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, September 1, 2003                      Volume #2 -- Issue #35
Susie Bowers, Editor  --  Web-Editor@COPD-International.com
Copyright © 2003   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 - COPD Treatments
==> Nutrition/Wellness
==> Community Update
==> Link Directory
==> 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 is no cure for COPD. However, there are treatment plans
that involve stopping smoking and exercising that can provide relief
from symptoms and help slow the progression.

Also, there are medications that pulmonary specialists can prescribe
to ease the symptoms of COPD. The good news in this area is that
new medications and treatments are on the horizon - one being
Spiriva, which is awaiting U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
approval, and Ariflo, which will be reviewed this week by the FDA.

Doctors are also optimistic about treatment. Three out of four feel
that the long-term health outlook for persons with COPD is better
now than it was 10 years ago because of the development of better
drugs.

This issue features an overview of the treatment options for those of
us with COPD. The more familiar we are with the various treatments
available the better we can manage our disease.

Although treatments and drug regimes can seem overwhelming
at first, over time the treatment plan developed by you and your
physician will become part of your daily routine.

If you have any questions about the medications you are taking or the
new ones that are expected to come on the market soon, check with
your doctor.

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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STEM-CELL BREAKTHROUGH
A breakthrough in stem-cell research promises a cure for lung
diseases that kill tens of thousands of Australians - and millions
more around the world. See Story:
http://heraldsun.news.com.au/printpage/0,5481,7044632,00.html

MUSCLE TRAINING HELPS EMPHYSEMA PATIENTS
The muscles involved in exhaling can be strengthened by specific
training, and for patients with emphysema, this can help them be
more physically active, Israeli researchers report. See Story:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=3345779

WORKPLACE CULPRIT IN SOME COPD CASES
Smoking is not the only danger to your lungs. Exposure to toxins
in the workplace may be responsible for 20 percent of the cases -
up to 5 million - of COPD in the United States, a new study says.
See Story:
http://www.healthscout.com/template.asp?ap=1&page=newsdetail&id=514778

MONITOR COULD HELP ASTHMA PATIENTS
British researchers said that they are close to signing a marketing
deal with a pharmaceutical company for an asthma monitor they have
developed. Unlike peak flow meters that require forced exhalation and
cannot be used by young children, they said the new "Asthma Alert"
device requires only normal breathing to measure the rate of change
in concentration of exhaled carbon dioxide. See More:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=3345125

FEW ASTHMATICS MEET ACTIVITY GOALS
Many adults with asthma in the United States do not meet the
current national recommendations for leisure-time physical activity,
according to a new report. However, people who don't have asthma
are nearly as inactive. See Story:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=3332321

SCIENTISTS SAY ASTHMA MAY BE TWO ILLNESSES
Mild and severe asthma may be two different diseases, say European
scientists. They say their findings could assist in efforts to find
better drugs and treatments for people with severe asthma, which does
not usually respond well to treatment. In a study partly funded by the
European Union (EU), the researchers concluded that all the patients
in their sample with mild or moderate asthma were able to control
their symptoms with low doses of inhaled corticosteroids. However,
those with severe asthma did not always respond even to much higher
doses of corticosteroids and in some cases powerful steroids.
(BBC News Online)

SMOKING IMPAIRS RECOVERY FROM EXERCISE
This abstract finds that smoking impairs muscle recovery from
exercise. See Abstract: http://ajpendo.physiology.org/cgi/content/abstract/285/1/E116

CHROMOSOMES SHOW CANCER RISK
People with short telomeres - the "ends" of chromosomes, and which
are known to protect them from damage - appear to be at increased
risk of certain cancers. Researchers at the University of Texas MD
Anderson Cancer Center say people with short telomeres are more
likely to develop cancer of the bladder, head and neck, lung and
kidney, all of which are also related to smoking. Those who smoke and
have short telomeres are especially at risk, they say.
(Health and Age)

TRIALS "INCREASE PATIENTS' LONGEVITY"
Lung cancer sufferers taking part in clinical trials live longer than
those who receive standard cancer treatment, according new U.S.
research. This is the first evidence that clinical trials offer
cost-effective treatment for people with non-small cell lung cancer.
Researchers at the Center for Cancer Economics, Technology
Assessment, Innovation and Development in Detroit say, "The
increase in costs associated with clinical trials may in part reflect
increased costs associated with these new agents, but these effects
appear to be offset by the improved survival."
(HealthScout)

DRUG APPROVED FOR GERD-RELATED SYNDROME
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved
Photofrin (porfimer sodium) to treat precancerous lesions in people
with a severe form of a disorder called Barrett's esophagus. Details:
http://www.healthscout.com/template.asp?page=newsdetail&ap=1&id=514494

BLOOD PRESSURE DROPS AS WEIGHT COMES OFF
For people with high blood pressure who are not being treated with
drugs, long-term weight loss brings a sustained reduction in blood
pressure. See Article:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=3346249

REMINDER: FDA TO REVIEW GLAXO ARIFLO FOR COPD
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Pulmonary-Allergy
Drugs Advisory Committee will meet September 5 to review
GlaxoSmithKline's phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor Ariflo for COPD.
See More: http://www.drugdevelopment-technology.com/projects/ariflo/

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 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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OVERVIEW OF COPD TREATMENTS
COPD is not a reversible condition, but treatment can slow its
progression (smoking cessation and exercise being the most
important). Treatments available to help manage the disease include:

-- Medical treatment
-- Behavioral treatment
-- Surgical treatment
-- Other treatments

For information on the above areas of treatment, please go to
http://www.pulmonologychannel.com/copd/treatment.shtml#med

MULTI-DISCIPLINARY APPROACH
This article also discusses common medications used to treat COPD
with emphasis on a multi-disciplinary approach, including education,
medication, exercise, breathing retraining, smoking cessation and
vaccinations against influenza and pneumoccocal pneumonia. Article:
http://www.healthology.com/focus_article.asp?f=copd&b=excite&c=copd_treatment

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.

