Grey Power March 2018

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NZ GREYPOWER MAGAZINE » MARCH 2018
Demystifying
COPD
Teresa Demetriou helps de-mystify
COPD and provides some timely
advice on how to live life to the
fullest with the condition. COPD is
the fourth most common cause of
death in New Zealand.
COPD stands for
Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary Disease.
It’s an umbrella term for
the disease emphysema,
chronic bronchitis and
chronic asthma. COPD
affects hundreds of thousands
of New Zealanders,
yet most have never heard
of it.
If you have COPD it
means the breathing passages
(airways) in your
lungs are blocked and
your lung tissue is damaged.
This causes difficulty
breathing or catching your
breath and can make it
harder to enjoy everyday
activities.
If you are worried about
your breathing, what are
the symptoms of COPD
and what should you do?
Unfortunately in the early
stages of COPD, while the
lungs are being damaged,
there are often no obvious
symptoms.
When you start to experience
symptoms it means
that damage has already
occurred.
This damage can’t be
reversed. Symptoms of
COPD can include shortness
of breath, difficulty
breathing especially with
Safe mobile
lifestyle
Teresa Demetriou
exercise, a cough, presence
of phlegm, winter
bronchitis and wheezing.
COPD can be mild, moderate
or severe depending
on how badly damaged
your lungs are.
What causes COPD,
who is at most risk? Smoking
is the most common
cause of COPD and it develops
over a number of
years as your lungs are increasingly
damaged.
It doesn’t usually become
noticeable until after
the age of 40.
Some people can develop
COPD from being
exposed to air pollution,
dust or chemicals.
This includes being
exposed to second-hand
smoke for long periods.
There is also an inherited
condition called alpha1-
antitrypsin deficiency
which causes COPD in
some people.
It’s a common disease
in New Zealand and it’s
estimated that 15 percent
of adults over the age of 40
suffer from COPD.
Even though a large
proportion of COPD
deaths are unreported,
COPD is still the fourth
most common cause of
death in New Zealand and
the third most common
cause of death in the Maori
population.
There is no cure, so
treatment focuses on relieving
symptoms you may
experience through medication
and making sure
you maintain as good a
quality of life.
Stopping smoking is
the most important step
you can take if you are a
smoker.
As we head into autumn,
it’s really important
that sufferers get vaccinated
against the flu.
Every year here in New
Zealand the flu vaccination
is free between March
and June for people with
COPD.
You just need to ask
your nurse or doctor.
Other things people
can do to make themselves
feel better is regular
physical activity, having a
good diet, saving energy
if you find you are getting
tired, developing a COPD
management plan alongside
a health professional,
minimising or dealing with
stress effectively and having
support from family
and friends.
Alongside having an
emergency plan just in
case; having your medication
/ inhaler close to
hand, emergency contacts
and leaving your phone
and charger close by.
Every year
here in New
Zealand the flu
vaccination is
free between
March and June
for people with
COPD. You just
need to ask
your nurse or
doctor.
Being diagnosed with
COPD will inevitably
change your life. But by
taking some steps to make
your day-to-day activities
a little easier, you can
avoid some of the frustration
and discomfort that
often comes after a COPD
diagnosis and continue to
enjoy life with your family
and friends.
For further information
please visit
asthmaandrespiratory.
org.nz or phone the Asthma
and Respiratory Foundation
NZ on 04 499 4592.
Teresa Demetriou is responsible
for the Asthma
and Respiratory Foundation
NZ’s education and
research portfolio.
A registered nurse, her
many years of primary
health experience and understanding
of respiratory
nurse practice inform
her evidence-based approach
to disseminating
information, resources,
knowledge and skills.
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