Emphysema is a common disease in the elderly, patients often move and become short of breath, cold winter weather, more aggravated by every infection, and even daily life becomes difficult …… emphysema patients prefer lip reduction breathing and abdominal breathing? There are many causes of dyspnea, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure, etc. Emphysema is also a disease familiar to the general public that can cause dyspnea. Emphysema is an anatomical concept that refers to a pathological condition in which the airways at the distal end of the terminal fine bronchi (respiratory fine bronchi, alveolar ducts, alveolar sacs and alveoli) are hypoelastic, hyperinflated, inflated and have increased lung volume or are accompanied by airway wall destruction. Why do you get shortness of breath even when walking on a flat surface? Older patients know that a typical sign of emphysema is a “barrel-shaped chest”. In normal people, the left and right diameter of the chest is larger than the anterior and posterior diameter, but in patients with emphysema, the anterior and posterior diameter of the chest increases due to the expansion of the lungs, which is close to the left and right diameter, resulting in a barrel-shaped chest. In addition, a typical manifestation of emphysema is “shortness of breath when moving”. It is normal for people to experience shortness of breath after strenuous exercise. If shortness of breath occurs when climbing stairs, we should first consider whether there is a decrease in heart function, but if shortness of breath occurs even when walking on flat ground, it may be caused by a decrease in lung function. This is because the lung function of patients with emphysema decreases, and it is difficult to breathe after a little activity, but if they sit down and rest, they will not shortness of breath. Therefore, the daily life of a patient with severe emphysema may also be affected. Self-care for emphysema patients In winter, emphysema patients should strengthen self-care to avoid morbidity and perform active pulmonary rehabilitation exercises to restore lung function to a certain extent and improve the quality of life of patients. Rehabilitation exercises: Exercising lung function through a variety of ways can have a certain improvement effect on emphysema and can delay or reduce the disease. 1. Lip retraction breathing. When inhaling, let the gas enter through the nostrils, open the chest as much as possible, then hold the breath for a moment, shrink the lips in a whistle-like manner, so that the gas will be gently blown out of the lungs through the narrowed mouth shape, and the exhalation should be thin and even, lasting 4 to 6 seconds each time. Practice 3 to 4 times a day, 15 to 30 minutes each time, you can gradually extend the exhalation time and reduce the respiratory rate. The principle is to avoid early collapse and closure of the peripheral small airways by increasing airway resistance, which facilitates the discharge of gas from the alveoli and helps to inhale more fresh air during the next inhalation, increasing the volume of air and increasing alveolar ventilation while increasing carbon dioxide discharge, thus relieving the condition and improving lung function. 2. Abdominal breathing. In slow breathing, the breathing method of letting the abdomen bulge when inhaling and deflating the abdomen when exhaling can strengthen the muscle strength and endurance of the thoracic and diaphragmatic respiratory muscles, which helps increase ventilation and reduce respiratory rate, and also relieves the symptoms of dyspnea. 3, the new five birds play. The use of new five birds play in the bird play, and according to the traditional Chinese medicine “five sounds” with “five sounds” theory, through the specific pronunciation and with the corresponding breathing rhythm, combined with the “bird play through the lungs” theory. It is also possible to exercise the lung function through specific pronunciation and corresponding breathing rhythm, combined with the theory of “bird play opens the lungs”. The specific operation is complicated and requires special study guidance. Reduce colds: It is easy to catch a cold in the cold winter, and the symptoms of emphysema will be aggravated after each respiratory infection, and the lung function will be affected and reduced, so it is especially important to prevent colds and reduce the number of respiratory infections in winter. Normally, we should pay attention to the changes of cold and warmth, actively exercise, enhance physical fitness and improve the ability to resist diseases. Those who are usually tired and weak, prone to colds, and have deficiency of lung qi can use Chinese herbs such as astragalus, cordyceps, mealybug and rhodiola, or Chinese medicines such as yupingfeng san, qiwan of seven flavors and mealybug capsule to supplement lung qi. Taking poultices during the winter season can also reduce the incidence of respiratory diseases. If necessary, flu vaccine and pneumonia vaccine can be given, and immune preparations such as thymidine can be supplemented to improve the body’s immunity and reduce the number of respiratory tract infections. Quit smoking: Smoking also has a greater impact on emphysema, and surveys show that in healthy adults, the annual lung tidal volume drops by about 20 ml, while in smokers the annual lung tidal volume drops by 40 ml, so smoking is a greater damage to lung function. After quitting smoking, the rate of decline in lung tidal volume can be restored to the level of healthy people. Therefore, it is crucial for patients with emphysema to quit smoking.