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 1, 2003                          Volume #2 -- Issue #48
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 - Avoiding Holiday Stress
==> 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
Following the celebration of Thanksgiving Day in the United States
comes the fast and furious holiday season. For most folks, it can be
a very busy, hectic time of the year. Even the healthiest of people
can become rundown and stressed out.

Many of us with COPD have found that overdoing it and overexerting
ourselves brings not only stress, which can exacerbate our
condition, but also the depressing feelings that we can no longer do
what we used to do. For us, slowing down is a way of life.

This issue features information on the importance of pacing
ourselves over the holidays and tips on chasing those blues away, so
we can participate in this festive season while still maintaining
our health.

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. Also, periodically we will
feature stories and information from guest writers. 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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MEDICARE DRUG BENEFIT CALCULATOR
The Kaiser Family Foundation has updated its Medicare Drug Benefit
Calculator that allows users to enter their annual prescription drug
costs and predict what they might pay under the new Medicare
legislation. http://www.kaisernetwork.org/drugcalculator

Editor's Note: This prescription-benefits calculator was
posted prior to Congressional approval of the Medicare reform
bill.

ABSTRACT: SPIRIVA HELPS INSPIRATORY CAPACITY
This study observed improvements in inspiratory capacity (IC) and
reductions in thoracic gas volume (TGV) with once-daily tiotropium
(Spiriva). The study reflects improvements in hyperinflation that
are maintained over 24 hours. See Abstract:
http://www.chestjournal.org/cgi/content/abstract/124/5/1743

        Editor's Note: Spiriva has been approved in several countries and is
        awaiting U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for
        U.S. distribution.

CIGAR, PIPE SMOKING BOOST CANCER, HEART RISKS
The health risks of cigar or pipe smoking, from cancer to heart
disease, are as great as those of relatively light cigarette
smoking, according to a U.K. study. See Story:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=3872453

UPDATED WEB SITE ON ASTHMA INFORMATION
National Jewish has redesigned and updated the asthma information
on its Web site in order to make it more useful and easier to
navigate. You can visit it at http://asthma.nationaljewish.org/

STUDY: SARS DEATHS DOUBLE WTIH POLLUTION
SARS, the new flu-like disease that swept China and across many
parts of the world over the past year, is twice as likely to kill
patients in polluted areas, U.S. and Chinese researchers reported.
See Story:  http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&
storyID=3863348

CHINA TO TEST SARS VACCINE
China plans to start testing a SARS vaccine on humans by the
end of the year, the official Xinhua news agency said recently.
Head of the Biological Product Section of the State Food and
Drug Administration was quoted as saying the agency was
expected to approve clinical tests by the end of December. See
Story:  http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=
3876848

GERDS AN EQUAL-OPPORTUNITY DISORDER
Men and women constantly jostle for parity, but illness - in this
case gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERDS) - can be the great
equalizer. And while doctors say they may see more female patients
in their offices, women don't necessarily develop reflux more often
than men. Story: http://www.gerd.msn.com/GERDUp7Gender.asp

STROKE PATIENTS OFTEN OXYGEN-STARVED AT NIGHT
Many people who have had a stroke may have normal levels of
oxygen in their blood during the day, but during the night oxygen
levels can become abnormally low - a condition termed nocturnal
hypoxia. See More: http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=health
News&storyID=3897733

DRUG FOR BONE LOSS CAN BE GIVEN WEEKLY
Weekly treatment with ibandronate (Boniva) is just as safe
and effective as daily treatment for the bone-thinning disease
osteoporosis, according to findings from a new study. See More:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=3897695

GENE FOUND AS CAUSE OF HEART ATTACKS
The first gene to be definitely identified as a cause of heart
attacks has been discovered by scientists at The Cleveland Clinic,
researchers said. See Report: http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=
healthNews&storyID=3908551

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
To view current U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalls, go to
http://www.safetyalerts.com/
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    > > > > > > > > >     FEATURED ARTICLES    < < < < < < < < <
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GIVE YOURSELF THE GIFT OF A STRESS-FREE HOLIDAY
We are in the throes of the hectic holiday season. Even those in
decent health find the stress and expectations almost too much to
endure. For those of us with COPD and our caregivers, the stress can
be even more intense, as we deal with the fact that we can no longer
do all the things we once enjoyed during the holiday season.

Learning to live within our limitations is darn hard, but with
planning, determination and help from family and friends, we can
still experience the joy of this festive season.

For those of us who are alone, we can make our holidays magical by
doing the things we enjoy - watching a good movie, reading an
uplifting book, calling someone who cares or chatting with our
online friends.

Getting caught up in all the commercialized myths about Christmas
leads to unrealistic expectations, which are at the root of holiday
depression and stress. So, let's sit back, relax and enjoy what is,
as we all have much in our lives for which to be grateful.

