Coping With COPD/Emphysema

Emphysema is included in a group of diseases called Chronic Obstrutive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a long-term progressive disease of the lungs that produces extreme shortness of breath. The main cause of these conditions is cigarette smoking, followed by air pollution such as chemicals or toxins in the work place or home, and alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency, which is an inherited trait. If you smoke, quitting can lessen the severity or stop the progression of the smoking and pollution produced symptoms. The effect of the inherited trait can be greatly modified by not smoking, taking care not to inhale second hand smoke, and avoiding breathing other toxins and chemicals.

If you've been diagnosed with emphysema or COPD, there are numerous ways you can cope and still enjoy life. One of these is called "pursed lip breathing," and helps you to control your breathing and lower your blood pressure. Other methods involve the continual use of oxygen therapy, which isn't as difficult as you might think. There are oxygen suppliers who will deliver tanks and concentrators all across the United States. There are emergency inhalers you carry in your pocket or purse, that contain medication that helps keep your airways open. There are nebulizers you can use at home throughout the day to make it easier to breathe.

Traveling with oxygen involves some advance planning, but is not impossible to do. You may find there are strenuous things you can no longer do, but you concentrate on the things you CAN do, and find joy in the small triumphs you can still achieve.

Photo: Emphysema patient, courtesy Judy Schweitzer