Other sources of information are:
http://www.patient.co.uk/health/chronic-obstructive-pulmonarydisease
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chronic-obstructive-pulmonarydisease/Pages/Introduction.aspx
Health Advice.
NHS Direct (England and Wales)
24 hours a day, 7 days a week – 0845 46 47
Emotional Support
Samaritans
24 hours a day, 7 days a week – 08457 90 90 90
No Panic
10am -10pm everyday - 0800 138 8889
Arthington Medical Centre
5 Moor Road
Leeds
LS10 2JJ
0113 3852180
(Fax) 0113 2700927
Web: www.arthingtonmedical.co.uk
COPD
Arthington Medical Centre
Nov 2013
COPD
COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
It is the name used to describe a number of conditions,
including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, where people
have difficulty breathing because of long-term damage to their
lungs.
COPD leads to damaged airways in the lungs, causing them to
become narrower and making it harder for air to get in and out
of the lungs. The word 'chronic' means that the problem is longterm.
The changes that occur in your lungs when you have COPD
may vary depending upon the exact nature of your disease. But
the final result is obstruction (blockage) of the airways (the
tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs).
Obstruction happens in the airways themselves, due to
inflammation and too much mucus or phlegm.
Damage can also happen to the small airways and air sacs in
your lungs. This leads to the lungs losing their stretchiness.
This loss results in a lack of support for the airways, which can
collapse, trapping air in the lungs when you breathe out.
COPD can affect every aspect of day-to-day life. You will
probably have to make a number of changes to your lifestyle.
There are some things you should cut out and some things you
should take up.
The biggest single cause of COPD is cigarette smoking. Once
you give up smoking, you gradually reduce your chances of
getting COPD - and you slow down its progress if you already
have it.
Arthington Medical Centre
Nov 2013
Typically, COPD affects people over the age of 35 who are, or
who have been, heavy smokers. It can also result from chronic
severe asthma. There are other causes, but they are rare:
Symptoms of COPD vary, depending on how bad it is, and how
people have adapted to their problems. Symptoms include:
 long-term, chesty cough
 wheeze
 phlegm
 breathlessness
 anxiety and sometimes depression
In mild cases, symptoms like a cough, phlegm and shortness of
breath may only be present during the winter or after a cold.
In more severe cases, you may be short of breath every day.
With more severe COPD, because of breathlessness, normal
activities can become more difficult.
Some hospitals run pulmonary rehabilitation courses. These
programmes involve exercise and education. Pulmonary
rehabilitation improves your exercise performance, your health
and your quality of life.
Your doctor/nurse can tell you more.
British Lung Foundation Helpline
03000 030 555
Lines are open Monday to Friday from 10am to 6pm.
Email BLF at helpline@blf.org.uk