COPD

What is COPD?

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a common, long-term condition & is mainly caused by smoking. The airways in your lungs become narrowed which causes breathlessness & other breathing difficulties. For more information click here => www.lunguk.org/copd.asp

How is it diagnosed?

The best way to confirm a diagnosis of COPD, however mild, is by spirometry. This test involves blowing into a special machine as hard & fast as you can. We perform this test at the surgery.
If your Doctor suggests this test you will be sent an appointment by the Respiratory Nurses along with a few guidelines about what to expect on the day. The test should take no longer than 45 minutes & is often quicker than this.

Asthma

Anyone can have asthma. It is a common condition where the airways are narrowed from time to time. It can occur at any age & the severity varies considerably both in adults & children. For more information click here => www.asthma.org.uk

Many triggers, can cause asthma. Not everyone is affected by the same ones, and most people can have a combination. For some reason your body reacts against various triggers, which are usually harmless – common examples are breathing in house dust mites, pollen & moulds, some perfumes and sprays. Some people are affected by exercise or breathing in cold air, or when air quality is poor. For others the cause is never found.

Symptoms may include coughing, wheezing & breathlessness although not always at the same time. The aim of treatment is to enable you to lead a normal & active life, free from symptoms, which may mean using one or more inhalers regularly.

The Respiratory Clinic

Attending the respiratory clinic for an annual check enables us to monitor your problems & make sure you are taking the correct dose of medication in the form of an inhaler that is easy & convenient for you to use. At each visit we will:

• Ask about any symptoms or worsening of your breathing.
• Measure your peak flow by asking you to blow into a simple instrument.
• Check your inhaler technique & make changes if necessary.
• Check the dose of medication & that you are taking it as prescribed. Sometimes we can add additional inhalers or tablets, or change your inhalers to help your breathing.
• Arrange to see you more frequently if needed, especially if we have changed your medication - we need to see that it is improving your symptoms.
• Measure the amount of oxygen in your blood with a simple device which fits over a finger.
• Check how easily you get out of breath in relation to exercise or exertion.
• Offer an annual flu jab & once only pneumonia jab if appropriate.
• Give you written information & a leaflet to take home as sometimes there seems to be a lot to remember!
• Encourage patients who still smoke to give up & refer to an advisor if needed.
• Answer any questions you may have.

If you have worsening COPD we can also refer you to the specialist team of COPD nurses at the hospital who can arrange to see you in your own home. We do this if your oxygen levels are lower than normal or if we feel they can give you extra help.

If you have asthma we will help to recognise when you need to alter your treatment yourself. It is important that you control your asthma rather than your asthma controlling you!