Your COPD action plan

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Earl Burns
7 years ago
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2 Your COPD Action Plan This plan will help you: Learn how to identify and manage flare-ups (exacerbations). The earlier you spot a flare up and step up your treatment the better. Look out for these symptoms and follow the plan inside this booklet. More coughing More breathless More phlegm Phlegm changing colour to dark yellow / green or brown Contact numbers GP Other 1

3 How to treat flare-ups of your COPD using your rescue pack More breathlessness or wheeze? More cough and phlegm? l Increase your blue reliever inhaler to 4 puffs every 2-4 hours l OR If you have a nebuliser for your reliever use it every 4 hours l If this does not help OR you are much worse than normal take 30mg prednisolone (6 x 5mg tablets) every morning for 7 days or see your GP for a review. l Cough onto a white tissue l If your phlegm has changed colour (Dark yellow, green or brown) start your antibiotics or see your GP for a review. Contact your GP practice to arrange for a COPD review and/or to re-stock your rescue antibiotic and steroid tablets Feeling much worse or not improving? If your symptoms are getting worse despite treatment or you are struggling to cope at home CALL YOUR GP Very severe symptoms If you develop chest pain, sudden very severe breathlessness, confusion or are feeling very drowsy SPEAK TO YOUR GP URGENTLY REMEMBER ambulances and Accident and Emergency are for life threatening emergencies. 2 3

4 Staying well Keep warm! Your living room temperature should be around 21degrees and your bedroom between 16 and 18 degrees. Keep active! Many people with COPD reduce their activity levels to avoid becoming breathless. But if you do this you will become less fit and more breathless when you are active. Ask your GP or nurse about Better Breathing activity classes for COPD. Eat a well-balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Try to keep good sleeping habits. Have a flu vaccination every year and a pneumonia jab at least once. Stopping smoking is the most important thing you can do to prevent your COPD getting worse. It is never too late to quit. Ask your doctor or nurse about how you can get help to stop smoking. Specialist Stop Smoking Service - Health Improvement Service Take your medicines regularly as prescribed. Make sure that your doctor or nurse has checked that you can use your inhalers correctly. Even if you are well make sure you see your practice nurse at least once a year for a COPD check up You can get more information, help, advice and support for COPD from: The British Lung Foundation or Helpline Notes 4 5

5 G W. Design Services Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust All Rights Reserved 2014 This document MUST NOT be photocopied Information Leaflet Control Policy: Unique Identifier: MED 108 (14) Review Date: January 2017 University Teaching Trust For further information on this leaflet, it s references and sources used, please contact Copies of this information are available in other languages and formats upon request. If you need this interpreting please telephone In accordance with the Equality Act we will make reasonable adjustments to enable individuals with disabilities, to access this treatment / service. Salford Royal operates a smoke-free policy. For advice on stopping smoking contact the Hospital Specialist Stop Smoking Service on Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust Stott Lane, Salford, Manchester, M6 8HD Telephone If you would like to become a Foundation Trust Member please visit: for-members If you have any suggestions as to how this document could be improved in the future then please visit: for-patients

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