Respiratory Health in Senior Citizens
Many senior citizens suffer from respiratory disorders including asthma, emphysema (often a complication of smoking), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or reoccurring bronchitis or pneumonia. Because the immune system can weaken with age, older patients are more susceptible to some of these illnesses and it can be difficult to fully recover.
Asthma can sometimes go undiagnosed but the patient can suffer because of allergies to animals, dust, pollen, or other allergens. Breathing treatments or inhalers can help with the blocked air passages that occur with asthma. Pneumonia is a lung infection caused by a virus or bacteria. Symptoms include high fever with the chills, deep coughing with possible chest pain, flu-like symptoms, or a shortness of breath. Pneumonia is especially dangerous in older patients and can even be fatal; caregivers should be vigilant when observing their patients and should seek medical attention if they suspect pneumonia. Obviously, anyone who has respiratory issues should not smoke and should also avoid secondhand smoke. Household air pollution should also be avoided.
Some of the issues that caregivers may face when their patient has respiratory issues include:
1. Learning the anatomy of the respiratory system
2. Learning the symptoms and treatments of various respiratory disorders
3. Learning how to measure oxygen levels and recognizing when levels are too low
4. Administering medications, breathing treatments, or oxygen therapy.
There are many ways to treat respiratory disorders, although most do not have actual cures. For asthmatic patients, they should always have access to an inhaler. Caregivers should make sure they are placed all around the house and always have at least one when they leave the house. Other ways to improve breathing involve breathing exercises, proper body positioning, healthy nutrition, and appropriate physical exercise that focuses on muscle development instead of aerobic activity. However, patients and caregivers should follow the advice of their physicians or physical therapists who can develop the best treatment plans.
Asthma can sometimes go undiagnosed but the patient can suffer because of allergies to animals, dust, pollen, or other allergens. Breathing treatments or inhalers can help with the blocked air passages that occur with asthma. Pneumonia is a lung infection caused by a virus or bacteria. Symptoms include high fever with the chills, deep coughing with possible chest pain, flu-like symptoms, or a shortness of breath. Pneumonia is especially dangerous in older patients and can even be fatal; caregivers should be vigilant when observing their patients and should seek medical attention if they suspect pneumonia. Obviously, anyone who has respiratory issues should not smoke and should also avoid secondhand smoke. Household air pollution should also be avoided.
Some of the issues that caregivers may face when their patient has respiratory issues include:
1. Learning the anatomy of the respiratory system
2. Learning the symptoms and treatments of various respiratory disorders
3. Learning how to measure oxygen levels and recognizing when levels are too low
4. Administering medications, breathing treatments, or oxygen therapy.
There are many ways to treat respiratory disorders, although most do not have actual cures. For asthmatic patients, they should always have access to an inhaler. Caregivers should make sure they are placed all around the house and always have at least one when they leave the house. Other ways to improve breathing involve breathing exercises, proper body positioning, healthy nutrition, and appropriate physical exercise that focuses on muscle development instead of aerobic activity. However, patients and caregivers should follow the advice of their physicians or physical therapists who can develop the best treatment plans.
Source...