ONE in seven people over 40 have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), however many don’t know they have it.
The progressive lung condition results in obstruction of airflow in the breathing tubes or airways of the lungs, causing narrowing of the bronchial tubes in the lungs and making it difficult to breathe.
COPD is an umbrella term for a group of lung conditions including emphysema, chronic bronchitis and chronic asthma.
World COPD Day is on Wednesday, November 21, and St John of God Hawkesbury District Health Service is taking the opportunity to get the word out there about a new program offered at Hawkesbury Community Health Services called CALM - a Pulmonary Rehabilitation program designed for any person with a lung disease who has difficulty breathing and who finds that day-to-day activities are getting harder.
The program runs for eight weeks and current participant Carmen Thurling said “I have found more energy. Everyone is very supportive and I look forward to coming. It’s the best thing I have ever done”.
CALM is provided by a physiotherapist, a specialist nurse and an assistant, who aim to help participants increase their strength and the distance they can walk, as well as their quality of life, confidence, ability to cope, and to keep them out of hospital.
The program includes supervised personal fitness, education, peer support, and an ongoing exercise group.
To enquire about the program, contact your GP or respiratory specialist for a referral, or phone Anna Bishop (physiotherapist) on 02 4560 5714.