Living with COPD

Living With COPD: A Brighter Future

Learning that you have COPD can be difficult news to take. You might worry about having to give up your favorite activities, or expect to feel sick most of the time. It's common for people with COPD to feel anxious, depressed, or stressed about their condition. But the reality of living with COPD is much brighter than you may imagine.

For starters, being diagnosed with COPD means that your doctor can prescribe medications and other treatments to improve your symptoms and put the brakes on the progress of the disease.

How Can I Get a Good Night's Sleep?

It’s common for people with COPD to have trouble sleeping.

If you experience shortness of breath at night, tell your provider. He or she may review your treatment to find out what’s keeping you awake.

You can also try different sleeping positions. If you sleep on your side, keep your head elevated with one or more pillows and place a pillow between your legs. To sleep on your back, use pillows under your head to keep it raised. Keep your knees bent and tuck a pillow under them. Ask your provider about using pillows made for this purpose.