Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Video Series

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Welcome to Allergy & Asthma Network’s Patient Learning Pathway program called COPD 101.  Our Patient Learning Pathways series was designed to provide you with the information that you need to make decisions about your health care.

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Today we’re talking about COPD.  COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

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Most people with COPD experience one or more of the following symptoms:

Shortness of breath, frequent coughing (with or without mucus), increased breathlessness, wheezing

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chest tightness, frequent colds, nose & throat infections and fatigue.

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There are two disease that make up COPD.

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One is Emphysema.  In emphysema air sacs & small airways in the lungs are damaged & lose their elasticity.  Air becomes trapped in these air sacs and it becomes difficult to breathe in and out.

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The other is Chronic Bronchitis.  In this form of COPD, airways become swollen and inflamed and produce large amounts of mucus.  The airway narrows or closes making breathing difficult.  People with this form of COPD also have a higher risk of infections.

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Most people develop COPD after the age of 40.

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COPD usually develops following years of exposure to something that irritates the lungs, including cigarette smoke, air pollution or workplace fumes.

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If you smoke and have COPD – STOP!  It’s the single most important thing you can do.

Quitting smoking is not easy and help is often needed.

But it is important to note that 30% of people with COPD never smoked.

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When asthma meets COPD – it’s called ACO, or Asthma-COPD Overlap.

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Asthma doesn’t necessarily lead to COPD, but people with damaged lungs from poorly controlled asthma and continued exposure to irritants are at increased risk of COPD.

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How can you know if you have COPD?  See your healthcare provider.  COPD can be diagnosed through your health history, a physical examination and pulmonary testing.

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COPD treatment cannot repair the damage to the lungs. However, it can reduce the risk of flares and help you breathe better!  People live for many years with COPD.

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Get to know the COPD Patient Charter of Patient Principles to get the care you deserve.

1. I deserve to have timely access to diagnostic tools and a rapid diagnosis with recognition of symptoms

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2. I deserve to understand what having COPD means for me and how the disease may progress

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3. I deserve access to the best available evidence-based, personalised treatment, to ensure I can live as well and as long as possible

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4. I deserve an urgent review of my current management plan if I experience an ‘exacerbation’, to prevent further exacerbations and disease progression

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5. I deserve access to specialist care when needed (whether provided in hospital or in the community) to manage my COPD, irrespective of where I live.

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6. I deserve to live with COPD freely while maximizing quality of life without stigma or guilt.

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With quality care, people with COPD can lead a full life!

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Join us for another Patient Learning Pathways presentation. Allergy & Asthma Network is working every day to end the needless death and suffering due to asthma, allergies and related conditions through outreach, education, advocacy and research.

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Welcome to Allergy & Asthma Network’s Patient Learning Pathway.  Today we’ll be talking about managing COPD. It’s important to take care of yourself and stay healthy – especially with COPD.

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COPD is a long-term disease that doesn’t go away and usually gets worse over time.

That’s why it is important for you to seek out a health-care provider who can work with you to improve your breathing.

Don’t let COPD hold you back!

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Most people who have COPD have smoked at one time or another, although 30% of people with COPD have never smoked.  It’s well known that smoking irritates and damages your lungs over time.

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If you’re smoking and concerned about COPD – you need to QUIT SMOKING.  It’s the single most important thing you can do to slow the rate of lung function decline no matter how severe your COPD is.

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You may need help to quit smoking.  Your doctor can help with medicines and smoking cessation programs.

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There are two important parts of managing your COPD.  First, you need to stay well and you need to learn how to avoid COPD flares.

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On way to stay well is to work to avoid lung infections like bronchitis & pneumonia that are caused by viruses & bacteria.  One of the best ways to do this is to wash your hands.

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You should also do what you can to avoid getting sick and that includes getting a flu shot and a pneumonia vaccine.

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You can also build your lung capacity through harmonica or singing programs.  Talk to your doctor about pulmonary rehabilitation programs that may be available.

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When it comes to avoiding COPD flares, try not to be around people who are sick.  You should socially distance by staying 6 feet or more away from others and wear a mask as needed.

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You can also avoid COPD flares by practicing healthy habits.  Eat a balanced diet and exercise.  Get enough sleep and control your stress and anxiety.  Take a whole-body approach to being well.

