BCHS offers final meeting in the series on COPD
As we live a full and active life, breathing is probably something most of us take for granted. But that can change if you suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
This life-threatening lung disease makes breathing much more difficult and is a leading cause of death in the United States, according to the American Lung Association (ALA). But by working with your physician and making some lifestyle changes, you can manage your COPD; in fact, the symptoms can often be improved.
To help increase awareness of COPD, Battle Creek Health System began offering a quarterly physician-led series in the BCHS Medical Office Building (MOB) that addresses chronic lung disease and how you can deal with it. The final session, titled 'Nuts & bolts of living with COPD' is scheduled for Tuesday, November 6, from 2 - 4 p.m. in the MOB Room 309. The program, which includes discussion about sleep disorders, emotions, sexuality, and end of life issues, is free to the public, but because seating is limited, reservations are required.
To register, call Deborah Pierce, BS, RRT, pulmonary rehabilitation (269) 966-8438.
Battle Creek Health System's pulmonary rehab program is 'certified' by the American Association for Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation.
The term COPD is used to describe two related lung disorders--chronic bronchitis and emphysema. If you have COPD, you have one or both of these conditions. With bronchitis, the walls of the passages that carry air to your lungs become swollen and scarred. Emphysema destroys the sacs in the lungs that release air.
COPD makes it more difficult to breathe because your air passages get smaller and your air sacs cannot empty. Your airways may also become clogged with mucus, which comes up when you cough.
Living well with COPD
Although there is no known cure for COPD, there are several things you can do to manage it and improve your quality of life. Early detection of the disease is important; it lets you begin to take steps to keep COPD from progressing.
"No matter your age, it's crucial that you give up cigarettes," says Satya Chaparala, M.D., medical director of respiratory care and a pulmonologist at Battle Creek Health System. "Even if you are 75 years old, quitting smoking will help you feel better."
Follow your doctor's advice about medications. You may be given bronchodilators to help open airways, corticosteroids to reduce inflammation in lungs and airways, or antibiotics to fight bacterial infections that make COPD worse.
Talk to your doctor about whether using an oxygen tank might help you breathe better.
Make sure the air in your home is clean and free of smoke and fumes.
Ask your doctor about breathing exercises that can help you when you are having trouble catching your breath.
Eat healthful foods, maintain a healthful weight, and stay as physically active as you can.
Breathing comes natural, but when it is interrupted by disease, the outcomes can be deadly. Learn what you can do breathe easier through the BCHS COPD series.
Battle Creek Health System, sponsored by two parent organizations--Trinity Health (the fourth largest Catholic health system in the U.S. with 12 hospitals, 9 nursing homes, 19 senior house facilities, 8 home health care agencies, and 4 hospices in Michigan alone) and BCHS Community Partners, is accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. BCHS is a two-time recipient of the 'Distinguished Hospital Award for Patient Safety TM from HealthGrades, a leading health care information company that provides objective 'report card' ratings nationwide. BCHS provides excellent health care for the community and promotes wellness for the whole person with access and compassion for all. For the latest medical information, visit the BCHS web site at www.bchealth.com or call the BCHS Marketing Department at (269) 966-8132.
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