Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency - Living With - Living With

Regular follow-up care is important to help you manage your health.

• Talk with your doctor about how often you should schedule medical visits. You may need regular pulmonary (lung) function tests or imaging tests to monitor your condition.
• Get flu and pneumococcal vaccines to protect you from illnesses that may worsen your condition.
• Take all your medicines as prescribed and follow your treatment plan.
• If you have a lung infection, get treatment right away. You also should get treatment right away for any breathing problems.

If you have COPD, your doctor may recommend regular monitoring for heart disease, asthma, depression, and diabetes. COPD can increase your risk for these conditions or make them worse.

Your doctor may talk to you about making healthy lifestyle changes, which can help you function at your best.

• Quit smoking. If you smoke, quit. If you do not smoke, do not start. Smoking is the leading risk factor for life-threatening lung disease if you have AAT deficiency. Visit Smoking and Your Heart and the NHLBI’s Your Guide to a Healthy Heart. These resources include basic information about how to quit smoking. For free help and support to quit smoking, you can call the National Cancer Institute’s Smoking Quitline at 1-877-44U-QUIT (1-877-448-7848).
• Avoid secondhand smoke and other lung irritants, such as dust, fumes, or toxins. Check your living and working spaces for things that may irritate your lungs. Examples include flower and tree pollen, ash, allergens, air pollution, wood burning stoves, paint fumes, and fumes from cleaning products and other household items.
• Choose healthy foods. Choose vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fat-free or low-fat dairy products, fish, lean meats, poultry, eggs, nuts, seeds, soy products, legumes, and vegetable oils (except coconut and palm oils). Also, limit sodium (salt), saturated and trans fats, added sugars, and alcohol. Talk with your doctor about whether it's safe for you to drink alcohol. For more information about healthy eating, go to NHLBI’s Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan.
• Get regular physical activity. Talk with your doctor about how much and what types of activity are safe for you. For more information about physical activity, go to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans or our Physical Activity and Your Heart Health Topic.
• Manage stress. Learning how to manage stress, relax, and cope with problems can improve your emotional and physical health. Relaxation techniques—such as meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, and muscle relaxation—can help you cope with stress.
• Get enough good quality sleep. The recommended amount for adults is 7 to 9 hours of sleep a day.

Living with AAT deficiency may cause fear, anxiety, depression, and stress. Talk about how you feel with your healthcare team. Talking to a professional counselor also can help. Your doctor may also talk to you about:

• Taking medicines or undergoing other treatments that can improve your quality of life
• Joining a patient support group, which may help you adjust to living with AAT deficiency. You can see how other people have managed their condition, as well as similar symptoms. Talk with your doctor about local support groups or check with an area medical center.
• Seeking support from family and friends, which may help relieve stress and anxiety. Let your loved ones know how you feel and what they can do to help you.