COPD News from COPD-International -- Vol #2

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, July 28, 2003                         Volume #2 -- Issue #30
Susie Bowers, Editor -- Web-Editor@COPD-International.com
Copyright © 2003   COPD-International.com     All rights reserved.

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       > > > > > > > > > >    IN THIS ISSUE    < < < < < < < < < <
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==> Welcome
==> COPD News
==> Recalls/Warnings
==> Featured Articles - GERD
==> 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
The acronym GERD may be unfamiliar to most people, but chances
are that they know the symptoms of this common condition all too
well. GERD stands for gastroesophageal reflux disease, better known
as acid indigestion or heartburn.

We have all had heartburn now and then, especially after eating a
highly acidic or spicy food or when bending over or exercising soon
after eating a full meal. In most cases, an over-the-counter (OTC)
antacid can take care of the temporary discomfort.

But when heartburn becomes chronic, it may be time to check with
your doctor to make sure GERD isn't the culprit. Under Featured
Articles is information on reflux disease.

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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-----MS DRUG EFFECTIVE AGAINST SARS?
Scientists in Germany say a drug used to treat multiple sclerosis
(MS) may also be effective against the Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome (SARS) virus. Beta interferon can stop the virus from
spreading and may also protect patients from catching it again,
according to Professor Jindrich Cinatl and colleagues at the
Frankfurt University Medical School. However, the U.K. Health
Protection Agency has been muted in its reaction to the claim, and
says much more research is needed. (BBC News Online)

-----WHO CHIEF PLANS PROGRAM TO FIGHT EPIDEMICS
The World Health Organization (WHO) will train a cadre of young
epidemiologists to battle outbreaks like Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome (SARS), emulating a program that has long helped the
United States play a leadership role in public health, the
organization's incoming director general has said. See Story:
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/21/health/21WHO.html

Editor's Note: This article is available free of charge for
online subscribers. To access the article you need only fill
out a short user form.

-----ELECTRONIC NOSE SNIFFS OUT LUNG CANCERS
A palm-sized "electronic nose" shows promise for the detection of
lung cancer, a new study suggests. Roberto Machado, MD, a fellow at
the Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, presented the findings at the recent
American Thoracic Society International Conference. See Details:
http://www.peerviewpress.com/loadContent.do?index=920323

-----BULL'S EYE: TARGETING CANCER TREATMENT
Doctors use a variety of methods to rid the body of cancer cells.
Skilled cancer surgeons remove tumors, beams of conventional
radiation kill cells in the line of beam's path and chemotherapy
eliminates the body's rapidly dividing cells. Because many of these
treatments are imprecise, they produce many unpleasant side effects.
But today researchers are designing drugs that seek and destroy just
cancer cells, sparing healthy cells. Targeted drug therapies known
as monoclonal antibodies are already available to patients with
certain types of cancers See Story:
http://healthology.com/focus_article.asp?f=xmlpressfeed&c=xml_targetedtherapy
&b=healthology&spg=NWL

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.

-----CARDIOVASCULAR SAFETY OF SALMETEROL
Patients with COPD have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Despite the clinical benefits of long-acting ß-agonist agents in the
treatment of COPD, patients may be at an increased risk of cardio-
vascular toxicity, including tachyarrhythmia due to B-adrenergic
stimulation.

This study concludes that the treatment with salmeterol, 50 µg bid,
does not increase the risk of cardiovascular AEs in this population
of COPD patients compared with placebo. See Study:
http://www.chestjournal.org/cgi/content/abstract/123/6/1817

-----TOBACCO ABSTINENCE BENEFITS CANCER PATIENTS
Cancer patients are able to stop smoking and benefit from
intervention. Treatment of nicotine dependence in cancer patients
merits attention from researchers and healthcare providers. See
Article:
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/104540005/START

-----SMOKING INCREASES BAD CHOLESTEROL
Scientific data show that smoking is not only a risk factor in
itself, but it can cause or worsen other risk factors like abnormal
cholesterol levels. Smoking is found to alter the lipid profile in
the body. It increases the levels of the bad cholesterol (LDL),
while decreasing the levels of high -density lipoprotein (HDL), the
good cholesterol. See Story:
http://www.philstar.com/philstar/Business200307244402.htm

