N E W S

Vol 15, No. 1      LINCARE is a National Supplier of Home
Spring '03          Oxygen and Respiratory Therapy Services

ANXIETY, STRESS, & PANIC

Depression

It is normal for you to feel "let down". You may also notice you are irritable, you may experience loss of memory or find it hard to concentrate. Many COPD patients feel just the way you do.

Fear

Fear and Anxiety are also common emotions experienced by COPD patients. The more you understand about your respiratory disease and how it affects your breathing, the better you will be able to deal with a variety of situations. It takes a lot of energy to deal with fear and anxiety. Stress may cause shortness of breath, and when you feel short of breath you become more anxious which, in turn, makes you breathe faster, breathing muscles tire, and you feel even more short of breath.

What to do to break the panic cycle

1 Stop it before it starts.

• Avoid situations you know will be stressful.
• When you feel yourself becoming short of breath, stop what you are doing.

2. Use a Bronchodilator if recommended by your doctor

• Aerosal Nebulizer
• Metered Dose Inhaler

3 Start Pursed-Lip Breathing

• Breathe in slowly and deeply, then exhale slowly and fully with your lips "puckered". Take at least twice as long to exhale as to inhale.

4 Relax your shoulder and neck muscles.

• Drop your chin down and gently rotate your head in a circle.
• One at a time, rotate your shoulders in a circular motion.

Perhaps the most overlooked opportunity for inexpensive entertainment can be found at your local senior center. Short classes, shopping excursions, and day trips to festivals, parks, and theatrical and musical events are typical offerings at senior centers around the country. Most are free or available for a modest fee. Signing up for a trip can also be a good way to meet people in your own community who have similar interests. These trips may require advance registration, so you might want to get a schedule of upcoming events from your local center. Don't forget to inquire as well at your local church, synagogue, or mosque about any trips they might offer.

You can usually find senior centers listed under city government in the phone book, but check state listings as well. City and county community services departments often have listings of senior centers in the region. Elder Care Locator, 800/677-1116, a nationwide information service for seniors, can also help you locate a center.

Community Talk about COPD

Websites available for COPD patients & their families to share conversations, experiences, helpful hints, and to ask questions of those who face similar challenges associated with COPD.

· www.resphealthsite.com
· www.pulmonologychannel.com/copd
· www.lungusa.org
· www.copd-international.com

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