Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Since there is no cure for COPD, dealing with a COPD diagnosis can be scary. I have ten tips on how you can deal with your COPD diagnosis.
Dealing with COPD Diagnosis Tip #1: If You Smoke, Quit.
The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute states that the leading cause of COPD is cigarette smoke. If you have a COPD diagnosis, QUIT SMOKING IMMEDIATELY. If you are not a smoker, but live with someone who smokes make them quit. If they won’t quit, at least get them to smoke outside when you are not around.
Dealing with COPD Diagnosis Tip #2: Educate Yourself On the Illness
A COPD diagnosis is scary. What’s even scarier is a lot of people don’t know what COPD is. COPD comes in two forms: chronic bronchitis or emphysema. In many cases, those with a COPD diagnosis have both of these two illnesses, so a COPD diagnosis is more definitive of what is really wrong,
When you have emphysema, the walls between the air sacs in your lungs are damaged. This makes them lose their elasticity and become floppy. When this happens, you can’t breath as well.
When you have chronic bronchitis, mucus forms in your airways making it hard to breathe. In addition, the air sacs in your lungs become swollen and inflamed.
Dealing with COPD Diagnosis Tip #3: Talk to Your Doctor
If you are dealing with a COPD diagnosis, you need to really talk to your doctor about treatment options. While there is no cure, the doctor may be able to have a treatment plan or prescribe you medications to make you at least feel better.
Dealing with COPD Diagnosis Tip #4: Avoid Being Around Air Pollution
If you have a COPD diagnosis, you should live in an area with good air quality, if possible. In many cases this might not be possible. However, air pollution will irritate your lungs which will exacerbate your COPD symptoms.
Dealing with COPD Diagnosis Tip #5: Keep Dust out of your Living Area
If you have a COPD diagnosis, make sure to keep your living area free from dust. Dust irritates your lungs, which will make your COPD symptoms act up. Make sure someone you live with dusts your home, if possible. This way you will be less likely to come in contact with dust that will irritate your lungs.
Dealing with COPD Diagnosis Tip #6: Speak with a Counselor if you feel Depressed
A COPD diagnosis is no less stressful than any other diagnosis. If you are experiencing anxiety because of your COPD diagnosis speak to a therapist. Mental health professionals can teach you ways to cope. In addition, certain mental health professionals can prescribe anti-anxiety medication or anti-depressants.
Dealing with COPD Diagnosis Tip #7: Find Ways to Simplify Household Chores
When you have COPD, you can become disabled. It can become extremely difficult for you to perform simple tasks such as cooking or cleaning. The NHLBI recommends having a little cart with wheels handy to aid you in moving things around the house.
Dealing with COPD Diagnosis Tip #8: Don’t be Afraid to Ask for Help
With a COPD diagnosis, you may feel alone. You aren’t alone. You have lots of people who love and care for you very much. Don’t be afraid to ask these people for help. As your COPD worsens, simple tasks will be harder for you to do.
Dealing with COPD Diagnosis Tip #9: Start – or Continue – Living a Healthy Lifestyle
If you have been living a healthy lifestyle, continue to do so. If you haven’t been living a healthy lifestyle, now is the time to start. Although you can not cure your disease, you can make yourself feel better and live longer if you live a healthy lifestyle.
Dealing with COPD Diagnosis Tip #10: Plan for the Worst
A COPD diagnosis means that you need to prepare for the worst. You need to be organized so that when you need to seek emergency treatment for your symptoms, you are ready. The NHLBI suggests that you keep phone numbers handy for your doctor, hospital, and someone who can take you for medical care. You also should have on hand directions to the doctor’s office and hospital and a list of all the medicines you’re taking.
In addition, when you have a COPD diagnosis you need to know when to seek medical treatment.
Although there is no cure for COPD, you could very well still have many years left to live despite a COPD diagnosis.
If you have a COPD diagnosis, this is meant to be a helpful guide – not medical advice. As always, seek the advice of your doctor regarding your COPD diagnosis.
