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 Winter Help For Patients With Lung ProblemsNHS Kent and Medway is helping people with lung disease to take control of their condition this winter... All Areas
NHS Kent and Medway is helping people with lung disease to take control of their condition this winter.
Cold air can significantly increase the symptoms of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), a lung condition which causes breathlessness and persistent coughing and can reduce a person’s ability to carry out everyday activities. The disease affects more than 9,000 people in west Kent.
People affected by COPD can learn to self-care and better manage their condition with pulmonary rehabilitation sessions, which are available across west Kent.
Pulmonary rehabilitation involves attending 14 two-hour sessions over seven weeks, which combine gentle physical exercise with education on topics such as breathing control, stress management and nutrition.
Retired furniture maker Dougie Croker, 65, from Swanley, has been living with COPD for nearly two years. He said:
“Overnight I started to get symptoms and I thought it was a bad cold. I was a smoker for many years, but gave up 15 years ago. I think my COPD is partly to do with MDF dust from when I was a furniture maker.
“Before I went on the pulmonary rehabilitation course I was in A&E three times a year. If I’d known then what I know now, I wouldn’t have gone to A&E. I now understand the condition and what happens when I get exacerbations, what I need to do and what medicines to take.
“The course gave me the information I needed about why I was having these problems and what I could do to help myself, like how to use my inhaler properly. The course takes away all the worry and anxiety of when you start to feel unwell. It helps you understand that it’s not life-threatening and if you do what you’ve been taught, you realise it’s not a serious situation and you learn to recognise the signs. I have not had any serious problems since I did this course and I’m confident that I won’t end up back in A&E.”
Dr Andrew Roxburgh, Respiratory Clinical Lead for west Kent, said: “I am pleased that our COPD patients in west Kent have good access to this vital service. It empowers them to manage their condition, improves their respiratory health and helps keep them out of hospital.”
Patients should speak to their GP or practice nurse to find out if they are eligible for pulmonary rehabilitation, which is usually if they feel persistent breathlessness or are admitted to hospital because of their COPD.
Other top tips to control the symptoms of COPD during the winter months include: - Exercise indoors – exercise is important for COPD patients, but the cold weather can make it uncomfortable or even impossible
- Have your flu jab – COPD patients are at risk of serious side effects if they catch flu. They can have a free vaccine at their GP surgery
- Wear a scarf and breathe through your nose – covering your nose and mouth with a scarf and breathing through your nose warms the air before it reaches airways, preventing shortness of breath
- Don’t smoke – smoking combined with cold air can increase breathlessness significantly and cause long-term damage. For stop smoking help visit www.smokefreewestkent.co.uk, call 01622 723836 or email smoking.westkent@nhs.net
- Avoid woodburning stoves or fireplaces – the smoke can irritate the airways, so keep warm with an electric heater instead
- Visit your local pharmacist or call NHS Direct – they can give support and advice on medication use and answer any questions or concerns about your condition. Contact NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 or visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
Find out more about COPD at www.lunguk.org.
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