1. KANSAS RESPIRATORY CARE SOCIETY
OUR MISSION:
To Educate, Advocate, and Promote the Profession of Respiratory Care

2. Understanding Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Your Name/Credentials
Job Title
Organization
Good (morning, afternoon, evening). My name is (name here). I am (title, organization, background).
I am pleased to be here today to speak to you about a very serious disease that many of you have likely never heard of – COPD. (Adapt for patient-only groups.)
(Engage audience) By a show of hands, how many of you here today have heard of COPD?

3. Today’s Session Will Cover
Definition of COPD
How COPD affects breathing
Symptoms of COPD
How you can find out if you are at risk
Talking to your doctor
Getting on the road to better lung health
Resources
Today we have a lot of ground to cover. The topics we’ll discuss are:
(read slide)
Definition of COPD
How COPD affects breathing
Symptoms of COPD
How you can find out if you are at risk
Talking to your doctor
Getting on the road to better lung health
Resources

4. Basics of Breathing Inspiration Expiration (Active process)
Chest cavity expands
Intrathoracic pressure falls
Air flows in until pressure equalizes
Expiration
(Passive process)
Chest cavity size decreases
Intrathoracic pressure rises
Air flows out until pressure equalizes
The diaphragm is a dome-shaped sheet of muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdomen. It is the most important muscle used for breathing in (called inhalation or inspiration).
When you breathe in, or inhale, your diaphragm contracts (tightens) and moves downward. This increases the space in your chest cavity, into which your lungs expand. The intercostal muscles between your ribs also help enlarge the chest cavity. They contract to pull your rib cage both upward and outward when you inhale.
When your diaphragm relaxes, it returns to its natural dome-shape, resulting in exhalation (expiration)

5. Anatomy of the Lungs
Our lungs are made of millions and millions of microscopic sacs called ‘alveoli’. When we breathe in, these sacs fill with air. Oxygen (O2) from the air passes from the alveoli into tiny blood vessels (capillaries) that surround the alveoli, and is carried to the tissues of the body via the circulatory system. Simultaneously, Carbon Dioxide (CO2) passes from the capillaries into the alveoli to be exhaled.

6. What is COPD? Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Characterized by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible (may be partially reversible)
Generally progressive
Blocked (obstructed) airways make it hard to get air in and out
What is COPD? It stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
COPD is a serious lung disease that progresses slowly and, over time, makes it very difficult to breathe.
In people who have COPD, the airways, or tubes that carry air from the nose and mouth into the lungs, are partially blocked—either because of thickening and mucus, or because the airways are floppy and collapse, or both.

7. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are forms of COPD
Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are forms of COPD. In fact, it is common for people to have elements of both, which is why we prefer the term COPD.

8. Combination makes it harder to breathe
Chronic Bronchitis
Airways become inflamed (swell)
Excess mucus is produced
Combination makes it harder to breathe
With chronic bronchitis, the airways become inflamed, making a smaller conduit through which to breathe. The smaller this conduit, the more difficult it is to breathe through it. A good example of this is comparing blowing through a straw vs. blowing through a plastic coffee stirrer. It is much more difficult to blow through the coffee stirrer because it is much smaller.
Excess mucus is also produced with chronic bronchitis, leading to the airways being ‘clogged’ with thick, sticky matter.

9. How does emphysema affect breathing?
Healthy airways and air sacs in the lungs are elastic—they try to bounce back to their original shape after being stretched or filled with air, the way a new rubber band or balloon does. This elastic quality helps retain the normal structure of the lung and helps move air quickly in and out.
In people with COPD, the air sacs no longer bounce back to their original shape. They become floppy and not as elastic. Picture a bag made of cellophane compared with a rubber balloon. The “cellophane” airways—those without support, collapse, blocking the air flow out of the lungs. The harder the person with COPD tries to breathe out, the more the airways collapse. The airways can also become swollen or thicker than normal, and lined with mucus.

10. How Common is COPD? 12 million+ in U.S. have COPD
Another 12 million may have it but don’t know it
Approximately 210 million individuals worldwide
The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute estimates that 12 million adults have COPD and another 12 million are undiagnosed or developing COPD.
The World Health Organization estimated 210 million individuals worldwide have COPD and total deaths are expected to increase more than 30% in the next ten years.

