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, March 24, 2003 Volume #2 -- Issue #12
Susie Bowers, Editor -- Web-Editor@COPD-International.com
Copyright © 2002-2004 COPD-International.com All rights reserved.
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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 - SARS
==> 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
There has been much bad news this past week, but perhaps the
most threatening to us with COPD is the news of the spread
of a mysterious respiratory illness, emanating from Southeast Asia.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has dubbed the unknown
illness Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS, and, along
with the U.S Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC), has issued
a global health alert, especially for travelers returning from Asia.
This issue focuses on the status of this contagious illness and special
links to stay current on the latest updates on this fast-spreading illness.
Following the SARS information is a link to tips from experts on how
we can understand and conquer our fears in these troubling times.
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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-----LUNG CANCER RISK ASSESSMENT.
Researchers say it is possible to predict the risk of lung cancer
in smokers and ex-smokers using a formula based on cigarette
consumption. The calculation, created by researchers at New
York's Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre, only works
for people aged over 50, and who smoked at least half a packet
a day for at least 25 years - because it is based on studies of
cancer in these people. See Tool:
http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/12463.cfm
-----SINGULAIR APPROVED AS HAYFEVER TREATMENT
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved
Merck's asthma drug Singulair to treat seasonal hay fever.
Singulair, a once-a-day tablet, has been on the market since 1998
and is the most-prescribed asthma controller in the United States,
with more than 40 million prescriptions dispensed.
Unlike the many allergy medicines that block substances called
histamines from causing the sneezing, runny nose and itchy eyes
common with hay fever, Singulair blocks the action of a different
chemical produced in the body called a leukotriene. It's been
linked to symptoms of both asthma and seasonal hay fever.
The drug is not approved for use in combination with other
allergy drugs. (Associated Press)
-----COMMON COLD COST $40 BILLION
There is nothing cheap about the common cold. Across the United
States, millions of people stay at home, popping pills, sucking lozenges,
squirting miracle cures up their noses, as they wage war against the
unbeatable virus. In fact, this "war" costs the U.S. economy roughly
$40 billion a year - substantially more than other conditions like asthma,
heart failure and emphysema. See Report:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_11781.html
-----BLVR - POSSIBLE SURGERY OPTION
Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) may offer an
alternative to surgical approaches in treating advanced emphysema,
researchers report in the March issue of the American Journal of
Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, noted
that although lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) has provided
"quite impressive" results in patients with severe emphysema,
"substantial morbidity and mortality" limits its use.
The researchers therefore developed and improved a minimally
invasive procedure based on tissue engineering principles. This
employs reagents to promote formation of scar tissue to replace
diseased hyper inflated lung parenchyma.
Researchers said the method "remodels and shrinks the lung, and
can be performed through a bronchoscope."
The scar tissue generated, the researchers said, "replaced
hyper inflated lung, reduced overall lung volume and improved
respiratory function, safely and consistently." The bronchoscopic
technique, they conclude, "appears safe and effective enough to
justify a trial in humans."
Researchers said, "BLVR is likely to make volume reduction
therapy available to a larger number of patients than are currently
considered candidates for volume reduction surgery, and have a
significant impact of future management of COPD."
Clinical studies are expected to start within a few months.
(Reuters Health)
-----SWIMMING GOOD ACTIVITY FOR ASTHMATICS
According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and
Immunology, winter athletes including cross country skiers, ice
skaters and hockey players are at the highest risk for exercise-
induced asthma.
Swimming is often seen as the ideal sport for people with asthma
because of the typical warm, humid atmosphere and the horizontal
position of the body in the water. (HealthScoutNews)
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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-----HHS ACTS TO REDUCE RISK OF EPHEDRA
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has
taken a series of actions to protect Americans from potentially
serious risks of dietary supplement products containing ephedra.
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2003/NEW00875.html
-----RECENT RECALLS
Ancom Tablets
http://www.copd-international.com/Library/Ancom-Tablets_recall2.htm
Premarin
http://www.copd-international.com/Library/Premarin_recall2.htm
Rhinaris Nasal Mist
http://www.copd-international.com/Library/Rhinaris_recall.htm
To view earlier 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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-----SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME (SARS)
With the rising concern and spread of Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome (SARS), especially in Southeast Asia, health officials
worldwide have issued health alerts.
In conjunction with the global health alerts, the World Health
Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease and Control
(CDC) have created special Web pages to provide the public and
professionals information about SARS. The sites are updated daily
to ensure that the most current information is available.
WHO Updates
http://www.who.int/csr/sars/en/
CDC Updates
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/index.htm
The CDC site, above, includes links to a tally of cases reported
worldwide, including a state-by-state breakdown of suspected
cases in the United States.
As of March 23, WHO said that its network of scientists had
developed a crude test to detect cases of the mysterious respiratory
illness even though they have not yet precisely identified its cause.
Researchers said they believe it might be a strain of virus that
resembles a paramyxovirus, the family of microbes that causes
measles, mumps and respiratory infections.
