1-Diagnosis and treatment of COPD
Resources for COPD: A life challenge
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Diagnosis
Ideally, a pulmonologist should confirm the diagnosis and supervise the treatment for COPD. Diagnosis requires the doctor to take a history and do physical examination. COPD is suspected when the patient reports a history of shortness of breath, cough, phlegm production, or intermittent wheezing together with a history of cigarette smoking and no other obvious cause. Other physical findings found in COPD include abnormal breathing sounds with a long slow exhalation phase, wheezing, crackling sounds. Weight loss and muscle loss may be seen in severe cases. Tests include chest x-rays, breathing tests especially spirometry, arterial blood gas, electrocardiogram, and exercise testing with oximetry.The breathing tests help to establish if lung function is normal or diminished. Summarized from pp57-58 of Courage and Information for Life with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. The authors provide detailed, easy-to-read information on all aspects of COPD.
National Lung Health Education Program: A program for early diagnosis of COPD
Easy to read/understand information about Your Lungs, Spirometry and Stop Smoking for patients. National Lung Health Education Program "The prevention of lung disease and the promotion of lung health is the goal of the National Lung Health Education Program" Goal is early identification of patients in the early stages of COPD who absolutely must stop smoking. The idea is to catch the disease in the early stages, even before symptoms are noticed by the patient. Spirometric abnormalities found by a simple test of exhaling can help to identify COPD and also help identify those at risk for lung cancer, heart attack, and stroke, for whom appropriate surveillance, behavior modification, and smoking cessation are critical. Article on New National Strategy by Tom Petty, MD More information: Twenty question
Treatment
There is much that a person with COPD can do to improve health and lifestyle. Start by making sure your doctor is qualified and that the appropriate tests have been run. Once you are sure of the diagnosis, you need to learn more about your options and get information and support. Don't ignore the diagnosis and don't hope for the best—if you are proactive you can stop the damage and have a better quality of life. Courage and Information details available treatments including rehabilitation training, and promotes an effective partnership between the person with COPD and their physician.
Professional Care and Rehabilitation
American Association for Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR)
Rehabilitation programs help people with COPD to improve their health through exercise, better nutrition, appropriate use of medicine, and support. The AACVPR is an organization of rehab professionals and their listings can help you and your doctor locate a qualified rehab program. AACVPR A site for healthcare professionals. The online “Program Directory” lists over 1,100 rehabilitation programs, including certification of qualified programs. Also lists publications, links, and governmental affairs. 7611 Elmwood Avenue, Suite 201, Middleton WI 53562. 608-831-6989,
The American Lung Association
1740 Broadway, New York, NY 10019, 1-800-586- 4872. The American Lung Association—For health care professionals and patients. Info includes asthma, tobacco control, air quality, lung diseases A to Z, occupational health, school programs, programs & events, donation programs, data & statistics, research, advocacy, volunteer and job openings.
The National Jewish Medical and Research Center
1400 Jackson Street, Denver, CO. 80206, 303-388-4461. 1-800-222-LUNG. National Jewish Call the National Jewish Medical and Research Center toll free line at 1-800-222-LUNG to talk with to a nurse or respiratory therapist, or to request information from a doctor.
Smoking cessation
The Virtual Office of the Surgeon General
Smoking Cessation Guidelines Office of the Surgeon General
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Help for Smokers: Ideas to Help You Quit. Based on the U.S. Public Health Service Tobacco Cessation Guideline, released June 2000. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD.
Office of Health Care Information, Executive Office Center, Suite 501, 2101 East Jefferson St., Rockville, MD 20852 1-800-358-929 —Smoking Cessation Consumer Tools Kit—This is a site for clinicians that explains a program for smoking cessation patients.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office on Smoking and Health
4770 Buford Highway, N.E, Mailstop K-50, (707) 488-5705 CDC'S TIPS—Tobacco Information and Prevention Source— A site for healthcare professionals and patients: news, research, data, statistics and reports of tobacco, smoking and health database, educational material, keeping kids tobacco, alcohol and drug free, tips on how to quit smoking, Surgeon General’s report and tobacco industry documents. Smoking cessation.
Publication from New Technology Publishing/HealthyResources.com
"If I had COPD, I would want this book."—Henri Colt, MD, Book Review in September 2000 Advance for Managers of Respiratory Care. You can read selections from this book online: Courage and Information for Life with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: The handbook for patients, families, and care givers managing COPD, emphysema, asthmatic bronchitis, chronic bronchitis. Written by Rick Carter PhD (exercise physiology), Brooke Nicotra MD (pulmonologist), and Jo-Von Tucker (person with COPD).
Jo-Von Tucker, "The devastation of the diagnosis," a selection from Courage and Information by Rick Carter, Brooke Nicotra, and Jo-Von Tucker.