COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. It is includes both Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis and is almost always caused by smoking. Some cases of COPD are caused by fumes, dust, air pollution and genetic disorders, but these causes are much rarer.
Usually the symptoms are breathlessness which gets progressively worse, and a productive cough with frequent chest infections. Many people put these symptoms down to the fact that they smoke, and don’t tell the doctor about it until the symptoms are already pretty bad. This is a pity because if you know what you are dealing with, you can do something about it earlier on before it really starts to effect your life.
The key aspects to managing COPD are stopping smoking and doing as much exercise as you can.
These 2 things will do more for you than any inhaler could do.
Stopping smoking will vastly reduce the speed in which your lung function is rapidly declining, back to the same of that of a non-smoker.
Exercise will greatly improve your lung function and increase your fitness levels, so that your muscles are using up less energy when they are used, and so require less oxygen. They will both make your breathing easier and make you feel better in general. See the COPD Exercises below and start doing them every day and after 2 weeks you will notice you can do more before getting as breathless as you normally do.
Struggling for breath is very unpleasant and so it is important to seek help to manage COPD. Through stopping smoking, doing exercise through Pulmonary rehabilitation classes, or any kind of exercise, and the use of inhalers, the symptoms of COPD can be greatly improved.
COPD Reviews
Sister Everett runs the COPD reviews and offers help, support and advice to keep you as well as possible.
Getting your flu jag every year is especially important when you have COPD because any respiratory illness on top of COPD could cause you to end up in hospital. The pneumonia jag is also important to reduce the chance of getting pneumonia. This is a one-off jag which gives protection for the rest of your life.
You should be contacted annually for a COPD review, and more often if you need it. However, if you notice time has passed and you haven’t had your review for a while, please contact us and we will give you an appointment.
Check out these websites for help and advice:
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease/Pages/Introduction.aspx
