5 Breathing Exercises for COPD You Can Try at Home
By The Rehab Portal
Learn 5 breathing techniques for COPD, including pursed-lip breathing, belly breathing, and paced breathing, with simple instructions and safety tips.
Living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can make everyday activities like walking, climbing stairs, or getting dressed feel exhausting. When you're short of breath, even simple tasks can become challenging.
Breathing exercises for COPD can help you manage breathlessness, slow your breathing, and feel more in control during daily activities. While these techniques cannot reverse lung damage, they can be useful tools for managing symptoms.
Here are five breathing techniques you can practice at home.
Before you begin: Not every breathing technique is appropriate for everyone with COPD. If you experience worsening breathlessness, dizziness, or discomfort, stop and consult your healthcare professional.
1. Pursed-Lip Breathing
Best for: Managing breathlessness during activity or recovery.
Pursed-lip breathing is one of the most commonly recommended breathing techniques for people with COPD. It helps slow your breathing and may reduce air trapping by keeping your airways open longer during exhalation.
How to do it:
Relax your neck and shoulders.
Breathe in gently through your nose for approximately two seconds.
Purse your lips as though you're about to blow out a candle.
Breathe out slowly and gently through your pursed lips for approximately four seconds.
Repeat until your breathing feels more comfortable.
Tip: Try pursed-lip breathing when walking, climbing stairs, or recovering from an activity that makes you mildly breathless. Avoid forcing the air out of your lungs.
2. Diaphragmatic (Belly) Breathing
Best for: Practicing breathing control while resting.
Your diaphragm is the primary muscle responsible for breathing. Diaphragmatic breathing encourages awareness of its movement and may help some people develop a more relaxed breathing pattern.
However, this technique is not beneficial or comfortable for everyone with COPD, particularly those with significant lung hyperinflation.
How to do it:
Sit comfortably or lie down with your knees slightly bent.
Place one hand on your chest and the other on your abdomen.
Breathe in gently through your nose, allowing your abdomen to rise naturally.
Exhale slowly and comfortably, noticing your abdomen fall.
Repeat for a few breaths without forcing the movement.
Tip: Start with short practice periods. If this technique increases your breathing effort or makes you uncomfortable, stop and ask your respiratory therapist whether it's appropriate for you.
3. Huff Coughing
Best for: Helping clear mucus from your airways when needed.
Some people with COPD experience increased mucus production, which can make breathing more difficult.
Huff coughing, also called the forced expiratory technique, is an airway-clearance method that may help move mucus without repeated forceful coughing.
How to do it:
Sit upright in a comfortable position.
Take a comfortable breath in.
Keep your mouth open and breathe out firmly, as though you're trying to fog up a mirror.
Avoid forcing the breath so hard that you begin wheezing or coughing uncontrollably.
Rest and return to relaxed breathing between attempts.
Once mucus has moved into your larger airways, a gentle cough may help clear it.
Tip: Huff coughing is most useful when you have mucus to clear. A respiratory therapist can teach you the appropriate technique and determine whether airway clearance is necessary for your condition.
4. Relaxed Breathing Positions
Best for: Recovering from breathlessness after physical activity.
When you're short of breath, your body may naturally tense its shoulders, neck, and upper chest. Finding a comfortable, supported position can help reduce unnecessary muscle tension and make breathing feel easier.
How to do it:
Sit in a sturdy chair with your feet flat on the floor.
Lean forward slightly from your hips.
Rest your forearms on your thighs or on a table with pillows for support.
Relax your shoulders and neck.
Breathe gently, using pursed-lip breathing if it helps.
You can also try standing while leaning forward slightly with your hands supported on a stable countertop.
Tip: Practice these positions when you're feeling well so you know which ones are most comfortable when breathlessness occurs.
5. Paced Breathing During Activity
Best for: Managing breathing during walking, climbing stairs, or everyday tasks.
Paced breathing involves coordinating your breathing with your movements. It can help you avoid holding your breath during physical effort and make activities feel more manageable.
How to do it:
Begin an activity at a comfortable pace.
Breathe in during the easier part of the movement.
Breathe out during the more demanding part.
Slow down or take breaks when needed.
For example:
Standing from a chair: Breathe in while seated and breathe out as you stand.
Climbing stairs: Breathe out as you step upward.
Lifting objects: Breathe out during the lifting effort.
Walking: Find a comfortable breathing rhythm that matches your pace without forcing a specific number of steps per breath.
Tip: Remember to breathe out on exertion. Avoid holding your breath when an activity becomes challenging.
Which Breathing Exercise Is Best for COPD?
The most helpful technique depends on your symptoms and what you're trying to accomplish.
TechniqueWhen it may helpPursed-lip breathingManaging breathlessnessDiaphragmatic breathingPracticing breathing control, if appropriateHuff coughingClearing mucusRelaxed breathing positionsRecovering from breathlessnessPaced breathingManaging breathing during physical activity
You may find some techniques more helpful than others. A respiratory therapist or pulmonary rehabilitation professional can help you identify the most appropriate strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions About COPD Breathing Exercises
Can breathing exercises improve COPD?
Breathing exercises can help some people manage breathlessness, improve breathing control, and feel more confident during daily activities. However, they do not cure COPD or reverse the underlying lung damage.
How often should you practice breathing exercises for COPD?
Frequency depends on the technique and your individual needs. Some breathing strategies, such as pursed-lip breathing, can be used when needed during activities. Others may be practiced during short, comfortable sessions if recommended by your healthcare professional.
What is the best breathing technique for shortness of breath?
Pursed-lip breathing is commonly recommended for people with COPD because it may help slow breathing and reduce air trapping. Supported forward-leaning positions can also help some people recover from breathlessness.
If your breathlessness is sudden, severe, or significantly worse than usual, seek medical attention rather than relying on breathing exercises alone.
Can breathing exercises replace pulmonary rehabilitation?
No. Breathing exercises are only one component of managing COPD.
A comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation program combines aerobic exercise, strength training, education, and self-management strategies to improve physical function and quality of life.
Take the Next Step With Pulmonary Rehabilitation at Home
Breathing exercises can help you manage symptoms, but staying physically active is also an important part of living well with COPD.
Pulmonary rehabilitation combines exercise, education, and self-management strategies to help people with chronic lung conditions improve their endurance, manage breathlessness, and maintain independence.
The Rehab Portal offers structured home-based pulmonary rehabilitation programs, including guided exercise videos, breathing techniques, educational resources, and tools to help you track your progress.
Whether you're beginning rehabilitation or looking to maintain your progress, you can explore options that fit your needs.
Explore The Rehab Portal's Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programs
Medical disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes and does not replace individualized medical advice. If you experience severe or sudden breathlessness, chest pain, fainting, or other concerning symptoms, seek urgent medical attention.
References
Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD). Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention of COPD. https://goldcopd.org/
Rochester CL, et al. (2023). Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Adults with Chronic Respiratory Disease: An Official American Thoracic Society Clinical Practice Guideline. https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.202306-1066ST