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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Friday, October 10, 2008
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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Friday, October 10, 2008
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COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) |
COPD considerations for cold weather10/25/2005 10:47PM |
With colder weather approaching, are there any special considerations for a COPD patient?
During the winter months with the higher incidence of colds and flu cases, people with COPD are generally more at risk of a lung infection. To avoid infection and exacerbation, it's important to follow certain precautions:
- Many of the germs that cause respiratory diseases are spread by coughing and sneezing. In general, the best way to avoid the spread of these germs is to avoid contact with respiratory droplets or secretions.
- Practice good hygiene, wash hands frequently and keep them away from your face.
- Try to minimize contact with people with symptoms of respiratory illness, and stay out of crowds as much as possible during winter when more people experience colds and flu.
- Avoid sharing your personal items such as eating/drinking utensils.
- Immunization against flu and pneumonia is always a good idea for people with COPD.
- Wearing a mask or a scarf around your nose and mouth is another option during the cold weather and / or in public. Also pay attention to the wind chill factor, and if at all possible, avoid going outdoors in extreme weather conditions.(See links below.)
- Breathing through your nose also helps in warming and filtering the inspired air to some degree.
- Call your doctor and seek medical attention as soon as you experience signs and symptoms of infection such as increased shortness of breath, fatigue, wheezing or coughing, fever or chills.
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Mahasti Rittinger, RRT Clinical Program Manager Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine Department of Internal Medicine College of Medicine The Ohio State University |
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Phillip T. Diaz, MD Associate Professor Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine Department of Internal Medicine College of Medicine The Ohio State University |
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