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It’s also important to take your medications as directed by your healthcare provider.  Some medications should be taken every day – even when you’re feeling well.

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There are several tools that can help in the management of COPD.

Nebulizers are electric or battery-operated devices that turns liquid medicine into a fine mist that can be inhaled via a mouthpiece or face mask.

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Some people benefit from oxygen therapy. Extra oxygen is administered to improve breathing.  There are many different types of devices are available, including portable units.

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Pulmonary Rehabilitation is a whole-body approach to care that includes COPD education, exercise, nutrition, and more. A program like this can shorten hospital stays and improve participation in daily activities.

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Thank you for joining us today to talk about COPD Mangement! Join us for another Patient Learning Pathways presentation. Allergy & Asthma Network is working every day to end the needless death and suffering due to asthma, allergies and related conditions through outreach, education, advocacy and research. 

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Welcome to Allergy & Asthma Network’s Patient Learning Pathway.  Today we’ll be talking about medications for COPD.

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Understanding your medications can be a big help as you manage your COPD.

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There are a lot of medications available and different medications do different things.  Some medications reduce inflammation

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Some relieve coughing and wheezing and some reduce infections. 

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COPD medications, used correctly, can improve your life and make your symptoms easier to live with!

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There are many different kinds of medications that can be used in the care of COPD. Many of these medications are appropriate for the treatment of asthma, but approximately a third of them are used for the care of COPD. 

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The first category of medications that we’ll look at are the inhaled short-acting bronchodilators.   These medications relax the muscles around the tubes in your airway and will help relieve your symptoms of cough, wheezing and shortness of breath.  It’s important to use this at the first sign of symptoms.  This medicine will provide you with immediate relief for several hours.

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Inhaled corticosteroids should be taken daily as prescribed whether you think you need it or not.  You won’t have any immediate sensation that the medication is working, but you will see a gradual improvement in symptoms.

After taking an ICS medication, be sure to rinse your mouth with water to prevent irritation.

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It’s important to not use this medication more frequently than it is prescribed and be sure to tell your doctor if using more than one type of corticosteroid medication, such as nasal sprays, eye drops, skin creams or pills.

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Long-acting muscarinic agents help to expand your airways and helps you to breathe more easily – they help relieve that feeling of breathlessness.  They are often paired with another medication called a long-acting beta agonist.

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There are many inhaled combination medications. These combine more than one kind of medicine to help control symptoms.

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Combination medications may include an inhaled corticosteroid with a long acting bronchodilator in one device to treat underlying airway inflammation as well as reduce bronchospasm. Or a long-acting muscarinic agonist may be used. 

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Oral corticosteroids reduce the amount of mucus in your airway ad is usually prescribed to treat a COPD flare and prevent your symptoms from getting worse.  Oral corticosteroids may interact with other drugs that you’re taking – be sure you discuss all of the medications you’re taking with your doctor.

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There are quite a few side effects with oral corticosteroids and can include, cataracts (clouding of the lens of the eye), weight gain, high blood sugar – this medication can trigger or worsen diabetes.  When taking this, you are at increased risk of infection, thinning bones and fractures, thin skin, bruising and slower wound healing than usual. Oral corticosteroids are also well known for mood swings, depression and aggressive behavior.

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PDE-4 Inhibitors are approved for use in COPD as well as chronic bronchitis.  This will relax your airways and reduce any swelling in those airways.

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Since infections can worsen the symptoms of COPD, it’s important to treat an infection right away.  People with COPD can be prone to acute bronchitis or pneumonia, and antibiotics can help recover from infections and make it easier to breathe.

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It is very important that you learn how to take your medications correctly.

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70% of people don’t use their inhalers correctly.  If you are given an inhaler ask for a demonstration on how to use it. There are videos on our website at allergyasthmanetwork.org that can show you how to use most inhalers and medications.

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When your doctor is giving you instructions about medications, write the instructions down if needed.  If you have questions after leaving the office, your pharmacist is a great resource for answers and help.

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Join us for another Patient Learning Pathways presentation. Allergy & Asthma Network is working every day to end the needless death and suffering due to asthma, allergies and related conditions through outreach, education, advocacy and research.