World COPD Day 2020

World COPD Day is on Wednesday 18 November and this year, the theme is ‘living well with COPD’.

The awareness date for COPD is organised by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lund Disease in collaboration with health care professionals and COPD patient groups around the globe. The aim is to raise awareness, share knowledge and discuss ways to reduce the burden of COPD worldwide.

Despite having no cure and being the third leading cause of death globally, it is important to remember that COPD is a preventable and treatable disease.

As a Trust, we know that some of our staff and patients suffer from COPD. We also know that life with COPD can be difficult. It is a progressive condition, which means that things that were once simple, everyday tasks can become a challenge, and also, that it can feel very overwhelming when you’re dealing with a condition which has no cure.

This World COPD Day we want to share with you some useful information about our services and some tips on what you can do to live well with COPD.

Roughly 90% of COPD cases are caused my tobacco smoking, which means that smoking cessation is a great place to start. Our Trust offers free and confidential Stop Smoking services via our Health Trainer teams across Hull and the East Riding. You can find out more here.

For more help and to talk through your options, please give us a call on 08009177752 or email HNF-TR.healthtrainers@nhs.net.

We are here to help if you need support or someone to talk to.

Other things you can do to manage COPD:

• Keep active and take part in Pulmonary Rehabilitation*
• Learn how to control your breathing
• Good nutrition and maintain a healthy weight.
• Get plenty of sleep & rest
• Take medications correctly – including things such as inhalers prescribed by your GP/ HCP
• Take care of your emotional wellbeing.

*Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) is a treatment programme that can help you stay active if you have a lung condition. You’ll do physical exercises and get advice from professionals about managing your condition. Due to Covid-19, we are currently running a Supported Remote Exercise Programme across Whitby, Scarborough & Malton. Please speak to your practice nurse or GP for more information.

The British Lung Foundation also provides some great tips and techniques. Find out more here.

If you would like to get involved in World COPD Day activities, there is an International COPD and Asthma Conference occurring virtually on November 16^th and 17^th, 09:00am to 17:00pm EST.

To join, register your attendance here.