COPD: Back-to-School Stress

COPD: Back-to-School is where we’re going for another installment of our COPD Guide for Summer 2019, featuring COPD, Stage 4. Back-to-School stress time is here or just around the corner. As summer spirals down in to fall we are aware of some cooler breezes and a few of the leaves are yellowing. And children are facing the new school year. With the heat dialing back, doctors and staff at FLASS are happy to see many of our COPD patients getting some relief from the hot and humid triggers of summer.

With every stage of COPD, there are lessons to learn.s of

As you might already know, this is part 5 of our 7 blog series called “Summer COPD Guide” for 2019. With back to school right impending, many COPD patients are involved in the end-of-summer rush to get children and grand-children prepared. Shopping, scheduling, and just the excitement of change can become a COPD anxiety-producing event!

So Back-to-School can become a trigger, no matter what level of COPD you are suffering. Once again we acknowledge the help of nurse and writer, Nancy Albritton, R.N., in the creation of this series of blogs. In today’s blog, we share some top tips related to Stage 4 of COPD.

Back-to-School COPD Guide Stage Four—Very Severe

With Back-to-School Stress coming in many different “packages,” new challenges will appear with the new stage of your condition. Living for years with COPD and advancing to the fourth stage of COPD, will probably cause a lot of irreversible lung damage. Even though your condition is more advanced, we can still use several familiar treatments for comforting your symptoms.

Likewise, you will have to do your part. You must monitor yourself to make your treatment plan happen. This might mean getting out of your comfort zone. For example, you might have to follow your FLASS COPD Action Plan instead of doing what you would prefer to do. Now is the time to follow your medication schedule, exercise plan, and smoking cessation plan seriously. Remember following the rules will put more life in your years—and perhaps more years in your life.

Our Short List of Life Changes in Stage 4 COPD

To a certain extent, we can explain that the major difference in Stage 3 and Stage 4 is more of the same. You will find it more difficult to breathe, even with oxygen therapy. You will endure more and longer exacerbations. Likewise, you might be spending more time in the hospital.

Additionally, with to the COPD Stage 4, new health problems can arise. These could possibly include anemia, heart failure, and osteoporosis. Remember, especially in Stage 4, a simple cold or flu takes advantage of your already-compromised immune system. In turn, this perpetuates a vicious cycle of infections and exacerbations.

Watching What You Eat–and More–Tips For Stage 4

Also, we warn you of appetite loss in Stage 4 COPD. Now, it is more important than ever to watch your nutrition. Read more information below to find some practical, quick tips about that issue.
At Stage 4, gentle physical exercise continues to be critical to your well-being. And yes, we know
Nutrition Crossroads: A Proper Diet Can Improve the Way You Feel.

you might find a short amount of exercise to be quickly exhausting.
Furthermore, we must prepare you to watch your mental health and mood swings. Here at FLASS, we have a holistic approach. We focus on your mental as well as bodily health. Your team will help you face new mental concerns and fears. There might be difficulties and roadblocks ahead. You might face bouts of depression or confusion. And we know that concentrating on time spent with friends and family will help you. Plus, you won’t face Stage 4 COPD alone because FLASS will be by your side.

Now What? What Helps Patients in Stage Four COPD?

The reason we matched Stage 4 with Back-to-School is that, like students, our patients have to go “Back-to-School” and do their homework. This is true at each stage of the disease. They have to learn what they personally can do to minimize problems as their condition worsens. In Stage 4 Your Back-to-School homework as a COPD patient will center around what medical professionals call compliance. Overall, patients dread the word compliance. But it means you adapt your behavior to offset the difficulties of this stage of the disease.

Smoking Cessation: The Most Helpful Therapy

Most present in the minds of all your FLASS team members is the question of what is the most important part of your care plan at this point. Of all therapies considered, cessation of smoking may possibly make the most important impact.

Ideally, an already-in-place, your plan of smoking cessation will aid in the most normal lifestyle in stage IV. Remember, campfires and inhaled chemicals can have the same effect on an individual as cigarette smoking. So, stay away from them all.

