Living with Chronic Lung Disease Make an Appointment Ask a Question Search Conditions Reviewed by Kristen E. Holm, PhD, MPH (March 01, 2019) Living with chronic lung disease changes a person's life and means adjusting to a new way of being in the world. You may have been active for all of your life and now you can't do things you once enjoyed. Many people miss doing the things that made their life fun like traveling, dancing, gardening, walking, and spending time with family and grandchildren You may feel slowed down and less spontaneous. You may feel self-conscious about being on oxygen or having a chronic cough, and reluctant to go out in public. These are common losses with chronic lung disease that must be grieved like losing a loved one. It is normal to feel angry, afraid, sad, depressed, guilty, stressed and frustrated with all of the changes. You need to allow yourself to feel all of these things even when it is uncomfortable. You may feel like a burden on your family, but you also need to use the support of others to help you feel less alone in dealing with these changes. Adjusting to an illness is a process and will not happen overnight. Be patient with yourself; learn more about your disease and how to make lifestyle adjustments to have an improved quality of life. Featured Stories How to Cough Up Mucus & Phlegm from Chest Congestion COPD: Nutrition Understanding Sarcoidosis On The Go with Oxygen If your oxygen level is 88 percent or below, oxygen therapy is often recommended to ensure your blood has enough for your body’s needs. View On The Go with Oxygen Infographic Benefits of Oxygen Therapy Concerns about Wearing Oxygen Altitude Sickness and Oxygen Therapy Related Conditions Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (CODP) Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD/Pulmonary Fibrosis) Bronchiectasis View all Specialties & ConditionsMore Living with Chronic Lung Disease Tips Sodium Dangers Shortness of Breath and Eating Reasons to Quit Proper Hydration Proper Hydration On The Go with Oxygen Less Strenuous Positions for Sexual Intercourse Intimacy Ordering Oxygen Importance of Being Together Healthy Recipes Exercise and Sexual Activity Depression Communicating with Your Partner Common Feelings Body Changes with Age Anxiety Airway Clearance Techniques & Devices Reflux and Lung Disease COPD: Exercises COPD: Lifestyle Management Breathing Exercises & Techniques Avoiding Infections Spirometry Testing Tobacco Cessation Medications Medicine Safety Managing Your Medication Supply On The Go with Oxygen Asthma Medications ILD Medications COPD Medications Devices for Inhaled Medications (Asthma Inhalers, COPD Inhalers) Stress & Relaxation Quitting Tobacco Plant-Based Diets Living with Pulmonary Hypertension Learn About COPD Using a Spacer With an Inhaler Using an Aerochamber® Living with COPD Sleep Emotional Management Healthy Eating 10 Benefits of Staying Hydrated Tips to Improve Health by Increasing Happiness Is My Cough Pneumonia? Hidden Allergens at Home Depression Quiz Cigarette Chemicals Busting Myths about Oxygen Therapy Better Health Starts After the Last Cigarette How Your Health Improves After the Last Cigarette Exercise & Weight Summer Ozone Dangers Lung Disease Can Affect Your Mood & Daily Living Understanding Sarcoidosis COPD: Nutrition Managing Your Environment COPD: Giving Up Smoking Emotional Management How to Cough Up Mucus & Phlegm from Chest Congestion COPD: Life Skills Tutorial COPD: FAQ COPD: Additional Resources Asthma: Steroids & Nutrition Finding a Way to Prevent Chronic Infection in Cystic Fibrosis How to Use an Aerolizer® How to Use an Aerochamber® with Mask How to Use a Diskus® Using A Respimat® How to Use a Flexhaler® How to Use an Autohaler® How to Use a Neohaler® Using the Ellipta Inhaler Device How to Use a Twisthaler® How to Use a HandiHaler® Many Children With Asthma Use Their Inhalers Incorrectly, Leading To Serious Complications How to Use a Nebulizer