Just joined today as i was looking through various COPD sites looking for info on some good breathing techniques for COPD (Diagnosed in 2018)
I am at the moderate stage so quite fortunately i can still work and get around okish without using any aides other than my inhalers for COPD & Asthma also.
I get this really harsh burning sensation on my throat though in the mornings and throughout the day whether at home or outside and i am looking for any info on some good breathing techniques on how to ease this if anyone has any good suggestions ?
I've been reading some others posts on here and it seems like agreat site with very supportive people on here
i gave up smoking in Jan 2022, after smoking for 45 years, but i still get the burning sensation - any thoughts would be greatly appreciated
Welcome to this forum. There are many very helpful and knowledgeable members. A lot here can recommend breathing exercises. And there are YouTube presentations.
Yes indeed, i have been reading through quite a few posts on here and there is lots of information on here which has been really informative - i have looked through some youtube over the last weeks also, although there is some good stuff on there i do prefer the more supportive places like forums etc..and can weigh up what works and what don't with other people in the same situation and that
Hello and welcome. The burning could be acid reflux try some antacid and see if it helps. If you go on the aluk site they will have some breathing exercises and some breathing tecnequesyou can try. Pursed lip breathing is a good one it helps to slow your breathing down and be more efective. You take a deep breath in through your nose and as you breath out slowly, purse your lips so it slows your exhale down. This helps to stop hiperventalating and lets your lungs absorbe the oxagen better. Breathing from your diaphram not your chest is also good practice
I never thought of the acid reflux to be honest (As this was not something anyone else including my GP has mentioned what could be causing the burning sensation) and i have looked up some of the foods etc. that can cause this.. which i do currently eat or use with cooking.. so its given me pause for thought and will not use some of these foods going forward to see if they are the cause or the burning eases.
Thanks for the advice about the pursed lip breathing, which has been really helpful this evening so i will continue with this method,
Acid reflux is quite common amongst lung problem people. And can cause a problem with breathing if it gets into your lungs. Hooefully you can sort it with a change to your diet but if not please see your gp
Hi and welcome Blu67 😊My husband has severe COPD ,does sometimes suffer from acid reflux and always had sachets of gaviscon to hand but has now been given prescription meds. The pursed breathing is invaluable to him he uses it regularly to ease his breathing. Before lock down he did the pulmonary rehabilitation course which he found really beneficial but I’m not sure how easy they are to access now your Gp would be able to advise you on that . Great that you’ve given up smoking , it makes a massive difference to slowing the progress of the disease , not easy but hundreds on here have done it 😃
Welcome to the forum Blu67Take a look at ALUK - theyve great advice on controlled breathing with pursed lips exhalation + many other useful tips & techniques.
Reflux etc is very common in lung disease.if u try treating that,i know frm experience myself,i feel lot better without it.i take omeprazole,on prescription x
Acid reflux sounds like what you have. I would suggest seeing your gp, there is a simple test they can do (I've forgotten name) then if you have it they can prescribe Omeprazole for it. My husband suffered with it for ages before getting sorted. Easily fixed.
Welcome to the forum. We are a great bunch and although not qualified to give medical advice ,we are full of information as most of us have lived with COPD for many years. Some over 30yrs Firstly remember its not terminal but is progressive. You have made a good start by giving up smoking.
There are great Pulmonary Rehab classes with the Respiratory team which teach you all the breathing techniques and fitness routines.
A great way to remember how to breathe properly is "Smell the Roses, blow out the candle "
This is breathing in slowly through your nose, holding it ,then breathe out slowly through mouth with pursed lips.
This slows the heart rate down and avoids anxiety which can cause panic attacks
Never overthink a situation and dont dwell on your condition.
Life is for living so be Positive and avoid negativity. I wish you the best of luck and we are always here to help. xxSheila 💕🌹
Hey, how you doing welcome 🙏 to the madhouse, we all take care of each other with chat and humour 😀 so just join in,the 🌎 is bearable by joining us lot.
Good to read a fellow copd person and yes at first I learned little from the nurse I saw but since joining HU. I have learned so much and on breathing I just walk but at first I used deep breathing I learned from a book on Pilates I think. Good luck , 👍🏻and never smoke again as it’s the worst , I used to and stopped so anyone can 😊
Welcome to the forum.Like you I have recently been diagnosed with COPD and have joined this forum and have been given good advice and a lot of positivity.I have come across a You tube video channel’Just Buteygo’.
By following there techniques daily,I am hoping to control the progression that is inevitable with COPD. Already I have learnt to breath through my nose( apparently mouth breathing is incorrect) and breath from my diaphragm. Singing is also very helpful and I am at present looking for a local singing group. I’ve also taken up Yoga and although I am the only male in attendance it has given me a very positive lift!
