Can anyone give me some opinions on coping with emphysema? My father (non-smoker) has the early stages of it and wants to know what to do to cope with it and prevent it from getting worse.
Any personal opinions or experience with it appreciated. Or any useful links.
Thanks!
His best bet is to talk with his doctor about what he should be doing.
In general, a good place to start is with pulmonary rehabilitation exercises. These include range of motion, walking, stair climbing, bicycling and recovery from breathing difficulties caused by exertion. The goal is to increase exercise tolerance. This will not slow the disease, but it does improve quality of life and reduces illness episodes and hospitalizations.
Weight loss is also important for those over their ideal body weight.
Avoid all exposures to agents which may be aggravating the condition; like secondhand smoke, chemical exposures at work or home, etc.
Annual influenza vaccinations, along with a dose of pneumococcal vaccine at least once are important too.
Short-acting bronchodilators like albuterol can help with acute episodes of shortness of breath. Medications like inhaled ipratropium can dilate and reduce excessive secretions also.
Long-acting steroid/dilator combination medications like Advair may be used to reduce inflammation and frequency of acute episodes, and perhaps slow progression of disease, also.
But a competent physician familiar with both the patient’s particular case and modern pulmonary medicine is the best resource. A good internist or Family physician can competently treat mild to moderate emphysema in most cases, and will also know when it’s time to refer to a pulmonologist.
There are actually education classes available for people with COPD/emphysema now, much as there are education classes for people with diabetes. Your father should discuss this with his doctor, who will be able to hook him up with this resource if it’s available in his area. It is especially important for your father to learn how to manage his condition now, in the early stages.
I do disease-management nursing, and our program does include a home pulmonary education program for people with emphysema; it involves either a series of one-on-one home visits from a registered nurse to provide education, or a DVD with video lessons followed up with phone call ‘appointments’ from the nurse to review and discuss the lessons on the DVD. Not all health insurance plans offer disease management programs, and not all disease management programs include pulmonary classes.
There ARE many positive things your father can do that will help him manage. But the first thing he should do is have a talk with his doctor about what resources are available for him, and what his individual needs are.
Best of luck to your dad!