COPD Info

Why should you exercise?

Exercise and staying active are an important part of rehabilitation for chronic lung disease. You may believe that people with chronic lung disease are too short of breath to exercise.

This is a myth.

The truth is that regular exercise can help you feel less short of breath. Regular exercise improves your heart and muscles. It can help you feel good about yourself.

See More: http://www.copd-international.com/exercise/

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not
to use inhalers stolen from a Virginia warehouse after some of the
pilfered medicine turned up in some pharmacies.

The stolen Advair Diskus inhalers (fluticasone propionate and
salmeterol inhalation powder) were found recently - the first batch
known to have hit the supply chain since the August 2009 theft. As
the investigation continues, FDA officials warned the public that
more of the stolen inhalers could still be on the market.

More than 25,000 of the inhalers were stolen from drug maker
GlaxoSmithKline's distribution center near Richmond, Va., last year.
They are set to expire in September. FDA experts are advising anyone
who uses the Advair Diskus inhaler to check the label for the
following lot numbers:

Lot 9ZP2255 - NDC 0173-0696-00, Advair Diskus 250/50, 60 Dose Lot
9ZP3325 - NDC 0173-0697-00, Advair Diskus 500/50, 60 Dose

Patients who have inhalers with matching lot numbers should
discontinue use and call GlaxoSmithKline's Customer Response Center
at 888-825-5249.

See Alert: http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm217879.htm

People exposed to wood smoke, especially smokers, are not only at greater risk for COPD, but also may have changes to their genes (DNA) which increases the risk even more. The exposure can be from a number of sources, including home heating, cooking and even air pollution.

The combination of smoking, wood smoke exposure and genetic changes can increase the risk of COPD by a factor of 4 times.

The research conducted at Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute included 1800 current and former smokers between 40 and 75 years old. It is based on demographic and smoke exposure information, as well as sputum samples which were analyzed for epigenetic changes,

Source: American Thoracic Society (ATS) as reported in Med News Today
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/194921.php

There is an ad running on Google (right side panel on certain searches) that reads as follows:
--------------------------------------------------
COPD Warning Signs <<<<<<<< Link referenced below is here
Don’t Wait For The Symptoms To Get
Worse. Learn About Treating COPD
www .copd-international.com <<<< not an active link in the ad
---------------------------------------------------
Though it appears to be our, it is, in fact, someone hijacking our good name (deliberately or accidentally).

The link takes you to copdcommunity.info.
That website is set up as a niche site designed to make money off any links clicked on there. They appear to be involved with the domain estanton-ads.info. The ad is a paid ad by them, and is receiving very high placement and high numbers of impressions (page views).

This has already been turned in to the Google Ads Management team.

Note: The domains involved were all registered earlier this month (Apr 9th and 16th) which also questions the fact that it might be a deliberate action.

Again, it has NO connection to us.

Our advertising policy is very clear. We do not accept ads, nor would we use any program that appears to endorse others. This policy is designed to allow us to maintain complete neutrality.

It should also be noted that several other good COPD resources are being victimized by this tactic.

Last year, Mike McBride wrote about his quest to be the first COPD patient to not only enter but also complete the prestigious Boston Marathon. You can see the article, pictures and information about the race at: http://www.copd-international.com/Library/Boston.htm

This year he will be accompanied by Elizabeth Shepard who will act as a guide for Mike and his good friend "Breathin Stephen. Stephen has extremely advanced asthma. Mike and Stephen finished the Marathon together last year.

This year, Mike has arranged for Liz to call me every 30 minutes or so - to give me an update right from the race course itself. I will be posting that information as I receive it here on COPD-International's message board and The COPD International facebook page.

The race is monday - 4/19

Those of us with lungs compromised by COPD have additonal points to think about. For the COPD patient, especially those in advanced stages, the decision to participate (or not) can have immediate lasting effects of the quality of life.

There is a new article "Should You Participate in a COPD Research Study?" in our library.

http://www.copd-international.com/Library/Study.htm

We are all aware of the need for those of us with COPD to quit smoking. The impact on our bodies is well documented, affecting not only our lungs, but many other vital organs in our bodies. Second hand smoke also has been documented to have the same affect.

A Mayo Clinic report entitled "What is Third Hand Smoke?" contains information that is certain to not only surprise smokers, but also is an eye opener about the hidden dangers to others - especially children. It refers to all the toxins that cling to clothing, sofas, rugs, and drapes, etc. Small children are exposed to these as the breathe near, crawl on and even touch surfaces, often putting some in their mouths. Opening windows, using filters and air conditioners don't eliminate these risks.

For more information:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/third-hand-smoke/AN01985/

The Lahey Clinic COPD Center seminar series is designed to educate and inform the public about Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Each session will include two topics with lecturers drawn from various departments at Lahey Clinic, with the view that COPD is a complex disease that is best managed by experts from a variety of disciplines. The moderator for the series is Chip Gatchell, a COPD patient and advocate. COPD International is an active participant in this series

The lectures are free to the public. All patients, families and caregivers are encouraged to attend.

Date.......................................Topic....................................................................Presenter

Thursday.............1) Introduction to COPD - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Chip Gatchell
Feb 25, 2010......2) What is COPD - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dr Timothy Wu, MD

Thursday.............1) Medications for COPD - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Leslie Mitchell, PharmD
Mar 4, 2010.........2) Everything you would want to know about - - - - Ivette Molina, RTT
...................................Oxygen and Pulmonary Function testing - - - - - Lissa Judd, CRTT

Thursday..............1) Smoking Cessation - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Eleana Conway, NP
Mar 11, 2010........2) Non Medical Interventions - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dr Timothy Wu, MD

Thursday...............1) Coping with Lifestyle and psychological - - - - -Lyle Kantor, PhD
Mar 18, 2010.............challenges related to COPD
.............................. 2) Living Proactively with COPD: - - - - - - - - - - - - - Lisa Catalano, MSW, LICSW
.....................................Planning for the future

Thursday...............1) COPD and Rehabilitation - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Kara Schworm, MS, PT, CCS/Jon Kelley, PT
Mar 25, 2010.........2) Diet and COPD - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Holly McCarthy, MS, RD, LDN

Thursday...............Conclusion: covering unanswered questions, - - Chip Gatchell
Apr 1, 2010...........with an open discussion period followed
............................... by the closing presentation



Location:
Lahey Clinic Medical Center
41 Mall Road
Burlington, MA
Lobby Conference Room
5 to 7 pm each Thursday

NOTE: The conference room is easily accessible – located on the ground floor,
a very short distance from the main entrance.

Mall Road is located at the north edge of the Burlington Mall (Jnc. of routes128 and 3)

For additional information:
Visit: www.lahey.org/COPDSeminar
Or call Denise Hoffman at 781-744-COPD (2673).