Discharge Instructions for Emphysema

You have been diagnosed with emphysema. This is a lung disease that limits the flow of air in and out of your lungs, making breathing harder. Emphysema is most often caused by heavy, long-time cigarette smoking.

Home care

• If you smoke, quit.

  • Join a stop-smoking program. There are even telephone, text message, and Internet programs.

  • Ask your healthcare provider about medicines or other methods to help you quit.

  • Ask family members to quit smoking as well.

  • Don’t allow smoking in your home, in your car, or around you, especially if oxygen is in use.

• Protect yourself from infection.

  • Wash your hands often. Keep your hands away from your face. Most germs are spread from your hands to your mouth.

  • Ask your provider about a yearly flu shot and pneumonia vaccines.

  • Avoid crowds, especially in the winter, when more people have colds and flu.

  • To stay healthy, exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, and get enough sleep. You should:

    • Try to exercise at least 30 minutes on most days. Ask your healthcare provider about a pulmonary rehabilitation (rehab) program. Pulmonary rehab helps improve muscle strength, ability to exercise and do daily tasks. 

    • Healthy eating means a lot of fruit and vegetables, 100% whole grain products, lean meats and fish, and low-fat dairy products, like yogurt and cheeses.

    • Most people need 8 hours of sleep every night.

• Take your medicines exactly as directed. Don’t skip doses.

• If you use oxygen, make sure you use it correctly. That means the amount your use and the length of time you use it.

• Try to stay away from those things that may affect your breathing, such as cold weather, high humidity, smoke, air pollution, dust, and allergens.

• Unless your provider has told you otherwise, drink at least 8 glasses of fluid every day to keep mucus thin. Ask about other things that can help.

• Ask your healthcare provider to show you pursed-lip breathing to help decrease shortness of breath.

Follow-up care

Make all follow-up appointments as directed by our staff.