FloristJoyis bloomingdespite havingCOPD D“
AHEAD of World COPD Day, which takes place on Wednesday November 21, COPD Support Ireland, the umbrella body for 20 local COPD support groups, has announced a new community-based exercise programme for people with COPD – Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease – in Louth. Perhaps more commonly known as bronchitis or emphysema, COPD is a chronic lung condition whose primary symptoms are breathlessness, persistent cough and regular chest infections.
One woman who knows all too well what It’s like to live with this often-debilitating condition is Joy Cassidy.
The florist now living in Drumconrath, is originally from Cambridgeshire but moved to Ireland with her husband 40 years ago.
A non-smoker, she was diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD, a few years ago.
“Round about the time of my diagnosis, I would become breathless walking up hills or whilst doing strenuous exercise, but I remember one particular night, while battling the ‘flu I began to find it difficult to breathe,” she says. “I ended up in the kitchen continuously boiling kettles of water to create steam to help clear my lungs. I thought I better go to hospital and, after a series of tests, COPD was diagnosed.”
Joy’s mother had also had COPD, so she says it wasn’t a huge surprise, though obviously still quite upsetting.
“I have often wondered if perhaps there is a genetic component to the disease in my situation, as my mum was a non-smoker too, and my great grandfather died of chronic bronchitis at the age of 36,” adds the mum of three daughters, who is married to Michael.“Because of this I really worry for my daughters, and even though they don’t smoke, I make sure they get their lungs checked and keep track of any changes in their health.”
Joy is managing her condition well, though she does suffer from fatigue. It means she can’t push herself too much or she will get very tired very quickly, a feeling she finds overwhelming sometimes.
“I always make sure that I can take a break or a time out so that the fatigue doesn’t set in. But I try not let it stop me from enjoying days outs and holidays,” she says with a smile. “I have quite a few hobbies – walking, gardening, and even aqua aerobics – and I don’t want this to get in the way.”
When Joy was diagnosed with COPD, the biggest issue for her was finding information about the disease and how to manage it. She is delighted to have found support and a new circle of friends in the Louth COPD Support Group.
“For people just diagnosed, and who are worried when told that it’s a ‘chronic’ illness, joining their nearest COPD support group is a big help, and Pauline O’Neill and the others are a great help with support and advice,” she explains.“I would like more awareness of COPD and people to undergo spirometry breathing tests as part of their regular health checks, as I think an early diagnosis can help people better manage their COPD.”
It’s estimated that there are almost half a million people in Ireland with COPD, however, many do not know that they have it. There were 1,089 hospital admissions between 2015 and 2017 for people with COPD in Co Louth and it is the most common cause of disease-specific emergency admission to hospital among adults in Ireland
The 12-week programme is designed to support self-care, reduce flare-ups and hospitalisations in people with COPD, with a particular focus on issues such as smoking cessation, nutrition and inhaler advice. Exercise is a key aspect of treatment for patients with obvious physical health benefits such as increased muscle strength, agility, flexibility and aerobic endurance, in addition to the social and mental health benefits. The programme also helps to slow progression of the disease which will, in turn, lead