Wednesday, February 18, 2015

A Doctor’s Advice on COPD Symptoms

Can having sex make COPD symptoms worse?
COPD patients shouldn't give up their sexual relationship, [because it provides] a little physical activity and even some relaxation.

Inhaled bronchodilators [medications that widen the air passages] can help relieve COPD symptoms, and when people breathe more easily they can be more active. As a woman's COPD gets more advanced, she may need to be less energetic than her partner, though.

What type of support should COPD patients ask for from loved ones?
If they're still smoking, ask for encouragement to stop. If someone at home continues to smoke while the person with COPD is trying to quit, [the smoker needs] to cooperate [with the efforts to give up cigarettes].

[Patients should] ask family and friends to accompany [them] on walks or to the gym. Having an exercise buddy is very helpful, especially on days when they don't want to move.

How can a COPD patient deal with people who blame them for their illness?
Unfortunately, there's a stigma that COPD is a self-inflicted disease, because people chose to smoke. [Yet about 20% of COPD cases] are caused by environmental pollution.

Family and friends should be educated about the disease and have empathy for the COPD patient – not make things worse by being judgmental.



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