Pulmonary Rehab for COPD: How It Can Improve Your Loved One’s Life
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic lung condition that affects and obstructs the airways. COPD causes breathlessness, which can be mild, moderate, or severe. The condition is progressive, which means that it can get worse over time.
If you, a family member, or someone under your care is living with COPD, you’ll know how disabling or unpleasant it can be. Understanding how to manage this condition can help make everyday life easier and reduce some symptoms and complications.
Living with COPD can require adjustments in daily life. Simple tasks may become more difficult, so patience and understanding are key. Below are some tips and advice to help you support someone with COPD.
Disclaimer: The checklist is not a substitute for medical advice – always seek professional help. Remember, healthcare professionals will not share information about a patient unless they have been permitted to do so.
Essential information to understand the condition and the best available treatment to manage COPD in order to control symptoms, prevent flare ups, and avoid complications.
See our guidesTips and strategies to help you stay active and healthy in the face of breathlessness and other symptoms.
Read our guidesSee common queries about COPD, covering symptom management, lifestyle adjustments, and support.
Read our FAQsThe correct use of inhalers and the importance of keeping an up-to-date supply of medications are crucial for optimal COPD management.
Read our guidesExplore our commonly asked questions about COPD and discover practical advice for managing the condition effectively.
Early signs of COPD include:
Recognising these symptoms early and seeking medical advice is vital to help you tackle the condition and get the best care. Please note these signs can also signify other serious health problems, so seek an expert medical assessment as soon as possible if you or your loved one is experiencing these symptoms.
To help a loved one living with COPD, carents can enable the person to work with their health care team to develop and follow a personalised care plan. You can also help with relevant lifestyle support such as stopping smoking to slow disease progression, taking part in regular, gentle exercise to enhance lung function, and preparing healthy meals adapted for severe symptoms such as breathlessness, fatigue and dry mouth. You can also encourage best use of any medications, and help to recognise and tackle flare-ups.
You can also help someone living with COPD by ensuring they avoid lung irritants, stay hydrated to ease mucus clearance, and ensure they get the correct emotional and mental health support.
COPD can make those affected more likely to experience chest infections like bronchitis or pneumonia. Depending on its severity, the condition can also place an extra strain on the right side of the heart. Mental health problems such as depression or anxiety can also develop and can affect how severe the impact of COPD can be. If your loved one with COPD is experiencing these symptoms, it is important they talk to their GP for support.
The four stages of COPD are measured using a lung function test called spirometry. Depending on the results of those tests, COPD can be categorised as:
Experts will also assess how severe breathlessness symptoms are using the MRC dyspnoea scale:
When diagnosing COPD, a doctor will review symptoms, examine the chest, and inquire about relevant details such as smoking history and family lung problems.
Key tests include:
Depending on the results, your doctor might also order other tests, such as sputum analysis to test for infections, heart health investigations such as an ECG and echocardiogram, peak flow tests, and a CT scan. These tests can be used to confirm COPD, determine its severity, and build a complete picture to guide treatment.
Emphysema is one form of COPD. COPD is a broad term that includes various lung diseases that block airflow and make breathing difficult, primarily chronic bronchitis and emphysema. In emphysema, the air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs are damaged, making it difficult to breathe out. Chronic bronchitis, another form of COPD, involves long-term inflammation of the bronchial tubes, which also causes airflow restriction. While some people have COPD with predominantly emphysema or chronic bronchitis characteristics, most have a combination of both.
If you are helping a loved one manage their COPD, understanding how to use inhalers correctly is a good place to start. Proper inhaler technique ensures the medication is effectively delivered to the lungs. It’s also important to keep an up-to-date supply of medications and understand each medicine’s purpose and its effectiveness in managing COPD symptoms.
People affected by COPD in later life are often living with other health problems which can affect their overall health and wellbeing. Please explore our bookcase to consider how to tackle and support any other problems.