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Coping and support

By Mayo Clinic staff

These suggestions may help you cope with emphysema:

  • Express your feelings. Your emphysema may limit some of your activities and affect your family's plans and routines in ways you can't always anticipate. If you and your family can talk openly about each other's needs, you'll be better able to meet the challenges of living with this disease. Be alert to changes in your mood and your relations with others, and don't be afraid to seek counseling.
  • Consider a support group. You may also want to consider joining a support group for people with emphysema. Although support groups aren't for everyone, they can be a good source of information about new treatments and coping strategies. And it can be encouraging to spend time with other people in circumstances similar to yours. If you're interested in a support group, talk to your doctor. Or, contact your local chapter of the American Lung Association.
References
  1. Emphysema. American Lung Association. http://www.lungusa.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=2060053&content_id={39330D56-C0E9-4D08-B98F-18EA7B3C410B}¬oc=1. Accessed March 4, 2009.
  2. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) fact sheet. American Lung Association. http://www.lungusa.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=2058829&content_id={EE451F66-996B-4C23-874D-BF66586196FF}¬oc=1. Accessed March 4, 2009.
  3. What is COPD? National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Copd/Copd_WhatIs.html. Accessed March 4, 2009.
  4. Celli BR. Update on the management of COPD. CHEST. 2008;133:1451.
  5. Bruce ML, et al. COPD: Your role in early detection. The Nurse Practitioner Journal. 2007;32:25.
  6. Corbridge SJ, et al. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. AAOHN Journal. 2007;55:181.
  7. Rennard SI. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Definition, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and staging. http://www.uptodate.com. Accessed March 4, 2009.
  8. Weiss ST. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Risk factors and risk reduction. http://www.uptodate.com. Accessed March 4, 2009.
  9. Ferguson GT et al, Management of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. http://www.uptodate.com. Accessed March 4, 2009.
  10. Global strategy for the diagnosis, management, and prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Global initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease. Medical Communications Resources, Inc. Accessed March 20, 2009.

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April 29, 2009

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