What else can I do?
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- Get immunised. Two immunisations are advised.
- A yearly 'flu jab' each autumn protects against possible chest damage from influenza.
- Immunisation against pneumococcus (a bug that can cause serious chest infections). This is a 'one off' injection and not yearly like the 'flu jab'.
- Keep fit. Studies have shown that people with COPD who exercise regularly tend to improve their breathing, ease symptoms, and have a better quality of life. Any regular exercise is good. A daily walk is a good start if you are not used to exercise.
- Lose weight if you are overweight. Carrying extra weight can make breathlessness worse.
In summary
- COPD is usually caused by smoking.
- Symptoms usually become worse if you continue to smoke.
- Symptoms are unlikely to get much worse if you stop smoking.
- Treatment with inhalers often eases symptoms, but no treatment can reverse the damage to the airways.
- A flare-up of symptoms, often during a chest infection, may be helped by a short course of steroid tablets and/or antibiotics.
Further help and information
British Lung Foundation? 73-75 Goswell Road, London EC1V 7ER?Tel (Helpline): 08458 50 50 20 Web: www.lunguk.orgReferences
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) NICE clinical guideline 2004
Prodigy Guidance COPD 2004
- D Price and M Duerden. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. BMJ 2003;326:1046-1047
- Managing stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin 2001;39:81-85
- Burge PS, Calverley PMA, Jones PW et al. Randomised, double blind, placebo controlled study of fluticasone propionate in patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: the ISOLDE trial. BMJ 2000;320:1297-1303
- Poole PJ and Black PN Oral mucolytic drugs for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: systematic review BMJ 2001;322:1271
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leah mepstead, about 1 year
am disabled too and cant walk very well how can i keep fit
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Daisy Pollard, 12 months
I'm a 77yr.old woman. Have never had a cigarette in my mouth even, but lived at home until early 20's and my father smoked 40 a day all his life(with chronic bronchitis and emphysema !). My sister has COPD too , but has never had a really bad attack. I had one in aug/sept 2008 when on holiday in Norway, and was rushed into hospital, where it was found I had almost no oxygen in my blood.(Very painful and very scary - the nurse couldn't tell me if I would recover!) I did, but back in England took a long time to feel well - I still get very breathless and can't walk far(spend a fortune on taxis!)What I want to know is - what about the weather? What to do in very cold weather, and very hot weather? Stay in, and keep warm (cool)?Also I have difficulty keeping my bungalow warm enough now in winter. Any advice, please? ZAXA
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