NIH Web Site Provides COPD Info for Patients

The acronym "COPD" may not mean much to many patients, but with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease being the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, now may be a good time for them to learn about this condition.

A new Web-based resource from the NIH has already laid much of the groundwork; physicians can simply direct patients to NIHSeniorHealth for access to comprehensive information about COPD. Patients benefit by becoming actively involved in learning about their health and how to safeguard it, and the physician/patient interface becomes more effective because discussions about COPD can target specific aspects of management.

The COPD topic area of the NIHSeniorHealth Web site discusses signs and symptoms of the condition, causes and prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. It also includes a section for frequently asked questions and links to resources for more information.

Moreover, each section of the COPD area of the Web site features a review quiz and illustrations that reinforce the information presented. As with the remainder of the NIHSeniorHealth site, the text size and contrast of all pages are adjustable, making the site highly user-friendly.

Go online for a complete list of NIHSeniorHealth topics or to link to more information about the site.