OPENING AIRWAYS:
HELP FOR PEOPLE WITH COPD
KDH is an active member of the Lung Health Network and offers COPD education programming.
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If you have been told you have emphysema, chronic bronchitis or COPD, the Kemptville District Hospital’s Breathe Easier program can help you.
What is COPD?
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a disease that makes it hard to move air in or out of your lungs. COPD includes two diseases: emphysema and chronic bronchitis. If you have been told you have any of these, this program can help you.
What Is Breathe Easier?
Living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) may be hard. You may have questions about your pills and inhalers, fears about your future or problems coping with your symptoms. You are not alone. The Kemptville District Hospital offers information and support to people with COPD and their families.
The Breathe Easier is a series of six weekly sessions, each one hour long. The goal of the series is to give you practical information to help you help yourself. You will get a chance to have your questions answered. You will also be able to talk to other people with the same disease and learn how they are coping.
Learning to manage your COPD is the first step to learning how to live a satisfying life. This program can help you feel better, stronger and more in control.
Who Should Attend?
These sessions will be helpful for any one with COPD. It will also be useful for your family, friends and caregivers.
How Will This Help?
This program will help you learn to manage your disease and live with COPD by:
- Helping you recognize the early signs of a flare up of symptoms;
- Providing you with the knowledge to help relieve those symptoms;
- Increasing your ability to exercise and budget your energy;
- Helping you understand the disease and its causes.
The next series of workshops will begin in the Fall of 2010. Sessions are held at Kemptville District Hospital from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Sessions are free but you must register by contacting Sue Tousant at 613-258-6133 x 270 or via email at stousant@kdh.on.ca (please put COPD in the subject line). Each session discusses a different aspect of Living with COPD; you may register for as many sessions as you want.
Sessions are also available via the Ontario Telehealth Network. If you do not live in the vicinity of KDH but would benefit from these COPD information sessions, please call you local hospital, speak with the Telehealth Coordinator and register for the program using the registration # once the session has been confirmed.
Sessions are free but fill up rapidly and registration is required. Please contact Sue Tousant at 613-258-6133 x 270 or via email at stousant@kdh.on.ca (please put COPD in the subject line) to get on the waiting list today.
Sessions offered in the Spring 2010 series were:
TOPIC
- Introduction
- Exercise and its benefits
- Social Aspects and Smoking Triggers
- Medication and its usage
- Diet and Nutrition
- Oxygen usage and Safety