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December 19, 2005
Breathing Better Together – 4th issue now posted
Throughout November and December we have been collecting and writing stories of people who are living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) – also known as chronic bronchitis and emphysema. These are people who have experienced their own personal struggles and generously gave us their stories to share with you. To read the final issue of the Breathing Better Together series, click here.
Please tell me, how have these stories been helpful or inspiring to you? Or please share your story of how you found out you have COPD and what life changes you have experienced.
If you have specific lung health questions, please click here or call 1-800-LUNG-USA.
Posted by lungblogposter at 08:08 AM | Comments (4)
December 13, 2005
Dialing Up The Answers
We get many questions to our American Lung Association Helpline (1-800-LUNG-USA). The Helpline is staffed with respiratory therapists and smoking cessation experts and they are available Monday-Friday 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. EST to help with your questions. The Helpline is one of the many resources provided by the American Lung Association.
Here is a frequent question we receive that I thought you might find interesting:
Question: I have COPD, does that mean I can’t exercise anymore?
Answer: Inactivity is a vicious cycle. Some people with lung disease try to exercise and get short of breath so they stop. Sometimes you may feel too tired to do many of the things you like to do. If you've been in the hospital or you've been sick at home, your body may be weak and out of shape. Pretty soon, it seems impossible to exercise because of muscle weakness, fatigue and shortness of breath.
You can build yourself up with exercise and get back in shape. Exercise is important to:
- Build and maintain strength by helping you use oxygen more efficiently
- Maintain the flexibility of your bones and joints
- Build stamina and be able to increase the amount of activity you can in addition to managing your weight
Although exercise will not reverse your lung disease, it will help you take more control of your condition by improving your everyday quality of life and maintaining your independence.
We welcome your comments. If you have specific questions, please click here or call 1-800-LUNG-USA
Posted by lungblogposter at 07:49 AM | Comments (4)
December 01, 2005
Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis
Today we launched our 3rd edition of the Hungry For Air: Breathing Better Together series of booklets. In a national survey done by the American Lung Association in 2004, we found out that nearly 64% of smokers are not concerned about getting Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) – also known as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. The survey also told us that more than half of smokers (55 percent) experience at least one of the symptoms of COPD a minimum of once a week.
COPD is often mistaken for a sign of aging and is usually dismissed. I’d like to review some of the primary symptoms of COPD. If you have any of these symptoms and you have been a smoker for at least 10 years, I ask you to call you doctor and ask for a lung function test.
- shortness of breath during exercise
- shortness of breath at rest
- Chronic cough especially in the morning
- Cough production of sputum
Here is one comment we recently heard from someone with COPD: “You have to change, but it can be done. Do not give up. There is something you can do!”
We hope you have been informed or inspired by the Breathing Better Together series. We welcome your comments. If you have specific questions, please click here or call 1-800-LUNG-USA
Posted by lungblogposter at 06:43 AM | Comments (16)
