COPD Information

The best way for us to help you is to review your COPD with you at least once a year and to plan your care with you, including what to do when the condition flares up.

What is COPD?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, describes a group of lung conditions that make it difficult to empty air out of the lungs because the airways have become narrowed. 

COPD usually develops because of long-term damage to your lungs from breathing in a harmful substance, usually cigarette smoke, as well as smoke from other sources and air pollution.

 

How to look after yourself

  • Keep active and take part in pulmonary rehabilitation classes
  • learn how to control your breathing
  • eat well and keep a healthy weight
  • take care of your emotional wellbeing
  • use your inhalers as agreed with your nurse or GP
    • make sure you have the right inhalers, that you can use them effectively and that you don’t run out
  • if you smoke – get help to stop smoking at Mid sussex wellbeing
  • have your care plan avaliable for when your condition flares up.
  • For help with your breathing - visit right breathe

We understand exercising when you have COPD can prove more difficult. You can find some chair exercises on YouTube to get you started!

a woman in an orange shirt is sitting on a bed using an inhaler

 

Your Annual Review

The most important thing, is to remember to attend your COPD Annual Review to make sure you are using the right inhaler technique and have a plan in place for managing COPD symptoms. 

Many of our COPD Annual Reviews are now being conducted as Group Clinics, this allows patients to share their experiences and learn from each other, while still getting a one-to-one review with a clinician. 

people sit at a wooden table, having a conversation and writing notes on notepads.

Group Clinics

 

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Virtual Reality (PR-in-VR)

Pulmonary rehabilition in virtual reality (PR-in-VR) is an exersise programe, run by Concept Health, that is loaded onto a virtual reality headset. 

PR-in-VR information Leaflet

Pulmonary rehabilitation

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a programme of exercise and education for people with a long-term lung condition 

We know that people who engage in pulmonary rehabilitation classes generally do better than people who don’t.

Pulmomary Rehabilitation Information

 

Other Resources

 

Healthy Living

 

Lung Health and the Environment 

Did you know Climate Change is having an impact on our respiratory health? Research is showing that Climate Change is affecting Long-Term Conditions such as Asthma and COPD.

You can find out more about the impact of Climate Change on health on our Healthier Planet, Healthier People page. 

Healthier Planet, Healthier People

 

Revised 22/04/2025