Page 6 - Sanger Herald 12-6-18 E-edition

Do You Know If You Have COPD?
A staggering number of people across the world are impacted by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), experiencing often debilitating symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing.
Despite how common COPD is across the globe, awareness of the signs, symptoms and treatment op- tions for the disease remains low. Too often, diagnosed patients and their families do not know what COPD is, how it will affect their lifestyle or what treatment op- tions are available. Some patients may even hesitate to seek care due to the social stigma associated with the disease.1
The Reality of COPD
COPD is a progressive, life-threatening disease that is estimated to affect more than 251 million people worldwide, and is on track to become the third leading cause of death by 2020.2,3 In the U.S. alone, it is esti- mated that 12 million adults have COPD, with another 12 million living undiagnosed.4
For patients and their families, it can be challeng- ing to gure out how to manage the lifestyle changes that are required to properly manage COPD symptoms. Modern advances such as long-term oxygen therapy systems (both stationary and portable), noninvasive mechanical ventilation, and drug delivery technologies have helped enable patients to live longer and more actively. However, it’s crucial that patients remain ad- herent to their therapy programs in order to minimize COPD exacerbations.
According to Dr. Teo lo Lee-Chiong, chief medical li- aison at Philips, “COPD often presents challenges for patients to partake in daily activities. While COPD is a chronic condition, it doesn’t need to be a debilitating disease.”
New advancements in connected care technology offer patients the opportunity to help maintain their quality of life by receiving treatment at home through remote monitoring. Connected care solutions also pro-
vide patients with a strong support network, allowing local care teams to keep patients motivated and assist with day-to-day activities.
Adjusting to a COPD Diagnosis
If you or a loved one is living with COPD, a diagno- sis can be a lot to take in. In addition to being adherent to therapy, Dr. Lee-Chiong believes that with a positive outlook and an active lifestyle, COPD patients can take back control of their lives.
Among Dr. Lee-Chiong’s tips, he recommends:
• Having a positive mind-set—It’s important to have a positive outlook on the disease and to understand that the key to remaining active lies within yourself.
• De ning your goals—Continue to ask yourself what you want to accomplish. Start by setting short-term and long-term goals.
• Maintaining a healthy lifestyle— Sustaining a healthy diet with proper nutrition, adequate sleep, and exercising is key. A poor diet can make symptoms worse and can negatively affect your ability to exercise and remain active. While exercise may seem challenging, start with enhancing strength, endurance and exibility by breaking down tasks into smaller parts and schedul- ing frequent rest periods.
• Giving it time—Progress doesn’t happen overnight, but with exercise and a healthy diet, your strength and endurance can recover and your quality of life can im- prove.
• Knowing your options—Educate yourself about the available treatment options to manage your COPD symptoms and work with your care provider to develop a therapy regimen that’s tailored to t the level of activ- ity you wish to maintain in your lifestyle.
If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed, or is experiencing symptoms of COPD, visit www.Philips.com/ COPD-Health-Awareness.
1“Understanding the Social Consequences of Chronic Obstructive
With the right theraphy regimen, you can enjoy an active lifestyle with COPD.
Pulmonary Disease” American Thoracic Society 2007. Retrieved from: https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10.1513/pats.200706-084SD
2Global Burden of Disease Study” World Health Organization 2016. Retrieved from: http://www.who.int/ news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-(copd)
3Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease 2017. Re- trieved from: http://goldcopd.org/ gold-2017-global-strategy-diagnosis- management-prevention-copd
4COPD Foundation; Retrieved from: https://www.copdfoundation. org/What-is-COPD/Understanding-COPD/Statistics.aspx
Understanding Yourself In ‘The Age Of Overwhelm’
If you’re ever among the many Americans who feel overwhelmed by work or school; family or com- munity; caretaking for others or your own health and well-being; or engagement in social justice, envi- ronmental advocacy or civil service, you may be re- lieved to learn that just a few subtle shifts can make a major difference.
To help, Laura van Dernoot Lipsky, best-selling author of “Trauma Stewardship,” offers concrete strategies to mitigate harm, cultivate decency and equitableness, and act with integrity in her new book “The Age of Overwhelm” (Penguin Random House).
“Each time in history has its challenges,” Lipsky writes, and yet “there is this particular look in folks’ eyes today that has prompted me to dedicate this book to those who are operating in a state of over- whelm some of the time or all of the time.”
Two-Step Solution
The rst step toward overcoming being over- whelmed, she says, is to separate what is and isn’t within your control; the second step is to act on that which is in your power to change and relinquish what is not.
Combining New Yorker cartoons and sage advice, Lipsky moves readers through the process of mini- mizing distraction and heightening intention. By par- ing away the unnecessary, she advises, people do less of what erodes them and more of what sustains them, asserting that only then can you be a force for good in the world.
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