A Palliative Care Approach for Chronic Lung Conditions
If you or a loved one is living with a chronic lung condition—like COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), pulmonary fibrosis, or severe asthma—it’s normal to have concerns about managing symptoms, staying active, and maintaining quality of life. One option you may have heard of is palliative care. But what exactly does it involve? Let’s break it down.
What Is a Palliative Care Approach?
A palliative care approach is something that all healthcare workers can choose to take. It is not only for a specialized “Palliative Care Team”. This approach to providing care puts focus on relieving symptoms and improving the quality of life for people with serious illnesses. Unlike other approaches to care, which might focus solely on curing the illness, palliative care approach is all about comfort and quality. The goal is to ease the physical, emotional, and psychological burdens that often come with chronic illnesses like lung disease.
It’s important to note that palliative care is not the same as end-of-life care. People can receive palliative care at any stage of their illness—even right after diagnosis—while still pursuing treatments that might improve their condition or extend life.
Why Palliative Care for Chronic Lung Conditions?
Living with a chronic lung condition can be challenging. Symptoms like shortness of breath, persistent cough, and fatigue may limit your daily activities and make you feel anxious or overwhelmed. A palliative care approach helps by offering support that goes beyond just medication. It addresses the whole person, including emotional well-being and quality of life, not just the physical symptoms.
How Palliative Care Works
If you decide to explore palliative care with a specialized palliative care team, your care team will likely consist of doctors, nurses, social workers, and possibly spiritual counselors. Together, they’ll create a personalized plan that reflects your specific symptoms, needs, and preferences. This plan may involve:
Medications for symptom relief
Breathing techniques and exercises
Support for mental health and anxiety
Nutritional counseling to help with weight loss or appetite changes
Education for you and your family on how to manage symptoms at home
Most importantly, your palliative care team will listen to your concerns and help you make decisions about your care. This ensures that your treatment aligns with your values and priorities.
Can Palliative Care Help My Family?
Absolutely. Palliative care also provides support for your loved ones. Caring for someone with a chronic illness can be emotionally and physically draining, so the palliative team helps ease the burden on caregivers. They offer guidance, provide resources, and can sometimes assist with practical matters like coordinating medical appointments.
When Should You Consider Palliative Care?
Palliative care can be started at any point after your diagnosis, and the sooner it’s introduced, the better it can help you manage symptoms and stress. It’s not only for people at the end of life. Even if you’re actively treating your lung condition, you can still benefit from the extra support palliative care offers.
Talking to Your Doctor About Palliative Care
If you think palliative care could benefit you, talk to your doctor about it. They can help you connect with a palliative care team that understands your condition and works in collaboration with your healthcare providers. It’s important to feel empowered and in control of your care, and palliative care can help you achieve that.
Takeaway
Palliative care is an approach designed to help you live as fully and comfortably as possible, even with a chronic lung condition. By focusing on quality of life, managing symptoms, and providing emotional and practical support, it ensures that you’re not just surviving, but living well.
Whether you’re newly diagnosed or have been managing a chronic lung disease for years, palliative care can offer relief, support, and peace of mind. It's about making each day the best it can be, for you and those you love.
Remember: Palliative care is a team effort, and you are the most important person on that team. Don’t hesitate to ask your doctor if palliative care might be right for you!
If you’re looking to learn more about a palliative care approach, join our live, online Chat & Chew session on October 15th at 2pm with Jennifer Zorn-Ford. Click here to join our free, Poplar Community and attend the small group Chat & Chew.
Resources
For Canadians: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-services-benefits/palliative-care.html
https://www.cihi.ca/en/access-to-palliative-care-in-canada
For Residents of BC: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/practitioner-professional-resources/pharmacare/plans/plan-p-bc-palliative-care-benefits-program
For Healthcare Workers: https://www.pallium.ca/about-pallium/