Anxiety and depression are both more common in people living with COPD than they are in the general population. Unfortunately, they often go unrecognized and untreated by patients, caregivers and healthcare providers. Taking care of your emotional health does more than just improve your mood.
Social status
Subjects with COPD less frequently had a partner and, when having a partner, they were less likely to be 'very satisfied' with the daily support they received from their partner than non-COPD subjects. Subjects with COPD also perceived emotional support less often compared to non-COPD subjects (Table 4).
As COPD progresses, people find it more difficult to carry out their normal daily activities, often due to breathlessness. There may be a considerable financial burden due to limitation of workplace and home productivity, and costs of medical treatment.
Our main findings are: 1) there may be a pattern of cognitive dysfunction specific to COPD; 2) cognitive function is only mildly impaired in patients without hypoxaemia; 3) the incidence of cognitive dysfunction is higher in hypoxaemia; 4) hypoxaemia, hypercapnia, smoking and comorbidities (such as vascular disease) ...
Several features of COPD (i.e., hypoxemia, hypercapnia, oxidative stress, and systemic inflammatory state) and comorbidities (i.e., cardiovascular disease), contribute to a higher risk of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).
Anyone affected by a serious illness may experience loneliness and isolation. There can be many reasons why people feel alone. Coping with the feelings and changes an illness brings can be a lonely experience. It's feeling different to other people that can be so hard.
Recognizing Anxiety, Panic and Depression
Anxiety and depression are both more common in people living with COPD than they are in the general population. Unfortunately, they often go unrecognized and untreated by patients, caregivers and healthcare providers.
COPD makes it hard to breathe, which can make it hard to get enough exercise. Being inactive can lead to bone and muscle loss and increase your risk for other health problems. Certain COPD medicines can increase your risk for other conditions such as bone loss, heart conditions, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
About COPD
People with COPD have difficulties breathing, primarily due to the narrowing of their airways, this is called airflow obstruction. Typical symptoms of COPD include: increasing breathlessness when active. a persistent cough with phlegm.
Many people will live into their 70s, 80s, or 90s with COPD.” But that's more likely, he says, if your case is mild and you don't have other health problems like heart disease or diabetes. Some people die earlier as a result of complications like pneumonia or respiratory failure.
Q: Why is anxiety especially common in COPD patients? A: When our breath becomes shallow, our brains can sometimes perceive there to be a stressful situation at hand, even when there isn't. This can cause a stress response in the body, often referred to as anxiety.
People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have a greater risk for depression, stress, and anxiety. Being stressed or depressed can make COPD symptoms worse and make it harder to care for yourself.
Patients often become defensive or apathetic; these attitudes make communication difficult and need to be recognised and understood if they are to be worked through constructively. COPD disables a person in many senses, both physically and mentally. It leads to a loss of independence and a loss of self-esteem.
COPD can cause many complications, including: Respiratory infections. People with COPD are more likely to catch colds, the flu and pneumonia. Any respiratory infection can make it much more difficult to breathe and could cause further damage to lung tissue.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the collective term for a number of lung diseases that prevent proper breathing. Two of the most common types of COPD are emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Cigarette smoking is the most significant risk factor for COPD.
In patients with COPD and sleep apnea, verbal memory and visual memory are the most commonly affected cognitive domains,( 30 ) although processing speed, working memory, and executive function are also affected (p = 0.01, p = 0.02, and p ≤ 0.001, respectively).
Grief is another common reaction to chronic illness. You may experience various stages of grief including denial, bargaining, anger, and sadness. You may feel you're on a roller coaster of emotion—accepting one day and angry the next.
Mood swings or 'emotional lability' Depression and sense of loss. Anxiety. Frustration and anger.
ANGER AND RESENTMENT
Patients often become angry when they recognize their loss. The anger might be directed toward God, their parents, the physician, or even themselves. Children with a chronic condition sometimes become manipulative and feel they should never be punished.
When COPD gets worse it is called an exacerbation (ex-zass-er-BAY-shun). During an exacerbation you may suddenly feel short of breath, or your cough may get worse. You may also cough up phlegm, and it may be thicker than normal or an unusual color.
TRIGGER EXAMPLES
Wind, sudden changes in weather, and extreme temperatures (hot and cold) may trigger COPD symptoms. Sometimes people may have COPD, asthma or allergies. Talk to your healthcare provider about how to keep your asthma and allergies under control.