Mayo University Hospital to mark World COPD Day on Tuesday 24 November

World COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) Awareness Day takes place today, and to support this event the Respiratory team at Mayo University Hospital are holding an information day from 10:00am to 2:00pm in the main foyer of the hospital on Tuesday 24 November. Staff from Mayo University Hospital Respiratory Services will be on hand to answer your questions and help you to learn more about COPD.
 
COPD is a general term for a number of chronic lung disorders including bronchitis, emphysema and chronic obstructive airway disease. It is estimated that 440,000 people in Ireland suffer from COPD and the most common cause of COPD is smoking. If COPD is detected early, treatments are available to prevent further deterioration of lung function.
 
On the day the respiratory team will carry out a number of tests and advise will be provided.
·         Spirometry - a simple breathing test which can aid the diagnosis of COPD.
·         Carbon monoxide (CO) testing - CO is found in tobacco smoke, if you’re a smoker and want to know how much CO you have in your body we will test it for you by means of a simple breath test. 
·         Smoking cessation advice - It’s never too late to Quit.
·         Correct inhaler technique
·         Breathing exercises and Sputum clearance
 
Ursula Clarke, Respiratory Clinical Nurse Specialist, Mayo University Hospital stated, “The early stages of COPD are often unrecognised, but it is easy to determine whether a person is at risk. At the information day next Tuesday we will have a simple questionnaire that people can fill out and which will determine the need for the Spirometry test.
 
“Early detection and intervention is extremely important in order to improve symptoms and increase the patient’s quality of life and slow down the damage to the lungs. One of the greatest challenges for people with COPD is not knowing they have it until it’s at an advanced stage. I would urge any smoker or former smoker aged over 40 who has difficulty breathing to get a lung test. When properly diagnosed and treated, patients with COPD can look forward to a marked improvement in their quality of life with a decline in symptoms such as breathlessness and less frequent ‘flare-ups’.
 
“I would encourage anyone who would like more information on COPD to come to the information day or to talk to their GP.”
 
Damien Peelo, Executive Director, COPD Support Ireland, is encouraging people to know the "ABC" of COPD. "The key risks for COPD are smoking, and breathing in environmental toxins, fumes and dust. Indeed, quitting smoking is the single most effective thing that we can do to minimise our risk. Amongst the main symptoms are breathlessness and a cough and chest infection that refuses to go away. As part of our "Save Your Breath" campaign, we have devised a simple "ABC" of COPD to make remembering the risks, symptoms and importance of getting checked out simpler. The good news is that spirometry is a very quick and painless breathing test that can identify COPD. Early diagnosis means that people can begin to manage their condition much more effectively and help to reduce the severity of the disease."
 
Saving Your Breath: Remember the ABC of COPD
1.      Avoid the risks—don't smoke and avoid environmental toxins, fumes and dust
2.      Be aware of the symptoms—watch out for persistent cough, chest infections that won't go away and shortness of breath
3.      Consult your GP—ask for a spirometry COPD test, particularly if you are over 35 years and have a family history of lung conditions
 
To find out more details about what will be happening in your area, as well as of events happening countrywide, visit www.saveyourbreath.ie, Twitter - @COPDSupportIre, Facebook - www.facebook.com/COPDSupportIreland and #saveyourbreath.