Working with COPD or asthma means your lungs are doing extra work before you even start a task. A long meeting, a flight of stairs or a shift on your feet can use up energy fast. This guide explains how pacing and energy conservation can fit into a work day, what the American Lung Association and the COPD Foundation suggest, and how virtual pulmonary rehab can help you build a plan around your own job.
What does energy conservation mean when you have COPD or asthma?
Energy conservation means getting the same things done while using less effort and less breath. The COPD Foundation, in a piece on techniques taught in pulmonary rehabilitation, says people with lung disease use more energy just to breathe, and describes four habits: planning, pacing, prioritizing, and positioning and posture (COPD Foundation).
The article cites no specific studies, so treat these as practical habits taught in rehab and not as a proven treatment. They are also general tips written for daily life. The work ideas below are our way of applying them, and your own plan should come from your care team.
How can you pace yourself during a work day?
The American Lung Association gives these pacing ideas for people with COPD (American Lung Association):
- Keep a slow and steady pace to avoid rushing.
- Rest before you become fatigued, because recovery takes longer once you are overtired.
- Try not to do too many heavy tasks all in one day.
- Do the activities that are most important when you have the most energy.
Ways to apply this at work
- Look at your week and spread the heavy tasks out, such as lifting, long walks between buildings or back to back meetings.
- Put your most important work in the part of the day when you tend to have the most energy.
- Build short breaks into the calendar before you feel worn out, not after.
- Gather what you need for a task first so you make fewer trips. The COPD Foundation lists gathering supplies first as part of planning.
How should you breathe while you work?
The COPD Foundation says to breathe in before you start a movement and breathe out as you do the hardest part. The American Lung Association gives a similar tip for stairs: breathe out as you take a step (COPD Foundation; American Lung Association).
At work that could mean breathing out as you lift a box, push a cart, reach up to a shelf or stand from a chair. If you get short of breath, the American Lung Association says to rest and use pursed lip breathing until your breathing is under control.
For step by step breathing skills, see our guides on belly breathing and what to do when you feel short of breath.
Can sitting and posture save energy?
Yes, they can help. The American Lung Association suggests sitting upright and avoiding staying in one position too long, since that can also be tiring. It lists sitting for tasks such as folding laundry and preparing food (American Lung Association). The COPD Foundation also lists positioning and posture, and sitting when possible, as one of its four habits.
Those lists focus on home tasks, so the office or job site version is up to you and your care team. Many people look at whether a task can be done seated, whether items can sit within easy reach, and whether they can change position now and then.
What if your asthma is linked to your job?
Some asthma is triggered by exposures at work. The CDC describes work-related asthma as asthma triggered by exposures at work, and says symptoms tend to get better on weekends, vacations or other times away from work (CDC NIOSH).
The CDC says the most important step is stopping or reducing exposure to the triggers causing symptoms, and it suggests telling your doctor about your job, tasks and the materials you use. Noting when and where symptoms occur can help show a pattern. If your symptoms ease when you are off work, bring that up at your next visit.
What can pulmonary rehab add?
A Cochrane review of pulmonary rehabilitation for COPD included 65 studies with 3,822 participants. The authors concluded that pulmonary rehabilitation improves health-related quality of life and relieves dyspnoea (breathlessness) and fatigue. Their certainty for many quality of life measures was low (Cochrane, McCarthy et al. 2015). The review does not look at pacing at work specifically.
Rehab is where energy conservation gets practiced instead of just read about. In Bloom’s program that can include:
- Breathing skills taught and checked live by a licensed clinician.
- Exercise matched to your own limits and your own schedule.
- A plan built around your actual job demands. If work is tight, see our guide to pulmonary rehab while working full time.
- Education about your condition and your action plan.
Every rehab session is one on one, live by video, and each patient gets an individualized treatment plan. Sessions are run by licensed respiratory therapists and clinical exercise physiologists, and billed to insurance. Education sessions about your condition may include other patients. We meet every patient where they are.
To see how rehab compares with going it alone, read pulmonary rehab vs exercising on your own, or our guide to exercises for COPD. You can also see does insurance cover pulmonary rehab.
When should you get urgent help at work?
MedlinePlus says to go to the emergency room or call the local emergency number, such as 911, if breathing difficulty comes on suddenly or seriously interferes with your breathing and even talking. It also says to contact your health care provider for any breathing difficulty (MedlinePlus). Pacing is not a substitute for medical care or for the medicine your doctor prescribed.
Frequently asked questions
The COPD Foundation describes four habits: planning, pacing, prioritizing, and positioning and posture. The American Lung Association adds resting before you are tired and keeping a slow, steady pace. Ask your care team how to fit them to your job.
The COPD Foundation says to breathe in before you start a movement and breathe out as you do the hardest part. Ask your care team to check your technique.
It can. The CDC describes work-related asthma as asthma triggered by exposures at work, with symptoms that tend to get better on weekends or vacations. Tell your doctor about your job, tasks and materials.
A Cochrane review of 65 studies in COPD concluded that pulmonary rehabilitation relieves dyspnoea and fatigue. Certainty was low for many quality of life measures.
MedlinePlus says to go to the emergency room or call 911 if breathing difficulty comes on suddenly or seriously interferes with your breathing and even talking.
Yes. Every rehab session is one on one, live by video, with an individualized treatment plan. Education sessions about your condition may include other patients.
Ready to talk with a rehab specialist?
Not sure whether rehab fits you? Take our free 2 minute lung health assessment.
Ready to take the next step? Call 1-866-972-8228 or use the see if you qualify form.
This article is for education only and is not medical advice. Talk with your doctor about what is right for you.
