Learn About COPD Today

Companion Care at Home Highland Park IL - Learn About COPD Today

COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease encompasses many progressive lung diseases such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Millions of United States citizens have this condition and there are millions more who have it, but aren’t diagnosed yet. Unfortunately, COPD does have a negative impact on a person’s quality of life. Having companion care at home services can help with monitoring your loved one's condition and assist them in many ways.

As COPD gets worse, the patient has a more difficult time breathing. Many senior citizens first notice they have this condition because they are out of breath even after doing only a light exercise or when going up one flight of stairs. If you or a companion care at home provider notice that activities that were easy for your elderly loved one are not causing shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness, and/or coughing, you should have them seen by a doctor. 

COPD Risk Factors

Not sure if your elderly loved one is at high risk of getting COPD? There are some risk factors that you and your elderly loved one should be aware of including, but not limited to, the following:

• Smoking
• Air pollution
• Genetics 
• ​Asthma
• Working in a job where they inhale fumes, chemicals, dust, and other irritants

​If you or a companion care t home provider suspect your elderly loved one has COPD, you should have them see their doctor. The doctor will perform various tests and imaging to determine if COPD is the diagnosis. Early detection can help to manage your elderly loved one’s symptoms much better. 

COPD Management 

If your elderly loved one does have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, it is important that they get the treatment needed to keep their symptoms mild or at bay. There are numerous ways that this condition could be managed, such as:

• Quitting smoking
• Cleaning the home more often to get rid of irritants
• Staying active to keep the lungs strong and healthy 
• Maintaining a healthy diet filled with nutritional and anti-inflammatory foods

If you and companion car at home providers can help your elderly loved one to manage their COPD, it can help to improve their quality of life. It can also keep their symptoms less severe, too. If you need more assistance in helping your elderly loved one to manage this condition, don’t hesitate to talk to their doctor about it. The doctor will have other recommendations for minimizing COPD symptoms for your elderly loved one. 

Hire Companion Care at Home Providers

Does your elderly loved one have any of the COPD symptoms mentioned above? If so, you should have them see a doctor to get a COPD assessment and imaging. If they are found to have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, you and companion care at home providers can help them to manage the condition. If your elderly loved one does follow through with the tips noted above, they can have a better quality of life and reduce the symptoms they experience, too. 

Want extra help in managing your elderly loved one’s COPD? Don’t hesitate to get them more home care or medical care assistance. 

Sources:  https://www.cdc.gov/copd/basics-about.html

If you or an aging loved one are considering Companion Care at Home Services in Highland Park IL, contact the caring staff at Gentle Home Services. Call today at (800) 860-9823.

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