HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE COPD?

If you are concerned about your lung health, take the following quick test:

YES NO

Are you a smoker or former smoker 1. 40 years of age or older?

Do you cough regularly?2.

Do you cough up phlegm regularly?3.

Do even simple chores make you 4. short of breath?

Do you wheeze when you exert 5. yourself, or at night?

Do you get frequent colds that 6. persist longer than those of other people you know?

If you answered yes to being a smoker or ex-smoker and one of any other question, you may be at risk for COPD. Ask your doctor about a simple breathing test called spirometry.

Have you been diagnosed with COPD?The Lung Association’s BreathWorks™ Program can help.

Supported by unrestricted educational grants from the following partners:

You can reach our health professionals Monday to Friday during regular business hours. If you call outside these hours, you can leave a message with us, and we’ll call you back the next business day.

The BreathWorks Web Site

At www.lung.ca/breathworks, you can find the information you need about COPD and how you and your loved ones can manage this disease. You can also read or order our publications, ask and answer questions you may have about COPD, and find local programs.

The BreathWorks handbook and fact sheets

The BreathWorks Plan handbook and BreathWorks fact sheets are easy-to-understand guides filled with information on how to slow the progression of your disease, relieve your symptoms, and improve your quality of life. To order free copies of any BreathWorks publication, call 1-866-717-COPD (2673) in English, 1-866-717-MPOC (6762) in French, or visit the BreathWorks Web Site www.lung.ca/breathworks.

EMPHYSEMA AND CHRONIC BRONCHITIS MEAN COPD

www.lung.ca

Fact SheetFact SheetFact Sheet

Fact SheetFact SheetFact Sheet

What is COPD?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung disease largely caused by smoking. The lungs’ airways are tightened, making breathing difficult and putting the lungs more at risk of infection. COPD gets worse over time resulting in frequent flare-ups if left untreated. A disease which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis, people with COPD often struggle for every breath and have difficulty performing simple tasks such as walking up stairs and talking.

There is no known cure for COPD but it is treatable and preventable. Medications for COPD can help prevent or relieve shortness of breath, coughing, flare-ups, and improve ability to exercise. As well, pulmonary rehabilitation can be recommended to increase exercise endurance and quality of life, and in severe cases, COPD sufferers may require home oxygen.

With the right information and support, you can learn how to control your disease and improve your quality of life. The Lung Association’s BreathWorks Program can help.

BreathWorks: Help for people with COPD

At The Lung Association, we understand COPD. We know that it is a disease of loss that can affect every part of your life. Having COPD can make daily activities like housework and shopping more difficult, change your relationships with friends and family, and make it harder to get out of the house.

We also know that with help and support, you can meet the challenges of COPD. The BreathWorks Program can help you and your family cope with the emotional and physical changes that come from living with this disease. If you’ve just been diagnosed, or have been living with COPD for a while, our BreathWorks Program provides the support and information you need to manage your condition and live life to the fullest.

Adjusting to and living with COPD can be a challenge. Contact The Lung Association’s BreathWorks Program – we can make a difference.

What BreathWorks can offer you

To get the most out of life, you need to manage your COPD. The BreathWorks Program provides free information and support to Canadians with COPD.

We offer the resources you and your family need to meet the challenges of this disease.

You can call the BreathWorks Helpline, visit us online, or read our handbook and fact sheets.

The BreathWorks Helpline

COPD can be overwhelming. Sometimes, a friendly, knowledgeable voice makes all the difference. If you have a question or are worried about your symptoms, you can talk to a specially trained COPD educator at the BreathWorks Helpline. Call toll-free:

1-866-717-COPD (2673) in English1-866-717-MPOC (6762) in French

The BreathWorks Coach

You’ll find the BreathWorks Coach in our printed and promotional materials. He can answer your questions and help motivate you to properly manage your COPD.

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The BreathWorks Plan:Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis mean COPD