-----CAREGIVERS AT RISK FOR ILLNESS
New research sheds light on how caregivers put themselves at risk
for illness. Researchers from The Ohio State University discovered
the chemical link to explain why the immune system is weakened by
stress. They say interleukin-6 (IL-6) is the culprit. See Story:
http://www.healthscout.com/template.asp?ap=1&page=newsdetail&id=8006496

-----IN-HOSPITAL COPD MORTALITY RATE DROPS
Mortality during hospitalization in this nationwide sample of
patients with acute exacerbations of COPD was lower than that of
previous studies of select populations. This estimate should provide
optimism to both clinicians and patients regarding prognoses from
COPD exacerbations requiring hospitalization. See Article:
http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/163/10/1180

-----ALA POSTS NEW FACT SHEET ON BRONCHIECTASIS
Bronchiectasis is an abnormal stretching and enlarging of the
respiratory passages caused by mucus blockage. One of the COPD
diseases, bronchiectasis can be complicated by emphysema and
bronchitis. The disease is commonly misdiagnosed as asthma or
pneumonia. See American Lung Association (ALA) Fact Sheet:
http://www.lungusa.org/diseases/bronchiectasis.html

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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-----RECENT RECALLS

-- Amiloride Hydrochloride
http://www.copd-international.com/Library/Amiloride-Hydrochloride_recall.htm

-- Levoxyl
http://www.copd-international.com/Library/Levoxyl_recall2.htm

-- Levsin Elixir
http://www.copd-international.com/Library/Levsin-Elixir_recall.htm

-- Lipitor
http://www.copd-international.com/Library/Lipitor_recall2.htm

-- Premarin
http://www.copd-international.com/Library/Premarin_recall6.htm

-- Sodium Chloride
http://www.copd-international.com/Library/Sodium_Chloride_recall.htm

To view earlier drug recalls, please go to our Library section at
http://www.copd-international.com/Library/Recalls.htm

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> > > > > > > > > > FEATURED ARTICLES < < < < < < < < < <
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-----GUIDE TO GERD SYMPTOMS, TREATMENTS
A very common nighttime complaint of many asthmatics is stomach
upset and reflux. Also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease
(GERD), it can have serious implications in addition to aggravating
asthma symptoms. See Guide: http://asthma.about.com/cs/gerd/

-----OBESITY, ESTROGEN RISK FACTOR FOR GERD
Reflux symptoms (recurrent heartburn or regurgitation) and obesity
are strong and independent risk factors for esophageal cancer, which
has also increased significantly during recent decades. This study
shows that there is a strong association between obesity and reflux
symptoms, particularly in women. The association is even stronger
for obese women who take HRT or estrogen. The good news is that
weight loss reduces the risk of reflux symptoms. See Story:
http://www.coloradohealthsite.org/CHNReports/GERDandobesity.html

-----CIGARETTES AND REFLUX
Stomach contents are supposed to go down, not up. However, during
reflux episodes, acid-rich stomach contents can back up into the
pharynx (throat), and cause serious laryngeal and lung problems.
Medical College of Wisconsin researcher Reza Shaker, M.D., professor
and chief of gastroenterology and hepatology and director of the
Digestive Disease Center, had earlier discovered several reflexes
that may protect the airway against this damage.

Now, in a new study led by Kulwinder Dua, M.D., associate professor
of medicine, Medical College researchers have shown that cigarette
smoking weakens a vital reflex in the pharynx, called the
pharyngoglottal closure reflex, which momentarily closes off the
vocal cords when fluid enters the pharynx. See More:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/acurian/20030716/hl_
acurian/cigarettes_and_reflux

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.

