COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. COPD is a long-term lung disease often found in long term smokers. COPD describes a number of different lung diseases: Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema are the most frequent diagnosis. Patients with COPD often have both of these diseases. Symptoms COPD include:
• Shortness of breath • Increased mucus and coughing.
Some people with COPD say it feels like they’re breathing through a straw. COPD can’t be cured, but it can be treated. With the right treatment, people with COPD can lead active lives and live for many years. People can learn strategies for living with COPD.
Symptoms:
Symptoms can be different for people different as the signs of asthma can vary. - Signs of Asthma can change over time or depending on the situation.
Signs of asthma can include:
• Being short of breath • Tightness in the Chest • Coughing • Wheezing
Breathing problems can be caused by various conditions. If you have these signs and symptoms, or if you think you might have asthma, see your doctor. It’s important for you to go to the doctor for a full investigation of your symptoms. Once your doctor has all the facts, they will be able to make a diagnosis. Then your condition can be properly treated.
COPD patients usually have a combination of these symptoms:
• Shortness of breath feeling • Barrel-shaped chest • Wheezing • Prone to lung infections (the flu, pneumonia, etc.) • Fatigue • Weight loss
People who already have COPD can have flare-ups (exacerbations) - times when their COPD gets a lot worse. Learn the warning signs of COPD flare-ups, and how to treat and prevent them. Some things can irritate your lungs and make your COPD symptoms worse. For example:
• Air pollution, smog • Second-hand smoke • Strong fumes, perfume, scented products
• Weather changes • Cold air or hot and humid air.
Asthma
Many people old and young suffer from this chronic (long-term) disease that can cause breathing difficulties. Asthma is not curable, it is however possible to manage your Asthma. With regular appropriate medication, an asthmatic can lead a full and normal active life. People with Asthma have extra sensitive airways (breathing passages). Your lungs can be irritated by some normal every day things. Swollen red air tubes- your airways get inflamed inside. They become sticky with more mucus than normal. This swelling and mucus combined makes breathing more difficult due to the increased resistance as the muscles in the airway contract. This restricts the amount of air you can breathe in at any one time making breathing more hard work.
Triggering factors:
Asthma can be triggered by • Dust mites - dust mites in home furniture rugs carpets, mattresses, pillows, carpet, and bedding. • Pollen - grasses, weeds, flowers, trees • Pets - animal secretions.
Treatments
How to manage your Asthma
You can prevent breathing problems by controlling your asthma.
1. Work with doctor to get your asthma under control
2. Follow your written asthma action plan
3. Avoid your asthma triggers: smoke, cold air, etc.
4. Avoid your asthma inducers: allergies, viruses, etc.
5. Use your asthma medications as prescribed
COPD can’t be cured, but it can be treated. Proper COPD treatment includes these steps:
• Quit smoking to slow down your COPD
• Take COPD medications to prevent and lessen symptoms
• Make changes to your lifestyle to stay healthy, and fight germs to prevent infections
• Join a respiratory rehabilitation program to learn how to breathe better and exercise
• Prevent and control your COPD flare-ups
• Work with your healthcare team.
For certain people with COPD, doctors* may also recommend surgery.
Nebulisers in treating Asthma / COPD
Many young children with Asthma and older COPD patients have difficulty coordinating their inhalation of drugs with their breathing. These patients find a constant aerosol Nebuliser easier to use;
• No breath inhalation coordination required
• Wide range of drugs can be nebulised including those not available in PMDI (puffers) or DPI devices
• High levels of drug delivered in short time in the case of an emergency due to an exasperation
• Easy to use, minimal training required to use a Nebuliser.
Nebulisers
Nebulisers are medical devices that deliver medicine as a vapor for people to inhale.
How to use a Nebuliser:
1. Find a location where you can sit comfortably for 10-15 minutes. Plug in the compressor.
2. It is very important to get specific written instructions if you are mixing your own nebulised treatments. Mix the medication as directed, or empty the prepared unit dose vials (UDVs) into the Nebuliser. Do not mix different types of medications without permission from your doctor or pharmacist.
3. Assemble the mask or mouthpiece and connect the tubing from this to the port on the compressor.
4. Sit in an upright position, making sure you are comfortable. Put the mask over your nose and mouth (make sure it fits properly so the mist doesn’t flow up into your eyes); or, if you are using a mouthpiece, put it into your mouth.
5. Turn on the compressor.
6. Take slow, deep breaths. If possible, hold your breath for 10 seconds before slowly exhaling.
7. Continue until the medication chamber is empty.
For further information please see instruction manual with product.
* Y Lacasse, L Brosseau, S Milne, S Martin, E Wong, GH Guyatt, RS Goldstein, White J. Pulmonary rehabilitation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2005 Issue 4.
