Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Obesity: My Battle with Breathing

When I was diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), I knew my life would change, but I didn’t fully grasp how complex the journey would be. I was already dealing with obesity, and adding COPD to the mix felt overwhelming. I quickly learned that the combination of these two conditions made everything more challenging, from managing symptoms to finding effective treatments. One of the first things I had to understand was how my weight was impacting my COPD. My doctor explained that obesity can worsen COPD symptoms by putting additional pressure on my lungs and making it harder to breathe. This hit me hard. I knew I needed to make changes, but the idea of losing weight while struggling to breathe felt impossible. We started by addressing the basics, like understanding what COPD really meant for me. My diagnosis was classified as “chronic obstructive pulmonary disease unspecified,” which I learned simply meant that my COPD didn’t fit neatly into one of the specific subtypes like chronic bronchitis or emphysema. It was a broad diagnosis, but it was a starting point for figuring out my treatment plan. I was particularly concerned about oxygen therapy. I’d heard conflicting opinions, and I couldn’t shake the question: “Why is oxygen bad for COPD?” My doctor reassured me that oxygen therapy is not inherently bad but must be carefully managed. Too much oxygen can lead to complications, but when used correctly, it can be life-saving. It was a fine balance, and I had to trust my healthcare team to guide me through it. Exercise was another critical component of my treatment plan. I found a systematic review on the efficacy of exercise treatments for COPD, which emphasized how important physical activity is for managing the disease. But given my weight, even the thought of exercising was daunting. However, the pulmonary rehabilitation program I joined offered tailored exercises that I could handle. We started slowly, focusing on building up my endurance and strength without pushing me too hard. The exercises didn’t just help my lungs—they also began to address my weight, which in turn made breathing a bit easier. There was also a significant amount of education involved in managing COPD. The nurse at my clinic spent time teaching me about the different types of COPD and how to manage each. She explained the importance of recognizing symptoms of acute exacerbations, such as when acute bacterial bronchitis might flare up. We even discussed overlap syndrome, where obstructive sleep apnea and COPD coexist, something that could easily go unnoticed if not properly monitored. Throughout this journey, I also had to confront my fears. One of the hardest things to accept was that COPD was going to be a permanent part of my life. The diagnosis felt like a life sentence at first, but over time, I learned to live with it. Part of that was accepting help when I needed it—whether from my healthcare team, support groups, or even just understanding the terminology in my treatment plan. For example, understanding “COPD in Spanish translation” became important when communicating with healthcare providers during my travels, ensuring that I received consistent care. I also learned about the nuances of my oxygen levels. I had to understand what “normal O2 for a COPD patient” meant and how to monitor it effectively. My nurse taught me how to use a pulse oximeter at home and what signs to look out for if my oxygen levels dropped too low. This knowledge gave me a sense of control, something that’s often hard to come by when dealing with chronic illness. In the end, my journey with COPD and obesity has been one of learning, adaptation, and resilience. It’s not easy, and there are still days when I struggle with my breathing and my weight. But I’ve come to realize that managing these conditions is about taking it one step at a time. It’s about making small, consistent changes that lead to better health over the long term. And it’s about not being afraid to ask for help, to learn as much as possible, and to keep pushing forward, no matter how hard it gets.