COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and affects people’s ability to breathe properly. It is a term used to describe a number of long-term lung conditions such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema that cause breathing difficulties. It is a long-term condition that tends to get progressively worse.
An estimated three million people in the UK have the condition, though most don’t know it, or that help is available.
The theme of this year's event is "Breathless not Helpless!". This communicates the positive message that effective treatments are available to help people who have been diagnosed with COPD feel better and live more active lives.
An information and public health promotion stand will be manned by the Respiratory Team at the hospital main reception on Friday 21 November, along with Breathe Easy, a charitable patient support group.
Visitors can learn about smoking (the major cause of COPD) cessation, get nutritional advice, test their lungs and have face-to-face discussions with respiratory specialists. Patients and members of the public are invited to come along for information and advice and find out more about inhalers and the Trust’s new non-invasive ventilation machines.
For people who have not been diagnosed with COPD, breathlessness is a signal that they should see their doctor and ask about a simple breathing test to check their lung function.
Mark Baverstock, Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Respiratory Medicine, said: “The Trust is using global awareness day to encourage people to see their doctor if they have symptoms, such as a frequent cough or shortness of breath. “
“COPD is a chronic condition which is often poorly understood by the public. It’s often associated with getting older, but if people visit their GP they can get advice and medication to combat it. If COPD is found early, there are steps you can take to prevent further lung damage and make you feel better.
“Smoking is the main cause of COPD. According to the British Thoracic Society it causes 95 percent of all COPD. About one in eight people who smoke one pack of cigarettes a day develop it; this rises to one in four people who smoke two packs a day.”
Milton Keynes Hospital provides care and an extensive range of treatments for respiratory conditions such as COPD. Earlier this year the department piloted an ‘early supported discharge’ project for patients with COPD, which reduced the length of stay for patients so that they could go home more quickly, but with extra support from Community Matrons. The system was fully launched in November. Patients essentially receive the same care, but their treatment is more concentrated and includes additional physiotherapy input.
Respiratory patients at Milton Keynes Hospital are also benefiting from even more machines that provide a new form of artificial breathing, which allows them to stay conscious on a general ward rather than being sedated in intensive care.
COPD symptoms
COPD progresses gradually, starting with either a "phlegmy" cough or breathlessness. Initially you may only get symptoms in the winter, and they are often disregarded as a "smokers cough", or winter bronchitis.Symptoms can include:
- gradual increase in breathlessness with physical exertion
- chronic cough (often the first symptom)
- regularly coughing up phlegm
- wheezing
- weight loss
