gold patientguide 2012

7/21/2019 GOLD PatientGuide 2012

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What You Can DoAbout a Lung DiseaseCalled COPD

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Adults may have COPD if they have troublebreathing or a cough that will not go away


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Doctors cannot cure COPD, but they can help to improveyour symptoms and slow the damage to your lungs.

When you follow the instructions of your doctor,You will feel less short of breath.You will cough less.You will get stronger and get around better.You will be in a better mood.

COPD stands forChronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

The word Ch%#"ic means it wont go away.The word Ob&'%(c'i)e means partly blocked.The word P(!#"a%means in the lungs.

The word Di&ea&e means sickness


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1. Stop smoking.

2. Take each medicine the waythe doctor says to take it. Goto the doctor at least twotimes a year for checkups.Ask if you can get a flu shot.

3. Go to the hospital ordoctor right away if yourbreathing gets bad.

4. Keep the air clean at home.Stay away from things likesmoke that make it hard tobreathe.

5. Keep your body strong.Walk, exercise regularly andeat healthy foods.

6. If your COPD is severe, get

the most out of your breath.Make life as easy as possibleat home.

What you and your family can do about COPD.


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Airways carry air to the lungs. Airwaysget smaller and smaller like branches ofa tree. At the end of each tiny branchthere are many small air sacslike tinyballoons.

In healthy people, each airway is clearand open. Each tiny air sac fills up withair. Then the air quickly goes out.

What is COPD?

COPD i& a("g di&ea&e.

Normal lungs


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When y ou hav e COP D, y ou can h av eprob lem s w ith y our lun gs.

1. The openings of theairways are smaller.

Less air gets in because: The walls of the

airways get thickand swollen.

The airways aresqueezed by small

muscles around them. The airways make

mucus that you cough up.

2. The tiny air sacs cannot empty and your lungsfeel very full.

Lungs damaged by COPD

Close-up ofairway andair sacs


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Who gets COPD?

You cannot get COPD from someone else.

Adults get COPD, not children.

Most people with COPD are

smokers or were smokers inthe past. Any form of smok-ing can cause COPD.

Some people with COPDhave lived in homes filledwith fumes from cooking

stoves or fumes fromheaters used to

warm the home.

Some people with COPD worked for many years in places


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Go to a doctor when you first have problems with breathing or

problems with a cough that lasts for more than a month.

Most people wait to go to the doctor until they are havinga lot of trouble breathing. They ignore a cough or mildbreathing problem for years.

Many people with COPD are at least 40 years old.

But people younger than age 40 can also get COPD.

When you have breathing problems, the sooner you see adoctor about COPD, the better.


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D#c'#%& ca" 'e #( h#* bad #(% COPD ha& bec#!e.

The doctor or nurse will examine you. You may have to dosome simple breathing tests.

They will ask you about your breathing and your health.

They will ask about your home and the places you haveworked.

If COPD is not too bad, it is called Mild COPD.

If COPD is getting bad, it is called Moderate COPD.

If COPD is very bad, it is called Severe COPD.

COPD is diagnosed with a simple breathing testcalled spirometry.

This test is easy and painless.

You will be asked tobreathe hard into arubber tube connectedto a machine called a

spirometer


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Mid COPD You may cough a lot. Sometimes you cough up mucus.

You feel a little out of breath if you work hardor walk rapidly.

M#de%a'e COPD You may cough more, and you cough up mucus. You often feel out of breath if you work hard or walk

rapidly.

You may have trouble doing hard work or chores. You may take several weeks to recover from a cold or

chest infection.

Se)e%e or very bad COPD You may cough even more and cough up a lot of mucus.

You have trouble breathing both day and night.

You may take several weeks to recover from a cold orchest infection.

You can no longer go to work or do chores around home.

You cannot walk up stairs or across the room very well.

You tire easily.


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What you and your family can do to help slow thedamage to your lungs.

1. S'#$ &!#ki"g. I' i& 'he !#&' i!$#%'a"''hi"g #( ca" d# '# he$ #(% ("g&.

You can stop smoking.

Ask for help from a doctor ornurse. Ask about pills, special gum,

or special patches for your skin tohelp you stop smoking.

Set a date to quit. Tell family andfriends you are trying to quit. Askthem to keep cigarettes out of thehouse. Ask people to smoke awayfrom home or smoke outside.

Stay away from the places andpeople that make you want to smoke. Remove ashtraysfrom your home.

Keep busy. Keep your hands busy. Try holding apencil instead of a cigarette.

When the craving is bad, chew gum or a toothpick. Snackon fruits or vegetables. Drink water.

Think about quitting just 1 day at a time.

If you start smoking again dont give up! Try to stop


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2. See #(% d#c'#%. Take !edici"e 'he*a 'he d#c'#% &a& '# 'ake i'.

G# f#% #(% check($&.

Go at least two times a year, even if you feel fine.

Ask to have your lungs tested.

Ask a doctor or nurse how to get a flu shot each year.

Tak ab#(' #(% !edici"e& a' each )i&i'.

Medicine comes in many forms such as inhalers, pills,and syrup.

Ask the doctor to write down the name of each medicine,how much to take and when to take it.

