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 6, 2004
Volume #3 -- Issue #49
Susie Bowers, Editor -- Web-Editor@COPD-International.com
Copyright © 2004 COPD-International.com All rights reserved.
FREE BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY! Subscription information is at
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 - CO2 Retention / Respiratory Acidosis
==> Guest Editorial
==> 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
A percentage of patients with COPD retain carbon dioxide (CO2).
The lungs exhale the waste product of metabolism (CO2) and if they
cannot, CO2 then builds up in the blood. These people are called CO2
retainers or "retainers."
Carbon dioxide retention may be a result of central hypoventilation,
or conditions which reduce your brain's breathing center to perform,
or can be related to bronchospasm which may occur in bad asthma
attacks, or with chronic obstructive airway disease.
You should be seen by a pulmonary specialist for review and testing
to see if you are a CO2 retainer, as there are steps you can take to
ease the condition.
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
Editor's Note: There are several exceptionally long links in
this edition. Please cut and paste the entire address into
your browser if you have trouble opening the page.
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> > > > > > > > > COPD NEWS < < < < < < < < <
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SURVEYS: There are currently 2 COPD surveys online - Please take the
few minutes to complete them - they provide the guidance for much
of the support available to us all.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Patients and
Caregivers are encouraged to fill out this survey to help the
Lung Association better understand your needs. The link to
this survey is near the top of their home page at:
http://www.lungusa.org
Do you remember your 1st thoughts, fears and questions when you
first heard about COPD? To provide input into new programs for
the newly diagnosed COPDer, there is a brief survey at:
http://www.copd-international.com/survey.htm
STUDY: WEIGHT TRAINING BENEFITS COPDERS
Weight training can significantly improve the lives of elderly
people with lung disease, researchers said. Patients with COPD are
usually advised to use aerobic exercise like walking or cycling as
part of their rehabilitation. But researchers speaking at the
British Thoracic Society's winter meeting in London said for some
sufferers this type of exercise had a minimal effect on muscle
weakness and organ or tissue degeneration. The team from Glenfield
Hospital in Leicester said that individually prescribed strength
training exercises led to real improvements in patients. See More:
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3830075
COULD SPRAY STOP SPREAD OF FLU, TB, SARS?
Simply inhaling a saltwater spray could help prevent the spread of
diseases including flu and tuberculosis, U.S. and German researchers
reported. They found a saline spray, administered using a device
called a jet nebulizer, reduced the number of germ-spreading
droplets by as much as 70 percent for six hours. The findings could
provide a way to help control epidemics, such as the 2003 outbreak
of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) that spread globally and
killed many healthcare workers trying to help patients. The findings
might also help control any global influenza pandemic, which almost
all health experts believe is coming and which could kill millions.
See Story:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=6946319
SURVEY: COPD MISDIAGNOSED IN WOMEN
As the mortality rate for women suffering from COPD increases,
misdiagnosis of the condition puts millions at risk for serious lung
damage. In the United States and Europe, the number of women who
die from COPD has doubled in the past 20 years. A recent survey of
North American primary care physicians confirmed the frequent
misdiagnosis of COPD in women. See Story:
http://www.pharmalive.com/News/index.cfm?articleid=193825&categoryid=10
EXERCISE STUDY: HELIUM/OXYGEN HELPS COPDERS
It certainly makes sense: COPD sufferers have varying degrees of
serious breathing difficulties, which keeps them from almost any
kind of exercise, especially in advanced stages. So maybe "lighter
than air" air would be easier to breath, reduce shortness of breath
and perhaps even allow them to do some exercise with all of its
physical and mental benefits. A group of Italian researchers reports
that while breathing a low-density mixture of 79 percent helium and
21 percent oxygen (called heliox), the length of time that 12 COPD
patients could do real exercise was 9 minutes, versus only 4.2
minutes for 12 patients breathing regular air (79 percent
nitrogen/21 percent oxygen). And the exercise involved wasn't
trivial: The subjects cycled "until exhaustion" at a rate of 50 rpm
at 80 percent of their maximal rate measured several days earlier
while on air. See Article:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2004-11/aps-ta112904.php
PETROLEUM JELLY LINKED TO LIPOID PNEUMONIA
In general, petroleum jelly is safe to use. But a potential problem
from inhaling fat-based substances (lipoids), such as petroleum
jelly or mineral oil, for prolonged periods is lipoid pneumonia.
Typically, petroleum jelly applied in the nostrils drains down the
back of your nose with normal nasal secretions and is swallowed. But
small amounts of the jelly can also migrate into your windpipe
(trachea) and lungs. Over many months, it can accumulate in the
lungs, leading to severe inflammation (lipoid pneumonia) in a small
area or affecting the whole lung. Chronic inflammation can result in
irreversible scarring of lung tissue, which impairs lung function.
See More:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?objectid=8687E57B-5040-483D-BE76A5E45CECE0A2
&si=2678
ILL SENIORS HIT HARD BY DEPRESSION
Depression might be more harmful than the other chronic diseases
that can strike elderly people, a new study claims. Even though
heart and lung disease can take their toll on seniors, it is the
accompanying depression that can most affect their quality of life,
University of Texas researchers found. Fortunately, seniors can
improve their quality of life with diagnosis and treatment despite
having debilitating physical conditions, according to the report.