Caution: You Will Probably Need More Help in Stage Four COPD

We have some easy Back-to-School stress tips for all stage IV COPD patients: As always, we suggest you have your phone and medicines handy in case you have a serious flare-up. In fact, a detailed list of medicines is good preparation for any emergency, at any age. In case of a flare-up of COPD, don’t take chances. Make sure your ER or ICU health professional gets such a list. You’ll be glad you did.

Back-to-School Lunches and Other Nutritional Advice for Stage 4

No One Has an “Expiration Date.” Take Care of Yourself.

Keeping your weight at a healthy level is so important to maintaining the highest quality lifestyle for yourself. There are many unique ways to combat weight loss. Believe it or not, avoiding sugar will actually help you in maintaining your weight, opposed to losing. (Who could have guessed that one?) And eating foods high in protein and fat like whole milk and cheese, you get a reward of more energy.

Additionally, eating high fiber foods like fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains prevents other problems that may actually keep you from maintaining your healthy weight.

Remember, weight loss is a symptom of COPD in its advanced stages. Thus, we bring you a list of very practical techniques for keeping weight up:

eating five or six smaller meals instead of three big ones
sticking with foods that are easy to chew
chewing slowly and taking time between bites
keeping food within reach while eating
saving your drink until after you eat to avoid filling up on liquids
taking a rest prior to eating

Liberation with Moderation: Exercise at Advanced Stages of COPD

Exercising is wonderfully liberating. And it’s even necessary for more independence. It’s important to stay as active as possible even if oxygen therapy becomes required. It’s not quite like Back-to-School recess. However, your exercise is just as important now as it was when you were a child.

Physical therapy is a path to well-being. Starting slow and build back up physically as necessary so there’s no temptation to completely stop exercising.

However, you should stop exercising immediately, should any of the following symptoms develop:

chest pain
fever or strep throat
leg pain
stomach upset
When using oxygen therapy, fire prevention is a real concern. Keep in mind you should avoid lotions and creams with petroleum jelly, being careful around heat sources, not smoking while using oxygen, and staying away from open flames.

A “Back to School” Review: Stage 4 Problems

Further progression of the disease causes the advance of symptoms as did the three previous stages: coughing mucus, shortness of breath, and continuing tiredness. All symptoms start getting worse. Breathing takes a lot more effort due to feeling out of breath without doing much of any activity. Also, flare-ups happen even more often in this last stage

Now, let’s review a few of the most severe problems you will probably be facing in Stage 4 COPD:

Chronic respiratory failure: This condition begins occurring when not enough oxygen is obtained in breathing or when oxygen is moving from your lungs to your blood. Also, it may occur when lungs don’t take enough carbon dioxide out of your blood.
Chronic Fatigue: Therefore, lacking in both affects your strength and robs the muscles of energy.
A Startling Sound: Surprising crackling sounds might arise as you draw a breath.
The Changed Physique: Your body might have begun to get a “barrel-chested” appearance.
The Constant Wheeze.
You feel long periods of time between inhalation and exhalation.

Stage 4 COPD Treatments

Keep Hoping and Coping: COPD Research Continues

As in every stage, your family at FLASS will continue to assist you if you develop questions or fears. To put it simply: We care.

Remember, at any stage of a COPD diagnosis, your FLASS doctor may recommend different treatment options, including the following:

•Pulmonary rehabilitation

•Oxygen supplementation

•Medications

•Lung surgery in severe cases

In the next blog of this series, we will discuss the treatments for Stage 4 in depth.

The Terrific Back-to-School Take-away

Just as this year’s crop of brand new first graders are entering a new stage of their lives with school, you are entering a new stage of your life as your COPD advances. Like the young students who face new challenges, you will face new problems.

But we ask you to remember research is continuing every day. Enjoy your time with family and friends. Let the back-to-school excitement inspire your sense of learning. You will discover how to cope with your new stage of this cycle of life.

Thank you for reading the Florida Lung, Asthma and Sleep Specialists’ blog. And please return for the next chapter in our COPD Guide.