“Living Well with COPD in a COVID World” – COPD Support Ireland Hosts Virtual Wellness Conference for People with COPD to Mark World COPD Day

Almost 500,000 people over 40 years’ old living with COPD in Ireland

To mark World COPD Day (November 18), COPD Support Ireland, the national umbrella group for COPD support groups nationwide, is hosting a virtual wellness conference “Living well with COPD in a COVID world” on Saturday November 21, from 1-4pm.

The conference will see speakers address a range of topics, from minding our mental health to having a better night’s sleep, from winter preparedness to singing for better lung health.

People with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), their families and carers, can register for the conference free of charge at www.copd.ie

COPD is perhaps more commonly known as chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and is characterised by breathlessness and persistent coughing with or without phlegm.

It is estimated that there are almost 500,000 people over 40 years of age living with COPD in Ireland. COPD is the third leading cause of death globally, with exposure to tobacco smoke and other environmental toxins the main risk factors for developing the disease, alongside family history and having chronic asthma.

3 Things to Keep 3 Steps Ahead of COPD
Unfortunately, we know that each winter there is an increase in emergency admissions to hospital due to respiratory conditions with COPD the most common cause.

With the recent surge in COVID-19, COPD Support Ireland is anxious, more than ever, to avoid a surge of COPD hospitalisations this winter. COPD Support Ireland is urging people living with the condition to do the following three things to keep three steps ahead of their COPD:

1. Make sure to get the pneumococcal and influenza vaccinations.
2. Have an adequate supply of medication.
3. Don’t delay in seeking help if feeling unwell. Get in touch with a GP straightaway to be treated early.

Information Pack
COPD Support Ireland has produced a COPD information pack which can be ordered for free delivery by texting the word “COPD”, plus name and address to 51444 (standard network charges apply).

Alternatively, call our COPD Adviceline on Freefone 1800 83 21 46 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) to receive a call-back from a specialist respiratory nurse.

The “Living Well with COPD in a COVID World” virtual conference has been kindly supported by A Menarini, Air Liquide, Astra Zeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim and GlaxoSmithKline.