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, December 30, 2002                    Volume #1 -- Issue #18
Susie Bowers, Editor -- Web-Editor@COPD-International.com
Copyright © 2002-2004   COPD-International.com   All rights reserved.

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            > > > > > > > > > > IN THIS ISSUE  < < < < < < < < < <
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==> Welcome
==> COPD News
==> Recalls/Warnings
==> Featured Articles - The New Year
==> 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
As we are entering a new year, this is a good time to take stock
of ourselves. For those of us with COPD, that means reviewing
our health regime to make sure we are doing all we can to keep
our illness at bay and stay as healthy as possible.

There are three primary areas we should be looking at - smoking
cessation, exercise and medications.

Quitting smoking is NOT easy. But with support, we can beat the
addiction. It is the most important thing we can do for ourselves
to slow the progression of COPD. Exercise, whether it be pulmonary
rehabilitation or working out on our own, benefits us in many ways,
from improving our general health, helping us breathe better to easing
depression.

Although there are few medications that are COPD-specific, there
are many asthma drugs, which relieve COPD symptoms. New drugs,
such as Spiriva, which is expected to be approved for the U.S. market
in 2003, are being developed.

This issue focuses on the basics - simple things we can do for ourselves
to keep us one step ahead of our disease. May the New Year bring us
a better understanding of our disease, as we continue to empower
ourselves through knowledge and support.

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

A Happy, Healthy New Year to All!

Yours in health ...
Susie
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               > > > > > > > > > > COPD NEWS < < < < < < < < < <
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-----SPIRIVA - FDA APPROVAL STILL AWAITED
A U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel in
September recommended for approval Spiriva, a new once-daily
treatment for COPD. At that time, it was expected that the FDA
would give final approval before 2003. To date, no ruling has been
made. Hopefully, it will gain approval soon and be on the U.S market
in 2003. For more on Spiriva, see Library articles at
http://www.copd-international.com/Library/contents.htm

-----WTC DUST NOT AS HARMFUL AS SUSPECTED
Scientists are saying that the thick layer of dust that covered lower
Manhattan after the September 11 attacks is not likely to cause
alarming increases in cancer, emphysema and other long-term health
problems. View Entire Article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/28/nyregion/28EPA.html

-----NEW OPTIMISM VOICED IN TREATMENT OF COPD
Although the incidence of COPD is rising, several major developments
within the last few years have sparked new optimism for treating COPD
patients. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
recently convened an expert group charged with recommending future
directions for research. See Report:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/meetings/workshops/copd_wksp.htm

-----NHLBI - DIURETICS BETTER FOR HYPERTENSION
Less costly, traditional diuretics work better than newer medicines
to treat high blood pressure and prevent some forms of heart disease,
according to results from the largest hypertension clinical trial ever
conducted. The long-term, multi-center trial, supported by the
NHLBI, compared the drugs for use in starting treatment for high
blood pressure. See Study:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/new/press/02-12-17.htm

-----MILLIONS OF SMOKERS IGNORE WARNINGS
Despite suffering from chronic lung and other ailments, millions of
Americans ignore warnings from their physicians and continue smoking.
A study by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
found that nearly 38 percent of people with the chronic lung disease
emphysema still smoke, as do almost 25 percent of those with asthma.
See Study: http://www.ahrq.gov/news/press/pr2002/smokepr.htm

-----CHOOSING THE BEST OXYGEN THERAPY
Oxygen should be viewed as a drug. It should only be used as prescribed
by a physician. Oxygen is the most beneficial to people who are unable to
transfer enough oxygen from their lungs into their blood stream. Some of
the conditions that warrant the home use of oxygen are COPD, pulmonary
fibrosis, lung cancer and heart failure.
http://www.sublung.com/oxypresc.html

-----BRONCHOSCOPY, BIOPSY, BAL SAFE?
Bronchoscopy, biopsy, and BAL can be performed safely in patients
with COPD, including those with severe disease, provided careful
assessment is performed and guidelines are adhered to. See Study:
http://www.chestjournal.org/cgi/content/abstract/122/6/1909

-----NIH OFFERS PUBLICATION ON COPD
A National Institutes of Health (NIH) publication, "Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary Disease (COPD)," provides a detailed look at COPD, including
diagrams of the airways and descriptions of disease symptoms, methods of
detection, and treatment. Special attention is given to ways in which
patients and their families can cope with this illness. See Publication:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/lung/other/copd/index.htm

-----DOCTORS RETHINKING SINUS TREATMENTS
Over the last 10 years, many doctors have become convinced that the
answer to chronic sinusitis, which afflicts millions and costs the United
States an estimated $6 billion a year, could be successfully treated with
surgery. See Story:
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/17/health/anatomy/17SINU.html?8bhp

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 drug 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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-----WHAT'S UP DOC! LEARNING TO MANAGE COPD
For those of you who are newly diagnosed, COPD feels like a death
sentence. The first few months can be filled with fear, deep depression
and a sense of hopelessness. Initially, we are overwhelmed with a
battery of tests and doctors' appointments, making us wonder if
there will ever be anymore to life than dealing with our disease.

