10 Habits That Can Contribute to COPD Exacerbation
Lung & RespiratoryCOPD

10 Habits That Can Contribute to COPD Exacerbation

10 Habits That Can Contribute to COPD Exacerbation
Everyday Health
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Updated on June 23, 2026
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10 Habits That Can Contribute to COPD Exacerbation

Explore 10 habits that could be making your COPD worse.
If you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you already know that smoking and eating unhealthy foods can worsen your condition. But there are other lifestyle choices that you should avoid as well. By resetting these common habits and incorporating positive changes to help slow COPD progression, you can avoid triggering a flare-up of symptoms (called an exacerbation). This keeps you feeling better and helps you prevent serious conditions that could result in an emergency room visit.

1. Never Exercising

“If you aren’t active, you’ll eventually become out of shape — something that over time can make even normal daily activities harder to do,” says MeiLan K. Han, MD, national spokesperson for the American Lung Association and chief of the division of pulmonary and critical care at University of Michigan Health in Ann Arbor.

Research has suggested that regular physical activity among those with COPD is beneficial. According to one study of people with COPD, exercising for at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week, resulted in improvements to how the cardiovascular system responded to exercise. It also expanded participants’ exercise capacity, which means you have more endurance.

Another reason to work out: Exercise may help alleviate the symptoms of depression in people with COPD, according to research.

2. Eating a Lot of Junk Food

Eating too much high-calorie food can contribute to obesity and worsen people’s ability to breathe and exercise, Dr. Han says. Plus, junk food is often high in sodium, which can cause you to retain fluids — something that could lead to congestion and make it harder for you to breathe, says E. Neil Schachter, MD, a pulmonologist and sleep medicine specialist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.

3. Having an Erratic Sleep Schedule

Everyone needs quality shut-eye, but this is especially true for people with COPD, who need to keep their immune systems as healthy as possible, Han says. Unfortunately, patients with COPD often experience a range of sleep disturbances.

In clinical studies, it’s been reported that as many as 66 percent of people with COPD have sleep apnea, a condition in which a person's breathing becomes shallow or stops during sleep, according to research.

 Signs can include snoring at night combined with excessive sleepiness during the day. People who suffer from sleep apnea should talk to their doctor about lifestyle changes and treatments that can help.

Staying up late some nights can throw off your body clock and make it difficult for you to get the sleep you need. Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day can help you stick to your sleep schedule.

4. Leaving Your Oxygen at Home When You Go Out

For people with low resting saturations who need oxygen, going without oxygen puts excess strain on the heart, Han says. If the cost of this COPD treatment is too expensive, you may be able to qualify for financial assistance. Medicare, for example, pays your equipment rental fees when your doctor has given you a prescription for a delivery system for supplemental oxygen that keeps you mobile.

 Other financial assistance programs are also available for those who don’t qualify for Medicare.

5. Overexerting Yourself

Moderate exercise can improve the body's use of oxygen, muscle strength, energy levels, mood, and sleep patterns.

 However, going overboard can be dangerous and cause exacerbations, Dr. Schachter says. “People with COPD have lower exercise thresholds — they can’t exercise to high degrees,” he says. “But regular, mild exercise three or four times a week is vital.”
The good news is that you can improve your exercise threshold, so you can do more before you reach your limit. To do this, the American Lung Association recommends pulmonary rehabilitation, stretching, aerobic exercise, and resistance training.

6. Ignoring Indoor Air Quality

Dust, pet dander, and mold spores are lung irritants that can worsen COPD.

 You should also avoid secondhand smoke, fumes from paint or other household chemicals, and vehicle exhaust fumes. If you’re not able to clean your house regularly, you may want to find someone who can help you. People with COPD should also avoid using a fireplace or wood-burning stove.

7. Drinking Soda

Not only can drinking soda cause you to gain weight, but the beverage itself also contains carbonation, which can cause your stomach to bloat. “When your stomach swells, it pushes up against your diaphragm, making it harder for you to breathe,” Schachter says. Choose healthier alternatives to soda, like water, seltzer, or kombucha, and be sure to stay hydrated.

8. Consuming Too Much Caffeine

Drinks such as coffee and tea, and foods like chocolate, all contain caffeine, a stimulant that can prevent you from falling asleep. If you’re drinking or eating caffeine, stop by early afternoon to avoid an impact on your sleep, Schachter says.

Research has suggested a positive association between caffeine consumption and COPD risk.

 However, this link may be circumstantial, as it’s common for people to drink coffee and smoke cigarettes, and smoking increases the risk of COPD.

 Additionally, the research isn’t conclusive about whether caffeine has an effect on COPD exacerbations.

9. Letting Yourself Get Dehydrated

Without enough water, your mucus can become thick and stick to your lungs, adding to your breathing problems.

 Remember that drinks containing caffeine and alcoholic beverages can dehydrate you. The best drinks for staying hydrated include water, decaffeinated coffee or tea, and natural fruit juices.

10. Constantly Being Stressed Out

Dealing with a chronic lung condition can be stressful on its own. Add in work duties and family obligations, and you might find that you’re feeling overly stressed or angry. Consider joining a support group, which can make you feel less lonely, allow you to vent your feelings, and teach you better ways to cope with certain situations. You might also want to ask your doctor if you should seek counseling.

EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. What Is an Exacerbation or Flare-Up? COPD Foundation. May 11, 2023.
  2. Aiello M et al. Effects of Daily Physical Activity on Exercise Capacity in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Medicina (Kaunas). June 21, 2024.
  3. Sánchez Castillo S et al. Associations Between Physical Activity and Comorbidities in People With COPD Residing in Spain: A Cross-Sectional Analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. January 16, 2020.
  4. Arvan W et al. COPD and Sleep Apnea Overlap. StatPearls. February 29, 2024.
  5. Home Use of Oxygen. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. September 27, 2021.
  6. Physical Activity and COPD. American Lung Association. January 20, 2026.
  7. COPD and Particulate Matter. American Lung Association. October 23, 2025.
  8. Liao W-Z et al. Association Between Coffee and Caffeine Intake and Risk of COPD: Findings Based on NHANES 2007–2012. Heart & Lung. September-October 2024.
  9. Alfaro T et al. Coffee and Respiratory Disease. The Link Between Coffee and Health. August 25, 2025.
  10. Sobczak M et al. Modulators of Airway Remodeling: The Role of Caffeine and Calcitriol. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. March 27, 2026.
  11. Understanding Mucus in Your Lungs. American Lung Association. October 28, 2025.
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Michael S. Niederman, MD

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From NewYork-Presbyterian, Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Michael S. Niederman, MD, is the lead academic and patient quality officer in the division of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City;...

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Beth W. Orenstein

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Beth W. Orenstein is a freelance writer for HealthDay, Radiology Today, the Living Well section of The American Legion Magazine, St. Luke’s University Health Network, and others. S...

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