Photo Credit: OkinawaPottery / istockphoto.com
6. Warding off Depression
Physical relief is crucial, but psychological support is just as important. The more severe your COPD is, the greater your risk for serious mental issues like depression, anxiety and mood disorders. When you struggle with a psychological problem on top of your breathing problems, your quality of life will undoubtedly plummet.
Counseling, relaxation treatments and regular exercise are some of the best ways to avoid depression, and fortunately these are all fundamental parts of pulmonary rehab programs.
Resources
NCBI (Mortality and mortality-related factors after hospitalization for acute exacerbation of COPD)WebMD (Pulmonary Rehabilitation for COPD)COPD Foundation (What is Pulmonary Rehabilitation?)Patient.info (Pulmonary Rehabilitation)Related Search Topics
You May Also Like
COPD is a disease based in the physical that spreads quickly to the mental. People with COPD are prone to developing higher levels of anxiety.