Respiratory infections can aggravate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) symptoms. To help prevent infections:

• Clean your respiratory equipment as directed.
• Wash your hands before you touch equipment or medicines and after handling used tissues.
• Wash your hands after you use the bathroom.
• Avoid contact with people who have a cold, COVID-19 or the flu. If you must be near them, wear a mask over your mouth and nose and wash your hands after your visit is over.
• Ask your health care provider about immunizations for flu and pneumonia.

In addition, talk to your health care provider about the need for a regular antibiotic. Take it, if prescribed, at the first sign of a chest infection.

To help protect your lungs from more damage:

• Don't smoke, and stay away from secondhand smoke.
• Avoid outdoor smoke, including fires and charcoal grills. Wear a mask when you know you may be exposed to irritants.
• Use a fan to direct any nearby fumes away from you.

• Change the furnace or air conditioner filter often and on a regular schedule.
• Leave windows closed if the outside air is dusty or smoky.
• Use a dust filter or humidifier if you have forced-air heating and air conditioning. Get a room air conditioner if you don't have central air conditioning.
• Keep the humidity level in your home between 40 and 50 percent.
• Use the bathroom exhaust fan or open a window or door when you bathe.

• Use liquids or creams instead of sprays whenever possible.
• Have someone else vacuum drapes or rugs.
• Use a dust cloth or mop that has been treated to hold dust.
• Turn on the furnace/air conditioning fan to help clear the dust in the air faster.
• Use liquids, which are less irritating to the lungs than aerosol sprays or powders.
• Use water-based products without ammonia or strong scents.

• Use products that don't make fumes, such as roll-on deodorant and mousse or gel hair products. These are called non-aerosol.
• Limit or avoid perfumes, colognes or after-shaves if they bother you.
• Avoid nail polish and remover if they bother you.

• Use only latex water-based paint and wood-finishing products.
• When you fill your car or lawn mower, make sure the wind blows the fumes away from you.
• Never pour gasoline or other chemicals in a closed garage.
• Do not turn a car on or run a car in the garage — not even when the big garage door is open. Carbon monoxide builds up in open garages too because there isn't much air circulating inside the garage.

Some activities produce a fine dust. Any dust is bad for you, so wear a face mask for protection.