If your doctor tells you to use inhaled medicines, you willneed to learn to use an inhaler.

Bring the medicines or the list of your medicines to eachcheckup.

Talk about how your medicines make you feel.

After the checkup,show your familyyour list of medicines.Keep the list at homewhere everyone canfind it.


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3. G# '# 'he h#&$i'a #% d#c'#% %igh' a*a if #(%b%ea'hi"g ge'& a #' *#%&e.

Pa" "#* f#% $%#be!& i" 'he f('(%e. P(' 'he 'hi"g& #(*i "eed i" #"e $ace #( ca" ac' fa&'.

Phone numbers for the doctor, the hospital, andpeople who can get you there.

Directions to the hospital and doctors office. Your list of medicines.

Some extra money.

Ge' e!e%ge"c he$ if #( &ee a" #f 'he&e da"ge% &ig"&.

It is hard to talk.

It is hard to walk.

Lips or fingernails turn gray or blue.

The heartbeat or pulse is very fast or irregular.

Your medicine does not help for very long or it does nothelp at all. Breathing is still fast and hard.


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4. Kee$ 'he ai% cea" a' h#!e. S'a a*a f%#!&!#ke a"d f(!e& 'ha' !ake i' ha%d '# b%ea'he.

Keep smoke, fumes, andstrong smells out of thehome.

If you must have yourhome painted or sprayedfor insects, do it whenyou can stay somewhereelse.

Cook near an open door or window so smoke and strongsmells can get out easily. Do not cook near the place yousleep or spend most of your time.

If you heat with wood or kerosene, keep a door or windowopen a little to get rid of fumes.

Open doors and windows when the air inside is smoky orhas strong smells. Close the windows and stay at home ondays when there is a lot of pollution or dust outside.


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5. Kee$ #(% b#d &'%#"g.

Lea%" b%ea'hi"g e+e%ci&e&.

Breathing exercises can help you when you are havingtrouble breathing. They can strengthen the muscles youneed for breathing.


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Wak a"d e+e%ci&e %eg(a%.

When you strengthen the muscles in your arms, legs, andbody, you can get around better.

Walking for 20 minutes is a good wayto start.

These exercises help build strength inyour arms, legs, and body. There aremany others.

When you start, take it slow.When you feel short of breath,stop and rest.

Pick a place to walk or exercisethat you enjoy.

Find exercises that you like to do.

Ask someone in the family or afriend to join you.

Talk with your doctor about theright exercise regimen for you


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Ea' hea'h, f##d& Ge' '# a hea'h, *eigh'

Ask your family to help you buy and prepare healthy foods.Eat lots of fruit and vegetables. Eat protein foods, like meat,fish, eggs, milk, and soy.

When you eat:

If you are short of breath when you eat, slow down.

Talk less when you eat.

If you feel full easily, eat smaller meals more often.

If you are heavy, lose weight. It is harder to breathe and to

get around if you are heavy


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6. If #(% COPD i& &e)e%e, ge' 'he !#&' #(' #f each

b%ea'h. Make ife a& ea& a& $#&&ibe a' h#!e.

Ask your friends and family for help and ideas.

Do things slowly. Do things sitting down.

In the kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping area, put things youneed in one place that is easy to reach.

Find very simple ways to cook, clean, and do other chores.Use a small table or cart on wheels to move things around.Use a pole or tongs with long handles to help reach things.

Keep your clothes loose so you can breathe.

Wear clothes and shoes that are easy to put on.

Ask people to help you move your things in your homeso you will not need to climb stairs as often.

Pick a place to sit thatyou can enjoy and

where others can visit.


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Pa" ahead if #( *a"' '# g# #(' #% g# a*a.

Visit or go out duringthe part of the daywhen you feel yourbest. Many people feelbest right after they takemedicine.

Rest after you eat.Plan to go out at a timewhen you can get homebefore the next dose ofmedicine needs to betaken.

Do not go to stores at a busy time of day. Go to places thatdo not have a lot of stairs.

Bring phone numbers for the doctor and people who canhelp you. Bring medicine if you do not feel well.

If you are not having a good day, stay home.

G#i"g #(' #f '#*".

If you will travel far, or will be gone for more than a day,ask the doctor what to bring if you have problems.


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NOTES


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Clinic information:

The following publications are available from theG#ba I"i'ia'i)e f#% Ch%#"ic Ob&'%(c'i)e L("g Di&ea&e (GOLD):(1) G lo b a l S t r a t e g y f o r t h e D ia g n o s is , M a n a g e m e n t , a n d P r e v e n t i o n o f CO P D .

Scientific information and recommendations for COPD programs;(2) x ecu t ive Sum m ary: G lo b a l S t r a t e g y f o r t h e D ia g n o s is , M a n a g e m e n t , a n d

P r e v e n t i o n o f CO P D ;

(3) P o c k e t G u id e t o COP D M a n a g e m e n t a n d P r e v e n t io n .Summary of patient care information for primary health care professionals; and

(4) W h a t Yo u Ca n D o b o u t a L u n g D is e a s e Ca l l ed CO P D .An information booklet for patients and their families.

gold patientguide 2012

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