I have 40 percent lung compacity . when making bed I do one side and have to sit and do the breathing in and then pushing out. my oxygen level goes 73 so it takes a while to get it to 92 the best I got when I get active . and then I do the other side of bed. I try not to do thing to the point I am gasping for air. then it is hard to get oxygen up my arms start shaking like it might be the end. but I lean on counter and just do the breathing in and out.
so I can't push myself to the gasping point. it is scary when that happens.
so don't wait to long when active to stop

Diaphragm and pursed lip / nasal breathing. is our best tool I think, and as time passes I use it more and more during any activity..
When relaxing I try (if I remember) to breathe only through my nose. It seems to reduce stale air to a minimum. That may just be me, who knows?
😊🍀

@A MyCOPDTeam Member the lungs have 2 main functions 1 to convert the air we breathe to usable oxygen for our bodies and 2 to remove excess CO2 from our bodies. Their is a old saying that is if you don't use it, you will lose it. This is true with our bodies as @A MyCOPDTeam Member said deep breathing does make it easier for us to breath, he said that he practices mindful meditation as do I which concentrates on your breathing and it is very relaxing plus it helps to breathe easier. When you deep breath you want to use the whole lung, the purpose is to keep your whole lungs active as long as possible. We already know the feeling of loss of lung function and once it's gone we don't get it back. I meditate a few times a week for about 10 minutes a session, I have a app on my phone that is called Breathe and it is a guided meditation complete with music, it was free for android's

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A MyCOPDT...

A MyCOPDT...

I have and actually talked to my doctor about it last week. No issues with heart rate rising, it means your workout is a good one. It slows as soon as you do so....happy workout! That is for me anyway.

I liked your very last question, Debbie. Our bodies, God bless them, are helping us all they can, so it seems fair that we be consistent in what we expect of them. Stay on a pattern till it becomes fairly easy, then maybe add a second or two till that becomes comfortable, etc. Challenge, yes, but don't be all over the place. This is what works for me, but we all do what suits us best or what our own doctors tell us.