Better Breather's Club
Overview
Better Breathers Clubs (BBC's) are free education and support groups for people with COPD (includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis), asthma and other chronic lung diseases. The goal of the Better Breathers Club is to build the desire and motivation to maintain and improve one's state of health. All are welcome at meetings, including (especially!) first time visitors and family members.
Chronic breathing difficulty can cause anxiety and depression; it's easy to withdraw socially as well as become less physically active. By attending the BBC's educational meetings and exchanging ideas and information with others who have similar problems, it is possible to gain a sense of control over lung disease and to lessen its symptoms.
Every BBC member receives free information about living with lung disease and the current calendar of club meetings via e-mail.
Objectives
Some of the benefits people with COPD and asthma can gain through attending BBC meetings include:
- Learning basic concepts and techniques of pulmonary rehabilitation, disease management and self-care.
- Keeping up-to-date with new concepts in the care and treatment of COPD and asthma.
- Sharing ideas and solutions to common problems on an ongoing basis.
- Meeting new people who understand your breathing problems.
Meeting Topics
In order to keep the club meetings interesting, topics and speakers change frequently.
Signing up for the BBC does not obligate you to attend meetings, however, we hope you will choose to do so. Successfully coping with chronic lung disease becomes easier after hearing about and sharing a variety of topics with the speakers and with other club members. Some of these topics include: exercise, rehabilitation, medications, breathing techniques and panic control, nutrition, psychology, indoor and outdoor air quality, new medications, research and medical equipment.
Meeting Locations and Schedule
There are six active chapters of the BBC in San Diego County, which meet either once a month or semi-monthly. Meetings are subject to change. The current BBC Calendar is available at meetings and via e-mail.
Smoking is prohibited at all meeting locations. All locations are accessible without climbing stairs. Contact the Lung Association at 619-297-3901 if you have any questions about these BBC groups.
| East County |
| Where: |
Dr. Herrick Health Library – 9001 Wakarusa St., La Mesa, CA 91942. (619-825-5010) |
| When: |
Third Friday of each month from 1:00-3:00 p.m.
|
| North County Coastal |
| Where: |
Tri-City Medical Center - Lower Level Assembly Room 2, 4002 Vista Way, Oceanside, CA 92056 (760-724-8411) Use Visitor's Parking. |
| When: |
Second Wednesday of each month from 1:30-3:30 p.m.
|
| North County Inland |
| Where: |
Dorothy E. Boeger Bldg. Senior Service Council - 728 N. Broadway, Escondido, CA 92027. Parking lot in front near Escondido Chamber of Commerce. |
| When: |
Second Wednesday of every other month from 1:00-3:00 p.m. – Mar 14, May 9, July 11, Sept 12, Nov 14.
|
| Ranch Bernardo |
| Where: |
Seven Oaks Community Center – 16789 Bernardo Oaks Dr., Rancho Bernardo CA 92128. (Meet in Auditorium) |
| When: |
Second Monday of each month from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
|
| San Diego |
| Where: |
American Lung Association - 2750 Fourth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103 (619-297-3901) Parking behind building, off Third Avenue. |
| When: |
Third Monday of each month from 1:00-3:00 p.m.
|
| Skyline/Encanto |
| Where: |
George Stevens Senior Community Center – 570 South 65 th St, San Diego CA 92114. |
| When: |
Third Tuesday of each month from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. |
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