(StatePoint) There is a lot to manage after a life-changing diagnosis. Navigating your treatment plan, appointments and care can be overwhelming and complicated.
The good news is that if you are living with a chronic lung disease, such as asthma, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including emphysema and chronic bronchitis, support is available.
To help you lead a healthier, more active and fulfilling life, the American Lung Association has partnered with Alteas Health to raise awareness about steps you can take to better manage your chronic lung disease, and where you can turn to for trusted education and support.
Find a lung specialist you trust. Working with a lung specialist, also called a pulmonologist, and healthcare team who know your health history and provide continuity of care can help improve your health outcomes. Your specialist can help tailor a treatment plan that works best for you. It is important to follow your treatment plan, go to regularly scheduled appointments and take steps to reduce your risk of flare-ups. Talk to your primary care provider about a referral to a specialist.
Build community. A strong support network is associated with better emotional health, a higher quality of life and more effective self-management of your disease. American Lung Association Better Breathers Clubs have connected people living with chronic lung disease, along with their family members and caregivers, to information and support for more than 50 years.
Expertly guided by trained facilitators, meetings offer an engaging blend of guest speakers, interactive problem-solving sessions and social activities, and no two sessions are alike. Joe, a club member, says “I learn something at every Better Breathers Club meeting.”
Regularly scheduled meetings are available in-person at locations throughout the United States and online, and are valued not only by patients, but among caregivers as well.
“The Better Breathers Club offers our pulmonary patients a sense of community and understanding while empowering them with education and practical tools to better manage their lung disease. It transforms learning into connection, helping residents breathe easier and thrive within the comfort of their skilled nursing setting,” says Kim Brown, an Alteas Health team member.
Ask if pulmonary rehabilitation is right for you. Pulmonary rehabilitation is a structured program of education and exercise designed to help you better understand your lungs and your condition. Through the program, you’ll build skills to exercise with less shortness of breath and gain practical tips to improve your quality of life. In fact, pulmonary rehabilitation is where many patients learn about other avenues of support. “I was in pulmonary rehab and heard about Better Breathers Club and I started coming, and haven’t stopped!” says Joyce, who is living with COPD.
Connect with customized support. American Lung Association Lung Health Navigators are registered nurses, respiratory therapists, and certified tobacco treatment specialists who provide free, customized one-on-one education and support for individuals and their loved ones facing lung diseases. They are committed to helping you understand your diagnosis, explore treatment options and connect with resources. To reach a Lung Health Navigator, call 1-866-252-2959 or submit a request at Lung.org/navigator.
You don’t have to face a chronic lung disease alone. Ongoing support and education available in the form of pulmonary rehabilitation, support groups and more, can help you better manage your disease.
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Photo Credit: (c) SeventyFour / iStock via Getty Images Plus
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