Breathing Conditions FAQ | Your Questions on COPD, Asthma & More

Unfortunately, COPD is not curable, but with the right treatment and lifestyle changes, you can manage the symptoms and improve your quality of life.¹

COPD is not contagious. You cannot catch it from someone else. COPD is usually caused by smoking, exposure to biomass smoke, air pollution, or long-term exposure to harmful fumes. ²

Yes, smoking can worsen COPD. Smoking greatly elevates the risk of both developing and worsening COPD, ultimately contributing to increased mortality rates. Current smokers are more likely to develop COPD compared to non-smokers, and the risk rises with the amount smoked. Passive smoking is also a risk that should not be ignored.
Stopping smoking is crucial for managing and preventing COPD. Smoking cessation can reduce the progression of COPD and lower mortality risk. Using nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) can aid in quitting smoking.⁷

Yes, you can develop COPD even if you don’t smoke. COPD can occur in non-smokers due to biomass smoke exposure, occupational exposure and air pollution.³

Asthma and COPD both affect your lungs, but they are different conditions. Asthma usually starts in childhood and is caused due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. COPD usually happens later in life, mostly due to smoking, air pollution and exposure to biomass smoke, and it gets worse over time.⁴

Asthma does not directly cause COPD, but it can increase the risk of developing COPD under certain conditions. Patients with longstanding or poorly controlled asthma may develop persistent lung damage and reduced lung function over time which can be a risk factor for COPD.⁵

If you have COPD, regular tests can help monitor your condition. The tests you should undergo:

• Spirometry: This essential test of lung function helps in diagnosing and determining the severity of your COPD.
• Peak Expiratory Flow Test: This test measures the speed of your exhalation, which is helpful for observing changes in your lung function over time.
• Arterial Blood Gas Test: The Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) test evaluates lung function by measuring the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the bloodstream.
• Chest X-ray or CT Scan: These imaging tests help identify any lung damage or other complications related to COPD.⁸

For individuals with COPD, it’s important to follow these essential precautions:

• Use medications as recommended by your physicians
• Vaccinations: Get regular flu and pneumonia vaccines, as well as the COVID-19 vaccine, to prevent infections that could worsen your COPD.
• Wear Masks in Public: Use a mask in crowded or polluted areas to protect your lungs from irritants and infections.
• Wash Your Hands Frequently:Regularly washing your hands is crucial to minimizing the chances of infection, particularly during flu season or after spending time in public areas.
• Steer Clear of Lung Irritants:Avoid exposure to smoke, dust, chemical vapors, and cold air, as these can lead to respiratory issues and exacerbate symptoms.
• Stay Informed on Air Quality:Monitor air quality regularly, and try to remain indoors on days when pollution levels are elevated.
• Consult your doctor during seasonal changes.¹²

No, you shouldn’t discontinue your medication, even if you’re feeling better without consulting your doctor. COPD is a persistent health condition that necessitates ongoing care and management. Stopping your medication can lead to worsening symptoms or flare-ups.¹³

Yes, you can exercise if you have COPD. Physical activity plays a vital role for individuals with COPD, as it can significantly enhance muscle function, increase exercise capacity, and improve overall quality of life. Speak to your doctor about appropriate exercise routines and options for you.¹⁴

To make breathing easier with COPD, the following techniques have been shown to help:

1. Pursed-Lip Breathing: Inhale slowly through your nose, then exhale slowly through pursed lips. This helps keep your airways open and can improve oxygen exchange.
2. Diaphragmatic Breathing: Focus on breathing deeply using your diaphragm. This can improve lung efficiency and reduce the work of breathing.
3. Active Expiration and Inspiratory Muscle Training: Practicing controlled exhalation (active expiration) and strengthening the muscles used in breathing (inspiratory muscle training) can improve respiratory muscle strength and breathing ability.
4. Active Cycle of Breathing Techniques (ACBT): ACBT, an airway clearance method, uses various techniques like thoracic expansion exercises and breathing control.

These techniques can help alleviate symptoms of breathlessness, improve lung function, and support mucus clearance.¹⁵

There’s no permanent cure, but you can manage allergic rhinitis by avoiding triggers (pollen, dust mites, mold, pets, or substances like wood dust or flour dust) and using medicines like antihistamines, decongestants, and saltwater nasal sprays or solutions.¹

Allergic rhinitis lasts as long as you're exposed to triggers like pollen, dust mites, or animals, but medicines can help control the symptoms.¹

Patients with allergic rhinitis have a greater risk of causing asthma, as allergy triggers symptoms of asthma.²

No, allergic rhinitis does not cause fever. If someone has allergy symptoms like a runny or stuffy nose along with a fever, the fever is likely due to another condition, such as a sinus infection. Allergies may increase the risk of sinus infections, which can cause fever, but allergies themselves do not.³

Yes, cold air can cause rhinitis symptoms like a runny nose, congestion, and nasal burning. This happens quickly after exposure and goes away once you're out of the cold. It’s not necessarily allergic rhinitis, but people with allergies or no nasal conditions can experience it. The cold triggers nasal cells and sensory nerves, causing these symptoms, which can be managed with certain medications.⁴

No, they are not the same. Allergic rhinitis is an allergic reaction that causes sneezing, a runny nose, and itchy eyes, while sinusitis is an infection of the sinuses often caused by blocked or inflamed sinus openings. However, allergic rhinitis can lead to sinusitis by causing swelling and mucus buildup, which creates conditions for infection.⁵

1. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/allergic-rhinitis/
2. Bergeron C, Hamid Q. et al. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2005 Jun 15;1(2):81-7.
3. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/fever-with-allergies#causes.
4. Cruz AA, Togias A. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2008 Apr;8(2):111-7.
5. Slavin RG. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1988 Nov;82(5 Pt 2):950-6.