Prevention and management

To prevent respiratory conditions, people should be supported to:

• not smoke tobacco and avoid second-hand smoke
• maintain a healthy body weight
• eat a healthy diet
• be physically active
• limit alcohol consumption
• practice good hygiene
• get the recommended vaccinations [1][2][3][4].

For respiratory conditions that cannot be treated, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), there are a range of management strategies that can help to reduce symptoms, prevent it getting worse and improve quality of life [5]. These strategies can be medical or physical and depend on the type of respiratory disease a person has. Ultimately, the best approach is to reduce risk factors for illness.