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BY KAYLA BEIRNE
COPD is already tough to live with, but when you’re always wondering what will trigger a flare-up, it can be even more frustrated. Here’s what to look out for.
For people dealing with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), life can seem like a constant battle to stay on top of this debilitating condition. Triggers are everywhere, and dealing with them all at once can feel beyond overwhelming.
It doesn’t have to be that way. You can identify, isolate, and avoid COPD triggers; it just takes some work. With that in mind, let’s look at the different things that can trigger COPD, how to avoid them, and what’s involved in the process.
How Symptoms Connect to Triggers
Knowing your symptoms is essential, as this will allow you to identify which symptoms are related to specific triggers. Symptoms of a flare-up often include difficulty breathing, coughing, wheezing, increased mucus production, and other issues commonly associated with an upper respiratory tract infection.
Indoor and Outdoor Triggers
One of the best ways to deal with your triggers is to divide and conquer, so let’s look at indoor triggers. Different things can trigger an episode, so you need to know what to avoid. The list starts with tobacco smoke, dust, chemical fumes, and pet dander. Strong odors can also set off an episode, as can indoor pollution.
Tobacco smoke also makes the list for outdoor triggers. Any and all cigarette smoke—first- and secondhand—can trigger and even cause COPD. Air pollution also gets a nod in urban environments, especially when it comes directly from vehicle exhausts and nearby factories.
Temperature-related triggers are yet another cause that’s important to avoid. Extreme heat or cold can lead to a pronounced reaction, so you should always take air quality warnings seriously. Pollen is another sneaky outdoor trigger. It’s easy to go out for a walk on a nice day only to discover that the pollen levels are a lot higher than you expected them to be.
Avoidance Strategies
As overwhelming as this list may seem, it is possible to live a full, healthy life while successfully dealing with all these different things that can trigger COPD. The key is planning and knowledge. Establish a list of safe places and activities, and then build a routine around them. Carefully monitor your successes and reactions on an ongoing basis, and make the appropriate adjustments as you learn more about what’s working and what’s not. It’s important to remember how many different things can trigger COPD, how to avoid them, and the strategies you need to implement.
