External links

This section provides links to relevant websites that will help you expand your knowledge about COPD and gain access to additional information that you may find useful in your clinic.

Unless otherwise indicated, Nycomed neither affiliates with nor endorses any of the following organisations.

The following lists of associations and societies, medical databases and patient support groups are not intended to be all-inclusive, but are a representative sampling of information sources available.

Associations and Societies:

American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC)

The AARC lung health site contains links to several articles with advice on living and coping with COPD and other lung conditions.

http://www.yourlunghealth.org/healthy_living/living/index.cfm

American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP)

The ACCP are the leading resource for cardiopulmonary health and critical care worldwide. They aim to promote the prevention and treatment of diseases of the chest through leadership, education, research, and communication.

http://www.chestnet.org/accp

Asociación Latino Americana de Tórax (ALAT)

ALAT is a non-profit organisation that supports respiratory research, education and training in Latin America. The organisation provides support to patients suffering from respiratory disease and helps raise awareness of these conditions. Site in Spanish/Portugese.

http://www.alatorax.org

American Medical Association (AMA)

America’s leading organisation for the promotion of professionalism in medicine, setting standards for medical education and ethics, and advancing improvements in public health.

http://www.ama-assn.org

Asian Pacific Society of Respirology (APSR)

The APSR promotes the advancement of respiratory knowledge through research, improved clinical practice, conferences and awareness of pulmonary health problems in the Asia-Pacific region.

http://www.apsresp.org/

American Thoracic Society (ATS)

The ATS is the world’s leading medical association dedicated to advancing the clinical and scientific understanding of pulmonary diseases.

http://www.thoracic.org

British Lung Foundation (BLF)

A charity that focuses its efforts on supporting all those affected by lung disease through raising funds for research and patient helplines and assessment days.

http://www.lunguk.org

British Thoracic Society (BTS)

The BTS works towards promoting optimum standards of care and advancing knowledge across all areas of respiratory disease.

http://www.brit-thoracic.org.uk

COPD8

COPD8 is an international conference held bi-annually, with the next meeting in Birmingham in 2012. The conference will have an accredited education and training program in COPD with clearly identified tracks for nurses, scientists, clinicians, physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals interested in cutting edge COPD research.

http://www.copdconferences.org

COPD Foundation

The COPD foundation aims to develop and support programs which improve quality of life for patients affected by COPD through research, education, early diagnosis, and enhanced therapy. Includes links to the COPD information line and COPD Glossary.

http://www.copdfoundation.org

European Respiratory Society (ERS)

The ERS aims to alleviate suffering from respiratory disease and to promote lung health through research, knowledge sharing, medical and public education.

http://www.ersnet.org/

Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD)

GOLD works with health care professionals and public health officials to raise awareness of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and to improve prevention and treatment of this lung disease for patients around the world.

http://www.goldcopd.org

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

The NHLBI provides global leadership for a research, training, and education program to promote the prevention and treatment of heart, lung, and blood diseases and enhance the health of all individuals so that they can live longer and more fulfilling lives.

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov

 

Medical databases

MEDLINE/PubMed

Medline and Pubmed are services from the National Library of Medicine that provide access to over 11 million citations from MEDLINE and additional life science journals. They also include links to additional sites that provide full-text articles and other related resources.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/copdchronicobstructivepulmonarydisease.html

Medscape

Medscape provides clinicians and other healthcare professionals with timely clinical information that is relevant to your patients and practice. After registering for free, Medscape automatically delivers specialty content that best fits your profile.

http://www.medscape.com

 

Patient support

COPD Support Forum

COPD support forum provides a variety of programs where patients and caregivers can talk to each other, sharing ideas and experiences on coping with COPD.

http://www.copd-support.com

Patient.co.uk

This website provides background information on COPD along with resources on disease and lifestyle management for patients living with the disease.

http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Chronic-Obstructive-Pulmonary-Disease.htm