A new version of the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) Report has been published, dated February 2013. First quick look through shows many areas where the knowledge has been updated, which is very welcome.
If you do read it (it is heavy going in places), remember that in the UK we are quite advanced, and this document has to be relevant worldwide, so information from trials of new drugs and techniques are not included because as yet they are not accepted worldwide.
There is a lot of new information on drugs, how the work, and what they are used for.
I've just read the lot! Thank you it was really useful.
Things I noted, and it needs more than one read:
Spirometry is the key to diagnosis along with patient discussion. Peak flow is not.
You can be (for example) moderate, like me, but a lot better than others who are moderate due to other factors. That is something I have always wondered about, so the FEV readings should now be a guideline only.
There is a huge amount we can do as individuals to give ourselves the best possible chance.
I think I need a lie down now, it was 99 pages long!
Just on page 31 of the Gold Report, but I have to say that most of it is double Dutch to me.
I have read some of your blogs - all of which were very interesting and have come to the
conclusion that you are a very knowledgeable person in relation to lung diseases.
I am fairly new to this site and have Bronchiectasis. I thought I knew a lot about the disease, but since reading all the blogs, I don't know anything!
It would be a great idea if you have time on your hands to compose a glossary of all the terms that are used to treat lung diseases I.e. FEV, FVC, COPD,Flutter, Lung flute etc. I have no idea what these terms mean and I am sure that there are many like me out there.
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