COPD-INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER
http://www.COPD-International.com

Dedicated to the philosophy
"You can learn to control this disease instead of letting it control you!"

Monday, November 11, 2002               Volume #1 -- Issue #11
Susie Bowers, Editor -- Web-Editor@COPD-International.com
Copyright © 2002-2004   COPD-International.com All rights reserved.

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the end of this newsletter. THIS IS AN AUTOMATED MESSAGE
PLEASE DO NOT REPLY. This newsletter is published on Mondays.
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          > > > > > > > > > > IN THIS ISSUE < < < < < < < < < <
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==> Welcome
==> COPD News
==> Recalls/Warnings
==> Featured Articles - General Nutrition
==> Nutrition/Wellness
==> COPD Community Update
==> Just for Fun
==> Recipe
==> Closing Thought
==> Subscribe/Unsubscribe Information
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> > > > > > > > > > WELCOME < < < < < < < < < <
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-----ABOUT US
We are a group of fellow COPD sufferers, caregivers and others
interested in this disease. Our online community is devoted to helping
one another to live the best life possible with this debilitating illness
through interactive support.

As many of us have found, COPD is a disease of many faces,
contradictions and components. Therefore, our diversified
community is here to share its combined wealth of knowledge
and information, so we may all become well-informed patients
and take control of our disease rather than letting this
disease control us.

-----EDITORIAL COMMENTS
For people with COPD, a well-nourished body helps to fight infections,
can prevent illness and cut down on hospitalizations. Food is fuel, and
the body needs fuel for all of its activities, including breathing.

Because we expend much energy in the simple act of breathing, our
ventilatory muscles can require up to 10 times the calories required by
a healthy person. This is why it is so important for persons with COPD
to eat properly.

Good nutritional support helps maintain the ventilatory functions of the
lungs, while improper nutrition can cause wasting of the diaphragm and
other pulmonary muscles.

This issue focuses on dietary tips and general nutrition guidelines.Your
doctor and/or a nutritionist familiar with the special needs of COPDers
are your best sources for information on diet and nutrition. Many of us
also have other health issues, which may require special dietary needs.

Next week's newsletter will feature nutritional requirements and menu-planning
ideas from COPD Advocate Bill Horden's "SOB in the Kitchen."

We welcome your input and participation in our newsletters and
will review for publication any pertinent information you wish to share
with others on COPD and related topics. If you wish to contribute to the
newsletter, please contact us at Newsletter@COPD-International.com

Yours in health ...

Susie
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> > > > > > > > > > COPD NEWS < < < < < < < < < <
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-----COPD AWARENESS MONTH UPDATE
The American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC) has released a list
of states that have issued proclamations designating November as "COPD
Awareness Month." The list of these states can be found at
http://www.aarc.org/headlines/copd_awareness_month/proclamations.asp
Editor's Note: To date, no presidential declaration has been issued.

-----U.S. FDA APPROVES NEW SMOKING CESSATION TOOL
http://www.copd-international.com/Library/smoking-Commit-Lozenge.htm

-----HANDWASHING - ALCOHOL GELS GET THUMBS UP
The government recently issued guidelines urging doctors and nurses to
abandon the ritual of washing their hands with soap and water and instead
rub on fast-drying alcohol gels to kill more germs.

The goal, the government said, is to reduce the spread of viruses and
bacteria that infect an estimated 2 million hospital patients in the United
States each year and kill about 90,000.

Many hospitals, expecting the new guidelines from the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), have already made the change,
and studies show that this can cut their infection rates in half.

Soap and water have been the standard for generations. But washing up
properly between each patient can take a full minute and is often skipped
to save time, especially in busy intensive-care units where the risk of
spreading germs is greatest.

While the alcohol-based gels and solutions kill more microbes, the main
advantage is that they are easier to use. With vials clipped to their
uniforms, nurses can quickly swish their hands while on the move without
stopping at a sink. The CDC estimates that this saves an hour in an
eight-hour intensive-care shift. (Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention)

-----AGING: IN-HOME PROGRAM SLOWS FRAILTY
Elderly people who want to stay at home but worry that they may be too
frail can benefit from an in-home training program, researchers say. The
program was described in a recent issue of The New England Journal of
Medicine. http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/22/health/aging/22AGIN.html

-----ASTHMA - 5 QUESTIONS CAN INDICATE STEROID USE
A family physician need answer only five basic questions to know whether
continuous steroid therapy is indicated for suspected asthma. Unfortunately,
chart reviews suggest that many of these questions are never asked.
See Report: http://www.aafp.org/fpr/assembly2002/1019/7.html

