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, January 19, 2004                             Volume #3 -- Issue #3
Susie Bowers, Editor    --    Web-Editor@COPD-International.com
Copyright © 2004  COPD-International.com            All rights reserved.

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      > > > > > > > > > >        IN THIS ISSUE        < < < < < < < < < <
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==> Welcome
==> COPD News
==> Recalls/Warnings
==> Featured Articles - Breathing Exercises
==> 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
Labored breathing and shortness of breath (SOB) are common
symptoms among those with COPD - and, perhaps, the most
frustrating to deal with.

Medications, physical exercise, weight loss and stopping smoking can
all help improve our breathing. Also, special breathing exercises can
greatly help with SOB. This week's feature articles are on simple
exercises we can do to enhance our breathing.

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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CHINA CLAIMS WIN IN SARS BATTLE
China has won the battle against SARS, Premier Wen Jiabao said,
as the focus on preventing the spread of the deadly virus turned to
Beijing and the north in fighting the virus as tens of millions of
people take to the road for the Lunar New Year holiday. See Story:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=4153459

CHEST PAIN: CALL EMS FOR FASTER TREATMENT
People with chest pain will likely reach the hospital faster if they
get someone to drive them, but they may receive treatment sooner if
they call for an ambulance, new research shows.

The investigators found that people who relied on private
transportation reached the emergency department 4 minutes faster than
those who waited for emergency medical services (EMS). However, people
who opted for EMS received treatment for their chest pain nearly 26
minutes earlier than people who drove themselves to the hospital. See
Story: http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=4128930

INHALER TECHNIQUE CRUCIAL TO EFFECTIVENESS
With many new kinds of inhalers coming onto the market, many patients
do not know the proper technique for using them. Using an inhaler
incorrectly can prevent medication from reaching the target airways
and raises the risk of increased asthma symptoms, attacks and even
death. See Story: http://www.nationaljewish.org/news/healthtips/inhaler_use.html

INTERFERON A NO-GO FOR PULMONARY FIBROSIS
A once hopeful treatment for pulmonary fibrosis, a fatal disease of
the lungs, appears to have little or no effect on progression of the
disease or on quality of life, a new study has found. But, there
remains some optimism that it may offer some help to those with mild
forms of the fatal lung disease. See Story: http://www.healthscout.com/news/1/516832/
main.html

LASER FINDS AIRWAY TROUBLES
Someday soon, the Breathmeter, an experimental laser test that reads
the condition of your lungs the way a DVD player reads a music or
video disc, could help your doctor assess levels of inflammation in
your airways and prescribe the best dose of asthma-controlling
medications.

How it works: Just exhale into a tube. Your breath is collected in a
sampling chamber, where a laser light gauges levels of nitric oxide
(NO). People with asthma generate NO at unusually high concentrations.
High NO indicates that airways are inflamed and swollen. The
Breathmeter is projected to be available by 2005.

(Prevention Magazine)

LOW-TAR CIGS DON'T LOWER RISK OF CANCER
Associated Press reported on a recent study conducted by researchers
at MIT and the American Cancer Society which found that low-tar
cigarettes do not carry a lower risk of lung cancer than higher-tar
varieties.

According to the article, the MIT/ACS study is the first to compare
lung cancer deaths among smokers of ultra-light, mild and medium
filtered cigarettes. The article says that while prior research has
found that people who smoke light or mild cigarettes tend to take
deeper drags or smoke more cigarettes, scientists suspected that they
were just as likely to develop lung cancer as those who smoked heavier
brands.

This study confirmed those suspicions: it found no significant
difference in the lung cancer death rate among those who smoked medium
filtered cigarettes and those who used mild or ultra light varieties.

(American Lung Association)

POLL: SMOKERS UNAWARE OF DANGER OF COUGH
Nearly half of British smokers who have a persistent cough are unaware
that it could be a warning sign of a serious lung disease, according
to a poll. A lingering cough is one of the early symptoms of COPD. It
is Britain's fifth biggest killer and causes more than 30,000 deaths
each year. See Story:  http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&story
ID=4107532

GENES FOUND THAT REGULATE ALLERGIC RESPONSES
The risk of developing respiratory allergies from exposure to diesel
emissions depends largely on genetics, according to a study funded
by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID.
Given their findings, researchers estimate that up to 50 percent of
the United States population could be in jeopardy of experiencing
health problems related to air pollution. See More:
http://www.niaid.nih.gov/newsroom/releases/dieselallergy.htm

ANXIETY INDUCED ASTHMA OFTEN MISDIAGNOSED
Although most of us are well aware of the impact our emotions have
on asthma, anxiety induced asthma evokes the days when asthma was
generally considered a psychosomatic condition. Stress, anxiety,
depression, anger and fear are all normal reactions of many everyday
occurrences. They also can induce or aggravate symptoms of asthma.
See More: http://asthma.about.com/library/weekly/aa041602a.htm

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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BREATHING EXERCISES FOR COPDERS
Dyspnea (pronounced disp-NEE-uh) is a medical term for difficult
or labored breathing or shortness of breath (SOB). Having dyspnea
can be hard to live with. You may get short of breath during daily
activities and become anxious when your breathing changes.

