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Palliative medicine physicians are subspecialists who help people living with serious illness improve the quality of their lives through assistance with symptom management, emotional and spiritual support, and patient advocacy. Serious illness can make controlling symptoms like pain, nausea, shortness of breath, or fatigue more challenging because medications may work differently or have different side effects in this setting. Symptoms themselves can also be more complex when serious illness is present. Palliative medicine experts can also help you determine your goals and work with your healthcare team to create the best care plan specifically for you.
Some examples of serious conditions include:
- Heart disease, such as valve dysfunction, CHF, or heart attack
- Lung disease, such as COPD or emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis, or cystic fibrosis
- Cancer at any stage
- Liver disease such as cirrhosis
- Dementia
- Neurologic disease, such as Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, ALS, Parkinson's disease, or stroke
- AIDS
Symptom management to help you live and fight better
