Which is a focus of palliative care?

Palliative care focuses primarily on symptom management to enhance the quality of life for individuals facing serious illnesses. This approach aims to alleviate pain and other distressing symptoms—be they physical, emotional, or spiritual—regardless of the stage of the disease or the need for other therapies. By specifically targeting symptom relief, palliative care enables patients to live as fully and comfortably as possible during their illness.

In contrast, curative treatment is geared toward eradicating the illness entirely, which is not the goal of palliative care. Strict dietary restrictions may be relevant to some patients, but they are not the primary focus of palliative care, which prioritizes comfort and quality of life over strict adherence to dietary rules. Preventive measures are also outside the scope of palliative care, as this specialty addresses the needs of patients who are already experiencing the challenges of an illness rather than preventing them. The essence of palliative care is its holistic approach, aimed at improving the overall well-being of patients through effective symptom management.