PUT MORE JOY IN YOUR LIFE BY CUTTING STRESS
Few people would disagree with the observation that this is the
most stressful time of the year for most people. To experts in the
relatively young field of medicine called psychoneuroimmunology,
or PNI, it is no surprise that many people get sick or experience
flare-ups of chronic illnesses while struggling to cope with the
stress-inducing demands of the holiday season. See how to de-stress:
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/25/health/psychology/25BROD.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.

MORE SECRETS TO A SANE HOLIDAY
If there's more S-T-R-E-S-S than J-O-Y in your holidays this season,
the link below leads to 10 strategies to help keep you sane. See how
easy it is to put the "merry" back in Christmas this year.
http://moneycentral.msn.com/articles/family/basics/2711.asp

ALONE FOR THE HOLIDAYS? JOIN THE CROWD!
Experts warn against the notion that without an idyllic holiday,
there is something terribly wrong. In fact, millions of people are
alone during the holidays. See More:
http://www.nnhmhds.org/cgi-bin/hl.cgi/library/holidays.htm

TIPS TO EASE THE SHOPPING FRENZY
Here are a few suggestions on how to handle Christmas shopping
without having to catch your breath or get stressed to the max.

        -- Mail-order catalogues
        -- Home shopping networks
        -- Online stores
        -- E-mail greeting cards
        -- Shopping and delivery services
        -- Gift certificates
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    > > > > > > > > >     NUTRITION/WELLNESS     < < < < < < < < <
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TIPS FOR FALLING ASLEEP WITHOUT MEDICATIONS
People who struggle with insomnia often turn to medications to help
them fall asleep. Medications, however, are rarely a good first
choice. "Natural sleep is healthier than drug-aided sleep," says Dr.
Robert Ballard, director of the Sleep Center at National Jewish. Dr.
Ballard offers several simple steps people can take to develop good
sleep habits, which will help them to fall asleep more easily and
reliably.  See Tips: http://www.nationaljewish.org/news/healthtips/sleep.html

STRETCH YOUR WAY TO BETTER SLEEP
Nocturnal muscle cramps can often be prevented by doing leg-
stretching exercises, such as the one outlined below.

        1. Stand 30 inches from the wall.
        2. While keeping your heels on the floor, lean forward, put your
            hands on the wall, and slowly move your hands up the wall as far
            as you can reach comfortably.
        3. Hold the stretched position for 30 seconds. Release.
        4. Repeat steps 1 through 3 two more times.
        5. For best results, practice this exercise in the morning, before
           your evening meal and before going to bed each night.

GETTING TO KNOW ALL ABOUT YOUR LUNGS
This is a good informational piece on the anatomy of the lungs that
is easy to understand. See Information:
http://www.pulmonologychannel.com/pul/anatomy.shtml
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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

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/

        -- Robert Lindberg of Florida is scheduled for lung surgery
           December 2nd.  He will be in the hospital for five to seven days.

        -- Our condolences go out to the family of Saundra Roberts, who
           passed on November 27th . Her wit and humor will be sadly missed.

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 PROGRAMS

-- General Information on Clinical Trials
http://www.COPD-International.com/Library/clinical_trials.htm

-- Continually Updated List of COPD Clinical Trials
http://www.COPD-International.com/Library/trials.htm

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

-- 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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HOLIDAY HANDYMAN QUIZ
Do you know how to properly hang a wreath? Test your skills:
Are you ready for anything? See Quiz:
http://shopping.msn.com/softcontent/softcontent.aspx?scpId=3585&scmId=1419
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          > > > > > > > > > >       RECIPE      < < < < < < < < < <
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NEW TAKE ON GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE
This recipe is much better than the standard mushroom soup and
French fried onion version.

Ingredients
    1 tablespoon butter
    1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
    1/2 teaspoon salt
    1/2 teaspoon white sugar
    2 tablespoons onion, diced
    1/2 cup sour cream
    1-1/2 (14.5 ounce) cans French style green beans, drained
    1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
    1/4 cup crumbled buttery round crackers
    1-1/2 teaspoons butter, melted

Directions:
    1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
    2.  Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
        Stir in flour until smooth, and cook for one minute. Stir in the
        salt, sugar, onion and sour cream. Add green beans, and stir to coat.
    3. Transfer the mixture to a 2 1/2 quart casserole dish. Spread
        shredded cheese over the top. In a small bowl, toss together cracker
        crumbs and remaining butter, and sprinkle over the cheese.
    4. Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the top is
        golden and cheese is bubbly. Servers 5.

(Allrecipes)
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       > > > > > > > > >     CLOSING THOUGHT     < < < < < < < < <
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         While we have the gift of life, it seems to me the only tragedy
              is to allow part of us to die - whether it is our spirit, our
                         creativity, or our glorious uniqueness.

                                        -- Gilda Radner --
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Thank You For Your Readership
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