Education Program
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death in the United States, claiming more than 120,000 American lives each year. More than 12 million have been diagnosed, but another 12 million are likely to have COPD and don’t know it yet. COPD is a progressive disease that requires a lifetime of disease management. Many people with COPD avoid activities they used to enjoy because they become short of breath so easily. When COPD becomes severe, it can get in the way of doing even the most basic task, such as light housework, taking a walk, bathing or getting dressed.
Embrace Your Life
- Symptoms
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People who have COPD:
- Become short of breath while doing everyday activities they used to do with ease
- Produce excess sputum
- Cough frequently or constantly. Some call this a “smoker’s cough”
- Wheeze
- Feel like they can’t breathe
- Are unable to take a deep breath
- Those at Risk
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People at risk for COPD include:
- Used to smoke or still do – COPD most often occurs in people age 40 and over who are current or former smokers. However, as many as 1 out of 6 people who have COPD never smoked.
- Have long-term exposure to lung irritants – Irritants include certain chemicals, dust or fumes in the workplace. Heavy or long-term exposure to second-hand smoke or other air pollutants may also contribute to COPD.
- Have a genetic condition called AAT deficiency – As many as 100,000 Americans have alpha-1 antitrypsin (or ATT deficiency). They can get COPD even if they have never smoked or had long-term exposure to harmful pollutants.
- Treatment
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Though COPD cannot be cured, it can be treated effectively. At AdventHealth we offer a comprehensive program for those living with COPD. Led by our dedicated COPD Educators, we can help by providing on-going care, risk assessments, disease and self-management education.
- COPD Educator
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Our COPD Educator is a key part of our COPD Education Program. Using a patient-centered care approach, our educator works with COPD patients to ensure they thoroughly understand their medications and how to take them, teaches relaxed breathing techniques and breath recovery, reviews airway clearance techniques and devices, and teaches how to identify the symptoms of an impending exacerbation. After discharge, they ensure each patient has the appropriate follow-up appointments, medical equipment and/or personalized care plan to manage COPD.
Additionally, our COPD Educator provides community education, manage our free monthly COPD support group and is available for any questions you may have about COPD.
Contact our COPD Educator today!
Staci Strand, RRT
Registered Respiratory Therapist
Certified Pulmonary Disease Educator
Smoking Cessation Counselor
Phone: Call386-943-3038
Email: [email protected]
Learn More and Breath Better with Support
We invite anyone living with COPD, their families, and/or caregivers to our monthly 'Oxygen-Air-Ians' COPD Support Group. This group strives to improve daily self-management of COPD, by offering educational materials and relevant lectures specific to those living with COPD. Group participation is encouraged and discussions occur after each meeting to investigate solutions to everyday health and social barriers that can be problematic for all COPD patients and caregivers.
For more information on our COPD Support Group, call Call386-943-3038 or contact our COPD Educators.
Customized to Your Needs
Your heart is the key — it powers everything. So you need to feel confident about its health. At AdventHealth DeLand, formerly Florida Hospital DeLand we have a specialized cardiovascular team ready to help. As an accredited Chest Pain Center and designated HeartCaring facility – a nationwide, clinically-based proactive program based on treating cardiovascular disease – , we provide rapid diagnosis and advanced care for emergency and chronic cardiovascular conditions.