Healthy Choices for Managing Your Pulmonary Illness

Summary

This video is designed to get patients on their way to a better quality of everyday living following pulmonary rehabilitation. It encourages patients to take an active role in managing their illness. Subjects covered include: signs and symptoms of lung infection, managing flare-ups, nutrition, smoking cessation, intimacy, advanced directives, and community support.

Details

• Quitting smoking will help prevent doing further damage to your lungs.
• Methods:
  • Set a quit date
  • "Cold Turkey"
  • Nicotine patches and gum
  • Other treatments
• Limit your exposure to second hand smoke:
  • It can damage your lungs.
  • It can cause additional breathing problems.
• Support:
  • Success comes from ongoing support.
  • Take advantage of therapy, or programs and groups designed to help you quit and stay that way.

• Benefits:
  • Can help you detect a lung infection before it gets out of control.
  • Can help you avoid serious complications, like pneumonia and hospital stays.
• Signs of a developing lung infection:
  • Look at the mucus you expel everyday:
    • Mucus free from infection is watery and clear, or white.
    • Infected mucus can be yellow, brown, green, or have streaks of blood in it.
    • If your mucus appears to be infected, call your healthcare team.
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Increased shortness of breath
  • Increased sputum production
  • Increase coughing
  • Chest pain
• Steps to limit lung infections:
  1. Wash your hands often.
  2. Avoid contact with others who have colds, flu, or other infections.
  3. You may want to get vaccinations for flu and pneumonia.

• What is a flare-up?
  • Sometimes called an exacerbation.
  • An increase in the severity of your pulmonary illness.
  • Causes:
    • Usually develop from a lung infection.
    • They can develop from a change in your pulmonary illness, environmental changes, and exposure to irritants.
    • They can be a sign that your treatment plan needs adjusting.
  • Continuing to check for signs of a lung infection can help prepare you for a possible flare-up in your condition.
• Handling Flare-ups:
  • Develop a written plan with your healthcare team for dealing with flare-ups:
    • A list of things to avoid that could aggravate your condition.
    • Steps to take when certain symptoms begin appearing.
  • Never be afraid to contact your health care provider, go to the emergency room, or call 911 if you think it’s necessary.

• The connection between eating and a pulmonary illness:
  • Your body needs more energy to fight your illness, and because it is working harder to breathe.
  • If you don’t eat enough, the body begins using stored energy, which can lead to unhealthy and even dangerous weight loss.
  • Breathing difficulties caused by a pulmonary illness can sometimes make eating difficult.
• A well balanced diet:
  • Eating a well balanced diet provides your body with the energy it needs to breathe and fight off infections.
  • It can also help you avoid other health problems, like gaining unwanted weight which can lead to more breathing difficulties.
• You may be able to avoid shortness of breath by adjusting your eating patterns:
  • Large meals can produce lots of carbon dioxide, which can interfere with breathing, so you may want to eat several small meals throughout the day instead of just three large meals.
  • Fatigue can cause breathing difficulties, so try conserving energy around meal times:
    • Select foods easy to prepare.
    • Rest before you eat.
    • Prepare extra portions ahead of time, for days when you may not feel up to cooking.
• A clinical nutritionist can help you choose foods and create meal plans that will help you function at your best.

• A pulmonary illness can affect both the physical and emotional aspects of intimacy.
• Talk to your partner:
  • Discuss each other’s fears and concerns.
  • It can help you maintain a close relationship.
• Sexual Activity:
  • Plan sexual activity around your medication schedule.
  • Ask your healthcare team any questions you or your partner may have.

• What are Advanced Directives?
  • Instructions you can make now regarding future medical care
  • A Living Will is a record of your wishes concerning medical treatment should there come a time when you can no longer voice your opinion.
  • Medical Power of Attorney is a document granting someone you trust power to make medical decisions when you no longer can.
• Guidelines for preparing Advanced Directives:
  1. Don’t make any decision quickly.
  2. Discuss your condition and all your options with loved ones and your health care team.
  3. Express your wishes in writing.
  4. Share your wishes with family and your healthcare team.

• Stay active in the community and use it as a source of support:
  • Can make your illness easier to cope with.
  • Can help you feel better about yourself.
• Pulmonary Rehabilitation:
  • The pulmonary specialists in these centers can help you by offering advice and counseling.
  • Talk about your feelings with others in pulmonary support groups.
• Include family and friends in helping manage your condition.