11. Who is at risk?
Most cases of COPD occur as a result of long-term exposure to lung irritants that damage the lungs and the airways
Smoking of ANY KIND
Environmental air quality
Those who have a family history of COPD are more likely to develop the disease if they smoke
In rare cases, a genetic condition called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency may play a role in causing COPD
Examples of other lung irritants include secondhand smoke, air pollution, and chemical fumes and dust from the environment or workplace.
Most people who have COPD are at least 40 years old when symptoms begin. Although uncommon, people younger than 40 can have COPD. For example, this may happen if a person has alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, a genetic condition.

12. Symptoms
Breathlessness Abnormal sputum (a mix of saliva and mucus in the airway) A chronic cough Daily activities can become more difficult as the condition gradually worsens
These symptoms often occur years before the flow of air into and out of the lungs declines. However, not everyone who has these symptoms has COPD. Some of the symptoms of COPD are similar to the symptoms of other diseases and conditions.
The sensation of wheezing and tightness in the chest also accompany COPD. There symptoms are a results of the decrease in airflow in the lungs. COPD limits individual’s activities and makes simple tasks very difficult.
COPD symptoms usually slowly worsen over time.

13. Diagnosis
A simple diagnostic test called "spirometry“ measures how much air a person can inhale and exhale, and how fast air can move into and out of the lungs
Spirometry can detect
COPD long before its
symptoms appear
Spirometry
During this painless test, a technician will ask the patient to take a deep breath in. Then, they will blow as hard as they can into a tube connected to a small machine. The machine is called a spirometer.
The machine measures how much air the patient breathes out. It also measures how fast the air is blown out.
Other Tests
A chest x-ray or chest CT scan. These tests produce images of the structures inside the patients chest, such as the heart, lungs, and blood vessels.The pictures can show signs of COPD. They also may reveal another condition that is causing the symptoms.
An arterial blood gas test. This blood test measures the oxygen level in the blood using a sample of blood taken from an artery. The test can help find out how severe COPD is and whether the patient may need oxygen therapy.

14. Treatment Lifestyle changes Medications Pulmonary rehabilitation
Quit smoking!
Diet
Exercise (Follow Dr. recommendations)
Medications
Pulmonary rehabilitation
Support Groups
Oxygen Therapy
Your doctor might recommend any one or a combination of treatments including: (read from slide)
Lifestyle changes
Quit smoking. If you smoke, NOW is the time to stop. It is never too late to stop smoking. While your lungs will not re-grow, you can prevent further damage. In the past, smoking was considered just a bad habit. But today, doctors have a much better understanding of nicotine addiction and what is needed to deal with it.
Medications—to help open the airways and reduce inflammation in them
Pulmonary rehabilitation – a program that teaches you how to manage your disease, how to go about
regular activities a little more easily and how to get into good condition.
Support groups (e.g. Better breathers clubs)
Oxygen therapy—in severe cases, oxygen may make the person feel better and live longer.
Surgery—may be indicated in certain people who meet very specific criteria.
Every individual is different—work with your doctor to determine what works best for you.

15. Medications Bronchodilators Corticosteroids Combination
(Short term and Long term)
Corticosteroids
Combination
KNOW WHAT, HOW, AND WHEN TO USE THESE!
KEEP A LIST OF YOUR MEDICATIONS AND THEIR DOSAGES!
- There are many inhaled medications for the treatment of COPD.
- Bronchodilators work on the smooth muscle of the airways. By relaxing this smooth muscle, the airway is ‘dilated’ (the tube becomes bigger, so it is easier to breathe through).
- Corticosteroids reduce the inflammation (swelling) of the airways themselves. This in the inside of the tube becoming larger and easier to breathe through.
- It is very important that you know what, how, and when to use these medications. You may also notice that many of these medications look similar, so it is a good idea to keep a list of all of your medications and their
dosages to provide to your healthcare provider so that your normal regimen can continue

16. Websites for COPD Information American Lung Association www
Websites for COPD Information   American Lung Association American Association for Respiratory Care Drive4COPD.org
Start today!
Talk with your doctor about your risks, such as smoking and other exposures.
Tell your doctor about any symptoms.
Make a list of breathing symptoms and think about any activities that you can no longer do, or do as easily because of shortness of breath.

17. COPDfoundation.org

18. ?

19. What if the Hokey Pokey really is what it’s all about?