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, October 20, 2003                          Volume #2 -- Issue #42
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 - Sleep Issues
==> 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
Fall marks the end of Daylight Saving Time across much of the United
States when Standard Time begins on the last Sunday of October.
Some folks have trouble adjusting their sleep schedule with these
seasonal time changes.

For those of us with COPD, sleep is very important, and many of us
have problems sleeping through the night, making naps a necessary
part of our day.

Under Featured Articles is a series of stories on the importance
of sleep and tips on how to get enough rest to keep your body
functioning at its best.

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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IMPORTANT - SURVEY OF COPDers IN THE UNITED STATES IS NOW ONLINE
The largest national survey in the US of COPD patients (including
chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),
and emphysema)is being conducted for the COPD Resource Network, in
collaboration with patient and professional organizations concerned
with treatment of chronic lung diseases.

This survey will provide these organizations with a national profile
of patients with chronic lung disease in the United States, as well
as information about patient preferences for information, programs
and activities related to this condition.

Your participation is completely voluntary, but extremely important
to us. If there are any questions that you cannot or prefer not to
answer, that is fine.

To take the survey online, please go to:
www.on-linesurvey.com/lungdisease

This 40 question survey does NOT ask for your name or any
confidential or personal information - it is strictly confidential

As one of the collaborating organizations, we at
COPD-International.com want to thank you in advance for participating

NEW ASTHMA DRUG HAS FEWER SIDE EFFECTS
A safer treatment for preventing asthma attacks will become
available next year in the U.K. It is hoped ciclesonide will be
particularly useful in treating children. However, although the
drug will be made available to children in other countries,
initially it will only be given to adults in the U.K. See Story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3154834.stm

STUDY SHOWS EFFICIENCY OF ARIFLO IN COPD
This is the first demonstration of reduction by any agent of airway
tissue inflammatory cells characteristic of COPD. Phosphodiesterase-
4 inhibitors represent a promising new class of substances for use
in anti-inflammatory treatment of COPD. See Abstract:
http://ajrccm.atsjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/168/8/976

VIRUSES OFTEN INVOLVED IN ACUTE COPD
Among patients who have to be hospitalized because of severe asthma
and/or COPD, more than half have viral infections of the lungs or
airways, researchers in Singapore report. See Report:
http://hvlib.integris-health.com/HealthNews/Reuters/20031008elin014.htm

STUDY: AVELOX EFFECTIVE FOR COPD FLARE UPS
This study found the antibiotic Avelox to be a highly effective
antibiotic for the treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic
bronchitis (AECB). See Press Release:
http://www.pharmiweb.com/PressReleases/pressrel.asp?ROW_ID=314

ARE YOU PROTECTED AGAINST PNEUMONIA?
The pneumococcal vaccine can be given all year, but is most often
given during the fall. This vaccine provides protection against the
many types of the pneumococcal bacteria that causes the majority
of the community acquired pneumonia.

It is recommended that all persons over the age of 65 receive a dose
of the vaccine. People under 65, who suffer chronic heart or lung
disorders (including asthma) or other chronic diseases, are also
urged to get vaccinated.

If you have already received a dose, it is recommended that you get
re-vaccinated every 5 to 10 years depending on your risk. You should
contact your physician for information about the flu and pneumonia
shots specific to your individual needs.
(U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

VACCINE AGAINST ADDICTION EXPLORED
Vaccines may turn out to be a new weapon in the battle against
addiction. Researchers at the University of Cambridge are working
on an anti-nicotine vaccine. See More: http://www.rnw.nl/science/html/031013vac.html

SMOKERS URGED TO CHECK FOR ORAL CANCER
Dental hygienists are urging smokers to check for mouth ulcers and
sores that do not heal as it could be the first sign of oral cancer.
The International Federation of Dental Hygienists says cigarette
smoke is strongly linked to gum disease, bone loss and oral cancer.
Story: http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s962972.htm

EXPERT PREDICTS SARS OUTBREAK IN CHINA
A Chinese medical expert has predicted that SARS will return to
China later this year. See Story: http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s966123.htm

"SAFE" OZONE LEVELS IN QUESTION
A new U.S. study finds that air pollution at levels listed as safe
by the federal government can cause breathing problems for children
with asthma - and, researchers say, maybe for a lot of other people.
See Story: http://www.healthscout.com/news/1/515416/main.html

STUDY: CELLS IDENTIFIED IN AIRWAY SCARRING
A team of Canadian and British scientists has identified a form of
white blood cell that's responsible for the body's excessive repair
response to asthma, which results in airway scarring. The finding
appears in the current issue of the Journal of Clinical
Investigation. See More: http://www.healthscout.com/news/1/515358/main.html

SSA ANNOUNCES 2.1 PERCENT BENEFIT INCREASE
Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits
for more than 51 million Americans will increase 2.1 percent in
2004, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced. See More:
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pressoffice/pr/2004cola-pr.htm

