{"id":18864,"date":"2026-02-06T17:00:18","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T16:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buteyko-cursus.nl\/?page_id=18864"},"modified":"2026-02-24T16:38:03","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T15:38:03","slug":"copd","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/buteyko-cursus.nl\/en\/buteyko-helps\/copd\/","title":{"rendered":"COPD"},"content":{"rendered":"

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COPD<\/h1><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Living with COPD often means living with constant breathlessness. Breathing can feel heavy, restless, and exhausting. Many people with COPD breathe high in the chest and become short of breath even with mild exertion. That is completely understandable \u2014 but in the long run, it actually makes breathing more tiring.<\/p>\n

With healthy breathing, air flows calmly through the nose and the diaphragm does most of the work. In COPD, this natural breathing pattern is often disrupted. The Buteyko Method can help restore a calmer, more efficient way of breathing, so that breathing requires less effort and leaves you with more energy.<\/p>\n

Breathing problems in COPD<\/h3>\n

The breathing difficulties in COPD depend on where the condition primarily affects the lungs.<\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/i><\/i><\/span>Chronic bronchitis<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
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In chronic bronchitis, the bronchi are inflamed. The inflamed walls of the airways swell and produce excess mucus. Acute bronchitis often develops after a cold or flu, when a viral infection causes temporary inflammation of the bronchi. In most cases, recovery simply takes time.<\/p>\n

In chronic bronchitis, however, the inflammation becomes persistent. The lining of the bronchi thickens, making it harder for air to flow through. Mucus production also increases, which further obstructs breathing and leads to frequent coughing. The tiny cilia that normally help clear mucus are often damaged, making it more difficult to cough up phlegm effectively.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/i><\/span>Pulmonary emphysema<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
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In pulmonary emphysema, the air sacs (alveoli) are damaged, reducing the lungs\u2019 ability to absorb oxygen. Under normal circumstances, haemoglobin in the red blood cells is almost fully saturated with oxygen when blood leaves the lungs. With healthy lungs and calm breathing, a fingertip pulse oximeter typically shows oxygen saturation levels of around 97%.<\/p>\n

In emphysema, however, oxygen saturation can drop below 90%, especially during physical activity. This leads to rapid fatigue. Emphysema often causes a persistent feeling of breathlessness. Breathing out becomes difficult, breathing tends to be faster, and wheezing and frequent coughing are common symptoms.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Would you like to receive free advice by phone? Or are you ready to book the first session right away? Use the\u00a0<\/em>Book Appointment\u00a0button to easily choose a time that suits you.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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When the Buteyko Method can help with COPD<\/h3>\n

COPD is an umbrella term that includes conditions such as chronic bronchitis and pulmonary emphysema. It involves permanent damage to the lungs. At the same time, in many people \u2014 estimated at 60 to 70% \u2014 part of the airway narrowing is still modifiable. In these cases, breathlessness is not caused by damaged lung tissue alone, but also by factors such as:<\/p>\n