Q. My GP has diagnosed me with COPD and I am very worried and stressed as it is ruining my life. He has sent me for further tests. I am anxious to get rid of it or to be able to manage it through yoga which is the reason I am writing to you. Please can you provide any help on what I should or should not do? R. Timms – Halifax

Firstly, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a very serious matter and I am sad to learn that you have been diagnosed with this condition. There are many underlying factors that can cause it and you should carefully see if you can eliminate any such toxins that you are breathing in. Flare-ups of this condition can be debilitating and life-threatening. I strongly advise you to follow your GP’s advice and anything that has been recommended. In terms of managing this condition, I would advise you to learn some yoga pranayama (breath) exercises. They are an excellent way to reduce and manage symptoms, and they make the breathing apparatus stronger and more resilient. If you are a smoker then you need to cut down as far as possible. I can’t tell you what to do, but what I can say is if you choose to carry on smoking then it will worsen your condition. COPD flare-ups can also be triggered by other causes such as air pollution, asthma and exposure to chemicals. So, have a look at your environment at home, work, or anywhere else that you spend a lot of time in and also any products that you are using which could be triggering a flare up. Viral and bacterial infections and changes in temperature are some triggers for a flare-up . COPD is a term that includes conditions such as chronic bronchitis, chronic asthma, and Emphysema (lung conditions) leading to painful symptoms such as breathlessness, cough, wheezing, coughing up sputum, inflammation of the lungs, anxiety, and in serious cases death.