May 2008
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Caregiver Assistance News
“C a r i n g
f o r
y o u … c a r i n g
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o t h e r s ”
Coping With COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
Sick Lungs Don't Show
Adapted from The Comfort of Home: Caregiver Series, © 2008 CareTrust Publications. www.comfortofhome.com
Emphysema
Healthy Air Sacs
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
Disease (COPD) is long-term blockage of air movement in the lungs.
It includes emphysema and chronic
bronchitis.
Think of the lungs like an upside
down tree, with the windpipe (trachea) being the trunk, the bronchial
tubes the branches and the air sacs
as the leaves. Because there are millions of these tiny air sacs, a lot of
damage can be done before a person
notices breathing problems. Because
oxygen moves into the bloodstream
through these tiny air sacs, when
they are damaged we cannot get
enough oxygen into our body.
A person with COPD may have
either emphysema or bronchitis, but
most people with COPD have both.
Some may also have symptoms similar to asthma. In emphysema, there
is damage to the walls of the air sacs
in the lungs that prevents transfer
of oxygen into the bloodstream. The
lungs lose their ability to stretch,
producing shortness of breath during activity. In chronic bronchitis the
damage is in the breathing tubes
(bronchial tubes), which become
inflamed and swollen and produce
large amounts of mucus, making it
difficult to get air in and out of the
lungs.
Causes of COPD
The most common cause of COPD
is cigarette smoking. Other causes:
• Breathing in dust, chemicals and
coal dust or silica at work
• Indoor air pollution from cooking
fuels and heating in poorly ventilated homes
• Secondhand smoke
• Childhood lung infections
• About 2% of cases are inherited
Symptoms of COPD
The first symptom of COPD is usually coughing that produces mucus,
followed by shortness of breath after
activities such as climbing the stairs.
As breathing difficulties worsen,
people with COPD may eventually get
tired dressing and bathing, lose the
ability to concentrate, and put strain
on their heart because their lungs are
not processing enough oxygen, causing swollen feet, ankles and legs.
Healthy Bronchial Tubes
Clogged Bronchial Tubes
Care gi v er A ssistan c e N ewsl ett e r
May 2008
Continued from page 1
Quit Smoking!
If the person in your care is still
smoking, the most important thing
they can do is STOP SMOKING.
Slow Down
People with lung disease may be
affected by irritating substances in
the air, or they may have allergies to
pollen. Inside or outside of the home
they should always avoid dust, smoke,
fumes from wood- or coal-burning
stoves, and strong odors. People highly allergic to mold may have trouble
breathing if exposed to it.
People with COPD need to conserve their energy so they don’t
become exhausted. Here are a few
tips for doing that:
• Take it easy; move slowly.
• Sit while doing chores or other
activities.
• Avoid lifting and bending; keep
household items within easy reach.
• Rest after eating.
• Use a cart with wheels to carry
things.
• Use a shower stool and hose
sprayer in the bathtub.
Stress Relief
Keeping the Airways Clear
Avoid Air Pollution and Pollen
Stress can make breathing more
difficult. When people have trouble
breathing, they may become anxious,
which can make breathing even more
of a problem. Relaxation techniques
such as meditation, or tensing and
relaxing muscle groups are very
helpful.
© 2008 CareTrust Publications
Fast Facts
✔Every 4 minutes someone dies
of COPD in the U.S.
✔ COPD is the 4th leading cause
of death, but will be the third
leading cause of death by 2020.
✔ 12 million individuals have
been diagnosed with COPD
and 12 million are symptomatic or developing COPD.
Source: COPD Foundation, www.copdfoundation.org
Ask the doctor or therapist about
these methods to help clear the
lungs of mucus:
• Diaphragmatic breathing and
huff coughing.
• Special positioning—called
postural drainage or bronchial
drainage uses gravity to drain
mucus from the smaller to the
larger airways where it can be
coughed out.
• Rhythmic clapping with cupped
hands on the chest, back and ribs
can be done while the person is
positioned for airway clearance.
Ask your doctor or therapist.
• Drinking enough caffeine- and
alcohol-free fluids every day helps
keep the mucus thin.
Source: The Comfort of Home for Chronic Lung Disease.
www.comfortofhome.com.
Care gi v er A ssistan ce Ne wsl ett er
May 2008
Taking Care of Yourself
Strategies for Eating Less
• Eat protein for breakfast.
Studies show you will eat fewer
calories during the rest of the day.
