Better Living with COPD - Australian Lung Foundation

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Chapter 5: Your role in managing your chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Better Living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease A Patient Guide Better Living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease A Patient Guide is a joint project of the Statewide COPD Respiratory Network, Clinical Practice Improvement Centre, Queensland Health and The Australian Lung Foundation, COPD National Program. This work is copyright and copyright ownership is shared between the State of Queensland (Queensland Health) and The Australian Lung Foundation 2012. It may be reproduced in whole or in part for study, education or clinical purposes subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgement of the source. It may not be reproduced for commercial use or sale. Reproduction for purposes other than those indicated above requires written permission from both Queensland Health and The Australian Lung Foundation. © The State of Queensland (Queensland Health) and The Australian Lung Foundation 2012. For further information contact Statewide Respiratory Clinical Network, Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Service, e-mail: PSQ@health.qld.gov.au or phone: (07) 36369505 and The Australian Lung Foundation, e-mail: enquiries@lungfoundation.com.au or phone: 1800 654 301. For permissions beyond the scope of this licence contact: Intellectual Property Offi cer, Queensland Health, email: ip_offi cer@health.qld.gov.au or phone (07) 3234 1479. To order resources or to provide feedback please email: enquiries@lungfoundation.com.au or phone 1800 654 301. Queensland Health Statewide Respiratory Clinical Network and The Australian Lung Foundation, COPD National Program – Better Living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease A Patient Guide, 2012. ISBN 978-0-9872272-0-1
Better Living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease A Patient Guide chapter Preventing and managing a fl are up This chapter will help you to understand: What an exacerbation or fl are up is. How to monitor your symptoms and avoid having a fl are up. What to do when you become sick. How to develop and use a written COPD Action Plan to manage a fl are up. What is an exacerbation or fl are up? All people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at risk of having an exacerbation or fl are up. A fl are up is what happens when your COPD gets worse. Flare ups can become serious and you may even need to go to hospital. It is important for you to understand how to avoid having a fl are up, what the signs and symptoms of a fl are up are, and how you can minimise their impact. Some of the typical signs and symptoms of a fl are up are one or more of the following: More wheezy or breathless than usual. More coughing. More sputum than usual. A change of colour in your sputum. Loss of appetite or sleep. Less energy for your usual activities. Taking more of your reliever medication than normal. COPD Action Plans aim to help you recognise a fl are up earlier and provide instructions on how to act to reduce the severity and duration of your illness. How can you monitor your symptoms and avoid having a fl are up? There are several possible triggers that can cause a fl are up. Some people are particularly susceptible to certain ones. These triggers include: Respiratory infections, such as a cold or the fl u. Smoke. Pollutants such as dust, wood smoke or smog. Other unknown causes account for about one third of all fl are ups. There are things you can do to avoid getting a fl are up: Develop a written COPD Action Plan with your doctor and know how to use it (see page 38). Learn what the triggers are that make your COPD worse and how to avoid them. • Stay inside on particularly cold or hot days if possible. • Avoid second hand smoke. • Avoid strong cleaning products or strong perfume. Make sure you get the fl u vaccination every autumn. Make sure that you are vaccinated to protect you from pneumonia (see page 93 for details). Take your medications regularly and as prescribed by your doctor. ©The State of Queensland (Queensland Health) and The Australian Lung Foundation 2012 9 36
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Better Living with COPD - Australian Lung Foundation

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