Living well with COPD

“They did everything they could to direct you through your disease and to help you manage it,” said Peter Sprague, who has been dealing with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, for more than 14 years.
For those with a diagnosis, chronic diseases like COPD are part of everyday life. Unfortunately, many Islanders living with COPD are not aware of their condition and this leads to a significant delay in diagnosis, treatment, and support. The provincial COPD Program teaches patients how to manage their disease so they can live well with COPD.
“We work to optimize their care and provide management tools to use daily as well as teach them when to seek additional support,” said Heather Cyr, the provincial COPD coordinator and a respiratory therapist.
Those living with a chronic (ongoing) lung (pulmonary) disease or heart (cardiac) disease may also connect to the Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab Program. This program provides support through physical exercise, education around medication use, diet, and even preparing for the end of life.
Peter participated in the program both in-person and virtually.
“At the end of every session, all you wanted was to come back the next day. The program was so great and the support was so important. It allowed me to see my potential, living with COPD and the things I could still do well.”
– Peter Sprague
While COPD can be attributed to several factors, smoking is one of the primary causes. Quitting smoking does slow the progression of the disease so smoking cessation support is available to all Islanders.
“These programs are designed to equip people with the tools to live the best they can knowing their bodies might not work the way they might want them to,” said Tayte Willows, manager for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management. “Our educators are so fantastic at helping people figure out what their best life looks like even though it might be different than what was expected before. It’s a personal and unique journey for everyone.”
If you are over the age of 40 and smoke or used to smoke, you may be at risk of developing COPD. Learn more about the provincial COPD Program.