Tips for Avoiding or Managing COPD Environmental Triggers

If you start feeling like your COPD symptoms are getting out of hand, it may not be a sign of worsening disease. You may be feeling the effects of poor air quality around you.

Living in the Northeast in the summer of 2023, you could see the terrible quality of the air around the entire area. Wildfires in Canada and a dip in the jet stream sent enough smoke and soot our way to make breathing outside really challenging.

It wreaked havoc on people like me with asthma and allergies and people living with COPD.

But you don’t always have to see smoke to experience unhealthy air quality, and the air in your home may also present a challenge.

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Environmental triggers and COPD symptoms

If you suddenly start noticing that you feel worse, it may be related to your environment. Environmental triggers can make your COPD symptoms feel worse.

Identifying a cause is sometimes easy, and other times, it may be much more difficult. In either case, understanding how the environment affects you can make a big difference in managing how you feel.

Pollution

Air pollution is a broad term covering everything from invisible gasses to fine particles that you may be able to see, such as smoke or dust.

Particle pollution includes both liquids and solids released into the air, reducing air quality. Most particle pollution comes from burning carbon-based fuels, which include wood, oil, and gas.

While you may think of pollution as being an outdoor issue, the reality is that the air in your home, school, or workplace may be worse. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates about 6.7 million people die each year from air pollution. Of those, about 3.2 million people die each year from indoor air pollution.

A 2021 study suggests that poor air quality contributes to worsening COPD symptoms up to 10 days after exposure. The authors write that environmental agents may increase the risk of COPD in the first place.

Wildfires

Wildfires contribute to particle pollution. For example, a small fire may not seem like a big deal unless you’re nearby. However, large fires, as we saw in 2023 in my region, can spread air pollution for hundreds or even thousands of miles.

Wildfires can increase poor air quality where you live, even though the immediate threat of fire isn’t around the corner.

Occupational hazards

Some work environments are more hazardous than others. Triggers lurking in your workplace include smoke, chemicals, dust, and other sources of air pollution.

These occupational hazards can make you feel sick. You might even feel so bad that you have to take time off from work.

Other environmental triggers

Many things can be environmental triggers for COPD. They include, but are not limited to:

• allergens such as mold, pollen, dust, animal dander, etc.
• airborne illnesses such as the cold and flu viruses
• perfumes and fragrances
• smoke from cooking or lighting a candle
• chemical cleaners

How to manage environmental triggers

Sometimes, you can control the amount of environmental triggers around you. In other cases, you cannot.

Here are some tips to help you avoid and prevent environmental triggers of COPD:

1. Keep your space clean

Mold, dust, pet dander, and other things can contribute to poor indoor air quality and make you feel worse. Regular cleaning can help.

You may find it helpful to wear a mask when cleaning, or you may want to ask for help or hire a professional if possible.

Other ways to help keep your space clean and your air quality good include:

• Avoid using a wood-burning stove.
• If you have a chimney, make sure to keep it clean and clear.
• Avoid using air fresheners, candles, and incense.
• Limit certain hobbies, such as woodworking, metalworking, and 3D printing, to well-ventilated areas or outside.
• Avoid smoking inside.

2. Filter your air

If you have an HVAC system, such as a home or office air conditioning or forced air heating, the American Lung Association (ALA) recommends you clean or replace your filters every 30 days.

You may also want to consider getting a portable air purifier to help reduce particle pollution in the air around you. Circulating air with fans may also help keep the air around you fresh.

The ALA suggests avoiding burning in your living spaces (like candles and fireplaces) to help reduce unnecessary exposure to smoke and chemicals.

3. Watch how you’re cooking

Broiling, frying, and grilling can all contribute to indoor air pollution, particularly if the food gets smokey. You can help improve your air quality by using a ventilation fan when cooking and watching your food to prevent burning.

4. Check before you go

Several agencies help monitor outdoor air quality. AirNow.gov allows you to check air quality quickly from your home computer, tablet, or phone. To get an idea of the general air quality around you, you just need to use your zip code, city, or state.

You may also be able to find local reports on news stations, often during weather reports. If the air quality is unhealthy, you’ll see an alert or warning to avoid outdoor activities and close your windows, especially those with lung diseases like COPD.

What are the neighbors doing? Are they burning leaves or debris in their yards? Are they cutting grass? If you notice this happening, you may want to stay inside and wait until the air in your immediate area is cleaner before stepping outside.

Takeaway

Indoor and outdoor pollution can trigger your COPD symptoms, making you feel worse without disease progression.

You can take steps to keep the air in your home or office cleaner, but you may not have many choices when it comes to outdoor air pollution.

If outdoor air quality is poor, you may want to close your windows and avoid outside activities until it improves.

You don’t need to take action on every tip. They may not all work for you and your situation. However, being mindful of how certain things can affect air quality — and potentially how you feel — may help.