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COPD

COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is the umbrella term for a number of conditions which include chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It usually affects people who smoke or who used to smoke, who are over the age of 35 and who have any of these symptoms: 9

  • Breathlessness when exercising or
    doing physical work
  • Chronic cough
  • Regular mucus (sputum) production
  • Frequent winter bronchitis
  • Wheeze

COPD is usually a progressive disease, which means that the condition tends to get worse over time, and in most cases, the degree of airways obstruction does not change significantly over a period of months - unlike asthma where there is usually considerable variation in symptoms of breathlessness.9

Apart from breathlessness, one of the main symptoms of COPD is the amount of mucus (phlegm) in the lungs, which leads to a persistent, productive cough.3
The amount of mucus increases, and the colour changes (usually becoming a darker green) if you have a flare-up or exacerbation of COPD.

Keeping the lungs clear of mucus is one of the big challenges for people with COPD, but there are treatments which can help.10

Please take a few moments to answer the following question, to help us learn more about your experience of Mucus Management

What, in your opinion, is the biggest obstacle to discussing excess mucus problems with a doctor or other healthcare professional?

Too embarrassed
Too trivial - think it would be a waste of doctor's time
Don't think the doctor could help
Didn't know excess mucus could be treated
Something I just have to put up with
No obstacle to discussing excess mucus

About the poll

Thank you for participating in this poll. Session control functionality Is included to prevent you from being able to answer questions more than once. The results are completely anonymous and will not be shared with any third parties. Teva UK Limited will use the results of this poll for market research, marketing purposes and to improve the site. (Job code:MUC/10/015h.Date of preparation: May 2012)

Reference 1

Richardson M. The physiology of mucus and sputum production in the respiratory system. Nursing Times 2003;99:63

Reference 2

Thornton DJ, et al. Structure and function of the polymeric mucins in airways mucus. Annual review of Physiology 2008;70:459-486

Reference 3

SIGN/BTS British Guideline
on the management of asthma http://www.sign.ac.uk/guidelines/
fulltext/101/index.html

Reference 4

Netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/asthma.htm

Reference5

Voynow JA, Rubin BK.
Mucins, mucus and sputum.
Chest 2009;135:505-12

Reference 6

Clinical Knowledge Summaries.
Patient information leaflet –
Lung cancer.
http://www.cks.nhs.uk/patient_
information_leaflet/lung_cancer

Reference 7

Cancer Research UK.
Lung cancer radiotherapy side effects. http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/type/
lung-cancer/treatment/radiotherapy/
lung-cancer-radiotherapy-side-effects

Reference 8

NHS Choices.
Chest infection, adult – symptoms.
Available at
www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Chest-infection-adult/Pages/Symptoms.aspx

Reference 9

NICE. National Clinical Guideline Centre.
(2010) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in adults in primary and secondary care. London: National Clinical Guideline Centre.
Available from: http://guidance.nice.org.uk/CG101/
Guidance/pdf/English

Reference 10

Poole P, Black PN.
Mucolytic agents for chronic bronchitis
or chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (Review).
The Cochrane Library 2010; 2: 1-66

Reference 11

Clinical Knowledge Summaries.
Patient information leaflet - Cystic fibrosis.
Available at
www.cks.nhs.uk/patient_information_
leaflet/cystic_fibrosis/symptoms

Reference 12

Logan JL.
The TG system for bedside recording
of sputum colour.
Ulster Med J 2006;75:228-30

Reference 13

Clinical Knowledge Summaries.
Palliative cancer care – cough.
www.cks.nhs.uk

Reference 14

Cystic Fibrosis Trust.
Clinical guidelines for the physiotherapy management of cystic fibrosis. 2002.
Available from:
www.cftrust.org.uk

Poll Results

Thank you for participating in this poll. Session control functionality Is included to prevent you from being able to answer questions more than once. The results are completely anonymous and will not be shared with any third parties. Teva UK Limited will use the results of this poll for market research, marketing purposes and to improve the site.