Introduction - Lung Foundation

Better Living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease A Patient Guide
Better Living with
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
A Patient Guide
Second Edition
November 2012
Queensland Health
©The State of Queensland (Queensland Health) and The Australian Lung Foundation 2012
a

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
b
Chapter 5: Your role in managing your chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

chapter
1
Better Living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease A Patient Guide
Introduction
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an umbrella term for a group of disorders that cause
obstruction of airfl ow in the breathing tubes or airways of the lungs. When the condition occurs it is
chronic (long term) in nature, and therefore the airfl ow obstruction is usually permanent or ‘irreversible’.
C – chronic – long term
O – obstructive – partly blocked
P – pulmonary – the lungs
D – disease – or illness
These conditions commonly include chronic bronchitis,
emphysema and chronic asthma. The Australian Lung
Foundation estimates that one in seven Australians
over 40 years of age has COPD. Alarmingly at least
50% of those people do not know they have COPD,
and, therefore are not taking the important steps to
control their symptoms and slow down the progress
of this disabling condition.
Breathlessness, a key symptom of COPD, creeps up
on people slowly. As symptoms begin people may
not be able to run to catch the train or play with
young children. However, breathlessness can worsen
to a stage where everyday tasks, such as hanging
out the washing or walking to get the mail, become
more and more diffi cult.
If you have COPD, the good news is that there are
steps you can take to control the symptoms of COPD
and slow down the ongoing damage to your lungs.
Better Living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
Disease A Patient Guide outlines the important
steps that will make you feel better, such as:
Quitting smoking.
Understanding your medications.
Enrolling in a pulmonary rehabilitation program.
Maintaining a healthy diet.
Developing an Action Plan.
Joining a support group.
Discussing immunisation with your doctor.
Better Living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
Disease A Patient Guide has been written specifically
for people with COPD. However, there are many
chronic lung conditions for which the principles and
advice written in these pages will apply.
For more information about this Patient Guide
and how to use it, contact The Australian Lung
Foundation (phone: 1800 654 301 or website:
www.lungfoundation.com.au) or speak to your
doctor, nurse or pulmonary rehabilitation coordinator.
1 Chapter 1: Introduction