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This video, from the ACP Foundation, will teach you how to use an "egg style" powder inhaler.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease of the airways and lungs that usually occurs in cigarette smokers. People with COPD get short of breath. Damage to the lungs and symptoms slowly worsen over time. Spirometry is a breathing test that can diagnose COPD on the basis of a measurement called FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1 second), which estimates the amount of air that a person exhales in 1 second compared with that of a typical healthy person of the same age and size. A person with a FEV1 of 60% exhales about 60% the amount that a typical healthy person the same age and size exhales in 1 second.
Doctors treat COPD with drugs that widen the airways of the lungs (beta-agonist or anticholinergic drugs) and drugs that decrease inflammation (corticosteroids). These drugs come in inhalers that allow patients to breathe in the drugs. Oxygen therapy can help some people with COPD. Pulmonary rehabilitation, which involves patient education and exercise, is another COPD treatment.
An information guide for patients and their families. (NIH Publication No. 02-2701C, May 2002. NOTE: This document is in the public domain and is not under copyright.)
From the American College of Physicians (ACP)
Do you know anyone who feels short of breath almost all the time? Or who often coughs or wheezes and has trouble with activities of daily living? Those are common signs of COPD.
COPD is a lung condition consisting of emphysema and chronic bronchitis. It is the fourth leading cause of death in America. Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of COPD.
Fortunately, the outlook for people with this disease has been improving, thanks to more effective medical treatments coupled with lifestyle changes.
This guidebook and video program may help you and your loved ones understand COPD, work with your doctor to help manage it, and find the support you need.
From the American Lung Association
For people with lung disease, supplemental oxygen may be an essential part of their lives. Oxygen is a safe gas and is non-flammable, however, it supports combustion. Materials burn more readily in an oxygen enriched environment.
From the American Lung Association
When traveling, people with lung disease have extra considerations to take into account. People who regularly need supplemental oxygen, such as those with COPD, need to plan for mobility -- how to get from one place to another between refills. However, when traveling by plane, even people with lung disease who don't necessarily use oxygen at home may require in-flight oxygen because the air pressure in an airplane cabin is lower during flight than on the ground. Regardless, patients should be sure to talk with their physician before traveling.
From the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC)
You may already know there is no cure for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, it's important that you know there is hope. Much can be done to lessen the side effects and symptoms of the disease. You can lead active and rewarding lives by following the advice of your physician and by following some simple tips.
From the American Lung Association
These nonmedical hints and suggestions are intended to ease living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). They have been assembled from actual daily practice by members of the Respiratory Club, a support group for Pulmonary patients and their families, jointly sponsored by the American Lung Association of Connecticut and Gaylord Hospital in Willingford, Connecticut.
Enabling Tool
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