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Billy Aitcheson and Helen Gage know all too well what it’s like to live with an incurable lung condition and how the right support can make a world of difference.
Both have COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) which occurs when the lungs become inflamed, damaged, and narrowed. It is the name for a group of conditions which cause breathing difficulties including chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
COPD is usually associated with long-term exposure to irritants. In the majority of cases, smoking is the cause, however, occupational, or environmental factors, such as dust or chemicals can also cause the condition.
Symptoms of COPD can include a persistent cough, wheezing, the production of mucus or phlegm, shortness of breath and chest infections.
Leading local health charity, Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke (NICHS), is using COPD Awareness Month this November to raise public awareness of COPD and the symptoms associated with this condition as the number of people affected in Northern Ireland increases by 56% in 17 years. Over 44,200 people are estimated to be living with COPD in Northern Ireland.
Billy from Comber experiences shortness of breath and a feeling of tightness in his chest: “Walking up a hill with some shopping for example exhausts me and I would be wheezing. I have a walking stick with a built-in seat and a mobility scooter to help me now and prevent me falling. Even talking for a long while leads to me getting short of breath and my voice starts to crackle.
“I found out about Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke’s services, and I go to their Breathing Better Wellness Sessions. I love every minute of it. You get to meet new people, have a chat and a laugh, talk about issues affecting us, learn from each other, get ideas on how to try dealing with something in a way you hadn’t thought of before; it’s great.
“I have also completed the Taking Control Self-Management Programme which provides a range of skills to help you to manage your condition better and improve your confidence.”
Helen, from Kells, adds; “The local health trust referred me to NICHS and one of their Care Services Coordinators, came out to see me. He signposted me to a lot of groups, courses and services. He gave me lots of great information which has all been very helpful. For example, with diet, I didn’t realise how much harm I was doing to myself with a lot of the stuff I was eating.
“I was contacted about doing pulmonary rehab through my health trust and I wasn’t sure about it, but NICHS encouraged me to go, and I loved it! I enjoyed the exercise element of it and signed up for the gym after the course finished and now go a few days a week.
“All the help from NICHS has helped set me on a good path but I also wanted to do whatever I could to help myself on my journey. Between making changes to my lifestyle, giving up smoking, joining the gym and eating better, along with NICHS’s support, the difference it has made to my health has been significant.”
Ursula Ferguson, Director of Care Services at NICHS, said: “Respiratory conditions are not always obvious to others and are often referred to as ‘invisible illnesses’. Often, people do not realise the impact respiratory conditions like COPD can have on someone’s life, as well as the lives of their families and carers. This means they don’t always receive the necessary support and understanding, but Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke is here to help.
“The help our Care Services team provides is extensive and includes a Family Support service, our Breathing Better education programme, Wellness Sessions, our Inspire Choir, our Taking Control Self Management Programme, and support for carers. Our team works throughout Northern Ireland with people of all ages affected by respiratory conditions.
“They are dedicated to supporting people in adjusting to life with a respiratory condition, helping them to enjoy life to the full, re-engage with hobbies, and improve their confidence, independence, and overall wellbeing.”
She added: “We are delighted to have also recently installed our first respiratory Hall of Hope at Antrim Area Hospital. The hall features words of encouragement from some of our clients who are living with a respiratory condition, including Billy and Helen.
“Through the hall we hope to inform, inspire, encourage and give hope to respiratory patients and their families. We want to highlight there is hope after being diagnosed with a chest related illness and the ways our charity can help with recovery once someone leaves hospital.”
If you have been affected by COPD and need support visit http://www.nichs.org.uk/chest-support for further information about Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke’s respiratory support services.
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