Yes. There is definitely more to life once we realize that COPD
is not a death sentence and that there is much we can do to improve
our health.

Even for those of us who have been living with the disease for years,
waves of frustration, uncertainty and anxiety can sweep us off our feet.
Below are links to tools and information to help us take control and stay
in control of our disease in order to live the best life possible.

--FOR STARTERS - THE "COPD SURVIVAL GUIDE"
This link leads to COPD Advocate Bill Horden's works, a pioneer of online
support for COPD. If you have not read his "COPD Survival Guide," please
do so. It will put you on the right path in coping with your disease.
http://www.copd-international.com/COPDAdvocate/copdsurvival.html

--NO BUTTS ABOUT IT! QUIT SMOKING NOW (QSN)
Smoking cessation is also one of the most important single steps you
can take to improve your health. If you wish to stop smoking, go to
http://www.copd-international.com/quit_smoking/ and learn about our
interactive QSN Program.

--EXERCISE - USE IT, OR LOSE IT
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. To learn
more about the importance of exercise, please go to
http://www.copd-international.com/exercise/

-----MEDICATIONS - IT'S AN INDIVIDUAL THING
Medications cannot cure COPD, but they can help relieve such symptoms
as breathlessness, cough, mucus and fatigue. When your symptoms are
under control, you'll feel better. COPD has many different components;
therefore, we all react differently to drugs. Below is a link to various
treatments that you can discuss with your doctor. With your doctor's
guidance, you can find a regiment that fits your particular needs. See
Medications: http://www.lung.ca/breathworks/E02.html
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       > > > > > > > > > > NUTRITION/WELLNESS < < < < < < < < <
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-----MALNUTRITION A CONCERN IN EMPHYSEMA PATIENTS
People with advanced emphysema usually suffer from being underweight.
The problem is that breathing and moving around require so much strength,
these people frequently lose their appetites or simply do not have the
energy to eat. There are several ways you can eat to stay healthier with
emphysema. See Suggestions:
http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/32172/32177/35391.html?d
=dmtContent
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.

-----ALL ABOUT COUGHS
Four ways to look at a cough:

- A defense mechanism that helps clear excessive secretions and foreign
material from airways
- A symptom of a pathologic condition or process
- A means of spreading infection
- A form of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a patient with potentially
lethal cardiac arrhythmia

More on the types of coughs: http://www.chestnet.org/guidelines/cough/
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    > > > > > > > > > > COPD 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.

-----DAILY CHATS
Scheduled chats with hosts are held daily and we invite everyone to
stop in and visit. So, join us in a chat or two or more! We look
forward to seeing you. The Chat Room schedule can be accessed
at http://www.copd-international.com/Chat-schedule.htm

-----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. 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

-----QUIT SMOKING NOW 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

-----KEEP IN TOUCH PROGRAM
Our Keep in Touch Program (KIT) is a program set up for those of
us that live alone, or persons who desire a way to maintain daily
contact with a small group of people like themselves for reassurance.
For details, go to http://www.copd-international.com/Keep_in_Touch/

-----LOVING THOUGHTS
Express your loving thoughts, get-well wishes and prayers for
our fellow community members, who are very ill or hospitalized.
To participate in this program of loving concern, please go to
http://www.copd-international.com/Loving_Thoughts/

-----VISIT THE BILL HORDEN LIBRARY
In addition to the "COPD Survival Guide," our Library includes the
other works of COPD Advocate Bill Horden, a pioneer of online
support for those with COPD. To browse the Horden Library, go to
http://www.copd-international.com/COPDadvocate/

-----VOLUNTEERS - PLEASE SIGN UP HERE!
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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-----BEJEWELED GAME
Link strings of icons in this puzzle game. Careful, it's addictive!
http://zone.msn.com/bejeweled/start.asp
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                 > > > > > > > > > > RECIPE < < < < < < < < <
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-----SLOW COOKER PORK AND SAUERKRAUT
Old fashioned pork and sauerkraut is served in some parts of the
United States on New Year's Day for good luck. Serve with mashed
potatoes and applesauce.

Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 6 Hours
Ready in: 6 Hours 20 Minutes

Ingredients

5 pounds pork tenderloin
1 teaspoon caraway seeds
salt and pepper to taste
2 cups sauerkraut with liquid

Directions

1. Cut pork loin, if necessary, to fit in the slow cooker. Add the
caraway seeds and season with salt and pepper to taste. Pour the
sauerkraut and liquid over the loin.
2. Cook on high setting for 1 hour, then cook on low setting for 5 to 6
hours. Internal temperature of loin should be at least 160 degrees F
(70 degrees C). Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Note: Pork tenderloin can be browned on the stovetop before
placing in slow cooker.
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           > > > > > > > > > > CLOSING THOUGHT < < < < < < < < <
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Reflect upon your present blessings of which every man has many -
not on your past misfortunes of which all men have some.

-- Charles Dickens --

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Thank You For Your Readership
-----------------
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
owners. All content provided "as is" without warranty of any kind.

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.