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Almost half a million people in Ireland may have some form of COPD, but many are not managing their condition as well as they could, if at all. World COPD Day aims to change that
efore World COPD Day on November 21, COPD Support Ireland, an umbrella body for 20 support groups, is holding a national patient conference for people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Often called bronchitis or emphysema, COPD is a chronic condition with symptoms that include breathlessness, persistent cough and regular chest infections.
The conference, which takes place in the Royal College of Physicians on Kildare Street, Dublin 2, on Thursday, November 15, will focus on improving self-care for people with COPD, with contributions from leading experts on COPD treatment. The conference is open to people with COPD, their family members and carers, and is free of charge. For more information, visit copd.ie.
In parallel with the conference, there are a series of workshops aimed at helping people with COPD to better manage their condition and look after their physical and mental wellbeing. Nurses will also provide walk-in COPD clinics where people can find information and support on minding their condition, including inhaler technique advice.
It’s estimated that there are almost half a million people in Ireland with COPD, but many don’t know they have it. There were more than 17,500 hospital admissions for COPD in 2017 and it is the most common specific cause of emergency admission to hospital among adults in Ireland.
As well as the national patient conference, COPD Support Ireland has some initiatives to raise awareness of COPD, and provides support for those with the disease, including a series of community-based exercise programmes being rolled out in Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick, Louth, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford. These are
delivered by qualified trainers and are designed to support self-care, reduce flare-ups and hospitalisations in people with COPD. Speaking about the launch of the new initiatives, consultant respiratory physician and chairperson of COPD Support Ireland, Professor JJ Gilmartin, said: “Unfortunately, COPD is a big problem for us here in Ireland. Hospitalisation rates are the highest of all OECD countries based on most recent statistics. However, with greater awareness and increased support in the community through tailored exercise, good information and peer support, we can do a lot to improve the quality of life of those living with COPD.” Although many cases of COPD can be traced to a history of smoking, it can also be the result of inhalation of dust or chemicals, or exposure to indoor or outdoor pollution,
including fumes in the workplace over an extended period of time. Some people with an existing illness such as chronic asthma may be more prone to developing COPD, while others may be pre-disposed to it due to a hereditary lung condition known as alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. People over the age of 35, who are or have been smokers, who have symptoms or who have a family history of the disease, should ask their GP for a COPD health check. This is done with a simple spirometry breathing test.
For more information on COPD, visit copd. ie, email info@copd.ie or call 086-041 5128. To speak to a respiratory nurse specialist, call the COPD National Adviceline on Freefone 1800-83 21 46 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm). COPD Support Ireland can also be found on Twitter @COPDSupportIre.