A TOORA woman living with emphysema is urging South Gippsland residents to take their breathlessness seriously. This comes as new figures show Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is costing Australia almost $25 billion a year.
Sheryl Jones, 67, has lived with asthma all her life. She was diagnosed with emphysema at 56 but says the condition only really “rose its head” about three years ago.
“Previously, I was a chronic asthmatic, but my inhalers would always fix my symptoms,” she said.
“Then I started getting puffed out all the time. No matter how many times I did my asthma spray, it just was not working. I would get puffed out just from walking from the lounge room to the kitchen.”
After she first thought her symptoms could be bronchitis or a chest cold, a visit to her doctor and a series of scans showed otherwise. She was told her emphysema had progressed.
“I was devastated. Absolutely devastated,” Sheryl said.
“I had already had it for ten years, and I thought, oh no, it is going to get really bad, and it will all be over very soon.”
For Sheryl, breathing illnesses are deeply personal and painfully familiar.
“My grandfather died at 56 with emphysema, my mother was diagnosed at 69, and my son, who is 38, has COPD,” she said.
“So, it really runs in the family. Unfortunately for my son and my grandfather, it was smoking-related. I smoked a lot, too. But nowadays, they are finding other things are contributing to COPD. It is not only smoking. Some very healthy people have COPD.”
New data released for World COPD Day shows chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is costing the Australian health system an estimated $24.98 billion each year. Lung Foundation Australia says around one in 13 people over 40 live with COPD and more than half of them aren’t even aware of it.
“COPD is a hidden crisis in Australia. Half a million people are living with it, and more than half do not even know it,” Lung Foundation Australia chief executive Mark Brooke said in the organisation’s World COPD Day statement. He is urging anyone with ongoing breathlessness, a persistent cough or trouble keeping up with everyday activities to speak with their GP and ask for a simple breathing test called spirometry.
Spirometry measures how well the lungs are working and remains the best way to diagnose COPD. An early diagnosis can help people reduce flare-ups and stay active longer.
For Sheryl, managing emphysema has meant reshaping her life.
“Your lifestyle needs to change,” she said.
“I do get a lot of flare-ups, and I just have to sit down. Moving down to South Gippsland has made a big difference. The air is so much fresher.”
Sheryl is now semi-retired. She says she can no longer work much because of her condition.
One turning point came when her doctor referred her straight to Lung Foundation Australia after her emphysema diagnosis. A nurse from the foundation, Rebecca, now calls her every three months.
“The first call she explained some misconceptions and that I was not going to die in the next five years,” Sheryl said.
“She said you can live until you are 80, maybe even 90 with emphysema. Your lifestyle just has to change a bit. After speaking with her, I became proactive, and I honestly believe she saved my life. If it was not for her, I would have genuinely believed I only had 10 years maximum left to live.”
World COPD Day just passed on Wednesday, November 19, and Sheryl wants more people in South Gippsland to recognise the signs and seek help.
“Not enough people know about it,” she said.
“COPD is an umbrella for multiple breathing illnesses like emphysema and chronic bronchitis, and a lot more people need to be aware.”
Her message to anyone living with unexplained breathlessness or a nagging cough is simple.
“Go to the Lung Foundation’s website. There is a test on that website that only takes a couple of minutes. Take that test,” she said.
“If you cannot get to the website, go to your doctor. They can put you on a plan and the Lung Foundation has lots of resources.”
For Sheryl, sharing her story is about giving others hope.
“I used to think once you get emphysema that is it, 10 years and you are out,” she said.
“But that’s not the case.”
Visit lungfoundation.com.au for more information.