Look for changes in symptoms Sputum/Phlegm/Glut. This can change in colour, thickness and amount. It can be darker than your normal colour if infection is present, i.e.-yellow to green. There can be more or less of it. An infection can increase the amount or it can become thick and sticky so it’s harder to clear […]
Recognising your normal chest symptoms is important. You should be aware of your normal: Sputum colour and thickness. Cough/wheeze (if any). Breathlessness. Appetite and energy levels. Select the green traffic light on the right to see an enlarged version of the COPD asthma plan.
Shortness of Breath Cough Wheeze High-pitch, squeaky noise. Listen to an example on YouTube Chest tightness This may feel like there is a tight band around or pressing on your chest. People with asthma might have one or more of these symptoms. They usually come and go and can change throughout the day. They can […]
Asthma is an inflammation of airways or breathing passages in your lungs. The main symptoms of asthma are: Wheeze Cough Breathlessness Tightness in chest There are other factors which can influence these symptoms.
An exacerbation or flare up is as a worsening of your symptoms from your usual stable state, which is not within your normal day-to-day variations. It can start suddenly. There will be a discussion about how you manage with breathlessness on a day to day basis and how you cope if you have a flare up […]
It may be useful to take all your inhalers and medicines with you. You may be asked to demonstrate how you are taking your inhalers to get the maximum effect from them. Note when and how often you take them. Have you had any side effects? If you have a diary with your symptoms take […]
This is a patient-completed questionnaire assessing all aspects of the impact of COPD (cough, sputum, breathlessness, chest tightness, confidence, activity, sleep and energy levels) There are 8 questions on a 1 to 5 point scale. This will help your respiratory specialist nurse or doctor decide the best treatment for you. If you would like to […]
During your appointment your doctor or nurse will assess your breathlessness to see how it affects your day to day living by asking a series of questions such as; How far you can walk before you get breathless? How fast you can walk on level ground or going up a hill? How quickly you get […]