MEDICARE PREMIUM INCREASED BY 13.5 PERCENT
The Medicare premium will shoot up next year to $66.60 a month, an
increase of 13.5 percent, or $7.90 a month, the Bush administration
said. That is one of the largest increases in the history of the
program. Story: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/16/politics/16MEDI.html

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

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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RECALLS

Archived U.S. Food and Drug Administration Recalls
http://www.copd-international.com/Library/Recalls.htm
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     > > > > > > > > >    FEATURED ARTICLES    < < < < < < < < <
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DIAGNOSING, TREATING INSOMNIA
This in-depth article from the American Journal of Primary Health
Care reviews the diagnosis and treatment of primary insomnia,
including pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions. See
Article: http://www.nursingcenter.com/library/JournalArticle.asp?Article_ID=423442

SLEEP FOR YOUR HEALTH
You might be eating right and exercising, but if you're not getting
enough sleep, you're still putting your health at risk. See More:
http://healthology.com/focus_article.asp?f=xmlpressfeed&c=xml_sleephealth&b=health
ology&spg=NWL

SLEEPY TIME BLUES
Worries often surface at night. So it's no surprise that difficulty
sleeping is one of the primary symptoms of depression. Oftentimes,
sleep problems can be remedied with a simple change in sleep habits
or improvements in sleep environment. Experts agree that getting
help for depression is the first order of business because new
research has emerged that indicates that poor sleepers may be at
risk for depression.
(Healthology)

WHAT'S YOUR SLEEP LONGEVITY QUOTIENT?
Take the following quiz to delve into the details of your sleep LQ.
http://www.healthandage.org/Home/Home/gm=25!gid=SCH!gid2=2612

SLEEP AND THE COPD PATIENT
To learn more about sleep and the COPD patient, see the October
2002 newsletter, which focused on sleep hygiene for COPDers.
http://www.copd-international.com/Library/newsletters/1-6.htm
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    > > > > > > > > >    NUTRITION/WELLNESS    < < < < < < < < <
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HOW TO EAT RIGHT WITH COPD
For people with COPD eating should be treated as importantly
as breathing, and shouldn't be taken for granted. A well-nourished
body helps the COPD patient fight infections, and so it can prevent|
illness and cut down on hospitalizations. See Tips:
http://www.healthandage.com/Home/gm=20!gc=25!l=2!gid2=1774!gcamp=5115

EXERCISE EFFECTIVE COPD MEDICINE
In many parts of the United States fall has arrived with its
glorious cool, dry air and beautiful foliage. This is a great time
of year to walk outdoors. Exercise is one of the best and cheapest
prescriptions for COPD. The link below leads to information on
exercising for those of us with lung disease.
http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/1997/11nov/minkpa.htm

U.S. FDA APPROVES ALZHEIMER DRUG
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved memantine
(NAMENDA) for treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer's Disease.
This is the first drug approved for the treatment of patients with
this severity of disease. See Press Release:
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2003/NEW00961.html
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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. For new subscribers, archives of back
issues of the newsletter can be accessed at
http://www.copd-international.com/Library/newsletters/archives.htm

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)

-- 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 LINKS

-- 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/

-- Bill Horden Library
   http://www.copd-international.com/COPDAdvocate/

-- 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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AND ... HOW OLD ARE YOU?

Nurse: How old are you?
Patient: None of your business.

Nurse: But the doctor must know your age for his records.
Patient: Well, first, multiply 20 by 2, then add 10. Got that?

Nurse: Yes. Fifty.
Patient: All right, now subtract 50, and tell me, what do you get?

Nurse: Zero.
Patient: Right. And that's exactly the chance of me telling you my age.

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> > > > > > > > > > RECIPE < < < < < < < < < <
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ONE-DISH CHICKEN & STUFFING BAKE
Chicken, stuffing and gravy bake together for a hassle-free
and hearty dinner.

Prep Time: 10 min.
Cook Time: 30 min.

Ingredients

4 cups Pepperidge Farm Herb Seasoned Stuffing
6 boneless chicken breast halves
Paprika
1 can (10 3/4 oz.) Campbell's Cream of Mushroom OR
98% Fat Free Cream of Mushroom Soup
1/3 cup milk
1 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley OR 1 tsp. dried parsley flakes

Directions

PREPARE stuffing according to pkg. directions.

SPOON stuffing across center of 3-qt. shallow baking dish. Place
chicken on each side of stuffing. Sprinkle chicken with paprika.

MIX soup, milk and parsley. Pour over chicken.

COVER bake at 400°F. for 30 min. or until done. Serves 6.

(Campbell's Kitchen)
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> > > > > > > > > CLOSING THOUGHT < < < < < < < < <
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A wise man should consider that health is the greatest of human
blessings, and learn how by his own thought to derive benefit from
his illnesses.

-- Hippocrates --

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Thank You For Your Readership
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All information provided should be judged as individual "opinions"
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remedy, treatment or therapy is started.