Palliative care is a medical caregiving approach that helps patients with chronic illnesses to relieve physical symptoms and ease mental, psychological stress. Palliative care needs a thorough evaluation and management of symptoms such as pain, dyspnea, nausea, exhaustion, and psychological distress. However, if these symptoms are not properly managed or left untreated, they might worsen the patient's condition and complicate treatment.
Common Symptoms of Palliative Care
Patients in palliative care often go through symptoms such as:
- Pain: Palliative care patients commonly suffer chronic or acute pain, especially those with cancer or severe organ disease.
- Dyspnea: Shortness of breath is frequent in health issues such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart failure, and lung cancer.
- Nausea and vomiting: Some therapies like chemotherapy have side effects on the patients’ health which can cause sickness and nausea.
- Fatigue: Most patients experience fatigue which can affect their life.
- Psychological Distress: Anxiety, despair, and fear are common as the illness progresses and have an impact on daily living.
According to Neha Sinha, Dementia specialist, CEO and Co-founder of Epoch Elder Care, " Persistent pain causes sleepless nights, exhaustion, and a decrease in the patient's ability to engage in daily activities, causing anxiety and distress. When experiencing such a situation, they often impair themselves from their family and friends, or they avoid social gatherings in simple words. The pain crisis eventually leads to emergency hospitalisation for intensive care, which may have been avoided with early pain treatment."
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“In palliative care, emergencies are not necessarily about immediate threats to life but rather threats to a peaceful and dignified quality of life. Unaddressed symptoms like pain, anxiety, cleanliness, bed sore management, or even unspoken fears are critical components that often get overlooked but are essential for maintaining the dignity and comfort of the person. Ensuring proper hygiene with basic things such as trimming nails, doing proper skin care, ensuring whether eyes are properly hydrated, diligent bed sore prevention, and addressing all symptoms promptly and compassionately is essential to provide a dignified and peaceful end-of-life experience for both patients and their loved ones. Furthermore, a holistic approach to palliative care goes beyond physical comfort; it's about emotional and spiritual well-being too”, stated Neha Sinha.
How Untreated Symptoms Lead to Crisis
When symptoms are not properly managed, they can worsen and lead to crises in several ways:
- Physical Deterioration: Untreated symptoms such as pain and dyspnea generate significant physical stress, resulting in rapid health deterioration. This may demand emergency interventions and hospitalizations, putting additional strain on the patient and the healthcare system.
- Emotional and psychological impact: Chronic, untreated symptoms can cause serious emotional discomfort, such as anxiety and depression. These psychological concerns may aggravate physical symptoms, resulting in deterioration of health and well-being.
- Functional Decline: Symptoms such as pain and exhaustion can limit a patient's capacity to do daily tasks, resulting in a loss of independence and increased dependency on caregivers. This not only compromises the patient's mobility but also puts additional strain on carers.
- Social Isolation: Persistent symptoms might restrict a patient's social interactions and involvement in activities, resulting in loneliness and sadness, and such social isolation leads to poor mental health.
Also Read: Expert Debunks 5 Myths About Palliative Care
Final Word
A multidisciplinary team approach, which includes physicians, nurses, social workers, and mental health experts, ensures that all of a patient's needs are addressed. Despite the emphasis on symptom management, untreated symptoms in palliative care patients can progress to crises, resulting in serious medical, emotional, and social implications. Thus, individualised treatment plans that are customised to each patient's specific needs and preferences ensure efficient treatments. Also, ensuring access to essential medications, therapies, and support services is critical for maintaining good symptom control and avoiding crises.