6 Tips for Cleaning Your Home with COPD in Mind

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can present challenges when it comes to cleaning supplies, tidying up, and more. Here are tips for cleaning your house.

COPD Basics

10 Ways I Plan to Improve My Well-Being Without Making New Year’s Resolutions

New Year’s resolutions are overrated. Besides, many of us with chronic illnesses have already done the hard work of making healthy lifestyle adjustments. Here are some nonresolutions that just might make us feel happier in the new year.

COPD Basics

Bezzy Members Share Their Favorite Holiday Traditions

Bezzy community members share why making gifts and spending time with loved ones are among their favorite holiday traditions.

COPD Basics

How Meditation Helps Me Manage My Pain

Try this beginner's meditation guide to soothe pain from chronic conditions.

COPD Basics

5 Promises I Made to Myself and How They’ve Changed

Some promises helped, but most had to change for me to live well with rheumatoid arthritis. Here's why and what they mean to me now.

COPD Basics

Living My Faith: How Spirituality Helps Me Cope with Chronic Illness

MS has helped me find a new connection to God, and with it, new purpose, community, gratitude, and more.

COPD Basics

5 Tips to Help You Sleep Well with COPD

It's common to have difficulty sleeping with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Here are five helpful tips to help you sleep and breathe well.

COPD Basics

10 Tips for Grocery Shopping with COPD

COPD can make pushing a cart, reaching for items on a shelf, and loading a car challenging. Here are grocery shopping tips.

COPD Basics

COPD Medication Trial and Error

Your medications for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) might come with side effects. It's all part of the trial and error process.

COPD Basics

6 Ways to Manage COPD During Winter

Colder weather during the winter can make breathing difficult if you live with COPD. Here are practical tips to manage the changes.

COPD Basics

How I Deal With Steroid Side Effects

If you take prednisone for COPD, you already know about the ups and downs of treatment. Here are ways to manage them.

COPD Basics

Feel Safer in a Volatile World: Tips for Self-Defense While Living with Disabilities

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) or other chronic conditions need not live in fear. There’s much we can do to prevent and defend ourselves from attacks.

COPD Basics

My New Normal with COPD

Your “new normal” after a COPD diagnosis might mean changing how you go about your daily activities.

COPD Basics

What I Wish Other People Knew About COPD

Spreading awareness about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be challenging. Here is what you should know about the condition.

COPD Basics

The Link Between Heart Failure and COPD

If you live with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you may have a greater risk of developing other chronic conditions, including heart failure.

COPD Basics

Working for Yourself: Pros and Cons of Being Your Own Boss

Kathy Reagan describes the challenges and benefits of working for yourself when you live with a chronic illness.

COPD Basics

How to Manage the Holidays with COPD

From home decorating to traveling to friends and family, here are ways you can manage the holidays if you live with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

COPD Basics

How to Respond to Chronic Illness Comments During the Holidays

These funny or serious responses can help combat well-intentioned yet sometimes misguided comments.

COPD Basics

Workplace Stress Worsened My Chronic Illness

My Crohn's disease came out of remission after 10 years, and I believe workplace stress played a major role. Here's how I handled it.

COPD Basics

My Disability Parking Placard Symbolized Everything I Couldn’t Do

For a long time, I felt judged for using it with my invisible disability. Then I realized not using it was limiting me even more than my MS was doing on its own.

COPD Basics

How to Shower with Oxygen

Showering with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can be draining. Here are tips for showering with oxygen on if you live with COPD.

COPD Basics

The Truth About Chronic Illness and Fatigue

Fatigue is common in those living with chronic illnesses. But this symptom is often treated as an afterthought. Here's what you should know and what might help.

COPD Basics

How to Find Meaning After Grieving the Former You

After my diagnosis, it took time to accept my new life. But I still struggled to understand its meaning. The sixth stage of grief helped me find meaning.

COPD Basics

13 Side Hustles for Earning Money If You Live with Chronic Illness

Kathy Reagan shares advice and resources for earning extra income and avoiding scams in this Patients Getting Paid column.

COPD Basics

I Have COPD, and I Got COVID-19

My positive test led to a hospital visit, Paxlovid, and rebound symptoms. Here’s what I learned from it all.

COPD Basics

Showering with COPD: My Learning Process

Adding a kitchen stool to the shower was among my discoveries when learning how to make showering with COPD easier on my body.

COPD Basics

COPD and Smoker’s Guilt

It has taken me a while to share my COPD diagnosis for fear of judgment. But I don't have time to worry about the past.

COPD Basics

8 Tips to Find Lower Cost Therapy

Mental health treatment is expensive. Read on to learn about more affordable options that might help you get the support you need.

COPD Basics

Reflecting on My COPD Diagnosis: 8 Years Later

It has been 8 years since my diagnosis. Here's why it took 15 months to find out my breathing problems were COPD.

