Look after your lungs: December 8th 2009

The Royal Bolton Hospital is hosting a 'Medicine for Members' event on December 8th, called Look after your lungs: what is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and how can you avoid it?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the name for a collection of lung diseases including chronic bronchitis, emphysema and chronic obstructive airways disease. The main symptom of COPD is difficulty breathing. This is caused by long-term damage to the lungs, usually as a result of smoking.

Around 900,000 people in the UK have been diagnosed with COPD, but it is thought that another 450,000 may have it without realising it. COPD causes 30,000 deaths a year.

Respiratory nurse Michaela Bowden will host the event and talk about both prevention and treatment of COPD. She said: "COPD is one of the most common respiratory diseases in the UK. It usually affects people who are over 40. Hopefully my presentation will give people a bit more information about the condition. Although COPD causes about 30,000 deaths a year in the UK, severe COPD can be prevented by making some basic changes to your lifestyle."

The event is designed for hospital Foundation Trust 'members', but the general public are also welcome to attend and find out more about what being a member means.

Every member of the public can become a 'member' of the Royal Bolton Hospital, and give their views on how they think services should be developed. Through its members, the hospital can really get to know what the public wants, and more importantly, act on that as services evolve.

The event takes place at the hospital's Education Centre, 2pm on Tuesday December 8th. Booking is not essential but would be preferred.
Either telephone 01204 390654 or email governor@rbh.nhs.uk