Northside Lifetime of Care - Winter 2015 - (Page 9)
Live Well with
One of the most common lung diseases, COPD,
or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is
a serious condition that makes it difficult to
breathe. COPD includes two conditions, emphysema and chronic bronchitis, and it is the third
leading cause of death in the U.S., according to
the American Lung Association (ALA). The single
biggest risk factor for COPD is smoking, either
currently or in the past. Smoking causes about
85 to 90 percent of COPD deaths. If you are at risk
for COPD, talk to your doctor about getting tested.
FIND COPD EARLY
COPD often goes undetected until the lungs are
significantly damaged, and there is no cure.
However, early diagnosis and proper medication
can help slow the advancement of the disease.
The ALA recommends that any current or former
smoker age 40 or older get tested using spirometry, a breathing test that measures lung function by gauging how much and how fast you can
breathe. You should also be tested if you've been
exposed to secondhand smoke or environmental
or workplace pollutants, have a constant cough
with a lot of phlegm, feel short of breath or have
frequent chest infections.
QUIT SMOKING
If you smoke and have been diagnosed with
COPD, Northside Hospital can help you quit
smoking. Even longtime smokers
reap health benefits as soon as
they stop. Within 72 hours of your
last cigarette, lung bronchial tubes
begin to relax, making it easier
to breathe. Northside Hospital's
smoking cessation program offers
multiple options to help you quit
smoking, including a seven-week
course that provides strategies
and skills designed to keep you
smoke-free. You can find out
more about the upcoming courses
by emailing smokingcessation@northside.com
or calling 404.780.7653.
TAKE THE MEDICINES YOUR
DOCTOR PRESCRIBES
Medications can help alleviate and prevent symptoms, so you can continue doing everyday activities, such as exercise. Inhaled bronchodilators
relax the muscles surrounding the airways so
breathing is easier. Short-acting bronchodilators
provide immediate relief, while long-acting drugs
last for a longer time. Inhaled steroids and other
anti-inflammatories help reduce lung inflammation by decreasing the swelling and mucus
production inside your airways. Viral or bacterial
infections can exacerbate your symptoms, but antibiotics or anti-virals can help. Get a flu shot each
fall and the pneumonia vaccine at least once.
Visit northside.com for more articles, videos and healthy recipes.
9
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Northside Lifetime of Care - Winter 2015
Northside Lifetime of Care - Winter 2015
Contents
Northside News
Healthy Living
Gut Feelings
Live Well with COPD
Weighing Your Options
Winter Warmers
What’s Your Sleep Personality?
Northside Directory
Northside Lifetime of Care - Winter 2015
Northside Lifetime of Care - Winter 2015 - Northside Lifetime of Care - Winter 2015 (Page 1)
Northside Lifetime of Care - Winter 2015 - Contents (Page 2)
Northside Lifetime of Care - Winter 2015 - Northside News (Page 3)
Northside Lifetime of Care - Winter 2015 - Healthy Living (Page 4)
Northside Lifetime of Care - Winter 2015 - Healthy Living (Page 5)
Northside Lifetime of Care - Winter 2015 - Gut Feelings (Page 6)
Northside Lifetime of Care - Winter 2015 - Gut Feelings (Page 7)
Northside Lifetime of Care - Winter 2015 - Live Well with COPD (Page 8)
Northside Lifetime of Care - Winter 2015 - Live Well with COPD (Page 9)
Northside Lifetime of Care - Winter 2015 - Weighing Your Options (Page 10)
Northside Lifetime of Care - Winter 2015 - Weighing Your Options (Page 11)
Northside Lifetime of Care - Winter 2015 - Winter Warmers (Page 12)
Northside Lifetime of Care - Winter 2015 - Winter Warmers (Page 13)
Northside Lifetime of Care - Winter 2015 - What’s Your Sleep Personality? (Page 14)
Northside Lifetime of Care - Winter 2015 - Northside Directory (Page 15)
Northside Lifetime of Care - Winter 2015 - Northside Directory (Page 16)
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