WHO and CDC health officials are taking the paramyxovirus
theory seriously, but officials say it's too early to draw conclusions.
(Compiled From Various News Sources)
-----COPD INTERNATIONAL SARS UPDATES
Additional updates on SARS can be accessed from links on
our Home Page under Latest News:
http://www.copd-international.com/
-----WIN THE WAR AGAINST WORRY
War, an ever-changing world and reports of an unknown illness
spreading worldwide weighs heavily on our minds. But we don't
have to let the worry take over our lives. Experts offer tips on how
we can understand and conquer our fears in these troubling times.
See Advice: http://my.webmd.com/content/Article/62/71661.htm
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> > > > > > > > > > NUTRITION/WELLNESS < <
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----YOU ARE WHAT YOU WEAR
Here's a healthy idea that hospitals in the United States should
take note of. The Hospital de Zone in Morges, Switzerland, told
patients to get out of those funny-looking hospital gowns and into
their street clothing. Not immediately, but as soon as they thought
it would be safe for the patient.
The result, according to the journal Sozial-Und Praventivmedizin,
was that the patients who put on street clothing were ready to go
home as much as half a day sooner than those who wore the hospital
gowns. (ScoutNews)
-----BREAKFAST ANYONE?
Researchers report that breakfast-eaters are far less likely to be
obese or have diabetes or heart disease. The morning meal may
reduce obesity and other health risks by 50 percent. See
Report: http://my.webmd.com/content/article/61/71457.htm
-----HEY! QUIT THAT RUBBERNECKING
Chatting on a cell phone while driving may have gotten a bad
rap in recent years as a common cause of car crashes, but a new
study shows cell phones can't hold a candle to good, old-fashioned
rubbernecking when it comes to causing a highway pile up. See Study:
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/62/71477.htm
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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.
-----NEW! ONLINE DIARY ON LUNG TRANSPLANT
Community member Lance Woodard has been keeping an ongoing
diary of his recent lung transplant experience. To access "On the
Road Again," which Lance continually updates, go to
http://www.copd-international.com/Library/Lungtx-Lance.htm
-----DAILY CHATS
Scheduled chats with hosts are held daily and we invite everyone
to stop in and visit. Also during the week, special on-topic chats
are held. Unlike our open chats, we ask that these chats stay on
topic. We look forward to seeing you. The chat room schedule can
be accessed at http://www.copd-international.com/Chat-schedule.htm
-----LUNG TRANSPLANT CHAT
Every Tuesday at 7 p.m. (EST) a special on-topic chat is held on
lung transplants hosted by Tony Hamel. Tony had a single lung
transplant February 2001. This chat is held in the COPD Community
Room. Access the COPD room through the COPD community link
off the Home Page or directly at
http://www.copd-international.com/COPD/chat.htm
You can read more about Tony and his story in our library. The
direct link is
http://www.copd-international.com/Library/lungtx.htm
-----EXERCISE CHAT
Sundays at 7 p.m. (EST) in the Exercise Chat Room, join Host Billie
in this informal chat setting to discuss exercise, getting started,
motivational tips, advanced tips and much more. All are welcome
who have an interest in any type or level of exercise. Exercise Chat
Room: http://www.copd-international.com/exercise/chat.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.)
-----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
For more information on our chat rooms, please contact Deb,
chat coordinator, at Chat@COPD-International.com
-----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/
-- Our condolences go out to the family of Tadashi Andres
Mayeda, 77, who passed away peacefully Feb. 21 from the
effects of COPD. To express personal condolences, please
go to the link above.
-----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 - LEND A HAND
This site is supported and maintained by COPDers. It is not
uncommon for us to have severe pouts with our illness. Due to
our health issues, many of us need downtime to recuperate and
get back on our feet.
Therefore, a strong team of volunteers is most important. If you
want 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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-----SO TRUE
-- Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day; teach that
person to use the Internet and they won't bother you for weeks.
-- I read recipes the same way I read science fiction. I get to the
end and I think, "Well, that's not going to happen."
-- All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no
attention to criticism.
-- In the 60s people took acid to make the world weird. Now the
world is weird and people take Prozac to make it normal.
-- How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes
a whole box to start a campfire?
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> > > > > > > > >>> RECIPE < < < < < < < < <
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-----SPICY BROILED PORK CHOPS
A tangy sauce brushed on while they broil makes these chops
a family favorite. Cook them until they're just done and you
probably won't have to bother with putting away leftovers.
Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 15 Minutes
Ready In: 35 Minutes
Makes: 6 Servings
Ingredients
3/4 cup ketchup
3/4 cup water
2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
6 (3/4 inch) thick pork chops
Directions
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> > > > > > > > > > CLOSING
THOUGHT < < < < < < < < <
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Change your thoughts and you change your world.
-- Norman Vincent Peale --
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Thank You For Your Readership
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remedy, treatment or therapy is started.