Health Management Center
Are You At Risk?
Are you:
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Over 40?
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A smoker (or exposed to years of second-hand smoke)?
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Exposed to dusts or chemicals at work for a long period of time?
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Coughing nearly every day, for months at a time?
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Producing phlegm when you cough?
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Feeling out of breath, especially with routine physical activity like climbing
stairs?
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Getting lung infections, like bronchitis or pneumonia, more than once a year?
If you checked “yes” to two or more of these questions, then you may be at risk
for developing COPD.
What is COPD?
Your doctor may have told you that you have COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
Disease). Or you may have been told you have Emphysema or Chronic Bronchitis.
Chronic means it won’t go away
Obstructive means your airways are partly blocked
Pulmonary means in the lungs
Disease means sickness
COPD is actually made up of two lung problems:
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Chronic bronchitis which is when the walls of the airways are always swollen.
They also get blocked up with extra mucus. Less air gets in.
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Emphysema is when the tiny air sacs in your lungs have been damaged. This
causes air to be trapped inside so your body gets less oxygen.
You may feel:
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shortness of breath
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A chronic cough
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An increase or change in mucus production
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Very tired
What is the BREATHE-COPD program?
The BREATHE – COPD program is designed to help you understand your condition
and feel better. Registered nurse case managers provide support through regular
telephone contact and educational mailings on topics related to COPD.
Your Nurse Case Manager can help you with:
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setting up a quit plan if you smoke
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learning what you can do to prevent
respiratory infections and flare ups
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identifying your triggers (things that make your symptoms worse)
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taking steps to reduce your exposure to triggers
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knowing what to discuss with your doctor
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understanding how to take your medications and why your doctor prescribed them
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learning more about breathing and relaxation techniques
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knowing where to find emotional support
How to breathe easier and feel better
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If you’ve been diagnosed with COPD or you have any of the symptoms described,
ask your doctor about a breathing test to measure how well your lungs move air
in and out. This test is called
“spirometry”.
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After you take this test, ask your doctor if you have mild, moderate or severe
COPD and what that means.
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If you smoke, STOP. This is the single most important action you can take to
prevent further damage to your lungs. Call us and we can help you with
quitting.
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Take
your medicines
exactly the way your doctor prescribed.
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Get your flu shot every year.
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See your doctor regularly. Ask your doctor how often you should be scheduling
your office visits.
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Avoid things
that make your symptoms worse
like air pollution, fumes, smoke, overeating and stress.
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Ask your doctor about an exercise routine that works for you.
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Eat a balanced
diet
and get enough rest.
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Learn more about breathing and
relaxation techniques.
Contact Us For Support
Thanks to our Health Management Programs, members are not alone while facing
the challenges of living with a chronic condition.
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Additional Resources
American Lung Association
National Jewish Medical and Research Center
National Lung Health Education Program
GOLD – The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease
American Thoracic Society
