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 http://www.northside.com

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