As the awareness surrounding this painful disorder grows, as does research and funding. Not only does medicine evolve every day, enhancing treatment options and medication, as does the care industry. When someone is in the midst of battling a debilitating disease, a proper support system is a huge factor when considering their care plan. There are agencies who can assign specialists to provide hourly and live-in care for individuals and elderly clients in need of support and companionship. A huge part of their mission is often to educate clients and the surrounding community on how less familiar diseases and ailments can affects the mind and body.

Care Indeed are just one of many providers committed to helping patients and loved ones learn how to support themselves and each other by giving you the resources you need to find the essential care you deserve.

Be Prepared

Whether your diagnosis is recent or you’ve been battling it for some time, preparation for change often helps in the adjustment process to making yourself or loved one more comfortable. Tasks that used to come as second nature may gradually become more of a struggle, even your ability to enjoy social events could become impaired as your condition deteriorates. However, accepting this early on and taking the necessary steps to cope with your condition, can go a long way to improving your quality of life. By recognising your limitations and the indications that you need to slow down, you can manage the progression and even potential minimise the extent of which it disrupts your life.

Acute exacerbation is an extremely common symptom that entails this diagnosis and is one of the leading causes of emergency treatment within COPD patients meaning you may experience shortness of breath and a chronic cough. A conversation with your doctor at the onset of your treatment will help you determine the signs to indicate an emergent situation. When this occurs it is essential that paramedics and medical professionals have a list of emergency contacts, so a huge part of being prepared for the trials and tribulations of the disease is having this on you at all times.

Change of Lifestyle

Before you can focus on your treatment plan, it is vital that you make yourself aware of the lifestyle changes you or your loved one will need to make in order to have the best possible chance of a normal life. The adjustment period will be tough as you try to find your place again, however the improvements it will make to your mental and physical wellbeing during this time is un-paralleled. A few of the most common suggestions are:

Quit Smoking: For many heavy smokers, giving up can be a torturous process, however continuing to smoke will cause your symptoms to rapidly worsen. Using exercise and other productive hobbies are suggested as coping mechanisms to curb your cravings.

Clean Diet: Adopting a healthy eating routine is hugely beneficial to patients with COPD. Ensuring that you are incorporating more fresh foods, especially fruits and vegetables, means you will get a well-rounded dose of vitamins every day. Doing so is likely to give you more energy, making you more able to regulate your breathing and continue daily activities.

Assess Air Quality: Fresh air can be a great healer, however the environment’s pollution can exacerbate the symptoms you may experience, so it is advised that you assess the air that you or your loved ones are exposed to on a daily basis.

If you or someone close to you has been diagnosed with a form of COPD, you may want to start looking into resources and support to help you navigate the early stages of this huge adjustment. Healthcare professionals can provide the assistance and information you will need to cope with the symptomatic pain, however care providers such as Care Indeed can help you maintain as much normality as possible. Highly trained professionals are available to assist with mobility, hygiene, transportation and companionship as well as being a third party support for the family.