Self management for COPD

[Trina]

Hi, my friend Hardik, a 74-year-old man, is looking for advice. His wife encouraged him to speak with a pharmacist, as he recently received a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and wants to make sure he is doing everything he can to reduce his chances of complicating or exacerbating his condition. Hardik has a significant medical history, including coronary artery disease post stent placement, heart failure, hypertension, and high cholesterol, along with his new diagnosis of COPD. He has an extensive medication list, which includes various pharmacologic agents for managing these conditions. Hardik started smoking as a teenager and quit cold turkey several years ago at the request of his cardiologist. What information can you provide regarding self-management of Hardik’s COPD?

[Sneha]

@Trina a COPD is estimated to affect a large number of population throughout the globe. Although COPD necessitates medical evaluation and prescription drug treatment, self-care and self-management are critical to ensuring optimization of symptom control and quality of life through reduction in exacerbations and hospitalizations for complications. In Hardik’s case, there are several important educational opportunities for the pharmacist. These include asking him to demonstrate his inhaler technique and reviewing it with him; ensuring that he is up-to-date on all indicated vaccines, based on his age and medical comorbidities; inquiring about medical follow-up appointments; and underscoring the importance of using his maintenance medications, even if he is not having trouble breathing. In addition, social support is critical to ensuring optimal health outcomes, particularly with a chronic lung disease such as COPD. Living with a chronic disease is difficult, and the risk of comorbid depression is high. Encourage Hardik to include his wife, other family members, or caregivers to help him manage his condition and troubleshoot with him if questions arise.