SECTION 1 – Diagnosis
What is COPD? How do you know if you have COPD and what to do if you have it? Attached are some basic resources screening for your risk of COPD, what COPD is, the lung test to find out if you have COPD, and other basic information.
Am I at Risk for COPD?
COPD May Take Away More Than Your Breath
https://hawaiicopd.org/documents/COPD84822MHC_COPD_May_Take_Away_More_onepager.pdf
Spirometry and COPD Testing Health Your Lungs Master
https://hawaiicopd.org/documents/Spirometry-and-COPD-Testing-Health-Your-Lungs-Master_10134-18.pdf
Spirometry and COPD (English)
https://hawaiicopd.org/documents/COPD158603MHC_Spirometry_and_COPD_onepager1.pdf
Spirometry and COPD (Spanish)
https://hawaiicopd.org/documents/COPD158604MHC_Spirometry_and_COPD(Spanish).pdf
PFTs for COPD
http://patients.thoracic.org/information-series/en/resources/pulmonary-function-tests-in-copd.pdf
PFTs for COPD Spanish
http://patients.thoracic.org/information-series/es/resources/10pruebas.pdf
COPD Foundation Resources COPD & YOU
http://www.copdfoundation.org/COPDYou.aspx
Genetics and Lung Disease
There is a genetic form of lung disease called Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. It can be detected with a simple, free confidential blood test which involves having your finger pricked and drops of blood put on a special test kit and mailed to a lab for analysis. Treatment for this genetic form of lung disease is different from the treatment of people without this genetic condition.
The National Heart Lung Blood Institute funded COPDGene.org study to find out more about genetics and COPD, by studying 10,000 people at 21 clinical sites throughout the U.S. More information is available here:
About COPD Gene Study
http://www.copdgene.org/about-copdgene-study
SECTION 2 – Living with a Chronic Condition
OK, you know you have COPD and maybe some other health conditions that you will have for the rest of your life. What now? Below are some resources to help you thrive with these conditions, living as full and active a life as possible.
COPD Foundation Resources Page
http://www.copdfoundation.org/Resources.aspx
Creating New Vision–Life with Chronic Disease
https://hawaiicopd.org/documents/Creating-New-Vision-Life-Chronic-Illness-Master_10134-10.pdf
Talking About COPD (Master)
https://hawaiicopd.org/documents/Talking-About-COPD-Master_10134-20.pdf
Talking about COPD
https://hawaiicopd.org/documents/COPD84816MHC_Talking_About_COPD_onepager1.pdf
Talking about COPD (poster)
https://hawaiicopd.org/documents/COPD84901MHC_Talking_about_COPD_(poster).pdf
Talking about COPD (Spanish)
https://hawaiicopd.org/documents/COPD104705MHC_Talking_About_COPD(Spanish).pdf
Living with COPD
https://hawaiicopd.org/documents/COPD84815MHC_Living_with_COPD_onepager.pdf
Living with COPD (Spanish)
https://hawaiicopd.org/documents/COPD104500MHC_Living_with_COPD_onepager(FPO)(Spanish).pdf
COPD Checklist and Action Plan
https://hawaiicopd.org/documents/COPD-Checklist-&-Action-Plan-Master_10134-16.pdf
When COPD Symptoms Get Worse (Spanish)
https://hawaiicopd.org/documents/COPD104802MHC_When_COPD_Symptoms_Get_Worse(Spanish).pdf
Caregiving
https://hawaiicopd.org/documents/Beyond-Just-Getting-By-Caregiving-Master_10134-03.pdf
SECTION 3 – Treatments
COPD Checklist and Action Plan
https://hawaiicopd.org/documents/COPD-Checklist-&-Action-Plan-Master_10134-16.pdf
COPD Checklist and Action Plan (Spanish)
https://hawaiicopd.org/documents/COPD-Checklist-&-Action-Plan-Spanish-Master_10134-16.pdf
COPD Exacerbations
https://hawaiicopd.org/documents/COPD84819MHC_COPD_Exacerbations_onepager.pdf
When COPD Symptoms Get Worse (Spanish)
https://hawaiicopd.org/documents/COPD104802MHC_When_COPD_Symptoms_Get_Worse(Spanish).pdf
SECTION 4 – Medications
There are lots of different medications currently available and more in research and pending approval. Taking medications regularly as directed is an important part of staying as healthy and active as possible. Be sure to work closely with your prescribing healthcare provider and pharmacist to have any questions about your medications answered, so you are taking your medicines as effectively as possible. Keep a diary to note any possible reactions, improvements, problems that may be connected with any of your medications; summarize and share the information with your healthcare provider. Periodically demonstrate how you take your medications to your healthcare providers and/or pharmacist, to be sure you’re getting as much as possible from your treatments. Also included is information about spacers, which can be used with many inhalers and help reduce side effects and improve delivery of medicine.
Know Your Medicines
https://hawaiicopd.org/documents/Know-Your-Medicines-Master_10134-12.pdf
Videos by American College of Chest Physicians Foundation*
*How to use an Inhaler
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w121-xskSU8&app=desktop
