Fall 2011 Volume 6 No. 3

Addressing the needs of the Canadian COPD patient

FIGHTING FATIGUE: HOW TO INCORPORATE FATIGUE FIGHTING MEASURES . ............................5
TASTY AND LOTS OF FUN, BUT IT CAN BE VERY RISKY. ..................7 IS THAT YOU SNORING OR IS A FREIGHT TRAIN COMING? ..........1

IF YOU BOOZE, YOU LOSE:

OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA:

Obstructive Sleep Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Apnea (OSA) Meeting the challenges
Sleep apnea is a serious and sometimes life threatening sleep disorder that is characterized by periods of apnea (breathing pauses) during sleep. uring an apneic episode, you may stop breathing for up to 10 seconds or more and, as your blood oxygen levels drop, you may awaken abruptly with a loud gasp or snort. The number of apneic events you experience may be as high as 20 to 60 per hour or more, and the effects may lead to serious health complications. It is often accompanied by loud, disruptive snoring. Although it’s not unusual for a person to have both sleep apnea and COPD, the presence of sleep apnea is not higher in COPD patients than in the general population. Having both disorders at the same time is certainly challenging though. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is most commonly seen in the general population and in people with COPD. OSA occurs when your throat muscles, including your tongue, relax during sleep and block your airway. Because many people who suffer from OSA are overweight, they often have an enlarged tongue and soft palate and/or excess fat in their throat area. Although anyone can have sleep apnea, it is found most often in older men of African-American, Hispanic or Pacific Islander extraction. Other factors include being obese, having a large neck circumference (17" or more for men and
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of living with COPD
Living with COPD can be challenging, as the disease has a dramatic impact on your daily life. Often causing severe disability, a diagnosis of COPD can lead to feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. s the disease progresses, any kind of physical activity or social interaction may prove difficult. Luckily, you can take back your independence and improve your quality of life by incorporating some simple things into your daily life. Most of us take our ability to communicate with others for granted. But, with COPD, communication may become difficult due to extreme shortness of breath. It is important for you to know that it is OK to take your time speaking. Talk in short phrases or sentences and pause in between to rest if necessary. Breathlessness is the most frightening aspect by Kenneth R. Chapman, MD, of COPD. Unlike MSc, FRCPC, FACP healthy people, breathing Director of the Asthma and Airway for a COPD patient can Centre of the University Health be quite a struggle, Network, Toronto involving a real hat is pulmonary arterial conscious effort. hypertension? Practicing energy ulmonary arterial hypertension is an important conservation techniques and potentially confusing issue for patients with will help you pace COPD. Let’s begin by translating the term into plain yourself in your daily activities so you don’t get English and then discussing the various types and their treatment. so winded. Hypertension will be a familiar term to almost Breathing control everyone. Although it sounds

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Ask Dr. Chapman

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techniques can help you fight fatigue and feel less short of breath. When you are performing any kind of activity, be sure to exhale during the most difficult part of the activity using pursed-lip breathing. If you are short of breath, stop and rest for a moment before resuming your activity. Avoid any unnecessary activities that will cause you to expend more energy. For example, wear a terry cloth robe after your bath or shower to save yourself the effort of drying off. Allow the dishes to dry by air instead of