Most 

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COPD patients receive outpatient treatment, so

provide comprehensive patient teaching to help them comply with therapy and understand the
nature of this chronic, progressive disease.
Patient Teaching For Patient With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COPD:
General Health

 Teach the patient and his family how to recognize early signs of infection; warn the
patient to avoid contact with people with respiratory infections. Encourage good oral hygiene to
help prevent infection.Pneumococcal vaccination and annual influenza vaccinations are
important preventive measures
 Help the patient and his family adjust their lifestyles to accommodate the limitations
imposed by this debilitating chronic disease. Instruct the patient to allow for daily rest periods
and to exercise daily as directed.
 Teach good habits of well-balanced, nutritious intake.
 Encourage high-protein diet with adequate mineral, vitamin, and fluid intake.
 Advise against excessive hot or cold fluids and foods, which may provoke an irritating
cough.
 Advise to avoid hard-to-chew foods (causes tiring) and gas-forming foods, which cause
distention and restrict diaphragmatic movement.
 Encourage five to six small meals daily to ease shortness of breath during and after
meals.
 Suggest rest periods before and after meals if eating produces shortness of breath.
Warn against potassium depletion. Patients with COPD tend to have low potassium levels;
also, patient may be taking diuretics; Watch for weakness, numbness, tingling of fingers, leg
cramps, Encourage foods high in potassium include bananas, dried fruits, dates, figs, orange
juice, grape juice, milk, peaches, potatoes, tomatoes.
 Advise patient on restricting sodium as directed.
 Limit carbohydrates if CO2 is retained by patient, because they increase CO2.
 Use community resources, such as Meals On Wheels or a home care aide if energy
level is low.
Avoid Exposure to Respiratory Irritants
 Advise patient to stop smoking and avoid exposure to second-hand smoke.
 Advise patient to avoid sweeping, dusting, and exposure to paint, aerosols, bleaches,
ammonia, and other respiratory irritants.
 Advise patient to keep entire house well-ventilated.
 Warn patient to stay out of extremely hot/cold weather to avoid bronchospasm and
dyspnea.
 Instruct patient to humidify indoor air in winter; maintain 30% to 50% humidity for optimal
mucociliary function.
 Suggest the use of a HEPA air cleaner to remove dust, pollen, and other particulates;
this is controversial as to the benefit to the patient.
Breathing Exercises
 Explain that goal is to strengthen and coordinate muscles of breathing to lessen work of
breathing and help lung empty more completely.
 To promote ventilation and reduce air trapping, teach the patient to breathe slowly,
prolong expirations to two to three times the duration of inspiration, and to exhale through
pursed lips.
 Stress the importance of controlled breathing.
 Teach diaphragmatic breathing and pursed-lip breathing for episodes of dyspnea and
stress.
 To help mobilize secretions, teach the patient how to cough effectively. If the patient with
copious secretions has difficulty mobilizing secretions, teach his family how to perform postural
drainage and chest physiotherapy. If secretions are thick, encourage the patient to drink 12 to
15 glasses of fluid per day.
 Encourage muscle toning by regular exercise.
 If the patient use oxygen therapy at home, teach him how to use the equipment
correctly.