I thought I was just a bit breathless… then I was diagnosed with COPD. DR PHILIPPA KAYE reveals there IS hope for those with deadly lung condition – and the single most important lifestyle change

I’ve recently been diagnosed with COPD. I find it difficult to get around due to my breathing. Is there anything I can do to reduce my symptoms?

Dr Philippa Kaye answers: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, often called COPD, is incurable, but there are steps patients can take to markedly improve their symptoms.

It is a long-term lung condition that causes breathing difficulties due to the airways becoming narrowed and inflamed – and it affects around three million people in the UK, with around two thirds currently undiagnosed.

It usually develops over many years, and is typically triggered by smoking, though pollution and exposure to industrial chemicals can also lead to COPD. Some patients develop the disease for no clear reason.

As it gets worse, everyday activities, such as walking to the shops or up a flight of stairs, becomes much harder.

COPD can also lead to organ failure and raises the risk of deadly lung infections – it’s the cause of roughly 30,000 deaths every year.

COPD treatment typically involves using prescription inhalers – drugs that can open up the airways making it easier to breathe. 

It’s vitally important that patients make sure they are using their inhalers properly, otherwise they won’t get the full benefit of the treatment.

Common mistakes inhaler-users make include breathing in too fast, not inhaling at the same time as pressing down on the trigger, and not holding their breath after inhaling.

Two major studies, published this year, found this resulted in more exacerbations – the medical term for episodes of severe symptoms – and a more rapid decline in health. 

However, lifestyle changes are just as crucial when it comes to managing COPD.

Firstly, anyone with the diagnosis should quit smoking immediately. This is the single most important way to slow the progression of the disease. Patients planning to quit should speak to their GP who can refer them to a specialist smoking cessation clinic.

The next most important step is exercise. This might sound counterintuitive, if you are already struggling with breathlessness. However, all the evidence shows that regular exercise can improve lung function, improving breathing and staving off the worst complications of COPD.

This kind of exercise would normally be done under the supervision of a medical specialist, as part of a pulmonary rehabilitation programme. Patients embark on a supervised exercise routine, which gradually increases in intensity over six weeks. This would normally involve regular walking and strength training. Patients are also given diet advice, as losing excess weight can make a big difference too.

It’s also important that patients shouldn’t forget to get their vaccinations. The most obvious is the annual flu jab, but two others that are crucial for COPD patients are the pneumococcal and RSV jabs. These are two lung bugs that can be dangerous to those with COPD, so patients should ask their GP about getting them.

Finally, any COPD patient who notices their breathlessness worsening suddenly, increased coughing, more phlegm or changes in colour of phlegm – a sign of a lung infection – should see their GP urgently.

Following 20 years of shoulder and neck pain, I was diagnosed with cervicogenic headaches. I’ve been told to take ibuprofen. Is there anything else I should do?

Dr Philippa Kaye answers: Taking ibuprofen long-term can damage the stomach. Instead, the best way to tackle cervicogenic headaches is through physiotherapy.

Cervicogenic headaches means the pain is coming from the neck rather than the brain or head itself. Often, this is due to osteoarthritis in the neck – painful inflammation caused by wear-and-tear. However, it can also occur due to muscle tension or a damaged nerve.

Ibuprofen can help in the short-term because the drug is an anti-inflammatory. However, it has to be used carefully. Over time, regular use can damage the stomach and kidneys. This is a particular risk for older patients.

Instead, the best way to tackle these headaches is through exercises and stretches that focus on the neck. These might include chin tucks – where the chin is brought down to the chest and held there – or upper trapezius stretches – where the head is tilted to one side to stretch out the neck.

A physiotherapist should be able to provide patients with a daily routine to follow. Most NHS physiotherapists no longer require patients to get a referral from their GP first. However, waiting times can be long.

Some physiotherapists may also carry out neck massages to release tension, but this will be dependent on the specialist.

As for other forms of pain relief, both heat and cold packs can help reduce the headaches. Heat relaxes stiff muscles, while cold helps to fight inflammation.

If none of this is helpful then a GP may be able to refer patients to a pain clinic, which might offer steroid injections to reduce inflammation. However, these are also just a short-term solution, though can be helpful. Physiotherapy really is the best route to recovery.

• Write to Dr Philippa Kaye at Health, Daily Mail, 9 Derry Street, London, W8 5HY or email: health@mailonsunday.co.uk – include contact details. Dr Kaye cannot enter into personal correspondence. Replies should be taken in a general context. Consult your own GP with any health worries.