-----VITAMIN C - GOOD COP or BAD COP?
Some would have you believe that vitamin C can prevent cancer, stop
heart attacks, do the dishes and wash the car. Now government scientists
are putting C in its place. Hold onto your pill bottles, as some recent
studies have suggested that far from being a panacea, vitamin C might
actually contribute to heart disease and cancer. See Complete Story:
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/1668.50385

-----NEW STUDY: SLEEP AID MAY WORSEN ASTHMA
Melatonin, a popular sleep aid often used to treat jag lag, may worsen
asthma, according to a new study. Melatonin is a naturally-occurring
hormone produced by our bodies. Its popularity as a supplement is based
on its ability to regulate sleep patterns, but scientists also have found
that it can have an effect on inflammatory diseases such as asthma.
See Details: http://my.webmd.com/content/article/1660.52949

Make browsing in our Library and catching up on general medical
news in our Reading Room part of your daily surfing routine at
http://www.copd-international.com/Library/
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> > > > > > > > > > RECALLS/WARNINGS < < < < < < < < < <
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To view recent recalls, please go to our Library section
at http://www.copdinternational.com/library/contents.htm
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> > > > > > > > > FEATURED ARTICLES < < < < < < < < <
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-----COPDERS HAVE SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS
This information from the "Physician's Guide to Medical Nutrition
Therapy" explains why COPD patients have specific nutritional needs.
http://www2.swmed.edu/humannutrition/DietOrders/Pulmonary/copd.htm

-----NUTRITION 101
It's not hard to find what you need to live a healthier life if you know
where to start, according to this WebMD Health site. Here you will find
more than you ever wanted to know about nutrition. This link leads to
tons of information: http://my.webmd.com/content/article/3234.403

-----VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE
The link below leads to the Canadian Lung Association's food guide to
healthy eating. No one food or food group contains all the nutrients a
person needs. A person gets them all from enjoying a variety of foods.
See Guide: http://www.lung.ca/copd/management/coping/nutrition.html

-----BE HEART-FRIENDLY BY DRINKING LOTS OF WATER
Having trouble getting those eight glasses of water a day? Here's one
more reason to start. Staying hydrated may protect your heart and reduce
the risk of heart attack. See Study:
http://webcenter.health.webmd.netscape.com/content/article/1685.53179
?DEST=WebMD_contentSRC_nsdiet

Editor's Note: This is an exceptionally long link. Please cut and paste the
entire address into your browser if you have trouble opening the page.
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> > > > > > > > > > NUTRITION/WELLNESS < < < < < < < < <
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-----COOL DOWN - IT'S GOOD FOR YOU
According to the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America, leaving
your group-exercise class before the cool-down could potentially threaten
your health.

During strenuous aerobic exercise, large muscles aid in pumping blood
from the lower extremities back to the heart. Stopping abruptly after
exercising for a continuous period of time can cause venous pooling of
blood in those muscles because they are suddenly no longer required to
sustain the same workload.

Not allowing your heart rate to decline slowly and your muscles to adapt
to the lack of activity can cause uncomfortable and even dangerous
side-effects, including:

-a drop in blood pressure
-decreased blood flow to the brain
-dizziness
-lightheadedness
-nausea
-fainting
-possible cardiac irregularities

Take advantage of the post-aerobic cool-down to give your heart and
breathing rates the chance to decline, muscles time to relax and you time
to transition to the rest of your day.

Editor's Note: For those of us who cannot do strenuous exercises,
warm-up and cool-down periods are still advised. Warm-ups can be
simple stretching and bending exercises.

-----MEDICAL TESTS - DO-IT-YOURSELF TREND
People want more control - not less - over their medical care.
Do-it-yourself medical tests are popping up in malls and on the Web.
But can they be trusted?
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101021028-366334,00.html
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> > > > > > > > > > COPED COMMUNITY UPDATE < < < < < < < < <
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-----WELCOME NEW SUBSCRIBERS!
We welcome all our new subscribers and invite you to join our
e-mail lists and check out our chat rooms, where you can talk
freely about COPD in an atmosphere of fellowship. The link
to the chat schedules can be found on our Home Page or just
drop in anytime you have a need to talk.