Try if you can to keep active in your life, but you may now have to learn to pace yourself, as your energy levels may fall ,this is for me hard, as I’ve always been very active.
Keep a check on your diet, as any extra demand on your body is extra stress.
It is a new chapter in our life’s and one we have to come to terms with. Like you I smoked for 35years and truly wish I had listened to all the health advice to quit!,. Time to move on (with a slightly slower step😉)
Keep POSITIVE and wish you well in your COPD journey, we are walking it with you.👍
Hi Erbert. I notice you are looking for a singing group. Have a look at Project Sounds. Singing for Lung health ,Also Harmonica for lung Health. projectsounds.co.uk They do online sessions unless you happen to live in Northampton where there are live sessions. Their sessions kept me going for two years during the lockdown but now I am fortunate to be able to go to the live sessions.
Thanks joycen60,I’ll have a look and see if it fits.
Have also found a couple of groups locally, so will be looking at those as well. Don’t think the harmonica will go down well with family, unless I buy them ear-defenders!.
Hi Blu, I had really bad reflux I saw my GP who just gave me medication which did help but I didn’t want to take even more medication than I already do. I then found a book on Amazon The Acid Reflux Escape Plan: Two weeks to Heartburn relief. I downloaded the kindle version and I found it brilliant, you basically cut out all known reflux triggers for two weeks then gradually add them to see which are your triggers. I hardly ever get reflux now. The recipes are pretty good, I still have some of my favourites now.
Good morning Blu67. Yes it is a very friendly and helpful group. You can also go on YouTube and search for breathing exercises for copd and also Breathing Techniques. Pulmonary rehabilitation exercises is the course a lot of us have been on. And a lot found it beneficial. Hope this helps. And have a good day. Brian
Hi! I have COPD, Asthma and Bronchiectasis. I also have trouble with Reflux due to a hiatus hernia. Recently. I lost my voice and was referred to ENT where I was found to have some Reflux damage in my throat. I am told this is most likely due to Silent Reflux which behaves a little differently to acid Reflux.
I can certainly relate to the burning sensation in the throat.
My ENT consultant has advised me to take Gaviscon Advance three times a day to see if there is any improvement. Also I was told to raise the head of the bed by at least 4 inches, to eat smaller meals more frequently and avoid anything spicy, fatty or acidic. Tomatoes and citrus fruits are a big NO!
I hope some of this may be helpful to you, but suggest that you speak to your GP sooner rather than later as there may be a reason for the sensation you're getting that isn't acid related at all.
When I first had Reflux problems years ago, it was easily treated with Lansoprazole, but has become more of an issue since the Silent Reflux crept in.
Someone has already mentioned a useful book. There is also an acid Reflux forum on HU.
Good luck with getting it sorted. Let us know how you get on.
Welcome to this friendly, funny and informative forum. Lots of lived experience on here. I can see you've received good advice already. I too have copd (small airways disease). Mine is very severe and I'm under the lung tx clinic at Harefield. I still get about though, on our way to The Film Museum in Milton Keynes . Grandson's choice!
Hello Blu, welcome to this forum! It’s great and supportive and informative and funny! I don’t have COPD although my dad does, but I have severe asthma. But we all help each other along the way! 🌺
Hello all
Thank you all for the welcomes and taking the time out to respond - its much appreciated
I've been putting some of your advice into practice and breathing through my nose instead of my mouth (As i have been a mouth breather for as long as can remember) as i can say i have noticed a difference already - it makes me feel a lot more calm and relaxed when i just sit and breath that way and listen to a bit of soft music makes it feels quite meditating.
I've got an appointment on Monday with the respiratory team at my local hospital and will have a Spirometry test so will see what my levels are - the last one i had was back in November and i blew to around 3 and a half % (between 1 and 10) which was not great and i felt like my lungs were gonna explode when i was blowing through the mouthpiece - just to add i had a punctured lung also at the end of December, i woke up in a lot of pain on my right side and spent the day in hospital, which was when i decided to stop smoking otherwise i could tell just by the look of me that day i wouldn't be around much longer if i carried on smoking..
I've been reading up on some of the foods which can cause either acid or silent reflux and will be cutting certain foods out of my diet as i do like a bit of spicy food and pepper etc etc..so again thanks for suggesting that also.
I like this forum, it feels very serene on here and its nice to read people are looking out for each other -
Have a nice day everyone and take care of yourselves as our health is more important than a lot of the other general life stuff we worry about which then has an impact our health.
Hello, welcome. There are lots of friends on here and someone will always reply. If you search in the healthunlocked site you will find advice on breathing exercises.
It might be a good idea to ask your GP about the burning in your throat and they could advise you or maybe prescribe something to help.
Well done for stopping smoking, it’s not easy to do, i gave up smoking 12 years ago after 40 years and one of the best things i ever did.
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