| Emphysema |
| Living With Emphysema |
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 Although
many questions about emphysema remain unanswered, one thing is
clear - quitting smoking can prevent the occurrence of emphysema
and slow the disease. Other changes to your environment, such
as avoiding smog, may also help prevent the development of emphysema
or keep it from getting worse. Researchers continue to investigate
the causes of and treatments for this disease.
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Things to consider include: |
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Slowing the disease progression |
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Adjusting your
daily routine |
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Plan ahead for
travel |
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Improving your diet |
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| Slowing the disease progression |
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People
who have been diagnosed with emphysema can help to slow
the progress of the disease by following these general
health guidelines:
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Build your resistance to infections. Ask your
doctor if you're a candidate for the influenza (flu) and pneumococcal
pneumonia vaccines. Though not proven to specifically help
those with emphysema, the general advice to all patients should
be followed: Eat a diet high in vitamins, fiber, and other
nutrients, and get enough sleep.
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Engage in a regular exercise program, which can help to build
resistance to infections and improve your overall health. In
general, if you can recover to normal within 5-10 minutes following
exercise, you are not creating a strain on your body. Consult
your doctor before starting any exercise program.
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Try to avoid exposure to other airborne irritants, such as
smoke from fireplaces or wood-burning stoves.
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Contact your GP if you feel a cold or respiratory infection
coming on
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Remember that air pollution may make emphysema symptoms worse.
Weather reports on radio and television, and in local newspapers,
provide information about air quality. It's usually safest
to be active during early morning or late evening, when air
pollution levels are lowest. If pollution levels climb, it's
best to stay indoors and limit activity.
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| Adjusting your daily routine |
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Emphysema is a chronic condition that forces most
sufferers to limit their activities. Experts make these suggestions
for adjusting to life with emphysema:
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Plan ahead and figure out the least strenuous
way to get things done. Rearrange your home for maximum efficiency. |
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Prioritise. Decide what must get done, then delay or ignore
the rest. |
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Schedule rest periods throughout the day. |
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Consider using
a small utility cart for doing chores and a remote control
for the TV. Do as much as possible while seated. |
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| What are some things I should think about before traveling? |
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 Consult
with your doctor if you plan to travel. If you'll be traveling
outside of the U.K he or she will be able to identify treatment
concerns and provide information about levels of pollution in the
areas you are visiting, weather conditions, and other pertinent
factors. They can also arrange for you to take a “fit to
fly” test at a
hospital unit or clinic.
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Airplane travel requires a few more steps. Airlines
require a prescription from a doctor indicating diagnosis, litre
flow, and the number of oxygen tanks the carrier needs to provide
during the trip. Travelers must contact carriers at each destination
to have their oxygen delivered to their home or to the plane. Airline
charges for in-flight oxygen can vary widely, so it pays to shop
around if you plan to fly.
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Unexpected layovers create problems for travelers
dependent on supplemental oxygen. If you find yourself stranded
without supplemental oxygen, contact the airport first-aid station
or the airport fire station. Call 999 only if you are experiencing
severe difficulty breathing, because ambulance crews are required
to transport people they assist to a hospital.
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| What impact can nutrition and diet have
on emphysema? |
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Here are eating tips for people with emphysema: |
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Limit salt intake. Too much sodium can cause
fluid retention that may interfere with breathing. |
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Limit intake of caffeinated drinks, which may interfere with
some medications and may also make some people feel nervous. |
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Avoid foods that produce gas or make you feel bloated. The
best process to use in eliminating foods from the diet is through
trial and error. |
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Choose foods that are easy to prepare so you don't waste
energy in preparing a meal. Try to rest before and after eating |
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Avoid foods that have little or no nutritional value. |
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Eat six small
meals a day instead of three large ones. A stomach that is
too full can cause shortness of breath. |
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If you use supplemental oxygen, be sure to keep it on while
eating, and after meals, too. Eating and digestion require
energy, and causes the body to use more oxygen. |
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Peter Scott - Team Leader
