COPD & Stress: The Hidden Link Worsening Your Symptoms - AI Podcast

Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health

Story at-a-glance

• Research shows perceived stress significantly worsens COPD symptoms, with high stress levels quadrupling the risk of serious flare-ups requiring medical intervention
• Stress triggers biological changes in COPD patients, increasing inflammation markers and oxidative stress that directly damage lung tissue and impair breathing
• People with COPD who experience high stress levels report greater death anxiety, especially women, unemployed individuals and those lacking education about their condition
• Understanding your condition and building confidence in managing symptoms (self-efficacy) significantly reduces both stress levels and physical complications of COPD
• Simple interventions like focused breathing, symptom tracking and establishing daily routines help interrupt the stress-symptom cycle and improve quality of life