Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COPD
Date issued: November 2023
Review date: November 2025
Ref. C-555/CO/Respiratory Medicine/Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
PDF: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COPD 2023.pdf[pdf] 175KB
Follow-Up after an Emergency Department attendance for COPD
Make an appointment to see you GP or practice nurse within 72 hours to check your recovery progress.
Once you are home
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Complete your course of steroids and antibiotics: Even if you feel better, you should finish any course of antibiotics and steroids that you were given in hospital to treat your exacerbation.
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Breathing exercises:
Whilst you were in hospital you may have been shown some exercises to help with clearing your sputum and controlling your breathing. Keep practising!
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Plan and pace your activities:
Build your activity level back up gradually. Balance activity with rest. Try to save your energy for when you really need it.
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Eat well, drink well:
Having COPD means you use up a lot of energy breathing. You may find it easier to eat small amounts more often if you are more breathless than usual. Unless your Doctor has told you not to, drink plenty of water as it keeps the lining of the airways moist, and your sputum will be thinner and less sticky.
Don’t smoke
If you smoke, giving up smoking is the most effective treatment for COPD. Your GP practice and pharmacist can help you find ways to make it easier for you.
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You are around 3 times more likely to stop smoking with the help of a support service and medication.
Stopping smoking is the most effective treatment for COPD. Patients that receive help from support services such as Stop smoking service and pharmacists are 3 times more likely to quit than those that do it alone.
Who to contact for support to stop:
If you live in Plymouth and surrounding areas
One You Plymouth,
Wellbeing Team,
Admin Block,
200 Mount Gould Rd,
Plymouth,
PL4 7QD
Email: oneyou.plymouth@nhs.net
Tel: 01752 437177
Website: www.oneyouplymouth.co.uk
If you live in Cornwall:
Telephone 01209 615600
E-mail healthy.cornwall@cornwalll.gov.uk
Website www.healthycornwall.org.uk/
Vaccinations
Flu, covid, and pneumonia vaccinations reduce the risk of serious complications if you are exposed to these diseases. Getting your vaccinations and annual flu and covid boosters help to protect you, especially during the winter when these viruses are around. You only need your pneumococcal vaccine once, there is no need for a booster.
Isolating away from people including children with viruses such as coughs, colds, sore throat, and flu can help reduce your risk of contracting these viruses.
Pulmonary rehabilitation
Pulmonary rehabilitation is an exercise and education program designed for people living with COPD. It is one of the best treatments for COPD- it won’t and can’t cure COPD but can help to reduce symptoms and exacerbations (severe flare-ups) and can help to manage symptoms.
A course is for 6 to 8 weeks in a group session.
Each session is usually split in half- half physical exercises and half for education. Education will include but not be limited to:
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Breathing techniques and positions to help you when you’re out of breath
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How to manage stress
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Healthy eating
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How to use your inhalers and other medicines
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What to do when you’re unwell.
The education and coping mechanisms that you will learn at pulmonary rehab will help you feel better, be more confident, and in control.
You can then use these techniques to carry on regular exercise and to remain active.
Remember: it is not harmful to make yourself breathless when you’re physically active, just remember to know your limits!
Have a self-management plan
It is important you have a plan to help you manage your COPD that’s agreed with your doctor or nurse and reviewed every year. You can download a free copy via www.asthmaandlunguk
If you have been seen by our Respiratory Inreach clinical nurse specialist team you will have a self-management plan. It is important that you still attend (or start) your annual review and any chest clinic appointments. There is information available via Asthma and Lung UK website www.asthmaandlung.uk
Check you’re getting the best COPD care with asthma and lung UK COPD passport checklist www.asthmaandlunguk
You may have been given a COPD passport while you have been in the hospital, if not you can download a copy of the checklist, this helps to make sure you are receiving the best (and appropriate) COPD.
Remember: you should have regular check-ups with your health care professional, at least once a year.
Safety Netting Advice
It is important that you respond promptly if your COPD symptoms worsen.
If this happens, please seek review from your community respiratory team / GP / 111 / 999
Call 999 if you’re struggling to breathe or have sudden shortness of breath and:
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Your chest feels tight or heavy
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You have a pain that spreads to your arms, back, neck and jaw
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You feel or are being sick
General Advice:
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Take your prescribed medication
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Try to exercise every day: Remember ‘if you do not use, it you’ll lose it!’
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Pace and plan activities: Plan and allow time to do things
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Be careful what you breathe: Try to avoid people who have colds, try to stay out of smoky or dusty environments and avoid use of strong smelling or scented products if these make your breathing worse
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Watch the weather forecasts: Be prepared for changes in the weather. Get fans ready for hot weather. For cooler or windy weather cover your nose and mouth with a scarf. If possible, avoid going out in very cold weather
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Eat well, drink well: It is important to eat a healthy and varied diet.
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Relax: Stress / anxiety make symptoms worse
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Rest/sleep well: It is important to stay active but it’s also vital to get enough rest every day. Save your energy for when you really need it. Relax before going to bed. Make sure your bed is comfortable (prop yourself up on pillows if this helps) and make sure your inhalers/nebulisers are within easy reach
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Watch for signs of a flare-up
Useful contact information
Asthma and Lung UK
TEL: 03002225800
EMAIL: info@asthmaandlung.org.uk
