9:50pm Wednesday 11th November 2009
Next week is World COPD Day, which aims to raise awareness of the respiratory condition chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. COPD is one of the biggest killers in the UK – about 35,000 people die from the illness every year, yet very few people know what it is.
COPD is an umbrella term for a range of chronic lung conditions, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis. It causes breathlessness, a persistent cough and, if it progresses, can dramatically reduce a person’s quality of life.
The long-term condition most commonly affects the over 40s and is linked to, but is not exclusively caused by, smoking.
In South West Essex 6,104 people are recorded as having COPD – but a further 7,000 people could be living with the condition. One challenge for the NHS is raising awareness so people can recognise symptoms and go to their GP. Symptoms are breathlessness on exertion, a chronic cough, regular phlegm, frequent winter bronchitis or wheeziness.
After assessing their medical history and smoking history, and taking age into account, the GP is likely to check lung functionality using a simple breathing test.
To mark World COPD Day, NHS South West Essex is holding events in town centres to encourage people to think about their lung health. Nurses will offer simple breathing tests to assess people’s risk of respiratory conditions. There will also be workshops where people diagnosed with COPD and their carers can find out about how services are improving, and pulmonary rehabilitation – an exercise and education programme.
The sooner people are diagnosed, the better. COPD will inevitably progress if those who smoke do not stop. The use of medication may slow the progression of the condition and relieve symptoms, but there is no cure.
Because COPD can inhibit people’s ability to carry out everyday tasks, it can cause depression and anxiety. This is why it is important that, as a GP, I look at every aspect of a person’s condition.
With World COPD Day geared up to raising awareness, there are websites which can help.
For information, visit NHS Choices (www.nhs.uk) or the British Lung Foundation (www.lunguk.org), and for World COPD Day events, on November 18, visit www.swessex.nhs.uk
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