Medications may help, and to get the most benefit you should take
them exactly as your health care team instructs. But along with
medical treatment, there are other things you can do.

Below is a link to our Library Index, where, under "Breathing -
Overview," you will find links on specific breathing exercises.
Included are:

-- Coughing Exercises
-- Diaphragmatic Breathing
-- General Tips
-- Pursed Lip Breathing
-- Relaxation Techniques
-- Walking

See: http://www.copd-international.com/Library/contents.htm
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      > > > > > > > > >      NUTRITION/WELLNESS      < < < < < < < < <
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TIPS ON STAYING HEALTHY
Your life span is determined by a complex mix of heredity, lifestyle
and environment. And the way you manage your body, mind and spirit
affects how you feel as you age.

To help you along, a recent issue of the Mayo Clinic Women's Health
Source offers these healthy aging tips:

-- Have a positive attitude.
-- Eat well.
-- Limit your alcohol consumption.
-- Stop smoking.
-- Stay physically active.
-- Keep your brain in shape.
-- Keep your social bonds strong.
-- Nurture your spirit.
-- Plan ahead financially.

(HealthDayNews)

CHECK YOUR EXERCISE, HEART DISEASE I.Q.
Mark your answers to this true-false quiz prepared by the National
Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and find out what you know
about how physical activity affects your heart. The answers provided
will uncover exercise myths and give you information on ways to
improve your heart health. See Quiz:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/phy_act.htm

VEGGIS TO TREAT CANCER?
Eat your broccoli! Consuming this cruciferous green vegetable along
with cabbage and turnips could help to keep a range of cancers at
bay, say U.S. scientists. See More:
http://www.foodnavigator.com/news/news.asp?id=48808

FOOD TO BALANCE YOUR MOOD
Some moods trigger food cravings - and vice versa. The challenge
is to keep both in check. As you try to recover from the holiday
chaos, think of your body as an insanely complex, gooey car. Put in
gas and oil (a balanced diet), and you're good to go. Put in nicotine;
alcohol; caffeine; weird, manufactured fats; gummy, washed-out flour;
and sugar, and it's like pouring sugar into the gas tank. See Tips:
http://content.health.msn.com/content/article/53/61278.htm
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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/

-- Tim Cochran, who underwent a lung transplant, has passed. To
leave loving thoughts and condolences for the Cochran family, please
go to the link above. Tim will be sadly missed by all.

-- Dorothy, one of our founders and our Quit Smoking Forum leader,
lost her daughter-in-law to a heart attack.

-- The mother of Terri, one of our chat hosts, has been moved back to
the hospital with fluid in her lungs and around her heart. She has
both COPD and CHF.

-- Patricia Corcoran passed away peacefully in her sleep January 15.
Pat was very active in the COPD Support Group.

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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WHAT'S UP DOC?
What's wrong, Doctor? You look puzzled."

"I can't figure out exactly what's wrong with you. I think it's
the result of heavy drinking."

"Well then, I'll just come back when you're sober."

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             > > > > > > > > > >      RECIPE      < < < < < < < < < < <
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SAVORY POT ROAST
Prep Time: 15 min.
Cook Time: 2 hr. 50 min.

Ingredients:

2 tbsp. Crisco Vegetable Oil
4 lb. boneless beef bottom round OR chuck pot roast
1 can (10 3/4 oz.) Campbell's Cream of Mushroom or
98% Fat Free Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 1/4 cups water
1 pouch dry onion soup mix
6 medium potatoes, cut into quarters
6 medium carrots, cut into 2" pieces
2 tbsp. all-purpose flour

Directions:

HEAT oil in saucepot. Add beef and cook until browned. Pour off fat.

ADD mushroom soup, 1 cup water and onion soup mix. Heat to a boil.
Cover and cook over low heat 1 1/2 hr.

ADD potatoes and carrots. Cover and cook 1 hr. or until roast is fork-
tender. Remove roast and vegetables to platter.

MIX flour and remaining water. Add to soup mixture. Cook and stir
until mixture boils and thickens. Serve with roast and vegetables.
Serves 8.

(Campbell's Kitchen)

Tip: To keep the roast and vegetables from scorching, use a heavy-duty
saucepan, deep skillet or Dutch oven. Simmer over very low heat and
check occasionally to make sure the liquid has not evaporated. If the
level of liquid is low, add a small amount of beef broth.
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        > > > > > > > >      CLOSING THOUGHT      < < < < < < < < <
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      I have learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness
     or misery depends on our dispositions and not on our circumstances.

                                  -- Martha Washington --
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