A SUPPORT group which will help people in the Isle of Man who are living with lung disease should be in place by March.
The British Lung Foundation has said it is working with the Department of Health to set up a Breathe Easy group which will offer support and information to those living with a respiratory condition.
Today (Wednesday) is World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Day (COPD) and a representative from the British Lung Foundation has visited the Island to help raise awareness of the condition.
COPD is an umbrella term for a number of conditions including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It is a progressive, irreversible lung disease often caused by smoking or industrial pollution such as asbestos and rare auto-immune lung disorders. However if it diagnosed early it is treatable and manageable.
Figures show that COPD currently kills more people each year than colon cancer, more men than prostate cancer and more women than breast cancer.
In the Isle of Man there are more than 1,000 patients who are registered with COPD and it is estimated that almost 2,500 are living with the condition undiagnosed.
Symptoms of COPD include a persistent cough, a wheezy chest and recurrent chest infections. People have been urged to watch out for the symptoms as early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can slow the progression of the illness.
Carole Carlisle, the development officer for the North West at the British Lung Foundation, has been manning an information stand at Noble's Hospital today.
She explained: "We're trying to get a support group going for the Island for people with lung conditions.
"It will be three things – information, support and friendship. When you've got a lung condition you can get very isolated, very depressed and feel anxious because you can’t move far because of your breathing.
"It's really ideal to get these people out meeting other people in the same situation, making friends and supporting each other."
There are 200 Breathe Easy groups throughout the UK and they offer sufferers the chance to take part in social activities, listen to guest speakers, gain advice from experts and take part in discussions.
Carole continued: "We want to encourage anyone from the Isle of Man who has been affected by lung disease or who may be concerned about their lung health to come along to the information stand to find out how we can support them.
"Being diagnosed with a lung condition can be a frightening, isolating and emotional time, not only for the person diagnosed but for their family, friends and carers.
"The British Lung Foundation support services provide support, information and advice for anyone affected and we want to extend this support to the Isle of Man."
The information stand will be at Noble's Hospital for the rest of today and all day tomorrow (Thursday) for people to pick up advice and information about COPD.
For more information please contact the British Lung Foundation's regional office on 0151 224 7778.
Picture caption: L to R - Anita Imberger, tobacco strategy co-ordinator, Bill Osland, patient representative, Maggie Shutler, specialist stop smoking advisor, Deborah Corrin, respiratory nurse specialist and Carole Carlisle from the British Lung Foundation.
