what is COPD

[peterjames]

[BobD Volunteer]

The letters stand for Congestive Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder and it is an umbrella name covering many lung problems like emphaseama (spelling???) I understand..

Sorry I can't be more specific Peter.

Bob

[Enjoy]

Here comes a sufferer - Its Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. It just covers more lung diseases than Asthma although Asthma is usually the cause.

Help is achieved through inhalers but, unfortunately, what's known as the Reliever inhaler increases the heart rate so is not good for Af people.

COPD causes breathlessness to add to that already being suffered by Af. One Consultant at a Pulmonary Rehab. Course I attended said "Lung Specialists blame the heart and Heart Specialist blame the lungs".

[Honeywine in reply to Enjoy]

All you can do is keep on taking the meds

[Offcut]

britishlungfoundation.com/F...

This a very good item to look at I was at the first Webinar. COPD is a very broad term used for Obstructive Lung problems and not trying to confuse you I have Restrictive Lung Disease.

Obstructive is like a balloon that you can blow up but if you squeeze the end it allows air out slowly. This could be due to swelling or damage and a few other things. Exercise for some can improve it

Restrictive is like a balloon in a box it can only go so far usually due to scarring reducing flexability. Any further damage in effect reduces the size of the box.

Be well

[Honeywine]

I have brochiectasis which is a narrowing of the air ways, also asthma, So I would not worry about it too much you just have to work your way through it with the right medication.

[Enjoy]

Lovely to be in touch with fellow double sufferers. What would help us we cannot take - Beta blockers. I have luckily had three sessions of Pulmonary Rehab. in the Hospital Gym. It certainly helps in getting one fit with help at hand if things go wrong.

We did learn a very helpful thing for when we are out and breathless, ... that is to blow as you go. It truly helps AF breathlessness as well.

What seems a little unfair is that I have never smoked yet end up with lungs similar to a smoker.

[Offcut in reply to Enjoy]

Your workplace and environment can all be factors. I was a smoker quit 1992 but worked with wood dust and found recently I was working with asbestos for 10 years.