Prevention and management

Preventing respiratory conditions can be achieved through a number of lifestyle changes, including:

• not smoking tobacco and avoiding second-hand smoke
• maintaining a healthy bodyweight
• having a healthy diet
• being physically active
• limiting alcohol consumption
• avoiding environmental hazards (such as air pollution) where possible
• getting the recommended vaccinations [44907][44726][44727][44728].

For respiratory conditions that cannot be treated, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), there are a range of management strategies can help to reduce symptoms, prevent it getting worse and improve quality of life. 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 [44297].