Symptoms management at the end of life.
Numerous, well-defined symptoms are associated with end of life when death is caused by a chronic or debilitating illness (or both) such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer's dementia, and congestive heart failure. These symptoms, if unrelieved, are distressing to both the patients and their families and preclude any possibility of relieving psychological, social, and spiritual suffering, improving quality of life, or completing life closure. Therefore, the objective of this article is to identify some common symptoms at end of life and various management strategies for each.
Paolini
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Department of Family Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine, 3200 S University Dr, Ft Lauderdale, FL-33328, USA. cpaolini@nova.edu
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001293:Attitude to Death; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008020:Life Support Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D012297:Right to Die; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D019452:Terminally Ill