Preserving the Present State of Health
The informants tried to maintain the illness stable by thoroughly complying with the prescription of oxygen and
medication and by avoiding smoking. “No, I’m going to take care of myself and try to eat and not to smoke, take
my medicine, take care of myself” (03). Another important strategy was to be spared from infections that led to
more difficulties in breathing. They were vaccinated to escape influenza and some did not shake hands when
greeting people. The weather was considered to be of vital importance when it came to the risk of infection.
“Then I have to stay inside when it’s rainy and so on, then I don’t go out at all. Then I catch a cold and then it
gets very troublesome. You learn to be observant of that” (04).
Due to fear of becoming sedentary or confined to bed, it was considered important to keep the body going.
Within the limits of the physical ability, they forced themselves to perform activities such as a daily walk:
“Cause we have a couple of garbage containers here and I force myself to go there, so I don’t throw everything
at one time so I bring a little every now and then. Every day, consistently” (01). A few informants took part in
weekly rehabilitation gymnastics. “But it’s very, very important to go there. Because you can’t sit in a chair the
whole day. In my condition, it doesn’t work” (05).