Our lungs are pretty special. They bring air in and out of our bodies for our entire life without our even thinking about it. Our lungs are good to us and we should always take care of them, including looking out for diseases that can affect the lungs like asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease.
Canadian Lung Health Test
Smokers and former smokers are at risk of developing COPD. COPD is short for “Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease”, and it’s the new name for emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Some non-smokers can also get COPD.
If you are over 40 and smoke or used to smoke, you are at risk for having COPD. Take this quick test to screen for symptoms:
- Do you cough regularly?
- Do you cough up phlegm regularly?
- Do even simple chores make you short of breath?
- Do you wheeze when you exert yourself (exercise, go up stairs)?
- Do you get many colds, and do your colds usually last longer than your friends’ colds?
If you answered ‘yes’ to any of the questions above, you should mention this to your pharmacist or doctor. COPD is a long-term condition with no cure (yet), but you can relieve some symptoms and prevent or slow the progression of the condition.
f you, a friend or family member has COPD, your Remedy’sRx pharmacist offers:
- Checking of inhaler and device technique to optimize the benefits of your medications
- Medication review consultations to check for items that may aggravate the condition2
Remedy’sRx pharmacists with specializations can also help with:
- Vaccinations to prevent lung infections, such as the flu and pneumonia
- COPD screening and management services
- MyHealth QuitNow stop smoking consultations
Talk with your Remedy’sRx pharmacist about your lungs – it will be a breath of fresh air!
1 Reproduced with permission from the website of the Canadian Lung Association, www.lung.ca. All rights reserved.
2 Medication reviews are private, personalized consultations with your pharmacist to go over your medications and conditions. Medication reviews are a publically-funded service offered by most provincial health care plans.
The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
