Running dogs helped save my life

The Asthma Foundation

Media Release

World COPD Day

19 November

Running dogs helped save my life

Fiona Turner loves her dogs and doing dog agility courses. It was this love that prompted her to give up smoking two years ago and get fit so she could compete.

After six months of working hard Fiona had a chest infection and was feeling worse not better so she went to her doctor. When she called for her x-ray results the nurse told her that her emphysema or COPD was playing up. Fiona remembers thinking ‘what are you talking about, I don’t have COPD.’ The nurse thought Fiona already knew – it was a real shock to the system.

COPD is a chronic lung disease. Eighty percent of people with COPD – currently over 200,000 people over 45 in New Zealand - were smokers. It often goes undiagnosed in the early stages. Symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing and phlegm. People often ignore these symptoms until they are severe. Whether you have mild or severe disease, it’s not too late to stop smoking to improve your breathing.

Fiona started smoking when she was 14. “I should’ve known better as I looked after my father who died from COPD.“

If you are a smoker, you have a twenty percent chance of getting COPD, “it’s like playing Russian roulette with your health” says Dr Kyle Perrin, medical director for the Asthma Foundation. If New Zealand became smokefree COPD would become a rare disease.

In the first year Fiona had a lot of chest infections. “I was on nebulisers and going to the doctors often– it was a tough time.”

Then things changed. Fiona was put onto a 6-8 week pulmonary rehabilitation course. Once the course had finished she went onto the gym once a week where they gave her exercises to build up strength. She has also taken up aqua jogging at the pool with her sister. “She is really good support, she comes to the gym, swimming and walking – we try to walk between six to eight kilometres every day.” Slowly things are improving.

“Since doing pulmonary rehabilitation I have had no chest infections and the only time I go to the doctor is when I need repeat prescriptions. It is brilliant – not smoking has obviously helped too.”

Fiona works as a personal carer and planned to finish work in January because of breathing difficulties. “I am very lucky I have a manager who is very supportive with hours of work and having time off.” Fiona’s new fitness regime means she can now work casually doing jobs which don’t require so much lifting.

Fiona keeps busy with her husband, three children and seven grandchildren. She says “If you sit at home you procrastinate having COPD can get you down. I chose to pull my finger out and get up and get going – but by joves it is hard work getting up and getting going.”

Having COPD has meant Fiona has had to change the way she does things. “Before I would just go and do something, now, because I get breathless I have to look at and assess my best way of doing something – I understand that I can’t do what I normally would do.”

“Like running the dog, I have to work out how to do the course now as I can’t keep up with them as they’re like a bullet – which is why I gave up smoking. The dogs were my catalyst and who knows where I’d be if I hadn’t given up smoking. This has definitely helped save my life.”

Fiona’s message to people is to try not to start smoking – ‘it’s a terrible thing as it’s very easy to start and very hard to stop. The one’s you enjoy are the one’s that aren’t good for you.’

-End-

The Asthma Foundation urges people to stop smoking – this is the one activity you can do that will prolong your life if you have COPD. If you want some support to quit then contact Quitline on 0800 778 778, or visit www.quit.org.nz where you can talk to advisors, get on-line advice, have quitting tips and supportive messages texted to your mobile phone or receive daily email updates.

Also if you have difficulty breathing or coughing then visit your doctor to get tested for COPD because early detection and management can slow the progression of the disease and improve quality of life. You can also contact your local asthma society or trust. Full details can be found on www.asthmafoundation.org.nz

World COPD Day is an annual event organized by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) to improve awareness and care of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) around the world.

Contact Cindy Borrie, Communications Consultant for further information on 0274 433 905. Phil Burt (acting chief executive) and Dr Kyle Perrin (medical director) are available to be interviewed.

Notes for Editors
What is COPD?
When we breathe, air travels from our nose and mouth down through our airways to our lungs. Having COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) means that your airways are obstructed and the tissue inside the lungs is damaged. Those with COPD have shortness of breath, usually with exertion, and a productive, phlegmy cough - making many normal tasks difficult. They can take a long time to recover due to poor lung function.

COPD in NZ
COPD has a substantial impact on the health of New Zealanders. Although often undiagnosed, it affects an estimated 15 percent of the adult population over the age of 45 years (at least 200,000 New Zealanders). There is no cure for COPD however not smoking, working with their health team and pulmonary rehabilitation can enable people to still lead a good life.

The majority of the burden (80%) of COPD arises from tobacco smoking. New Zealand has the second highest rate of hospitalisations due to COPD in the OECD. The WHO predicts deaths from COPD will increase by more than 30 percent in the next 10 years unless there are interventions to cut risks, particularly preventing exposure to tobacco smoke.

COPD facts and figures:

• More than 85 percent of the burden of COPD arises from tobacco smoking, with contributions from cannabis use and dust exposure in the workplace.
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• COPD is an irreversible disease but is almost entirely preventable by avoiding exposure to tobacco smoke. Over 15 percent of all smokers are likely to become affected.
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• COPD is estimated to cost up to $192 million in direct health care costs each year.
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• In 2013 COPD was responsible for an estimated 11,000 hospital admissions.
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• COPD accounts for about 200,000 GP visits and more than 453,300 prescribed medications.
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• COPD afflicts over 50 million people worldwide and causes nearly 3 million deaths every year.
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• Deaths from COPD are projected to increase by more than 30 percent in the next 10 years.
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The Burden of COPD in New Zealand summary report: http://asthmafoundation.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/burdenCOPD.pdf

For regional reports, the Asthma Foundation has 15 affiliated societies and trusts around New Zealand who provide support, advice and education to their local communities.

About the Asthma Foundation

The Asthma Foundation is New Zealand’s sector authority on asthma, COPD and other respiratory illnesses.

We advocate to government and raise awareness of respiratory illnesses, fund research for better treatments and educate on best practice. We provide resources on our website and support our affiliated asthma societies and trusts in providing education, support and advice.

For more information, visit the Asthma Foundation’s website at www.asthmafoundation.org.nz or go to www.copdgold.org.

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