COPD can feel frightening - not only because of breathlessness, but because it can shrink your confidence. People often start avoiding activity “just in case”, which sadly leads to deconditioning, more breathlessness, and more anxiety. The good news is that COPD support is not only about inhalers. The most effective care is usually a combination of medication, rehabilitation, breathing techniques, lifestyle changes, and a clear flare-up plan - so you feel more in control day to day. Understanding what’s really happening in COPD COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a long-term condition where airflow is limited, often due to chronic inflammation and damage in the airways and air sacs. The result can be ongoing cough, mucus, chest tightness, and breathlessness. Symptoms may be steady for a while and then flare up during an “exacerbation” (a worsening that’s beyond normal day-to-day variation). The foundations: daily support that makes the biggest difference 1) ...