Activities of daily living (commonly referred to as ADLs) are essential and routine tasks most people can perform without assistance. Many people living with a chronic lung disease, like COPD, may begin to find it difficult to complete these everyday tasks, especially as their disease gets worse. Daily activities like bathing, dressing and grooming require more energy and people with lung disease may quickly start to feel out of breath. Instrumental activities of daily living (or IADLS) are complex tasks like managing finances, shopping, cooking and cleaning. Over time these tasks can also become burdensome. The inability to accomplish them independently can greatly affect someone’s quality of life, both physically and mentally.

Though talking to your healthcare provider is always important when you begin to experience symptoms, sometimes seeking advice from other people with chronic lung disease can be equally helpful. Carol, who was diagnosed with COPD in 2014 and has begun to have escalating symptoms, particularly appreciates online support communities like the Inspire Community, Living with COPD. There she shares her story and learns ways to conserve her energy so that she can continue to manage her disease and get more done throughout the day.

Carol’s Lung Disease Journey

Unfortunately, in 2017, Carol’s pulmonologist discovered a nodule growing on the upper left lobe of her lungs. They decided to monitor it and for seven years there was no change. In March 2024, Carol experienced her first major COPD flare-up and was admitted to the hospital where her doctors put her on oxygen, antibiotics and steroids. When she returned home, she was prescribed oxygen for sleeping. In October, her scans showed that the previously benign mass had grown and was now malignant. Radiation treatments were used to treat the tumor.

In January 2025, Carol was once again admitted to the hospital with not only a COPD flare-up but also a lung infection. Her healthcare provider prescribed oxygen throughout the day and night, gave her new nebulizer medication and encouraged her to return to pulmonary rehab. “Pulmonary rehab kept me mentally and physically healthy but unfortunately during the pandemic the place I went to shut down and never reopened,” Carol explained. Recently she has found a new pulmonary rehab center supervised by her pulmonologist, “so, at this new state-of-the art facility my goal is to get in great shape because I hope to someday be able to reduce my supplemental oxygen dependence.”

Managing Daily Activities

Carol starts every day by checking the forecast because certain weather conditions, like rain, snow, winds and dampness can trigger her COPD symptoms. If the forecast shows extreme weather like heavy rain or winds, she does not venture outside. “I closely monitor the weather and the air quality in the house because little things can affect my breathing,” Carol said. “Even a steamed-up shower causes shortness of breath, so I need to make sure I have proper ventilation, which can be hard in a small bathroom, so I have extra fans running to help.”

Using supplemental oxygen has caused Carol to have an increased level of anxiety and made some ADLs harder to complete. Though she is still able to complete most daily activities, having outside help for things like shopping and cleaning has been a lifesaver for her. A cleaning crew comes to her home every other week to do any strenuous cleaning tasks that require bending. This is particularly helpful because bending or reaching can cause shortness of breath and fatigue so trying to stay in an upright position is key for her.

Carol lives on the 14^th floor of a 31-story building, so finding her car in the large parking lot and going shopping has become very difficult. She has found that she gets short of breath or worries about having enough supplemental oxygen when she goes out shopping. She enlisted the help of local delivery services for most of her shopping. “I am constantly worried about leaving the house and not having the batteries or charger to make sure I don't run out of oxygen. I have had some problems with how quickly the batteries deplete and once came very close to running out of oxygen,” she said.

Though Carol is comfortable with preparing meals and completing ADLS like bathing, dressing and grooming, some people with COPD and other chronic lung diseases may have a harder time with these activities. “COPD is not curable but is it manageable if people are educated (on ways to manage the disease)” Carol said.  She continues to work closely with her healthcare providers, attend pulmonary rehab, and learn as much as she can through webinars and online communities like Inspire. She has even joined the American Lung Association’s COPD Patient Advisory Group to help others learn from her experience.

Talk with your healthcare provider to ensure you are making the most out of your day and know tips to conserve energy. Ask your healthcare provider about attending a pulmonary rehab program near you or ask about getting an assessment by an occupational therapist. To learn more about managing your COPD daily, visit our COPD management web pages.