Helping patients with COPD manage episodes of acute shortness of breath.
The most disabling and frightening symptom experienced by patients with COPD is dyspnea. Even with the use of bronchodilators, the symptom may not be completely relieved. Patients often develop their own strategies for managing shortness of breath, including the use of a breathing technique called pursed-lip breathing. Although most nurses are familiar with this breathing technique, they often have difficulty assisting patients to use it during acute episodes of shortness of breath. A strategy is described which nurses can use to assist patients in implementing pursed-lip breathing effectively during episodes of acute dyspnea.
Truesdell
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Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA.
D000208:Acute Disease; D001945:Breathing Exercises; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology* / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D005239:Fear; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000150:complications*; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*