COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and includes diseases such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
The National Institute of Clinical Excellence has published information for people with COPD and their families.
Click here to read it.
Smoking Advice
By far and away the biggest cause of COPD is cigarette smoking.
If you smoke why not visit the NHS's Giving Up Smoking web site for help and advice on how to stop.
You can also 'phone them on 0800-169-0-169 for an information pack.
Other Risks
Don't forget! Smoking doesn't only cause COPD. It is also associated with lung cancer and heart disease.
Smoking-related diseases are a major problem for Leasowe. The number of patients with COPD attending our practice is 42% above the national average.
Lung cancer rates in Leasowe are significantly above national averages and it is not unusual for us to find this unpleasant disease in patients in their 40's.
To see the effect of smoking on your heart disease risk why not visit our heart disease risk calculator.
Disease Alerts
Birkenhead & Wallasey Primary Care Trust are working with the Met Office to set up an alerting system when expected weather conditions are likely to cause exacerbations of COPD disease.
If you use a mobile telephone please give us the telephone number and we will 'text' you when reviews are due and when we receive Met Office alerts.