As a writer, I find it important to share what I learn with others so that they also may gain knowledge needed to have more secure footing when they battle their own illness or chronic disease.

Taking my responsibility for learning as much as I can about my own COPD/Asthma is something I choose to do so to make myself more aware of what is happening now, what may happen at any moment and what may lay ahead as I travel my path of life with the companionship of COPD/Asthma.

Today we talk about part four of our four-part series titled ‘Keys to Breathing Risks’ – with part four being a short discussion about ‘other factors’.

While many of us who already have COPD/Asthma are familiar with these keys, there is always the need to remind ourselves and other of them, and this is especially true if you know someone besides yourself who may be a risk of being diagnosed with COPD/Asthma.

The final segment of our discussion regarding ‘Keys to Breathing Risks’, we get into the other factors, you know – the ones maybe we don’t look at as being a cause of our breathing problems, but could be a cause.

For this piece, we will talk about two ‘other factors’ in particular – diet and rest or sleep.

Have you ever considered your time of rest or sleep as either a problem for your breathing or at least an irritant that does not help a breathing problem that maybe happening now?

What many people do not realize is that in sleeping your breathing can be irritated by a variety of things such as humidity, air quality, dust mites and the pillows, sheets and blankets surrounding your dream time.

If you find yourself having difficulty with your breathing or maybe sinuses after resting or sleeping, then it could be you need to check your pillows, sheets, blankets and bed itself for any irritants.  Could you be allergic to something in these items, or maybe you just need to adjust the humidity and air quality of the room itself.

We also know that getting enough sleep can be beneficial, no matter what your illness may be and many of those who have been diagnosed with COPD and/or Asthma also have problems with sleep apnea, which as a diagnosis alone can affect not just your breathing, but also your heart.  So, if you have major problems with sleep and have not been diagnosed with sleep apnea, maybe you should for your health and life itself – get it checked.

Another ‘other factor’ in the keys to breathing risks can be found in your diet.

Many folks who do not have problems with certain foods, do not know or want to understand that sometimes over time, our bodies change and some things we may have been able to eat in the past, may now cause an enormous feeling of uncomfortable now.

And vice-versa, sometimes over time some foods we had problems in the past, can become edible now – though this is rarer than the developing of a reaction to some foods.

When you are battling your breathing problems of COPD and/or Asthma, you must take responsibility and be aware of the foods you eat and what they can and can’t do in keeping you healthy.

Having a chronic illness, how we eat becomes much more important and that is where learning which foods are best for helping with the lungs is an absolute must.

As we finish out this brief, four-part, discussion of the ‘keys to breathing risks’, we emphasize the importance of two more personal responsibilities that those with chronic illnesses need to take care of – checking your sleep habits and patterns, and watching one’s diet.

REFLECTION QUESTION – – Beyond smoking and normal pollutants around your daily life, what more personal things do you have in your lifestyle that may be causing a problem or irritation with your breathing?

As always, CrossDove Writer reminds you that if you or anyone you know have any symptoms involving lung and breathing functionality, and they linger over and over while disrupting a lifestyle – then please ask questions and get it checked out.

ALWAYS REMEMBER > A person without good breathing, is a person without a good life’, so let’s do what we can, to learn what we can, to improve what we can.

NOTE TO REMEMBER: We only give descriptions and highlights of various aspects of having COPD and/or asthma and no way do we ever want our information to be considered medical treatment type of information, always consult your physician for more, clearer and more medical founded information.

With that I bid to all – smiles, prayers, blessings and steady breathing – Mr. William.

(Copyright@2017, CrossDove Writer)

To follow more postings written by Mr. William, feel free to check out either wheezingaway.com or on Facebook at COPD Travels.

(Information gathered from various news/health websites, COPD Foundation’s “Big Fat Reference Guide on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease” and the book “Live Your Life with COPD”)

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