-----EATING TOO FAST?
Eating fast can increase the risk of acid reflux after meals,
according to a new study. Researchers say people who eat their food
quickly are more likely to suffer from GERD. See Article:
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/65/72726.htm
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> > > > > > > > > > NUTRITION/WELLNESS < < < < < < < < <
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-----PATIENTS ENCOURAGED TO "CRACK UP"
People with diabetes, depression, or suffering stress are being
treated with "laughter therapy" at a health centre in Brazil.
Patients are encouraged to all laugh out loud together, and staff
help out by organizing activities, such as paper fights and karaoke
sessions. Some experts believe laughter can help in the treatment
of various conditions, especially those connected to depression,
anxiety, hypertension and diabetes. (Ananova)

-----LAUGH AWAY THAT COLD
Happy people are more resistant to colds, according to a study in
which subjects were deliberately infected with a virus. People who
are depressed, nervous or angry are three times more likely to get
sick than those who are more energetic, happy and relaxed. The
research, conducted at Carnegie Mellon University, also found that a
happy disposition reduced complaints about cold symptoms. (The Daily
Telegraph)

-----HEALTH TOPICS ONLINE BIG HIT
The number of people turning to the Internet to search for a diverse
range of health-related subjects continues to grow, according to a
new study. See Story: http://www.msnbc.com/news/939723.asp
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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. Also the special weekly on-topic chats are
listed below. We look forward to seeing you.

The complete chat room schedule can be accessed at
http://www.copd-international.com/Chat-schedule.htm

-----ON-TOPIC CHATS (All Eastern Time)

-- Lung Transplants - Wednesdays at 7 p.m. - Host Tony Hamel
http://www.copd-international.com/COPD/chat.htm

-- Exercise Chat - Mondays at 2 p.m. (EDT) - Host Tonie
http://www.copd-international.com/exercise/chat.htm

-- Caregivers - Sundays at 4 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7 p.m.
Host Kitty (Note: Only caregivers in these chats please.)
http://www.copd-international.com/caregivers/chat.htm

-- Quit Smoking Now (QSN) - Mondays at 9 p.m.
http://www.copd-international.com/quit_smoking/chat.htm.
For more information on the interactive program, contact
Newsletter@COPD-International.com

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

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

-- A brief update on Bill and Linda Lyons: Bill underwent
surgery; however, recovery has been slow. He is still in the
hospital and hopefully will be discharged soon. Please go to
the link above to post get-well wishes.

-----CONDOLENCES
Our friend John VanCise passed away peacefully July 17. Most of
us knew him as John-TX from chat. Our prayers and condolences
go out to his family. To post personal condolences, please go to
http://members.tripod.com/~copd_tlc/JohnVanCise.html

-----VISIT THE LIBRARY SECTIONS
To view the Library section, including the works of the late Bill
Horden, please go to http://www.copd-international.com/Library

-----VOLUNTEERS
This site is supported and maintained by COPDers. Volunteers
are always needed. 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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-----KERNELS OF WISDOM

Gardening Rule: When weeding, the best way to make sure you are
removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it
comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.

The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy
a replacement.

Get the last word in: "Apologize."

Give a person a fish and you can feed them for a day; teach that
person to use the Internet and they won't bother you for weeks.

Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in the hospital
dying of nothing.

Have you noticed since everyone has a camcorder these days no one
talks about seeing UFOs like they use to.

All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention
to criticism.

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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-----MID-SUMMER ITALIAN BREAD SALAD

Everything in this salad is fresh, except the bread! Prepare this
salad by using a loaf of artisan bread or rosemary bread that is a
touch stale. If your bread is too fresh, toast it until it is about
half as dried and crunchy as a crouton.

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Ready in: 10 Minutes

Ingredients
     1 clove garlic
     1 (1 pound) loaf Italian bread
     1 cup chopped tomatoes
     1 cup cucumber - peeled, seeded and chopped
     1 cup chopped red onion
     1 clove garlic, minced
     2 cups chopped fresh basil
    1/8 cup chopped fresh thyme
    1/4 cup olive oil
    2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Directions
     1. Rub a peeled clove of garlic around a wooden salad bowl.
     2. Pull apart or chop the bread into bite-size pieces.
     3. In the prepared salad bowl, combine the bread, tomatoes,
         cucumbers, red onions, garlic, basil and thyme. Add enough olive
         oil and vinegar to lightly coat, toss and serve. Makes 4 servings.
(Allrecipes)
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      > > > > > > > > > >     CLOSING THOUGHT     < < < < < < < < <
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Fear less, hope more;
          Whine less, breathe more;
                     Talk less, say more;
                                Hate less, love more;
                                          And all good things are yours.
-- Anonymous --
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