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The wife of a COPD victim suffers strain due to loss of income and the husband's inability to assume customary roles.
The ways in which the wife's lifestyle is affected by her husband's chronic lung disease have not been described in the literature. If the problems experienced by wives of COPD patients were identified the wives could be prepared to anticipate the problems and deal better with them. In an earlier study it was found that the wife takes on new roles and responsibilities such as bread winner and parttime care-giver.1
The Diseases
Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases include asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema and various combinations of these entities. While asthma is a reversible disorder, chronic bronchitis and emphysema are progressive and incurable diseases. Because of the progressive nature of chronic bronchitis, emphysema and the constant threat of exacerbations the prognosis is often poor.
The COPD patient tends to have little energy available for participation in daily activities and is usually unable to perform customary roles. Barstow reported that the presence of a significant other in the home is probably the single most important factor in adjustment to chronic illness such as COPD.2 For men with COPD, the supportive person is usually the wife. Typically, the husband depends on the spouse for transportation, assistance with bathing and obtaining prescriptions as well r with postural drainage and percussion. In addition to helping the husband with his treatment program it is common for the spouse to return to work and to relinquish much of her own life. The loss of the husband's income coupled with the high cost of medications often causes economic strain. Additional distress may arise from the compromised sexual abilities of males with COPD. The sexual impairment is usually attributed to shortness of breath and easy fatigability.
The Spouse and Illness
Individuals who have an acute or chronic illness are now discharged earlier from the hospital. Providing care for the ill partner at home is stressful because it necessitates changes in family roles and reassignment of responsibilities. The chronically ill face multiple problems in daily living including preventing medical crises, controlling symptoms, carrying out medical regimens, preventing or living with social isolation, adjusting to changes in the course of the disease, attempting to normalize...