MORE ON USING A NEBULIZER
Many medications for COPD are available as inhaled treatments. Inhaled
methods deliver medication directly to the airway. The patient and
health-care provider can choose from a variety of delivery systems for
inhaling medication. One of the most frequently prescribed systems is
the nebulizer. Nebulizer Tips: http://nationaljewish.org/medfacts/nebulizer.html
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   > > > > > > > > > >   NUTRITION/WELLNESS  < < < < < < < < < <
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DEPRESSION WEIGHS HEAVY ON ELDERLY
As crippling as depression can be for young and middle-age adults,
it's truly severe in the elderly, and more often fatal. But many
treatment options are highly effective. See Options:
http://www.healthscout.com/template.asp?page=newsdetail&ap=1&id=514640

DEPRESSION UPS RISK IN BYPASS PATIENTS
People who are depressed before and after cardiac bypass operations
are twice as likely to die within five years of the surgery as people
who are not depressed, claims new research. See Article:
http://www.healthscout.com/template.asp?page=newsdetail&ap=1&id=514730

SOME HAY FEVER STRIKES AT NIGHT
Did you know that night time, particularly about an hour before
midnight, is the worst time for hay fever? That's because the tiny
pollen fragments that seep from the grass and plants in the early
morning are lofted high into the atmosphere by the heat currents
of midday, "only to sink back earthward at 11 p.m. or later," writes
author David Bodanis. See More:
http://www.healthscout.com/template.asp?page=newsdetail&ap=1&id=514696

SWEATING A LOT? YOU'RE NOT ALONE
A condition where people suffer excessive sweating is more common
than previously thought, says a Saint Louis University study. The
study found that about 7.8 million Americans suffers have the
condition, called hyperhidrosis, which can result in anxiety,
depression, isolation and reduced quality of life. See More:
http://www.healthscout.com/template.asp?ap=1&page=newsdetail&id=514487
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  > > > > > > > > > > >   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.

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/

-- Bill Lyons is still in the hospital and needs our loving thoughts,
   well wishes and prayers.

-- Dorothy, one of our founders, is going through some tough medical
   problems and testing and can use our encouragement and well wishes

DAILY CHATS
Scheduled chats with hosts are held daily. We invite everyone to stop
in and visit. See Chat Schedule:
http://www.copd-international.com/Chat-schedule.htm

Also, the special weekly on-topic chats are listed below.

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 Deb
   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.
   Host Don from NM - Don is a smoking cessation counselor.
   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

We look forward to seeing you!
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  > > > > > > > > > > > >   LINK DIRECTORY   < < < < < < < < < < < <
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SPECIAL-INTEREST PROGRAMS

-- Quit Smoking Support:
   http://www.COPD-International.com/quit_smoking/

-- Exercise Forum:
   http://www.COPD-International.com/exercise/

-- Caregivers Support:
   http://www.copd-international.com/caregivers/

-- COPD Library:
   http://www.COPD-International.com/Library/

-- Welcome Wagon:
   http://www.COPD-International.com/welcome/

-- To Volunteer:
   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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BOW-WOW! ENCARTA'S DOG QUIZ

Do you like dogs? You're not alone. Americans have more than
50 million pet dogs. Do you know more about dogs than the
average person? Try this doggie quiz to find out!
http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/quiz/Quiz.aspx?QuizID=58
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               > > > > > > > > > >   RECIPE   < < < < < < < < < <
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SKILLET CHICKEN AND BROCCOLI
Cheesy broccoli pairs with sautéed chicken for a quick family supper.

Prep/Cook Time: 20 min.

Ingredients:
      1 tbsp. butter OR margarine
      4 boneless chicken breasts halves
      1 can Campbell's 98% Fat Free Cream of Broccoli Cheese Soup
      1/3 cup water
      1/8 tsp. pepper
      2 cups fresh or frozen broccoli flowerets

Directions:
      HEAT butter in skillet. Add chicken and cook until browned.
      ADD soup, water, pepper and broccoli. Heat to a boil. Cover
              and cook over low heat 5 min. or until done. Serves 4.
(Campbell's Kitchen)
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        > > > > > > > > > >   CLOSING THOUGHT   < < < < < < < < <
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When you come to the edge of all the light you know, and are about to
step off into the darkness of the unknown, -- faith is knowing one of
two things will happen: There will be something solid to stand on,
or you will be taught how to fly.

                                  -- Author Barbara J. Winter --
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Thank You For Your Readership
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Notes
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All information provided should be judged as individual "opinions"
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