We are officially in the winter respiratory disease season, when influenza, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and COVID-19 are at their peak. While no one wants a bout of any of those illnesses, the season is especially dangerous for individuals who already have breathing issues due to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). People with COPD are at a higher risk of flare-ups, hospitalizations, and mortality this time of the year.
RiverView Health’s Respiratory Therapy Team now offers COPD Education, a program that teaches patients ways to stay healthy and ease symptoms during flare-ups throughout every season.
“COPD Education is an intervention that provides ongoing monitoring, education, and assessment to patients with various pulmonary diagnoses, including COPD, emphysema, asthma, and chronic bronchitis,” reported Dallas Aune, RRT, AE-C. “The service is a complement to our Asthma Education program.”
Through COPD Education, patients learn ways to manage problems that come with the seasons, such as the following brought on by winter conditions:
- Respiratory infections: Cold and flu viruses are more prevalent and can trigger severe flare-ups, to which people with COPD are more vulnerable.
- Cold, dry air: Breathing cold air can irritate the lungs, cause bronchospasms (airway constriction), and lead to increased coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. It can also dry out the airways, which makes mucus thicker and harder to clear.
- Indoor air quality: Spending more time indoors with poor ventilation increases exposure to respiratory viruses. Smoke from fireplaces and wood-burning stoves is another indoor irritant.
- Body stress: The body uses more energy to stay warm in cold weather, which puts extra strain on the heart and lungs.
Aune, who is also the coordinator for RiverView’s Respiratory Therapy program, and Tony Sorum, RRCP, offer one-on-one inpatient and outpatient services in Crookston to support patients who are–
- Newly diagnosed with asthma, COPD, emphysema, and other pulmonary diseases
- Managing recent medication changes
- Experiencing a flare-up of respiratory symptoms and need additional support and services, but do not meet pulmonary rehab criteria.
“The program helps patients by combining medical management, behavior change, and self-care training to improve their quality of life, slow the COPD disease progression, and reduce hospitalizations,” Aune stated. “This is done by having an improved understanding of the disease, better medication management, breathing and energy conservation techniques, exacerbation management, and smoking cessation support.”
RiverView launched COPD Education Services in May of 2024 and, according to Aune, the program has been well received. Patients begin the program with an outpatient consultation, with follow-up appointments determined by their needs.
While educating patients at every encounter, no matter the setting, is second nature to Aune and Sorum, Aune said he has found that patients benefit significantly from the in-depth look at COPD in the controlled environment of an appointment entirely focused on the disease.
If you are interested in COPD Education, talk to your primary care provider about a referral. For more information on the program, call Rehab Services at 218-281-9463.
