COPD Awareness Month

This November is COPD Awareness Month. The chronic lung condition effects people from all over the world. Our blog brings light on the condition and highlights the solutions that our Medicare range offer to those who have been diagnosed with COPD.

What is COPD?

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a disease that makes it difficult to empty air out of the lungs. Airways become inflamed and get smaller leading to airflow obstruction. This results in shortness of breath, coughing and tiredness because you are working harder to breathe.

COPD is a progressive illness. This means that the condition has different stages and symptoms become more severe and debilitating as it progresses. The earlier a patient is diagnosed the sooner they can receive treatment to manage the symptoms.

COPD is a term used to include chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or a combination of both conditions.
It is estimated that 380,000 people are living with COPD in Ireland.

Symptoms of COPD

• Shortness of breath or wheeziness.
• Chesty cough with phlegm
• Regular chest infections
• Breathing difficulties

Causes of COPD

COPD is generally associated with working in an environment where you’ve been exposed to smoke, pollutants, dust, or fumes. Exposure to particular types of dust and fumes in the workplace may increase your risk of COPD. For example, welding fumes and silica dust have been directly linked to COPD diagnoses.
However, smoking is one of the main causes of COPD. It is estimated that 80% of COPD cases are as a result of smoking. The harmful chemicals in cigarettes damage the lining of the lungs and increases the loss of lung function by up to three times the normal rate.

Treatments for COPD

The damage to the lungs caused by COPD is permanent. While there is currently no cure for the condition, there are treatments to slow the progression and manage the symptoms of COPD.

Below, we list some the medical devices and symptom management techniques followed by the solutions that our Medicare range offers to help people living with COPD.

• Nebulised Medication
• Check SpO2 Levels
• Air Quality Management
• Monitoring Lung Performance

 

Nebulised Medication

Nebulisers are one of the technologies available to assist COPD patients. The devices can be used to take medication that will help the patient manage their condition and the subsequent symptoms. The machine converts the liquid medication into a mist that can be breathed in through the accompanying mouthpiece.

Our Solution: Medicare V2 Portable Nebuliser

• Innovative U-Shaped Medicine Cup ensures that medication is used thoroughly, and can be used at any angle
• Fast Inhalation Time: ≥.2ml/min
• Ultra-Fine Particle Size: 1-5µm which helps to penetrate deeper into the affected area
• One-Click Disassembly of Medicine Cup: Easy to clean and disinfect
• Dual Power Supply: Battery & USB Cable

Check SpO2 Levels

COPD patient can use Pulse Oximeters as a useful management tool to check their SpO2 levels. These readings will calculate the blood oxygen levels of the patient which can determine the functioning performance of their lungs.

Our Solution: Medicare LifeSense Bluetooth Pulse Oximeter

• Measures oxygen saturation (SpO2) and pulse rate (PR)
• See and hear heartbeat
• Adjustable screen brightness
• Rotatable screen with 4 direction display
• Alarm alert function
• Auto power off
• Can be used to help manage COPD, Asthma, Pneumonia, Anaemia and Congenial heart defects

Air Quality Management

Humidifiers can help manage symptoms of COPD by maintaining a perfect level of moisture in the air while also reducing dust and allergens. The presence of dust and allergens in the air can irritate the lungs and exacerbate symptoms. Talk to your doctor before using a humidifier.

Our Solution:  Medicare Nimbus & Cirrus Humidifiers.

Medicare Cirrus Humidifier

Useful Links

https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/copd/
https://copd.ie/