UAB now hosts the Better Breathers’ Club, a project of the American Lung Association for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The Better Breathers’ Club provides support, education and socialization for people with COPD, their family members, and their caretakers.
The club will meet 3:30-4:30 p.m. every other month at UAB Highlands Hospital in the first floor board room. The first meeting is scheduled for June 13 and the topic is oxygen delivery devices. Meeting dates through the end of 2013 can be found at http://www.uabmedicine.org/conditions-and-services/copd-patients.
COPD is a slowly progressive disease of the airways that is characterized by a gradual loss of lung function. COPD includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema or a combination of these conditions. There are effective treatments for COPD, particularly if the disease is diagnosed while still in the early stages. The symptoms of COPD can range from chronic cough and sputum production to severely disabling shortness of breath. In America, the most important risk factor for COPD is cigarette smoking. The most important measure for preventing COPD — and for slowing disease progression — is to quit smoking.