-----VISIT THE BILL HORDEN LIBRARY
Our Library includes the works of COPD Advocate Bill Horden,
a pioneer of online support for those with COPD. His work continues
to be a source of inspiration to all of us - not only to live well, but also
to help others do the same. To browse the Horden Library, go to
http://www.copd-international.com/COPDadvocate/

-----QUIT SMOKING NOW (QSN) PROGRAM AND CHAT
If you want online support to quit smoking, join our interactive
Quit Smoking Now (QSN) Program, where community members
support one another in stopping smoking and remaining smoke-free.
http://www.copd-international.com/quit_smoking/

For more information on the QSN Program, contact Diane, program
coordinator, at Newsletter@COPD-International.com . Diane is also available
for scheduling one-on-one chats. This is in addition to the regularly
scheduled chat on Mondays at 9 p.m. (EST). The chat room can be
accessed at http://www.copd-international.com/quit_smoking/chat.htm

Editor's Note: This is a new program, so if you don't find anyone hanging
around the no-smoking chat room, please feel free to visit our main
chat room. The folks there certainly can help and lend their support.

-----NOTE TIME CHANGE FOR WEEKLY CAREGIVERS CHAT
On Wednesdays at 7 p.m. (EST), we invite all caregivers who are in
need of mutual support to join host Kitty in this weekly chat. Kitty is a
caregiver for her husband, George. You can reach the Caregivers Chat
Room at http://www.copd-international.com/caregivers/chat.htm
(Note: Only caregivers in this chat please.)

For more information on our chat rooms, please contact Deb,
chat coordinator, at Chat@COPD-International.com

-----LOVING THOUGHTS
Express your loving thoughts, get-well wishes and prayers for
our fellow community members, who are very ill or hospitalized.

"Books" of loving thoughts have been established for:

-Helen Price, caregiver and wife of Ray Price, one of the founding
members of COPD-International, underwent intestinal surgery on
Tuesday, Oct. 29.

-Our first "book" of loving thoughts is dedicated to COPD
Advocate Bill Horden.

To participate in this program of loving concern, go to
http://www.copd-international.com/Loving_Thoughts/

-----VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers are always needed to maintain the various interactive
support programs. If you wish to volunteer, please contact us
at http://www.copd-international.com/volunteer.htm

Don't forget to checkout all our support programs listed on our
Home Page at www.COPD-International.com
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> > > > > > > > > > JUST FOR FUN < < < < < < < < < <
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---THINGS YOUR SURGEON SHOULDN'T SAY

-Better save that, we'll need it for the autopsy.
-Someone call the janitor - we're going to need a mop.
-Bo! Bo! Comeback with that! Bad Dog!
-Wait a minute; if this is his spleen, then what's that?
-Hand me that...uh...that uh...thingy.
-Oops! Hey, has anyone ever survived 500ml of this stuff before?
-Everybody stand back! I lost my contact lens!
-What's this doing here?
-That's cool! Now can you make his leg twitch?!
-I wish I hadn't forgotten my glasses.
-Don't worry; I think it is sharp enough.
-Sterile, shmeril. The floor's clean, right?

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> > > > > > > > > > RECIPE < < < < < < < < <
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-----PASTA SHELLS WITH SAUSAGE AND BROCCOLI
An excellent dish using smoked sausage for zest.

Ingredients

6 oz - small pasta shells, cooked al dente in salted water
1 tbsp - extra-virgin olive oil
¼ lb - smoked sausage, sliced or cubed, ¼" thick
1 clove - fresh garlic, minced
1 ½ cup - fresh broccoli florets
1/3 cup - chicken stock or broth
1 pinch - coarse-ground black pepper
¼ cup - parmesan cheese

Directions

Heat oil in skillet over medium heat and sauté garlic for twenty seconds,
add chicken stock, broccoli, and sausage and simmer, covered, until
broccoli is fork tender. Add pepper to taste, add pasta and toss, then take
to the plate. Serves 2
 

(From Bill Horden's "SOB in the Kitchen")

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> > > > > > > > > > CLOSING THOUGHT < < < < < < < < < <
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The greatness comes not when things go always good for you. But the
greatness comes when you're really tested, when you take some knocks,
some disappointments, when sadness comes. Because only if you've been
in the deepest valley can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the
highest mountain. -- Richard M. Nixon
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Thank You For Your Readership
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Notes
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© 2002 COPD-International.com, except where otherwise indicated. All
rights reserved worldwide. Reprint only with permission from
copyright holder(s). All trademarks are property of their respective
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All Disclaimers Apply: The information and guidance provided in this
newsletter should never be interpreted as a diagnosis, treatment
plan or any other form of professional service.

All information provided should be judged as individual "opinions"
and discussed with a qualified health-care professional before any
remedy, treatment or therapy is started.