(NAPSA)—It can be confusing and scary when someone first finds out that he or she has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a leading cause of death in the United States—but there are ways to keep living life to the fullest. The Problem Recently diagnosed patients and their families can be taken by surprise—they might not know what COPDis, what it meansfor their future or how the diagnosis will affect their ability to stay active. COPD is among the most common, underdiagnosed, debilitating, deadly and costly diseases to manage, and for those who havere- cently been diagnosed, it can be difficult to figure out how to manage this life change. What’s more, over 15 mil- lion Americans have been diagnosed with COPD and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute estimates that another 12 million are undiagnosed or developing COPD. COPDSigns Common symptoms of COPD are shortness of breath, wheezing, or a chronic cough,as well as chest tightness. Unfortunately, some people avoid getting diagnosed due to lack of awareness and the associated social stigma with COPD.This causes many people to wait too long to get tested and oftenleads to a late-stage diagnosis where people have already lost lung function. One Man’s Story Marathoner Russell Winwood had a difficult time coming to terms with his diagnosis and found it challenging to move forward with his everyday routine. Herelied on the supportof his family to keep going and, just six months after his diagnosis, Winwood completed his first full Ironman. He continuesto participate in triathlons around the world. Winwoodshares his personal journey in hopes of inspiring other COPD patients to live an active lifestyle, showing that a COPD diagnosis does not need to stop people from enjoying their favorite activities. There are many ways you can learn to cope with COPD. What You Can Do For recently diagnosed COPD pa- tients, Winwood offers this advice for living well: Knowledge: Understand what it meansto have COPD. Work with your doctor to create a customized action plan to help track progress. Treatment: While there's no cure for COPD, there are many treatment op- tions including prescription drugs, positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy, portable oxygen concentrators, and ventilation therapy that can help you maintain a better quality oflife. By researching and having a strong understanding of the treatment options available, you can have a more educated conversation with physicians aboutcare plans. Nutrition: A healthy diet is incredibly important for COPDpatients as a poor diet can make symptoms worse. ‘The right nutrition can even help you breathe easier. Meet with a nutritionist to gain an understanding of where your current diet stands to help with yourdiagnosis. Exercise: Exercise can help improve cardiorespiratory fitness levels by strengthening large muscle groups within one’s body while also improving circulation. Find an exercise that works for you and encourage friends and family to participate with you. Learn More Ifyou suspect that you or a loved one may have COPD, head to your physician for a spirometrytest and visit www. Philips.com/WorldCOPDDay for further information about COPD.
