Top tips for living well with COPD

Most of us will know someone affected by COPD. According to NHS England, there are around 900,000 people in the UK with the condition and a further two million are living undiagnosed.

Living with COPD is no easy feat. Many struggle with difficult symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, phlegm, fatigue and frequent chest infections. And these symptoms are often worse in winter; people with COPD will have regular flare-ups during the colder months which can often lead to a stay in hospital.

The damage to the lungs caused by COPD cannot be reversed. Instead, treatment aims to slow down the progression of the disease and alleviate the symptoms. In addition to medications, there are lots of things someone with COPD can do to help make living with the condition easier.

Vanessa Holmes is a Highly Specialist Respiratory Physiotherapist, helping people with COPD maintain a good quality of life. Here are Vanessa’s top five tips for living well with COPD.

1. Stop smoking
If you smoke, the best way to prevent COPD from getting worse is to stop smoking, to avoid further damage to your lungs. Research has shown that you are up to four times more likely to give up smoking successfully if you use NHS support. Talk to your GP or visit NHS Smokefree.

2. Get vaccinated
Make sure you get vaccinated against flu and pneumonia to avoid getting infections in the winter. The pneumonia vaccination is given just once but you should have a flu vaccination every year.

3. Keep taking your medicine
Take your medicine as instructed by your doctor even if you start to feel better; taking medication continuously can help to prevent flare-ups. You should also visit your GP at least twice a year for a check-up. Talk about your medicines at each visit and, if you’re not sure how to use your inhaler, ask.
 
4. Plan ahead
It’s important you know what to do if your breathing suddenly worsens. Make sure you have telephone numbers handy and information all in one place so you can act fast if you become unwell. If you need an ambulance, make sure you tell the emergency staff that you have COPD.

5. Exercise
Exercising or keeping active helps to improve breathing and lessen symptoms. If you have COPD, you may be eligible for a pulmonary rehab programme which can help you to become more active and manage your condition. Ask your GP, nurse or consultant about being referred.

Need more information? Come along to our COPD awareness stand on 18 November at Mansfield Community Hospital to find out more about COPD and the support that is available in Nottinghamshire.

The British Lung Foundation also has lots of information online about living with COPD.

World COPD Day: Peter's Story

Peter Burrows was 65 when he was diagnosed with COPD, a lung disease where the airways become narrow, making it hard to breathe. There’s no cure. Instead, treatment aims to slow down the disease and ease symptoms.

As part of World COPD Day on 18 November, Peter is sharing his story to encourage others with the condition to access local support and begin living well with COPD.

“Unless you’ve got COPD it’s hard to understand what it’s like to live with" explains Peter. "When I was first diagnosed, it hit me. I didn’t know what to think.”

Shortly after his diagnosis, Peter’s GP referred him to a pulmonary rehab clinic, run by the Trust, and Peter says since then he hasn’t looked back.

“Talking to others with COPD [at the clinic] helped me to adjust and come to terms with my condition. I decided I wasn’t going to let it beat me.

“Pulmonary rehab is all about helping you to take control of your condition. And it works - I’m living proof! We were shown how to control our breathing, how to manage a flare-up. We were given information about medication, taught how to recognise our symptoms, and how to use our inhalers. I learnt why I should exercise and how. Understanding your condition can make such a big difference to your life.”

In addition to volunteering with the Trust’s Respiratory Service, Peter is also treasurer for his local Breathe Easy group, supported by the British Lung Foundation.

“It’s somewhere sociable to go. You’re amongst people with a similar condition. You can talk to each other. And it’s surprising what you pick up and learn.

“I’m not saying it’s easy; there’s no magic pill. You’ve got to do it yourself. But, you get out what you put in. Be positive. I still go caravanning. I enjoy photography. I play with my grandchildren. I just take it a bit slower now. The nurses in Mansfield and Ashfield, I think, are some of the best in the country; they’re supportive in every way.

“I want people to know they can live with COPD. I’m doing it, they can too!”

Specialist nurses are holding a COPD Awareness Stand on Wednesday 18 November at Mansfield Community Hospital. Drop in from 9am - 1pm. Hear from people with COPD; understand what COPD is and its impact; learn ways to live with COPD; and discover local support for people with COPD.

The Trust’s Respiratory / COPD teams operate across Nottinghamshire, helping patients to manage their condition, through exercise and education. Referrals can be made via GP, nurse or consultant. For more information visit Nottinghamshire Healthcare.