COPD Basics

I’m a Patient Getting Paid — and You Can Be Too

In this column, Kathy Reagan shares advice, resources, and stories to help others navigate the world of work while living with a chronic illness.

COPD Basics

How Movement Became My Medicine

I was only 4 years old when I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Slowly but surely I started to understand the consequences of missing playtime and not moving my body.

COPD Basics

What Is a Flutter Valve, and Does It Help COPD?

If you live with COPD, using a flutter valve may help you breathe more easily. Here's what to know about flutter valves and Acapella devices.

COPD Basics

Gardening Is My Mindfulness Practice of Choice — Here’s Why

Watching my plants grow and bloom, as well as the benefits of grounding, are just some of the ways gardening teaches me to be more mindful for my chronic illness.

COPD Basics

What Causes Shortness of Breath After Eating?

It's common for COPD to make you feel out of breath after you eat. But there are things you can do to feel better after meals and enjoy your food.

COPD Basics

What to Know About Diet and COPD

Fruits, vegetables, and other whole foods can build a healthy diet if you live with COPD. But added sugar and refined grains aren't the only foods to avoid.

COPD Basics

What Is Bezzy COPD?

Bezzy COPD is an online community with peer support, advice, and feel-good stories for people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

COPD Basics

What Is the Tripod Position and How Does It Help COPD?

When you're in the tripod position, your diaphragm works to help you breathe. It may help people with respiratory conditions when they're feeling out of breath.

COPD Basics

Does COPD Show Up on X-Rays?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is diagnosed based on spirometry, not a chest X-ray. But chest X-rays can show other respiratory issues.

COPD Basics

How to Increase Lung Capacity with Breathing Exercises

You may be able to increase your lung capacity if you live with COPD. People often see results in less than a month of daily breathing exercises.

COPD Basics

5 COPD Breathing Exercises to Strengthen Your Lungs

If you live with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), breathing exercises can help strengthen your lungs. Here are 5 exercises you can try at home.

COPD Basics

Grades of COPD and What to Expect

Doctors use GOLD staging to determine one of 4 stages for COPD. Learn more about how they test, what to expect in each stage, and tips to manage.

COPD Basics

COPD Glossary: 39 Terms to Know

Learning the terms used to discuss COPD can help you understand and speak with your doctors. It can also help you communicate with loved ones and others about your condition.

COPD Basics

How to Manage Rib Cramps with COPD

COPD can cause changes in your lungs and chest tissues that make it harder to breathe. Using your rib muscles to compensate may lead to cramping and pain.

COPD Basics

How to Create and Keep Boundaries When You Have a Chronic Illness

IBD and other chronic illnesses can take a toll on how we value ourselves. But prioritizing our own needs is important for maintaining our physical and mental health.

COPD Basics

How ASMR Can Benefit People with Chronic Illness

If you live with a chronic illness, ASMR may help you feel relaxed, comforted, or even relieved from chronic pain. But triggers aren't the same for everyone.

COPD Basics

Feeling Unseen and Unheard: Is This Medical Gaslighting or Something Else?

Not feeling fully supported in healthcare settings can be common. It's important to know why you might be feeling this way — whether from medical gaslighting or from limited medical resources — and what you can do about it.

COPD Basics

Ask the Dietitian: Easy Anti-Inflammatory Weeknight Meal Ideas

These quick and easy anti-inflammatory recipes can be made in 30 minutes or less.

COPD Basics

Is There a Best Sleeping Position for Breathing Problems?

If COPD, sleep apnea, or other breathing problems affect your sleep, changing positions may help. But there are other ways to improve your sleep.

COPD Basics

If You Experience Health Anxiety, You’re Not Alone

Health anxiety is common in people living with chronic conditions — and your fears are real and understandable. Learn tips for reducing anxiety and how to get help if needed.

COPD Basics

Consistency Is Overrated

Consistency helps us feel safe and reduces anxiety. But it also can create unreasonable expectations. Here’s how to redefine consistency (and success) so you’re OK with the ebbs and flows of life.

COPD Basics

How to be Supportive When Your Partner Has a Chronic Condition

When your partner lives with a chronic condition it can be hard to know the best ways to support them. Here's how I would want a partner to support me in my daily life with chronic illness.

COPD Basics

How Chronic Illness Affects More Than Just Your Physical Health

The nonphysical effects of living with a chronic condition are often ignored or underestimated. We need to change that. These are nine ways that living with a chronic condition has affected my life and strategies I've found to help me cope.

COPD Basics

How to Navigate Ongoing Grief with a Chronic Condition

When you're living with a chronic condition, you may never stop grieving the life you had before your diagnosis. Lauren Selfridge, a therapist living with multiple sclerosis, shares how to recognize and live with ongoing grief.

COPD Basics

Yoga for COPD: What to Know

With a focus on controlled movement, breathing exercises, and mindfulness, yoga can be an excellent fit as an exercise for people living with COPD. Here's what to know.