DARN DAMP WEATHER

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I,M STILL NEW TO COPD [LAST JUNE] DAMP WEATHER MAKES ME WORSE IS THIS USUAL? I WHEEZE MORE AND USE MUCEDINE AND PUFFER MORE LOVE JUDE

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Hi Jude,Yep it certainly makes me worse.

[Katlover]

I have heard this a lot Jude and another thing I see and I think is a very good idea is that when you are outdoors when it is cold, to have a scarf over your nose and mouth to afford you some protection from the cold air.

Others will be able to tell you more as I am still a newly diagnosed and am at a very mild stage in that I only have very slight shortness of breath on exertion

Kat

xxx

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Damp and cold can both have quite an effect on breathing Banner. Take care to keep as warm and dry as you can when outdoors and the tip about the scarf is a good one.

[pollyjj]

I hate the cold and the wind give me a bit of rain and lots of warm sunshine all year round and I would be fine.

polly xx

[Lynne1955]

I have found the cold air to be the worst for me so far as well as air pollution in cities.

Lynne xx

[hufferpuffer]

This weather will soon be behind us, Spring is just around the corner! stay warm n dry in the meantime , Carol x

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oh thank god not just me, I have bad trouble moving mucus, and through you lovely folk, I,m on mucodeine, it does help but not a lot, not being able to "get it up" is scary, I have read about flutter? devices are they any good??? oh bye the way I,m proud of self, through you all, I got the courage to mail Cambridge uni, about stem cells, [ expecting no reply or a condescending one] but!! they were great, they said they are in very early stages, and I shouls ask my consultant[ don,t have one] only gp, can I ask him??? to be put on .....the list... for any new drugs coming out, [there is one a inhaler but it,s pricey, so can,t see many of us getting that, love and hugs jude

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I found this helped me a lot last evening - breathed easier on lying down after clearing a lot of gunk which otherwise I couldn't - hope it helps you...

THE ACTIVE CYCLE OF BREATHING TECHNIQUE (ACBT)

The active cycle of breathing technique is used to clear secretions.

There are three parts to it

1. BREATHING CONTROL

2. DEEP BREATHING EXERCISES

3. HUFFING OR F.E.T

1. BREATHING CONTROL

Your airways are very sensitive and can feel tight and wheezy especially after

coughing or when you are breathless. Breathing control is used to relax the airways

and relieve these symptoms.

• Rest one hand on your stomach and allow your shoulders to drop down

• Breathe quietly and gently. As you breathe in your stomach should rise

slightly, it should fall as you breathe out – do not force the air out.

The length of time you spend doing breathing control will vary depending on how

breathless you feel. 3 or 4 breaths may be enough when you’re well but more will be

needed if you are breathless because you have an infection.

2. DEEP BREATHING EXERCISES

Deep breathing is used to get air behind the sputum stuck in small airways

• Relax your upper chest

• Breathe in slowly and deeply

• Breathe out gently until your lungs are empty – don’t force the air out

• Repeat 3 – 4 times, if you feel light headed go back to relaxed breathing

Once you’ve done deep breathing exercises, go back to breathing control again to

make sure your airways are relaxed. Sometimes when you are unwell or sputum is

difficult to clear you may need to go back to the deep breathing exercises a second

time before huffing. Try it out and see what works for you.

…2/

3. HUFFING

Huffing moves sputum from the small airways to the larger airways, from where they

are removed by coughing. Coughing alone does not remove sputum from small

airways.

• Take a medium sized breath in

• Squeeze the breath out by contracting your tummy muscles and keep your

mouth and throat open. The breath should be prolonged, but don’t continue

until the lungs are empty

• Take a large breath in

• Squeeze the air out as before

• Cough and expectorate any sputum. If you don’t produce any sputum with 1 or

2 coughs, try to stop coughing by using your breathing control

• Allow your breathing to settle with breathing control and then repeat the cycle

until your chest feels clear

THE ACTIVE CYCLE OF BREATHING TECHNIQUE (ACBT) – summary

3 Deep breaths (deep breathing exercises)

Breathing control

3 Deep breaths

2 Huffs/ F.E.T

Cough

Emma Larner & Penny Galey

Sept 2002 – review date Sept 2004

[hufferpuffer in reply to Hidden]

Thats a great way to unplug and get rid of that gunk! About breathing here are some good thoughts...breath.org/

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BLESS YOU ALL NOW I WANT ONE OF YOU TO GO OUT IN THE GARDEN , [MALE TOUGHER THAN US GIRLS, } GET STARKERS AND DO A WEATHER DANCE TO BRING SUN FOR THE REST OF US, !!! LAUGHING HERE LOVE JUDE

[hufferpuffer]

Beats swimming with iceburgs! ( superhuman blog) ;D

[hufferpuffer]