When someone has a life-limiting or terminal illness, palliative care is one solution that many families turn to. With nurses and other staff specially trained in holistic end-of-life care, professional palliative services can help you or your loved one live life as comfortably as possible during challenging times.
Because the management of symptoms is a top priority for individuals who are considering palliative care services, it can be helpful to understand the most common symptoms for these types of service providers to assist with. Keep in mind, serious and incurable diseases can vary widely. For example, cancer, heart and lung diseases, Alzheimer’s and dementia and motor-neuron diseases all show up differently. As such, it is normal for palliative care facilities to tend to a broad scope of symptoms such as these.
Table of Contents
Symptom #1: Pain
Although not everyone who receives palliative care suffers from ongoing pain, it is the most common symptom that palliative services provide relief for. Because people’s experiences with pain can significantly vary, palliative care providers use different approaches to reduce suffering. Often, pain management includes the use of medication such as analgesics, however, other therapies and self-management techniques are also common. Heat and cold therapies, as well as meditation, massage and hypnotherapy, are all examples.
Symptom #2: Nausea
When someone feels the urge to vomit or has a queasy stomach, these are the usual symptoms of nausea. In a palliative care environment, there are numerous conditions that may lead to this feeling. From medications, constipation, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy to bodily chemical imbalances, nausea is another one of the most common symptoms that individuals experience in palliative care. When it occurs, the employees at the care facility should take the appropriate steps to assess, monitor and respond to the situation.
Symptom #3: Breathlessness
Depending on why someone is receiving palliative care services, his or her breathing may also be problematic. When people are in palliative care and have conditions such as asthma, lung disease, emphysema, a chest infection or even anxiety, breathlessness is another common symptom. When clients experience breathlessness, it can lead to discomfort and distress. As such, palliative care professionals know how to respond by calming clients and maintaining a gentle, reassuring presence. If additional help such as an oxygen mask is necessary, these resources are also available.
Symptom #4: Fatigue
If you have ever noticed numerous individuals in a palliative care facility napping, there is a reason for that. Many people in palliative care experience excessive fatigue. As a symptom of both the mind and body, fatigue can appear as tiredness, weariness or an ongoing lack of energy. It can also have a significant impact on a person’s overall mood and ability to remain active. Causes can vary from poor sleeping, depression, low blood oxygen levels and numerous other reasons. In a palliative care setting, regular short naps, gentle exercise and nutritious dietary plans help relieve fatigue.
Symptom #5: Constipation
How often someone uses the restroom matters, especially when there is a terminal illness to consider. When someone does not have a bowel movement for several days or longer, constipation occurs. In palliative care, it is common for clients to experience this symptom as well. Often, constipation happens due to dehydration but poor diet, limited exercise, medication and other underlying diseases can also play a role. To prevent constipation, palliative care services work with clients to maintain a healthy diet that includes plenty of fluids and high-fibre foods. Regular exercise such as daily walks are also common.
Symptom #6: Delirium
In palliative cases that involve mental illnesses such as Alzheimer’s and dementia, delirium is a frequent symptom that end-of-life care providers encounter. Defined as a change to someone’s thinking, memory and behaviour, delirium can cause a person to become confused, express erratic mood swings, have difficulty remembering information or recognising people and experience hallucinations. Palliative care professionals have the training and experience to handle symptoms of delirium; however, it is important to keep in mind that reducing symptoms is the focus rather than completely resolving the underlying problem.
If you or someone you love is facing a life-limiting or terminal illness, palliative care professionals can offer help for numerous symptoms. While this list provides the most common symptoms, do not hesitate to ask about others if you are experiencing something different.