• Climb a flight of stairs to reach
snacks. Put your favorite soda in a
basement fridge.
• Sleep on it. People who don’t get
their eight hours of sleep experience hormonal fluctuations that
increase appetite.
• Don’t heap food on your plate.
At a restaurant, ask the waiter to
pack half your meal before serving
it. Eat it the next day.
• Shed light on the subject. You
consume fewer calories at a
well-lit restaurant table than
in a dark corner.
• Talk more, eat less. Entertaining
friends with a story doesn’t give
you much time to eat.
Live Life Laughing!
You aren’t going top light that
filthy thing in here are you?
• Don’t eat on the run. Sit down
to snack—and use utensils and a
plate—you’ll eat fewer calories.
• Start with soup. Start lunch with
about 130 calories
of vegetable soup.
• Too many choices
are bad. Packages
with assorted varieties of food make
you want to try all
the flavors. When
people are given 10
colors of M&Ms, not
seven, they eat
30% more!
Source: www.RealAge.com
Inspiration
Some pursue happiness,
others create it.
Resource for You
COPD Digest
For reliable information on COPD,
get a free subscription to COPD
Digest at www.copddigest.org.
Better Breathers Clubs (Part of
the American Lung Association)
www.lungusa.org. For club
information, click on “diseases” then
“Services and Support.”
© 2008 CareTrust Publications
COPD Foundation
(866) 316-COPD (2673)
www.copdfoundation.org
Free educational materials, zinformation, and support are available
through the COPD Information
Line and COPD Digest.
Flu and Pneumonia
Our Purpose
To provide caregivers with critical
information enabling them to do their job
with confidence, pride, and competence.
Ordering Info
From the publishers of
Caregiver Series
available from…
CareTrust Publications LLC
PO Box 10283, Portland, OR 97296
800-565-1533
or www.comfortofhome.com
Comments and suggestions welcome.
©2008 CareTrust Publications LLC.
All rights reserved. Reproduction of any
component of this publication is forbidden
without a license from the publisher.
Some content in this publication is excerpted
from The Comfort of Home: Caregivers Series.
It is for informational use and not health advice.
It is not meant to replace medical care but to
supplement it. The publisher assumes no
liability with respect to the accuracy,
completeness or application of information
presented or the reader’s misunderstanding
of the text.
Many people with lung disease become sick during flu season, and
the flu can lead to pneumonia. People with lung disease and their
caregivers should always:
• Stay away from other people with colds or flu.
• Wash hands often and clean the telephone with antibacterial soap.
•Get a flu shot (pneumonia shots are also available).
•Go to the doctor as soon as they come down with the flu or a cold.
Inspiration
Fear less, hope more.
Eat less, chew more.
Talk less, say more.
Love more, and all good
things will be yours.
~Swedish Proverb
Resource for You
The Eldercare Locator offers
a free national Web service that
provides an instant connection to
resources to help seniors live
independently. Call Eldercare
Locator at 800.677.1116 or visit
www.eldercare.gov
Source: The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging
N E X T I S S U E … k eep t h at infection fro m startin g
COPD—May 2008
Caregiver Assistance News
“C
a r i n g
f o r
y o u
…
Q u i c k
c a r i n g
f o r
o t h e r s
”
Q u i z
© 2008 CareTrust Publications
1. Most people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease have both
emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
TF
2. Most COPD is inherited.
TF
3. “Postural drainage” or “bronchial drainage” uses gravity to drain mucus from
the smaller to the larger airways where it can be coughed out.
TF
4. Mold generally doesn’t bother people with COPD.
TF
5. Relaxation techniques such as meditation, or tensing and
relaxing muscle groups are very helpful in relieving the
stress that accompanies shortness of breath.
TF
6. Jumping up and down is the best way to loosen mucus
in bronchial tubes.
TF
7. Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of COPD.
TF
8. The first symptom of COPD is usually coughing that produces mucus, followed
by shortness of breath after activities such as climbing the stairs.
TF
9. People with COPD may eventually get tired dressing and bathing, lose the
ability to concentrate, and put strain on their heart because their lungs are not
processing enough oxygen.
TF
10. People with lung disease and their caregivers should always stay away from
other people with colds or flu.
TF
Name ________________________________________
Signature_____________________________________Date_________________________
Answers: 1-T; 2-F; 3-T; 4-F; 5-T; 6-F; 7-T; 8-T; 9-T; 10-T
Chronic lung disease is very common and difficult for the caregiver and patient.
Read this issue and answer True/False to questions below.