See Story:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=97&ncid=751&e=10&u=/hsn/20041203/hl_h
sn/depressionstrikeshardatillseniors
STRESS MAY PROMOTE AGING OF CELLS
A new finding may explain how stress could ultimately lead to
premature aging. Chronic psychological stress is associated with
accelerated shortening of the caps, called telomeres, on the ends
of chromosomes in white blood cells - and thus hasten their demise -
according to a report. Telomeres promote chromosome stability,
researchers explained. Telomeres shorten with each replication of
the cell, and cells cease dividing when telomeres shorten
sufficiently. The team investigated the theory that psychological
stress affects telomere shortening and thereby contributes to
accelerated aging. See Story:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=6946519§ion=news
WHO: BIRD FLU MORE DEADLY THAN SARS
The bird-flu virus is far more lethal than the SARS virus that
struck Asia last year and could unleash a pandemic that could kill
as many as 50 million people, a World Health Organization (WHO)
official said. A recent WHO estimate that H5N1 could infect up to
30 percent of the world's population and kill between two and seven
million people was a conservative estimate, said Shigeru Omi,
regional director of WHO's Western Pacific Regional Office. "It will
be incomparable to SARS," he said, referring to the Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome epidemic that killed 800 people around the
world in 2003. While SARS had a mortality rate of around 15 percent,
the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu kills up to a third of the people
it infects. H5N1 has proven to be versatile and is now able to latch
itself onto more hosts, Omi said. See Story:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=6940975§ion=news
NEW NURSE GUIDELINES LAUNCHED FOR COPD
Primary care nurses can take on a key role managing one of the
U.K.'s fastest growing killers. New guidelines on the role primary
care nurses can play in COPD, based on the recommendations of
leading U.K. experts on the condition, have been launched. The
guidelines should help practices manage their resources to hit COPD.
The new recommendations build on the NICE guidelines for COPD
published earlier this year by highlighting the responsibilities
that primary care nurses can take on, including management of
patient reviews, spirometry and ensuring uptake of the flu jab.
These guidelines have been developed in cooperation with
GlaxoSmithKline. See Story:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=17070
LUNG DISEASE RESEARCH FUNDING "PITIFUL"
Experts condemned the 'pitiful' levels of funding for research into
lung disease - one of the U.K.'s biggest killers. The British
Thoracic Society (BTS) said that nearly one in four deaths were due
to diseases of the lung, including lung cancer, emphysema,
bronchitis and asthma. But only 2.8 percent of the Medical Research
Council's total expenditure of pounds 417.8 million in 2001-02 was
allocated for lung research. The BTS pointed out that lung disease
placed an enormous burden on society and cost the NHS 2.5 billion a
year - more than any other disease area. Prof. Geoff Laurent, BTS
member and director at the Centre for Respiratory Research at
University College London, called for the government to address the
imbalance between the proportion of people with lung diseases and
research funding.
(Birmingham Post; Birmingham, U.K.)
ASTHMA QUIZ: ARE YOU DOING ALL YOU CAN?
If you have asthma, you know it's prudent to stay away from things
that trigger your coughing and wheezing. But how vigilant do you
have to be? And are there other ways you can keep your asthma
symptoms to a minimum? Take this quiz to see if you're doing
everything you can to keep your asthma under control. See Quiz:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?objectid=CE636EA6-43BE-43D0-BA64E841D1B1F0F9
&si=2553
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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CO2 RETENTION / RESPIRATORY ACIDOSIS
Respiratory acidosis occurs when the lungs cannot remove all of the
carbon dioxide (a normal by-product of metabolism) produced by the
body. Because of this disturbance of the acid-base balance, body
fluids become excessively acidic. See Details:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000092.htm
MORE ON RESPIRATORY ACIDOSIS
http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic2008.htm
WAYS TO REDUCE CO2 RETENTION
In advanced stages of CO2 retention, a BiPAP or CPAP machine
can help lower CO2. Also, pursed-lip breathing can help with
shortness of breath and retention. See more on pursed-lip breathing
at http://www.copd-international.com/Library/plb.htm
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> > > > > > > > > NUTRITION/WELLNESS < < < < < < < < <
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SEASONAL DEPRESSION: IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR
'Tis the season to be depressed. That seems to be true for a segment
of the population who become depressed as the days get shorter. A
lot has been written about "holiday blues," and certainly the
holidays bring back negative memories for many. More than any other
time of year there is an emphasis on families. If you grew up in an
alcoholic family, an abusive family, or a neglectful family the
trappings of the season may remind you of what it was like
growing-up. See More:
http://mentalhealth.about.com/cs/depression/a/seasonal.htm
IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH
Of course, no one enjoys getting sick, so we do what we can to
stay healthy. It helps if you know what is - and is not - a threat
to your health. How much do you know? Take this quiz and find out.
http://encarta.msn.com/quiz_137/In_Sickness_and_In_Health_Quiz.html
DRINKING WATER TO MAINTAIN GOOD HEALTH
When we were kids in school, we learned that each molecule of
water is made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
We also learned that it was great fun to fill up our squirt guns
with water, at least until the principal caught us. What we really
didn't learn, however, was how much water we needed in order to be
healthy. See Tips:
http://nutrition.about.com/od/hydrationwater/a/waterarticle.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
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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/
-- Gayle Griffin's mother passed away on Thanksgiving Day.
Gayle was her caregiver. A Loving Thoughts Page has been
set up for condolences
at www.COPD-International.com/Loving_Thoughts
DAILY CHATS
Scheduled chats with hosts are held daily. We invite everyone to
stop in and visit. (Note: New Caregivers Chat on Saturdays.)
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: Saturdays at 1 pm., 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/
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http://www.copd-international.com/COPDAdvocate/
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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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DO YOU MEAN THAT?
Words. We use them everyday, often without thinking of their
meaning. But where did they come from in the first place? Test
yourself with this quiz.
http://uk.encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/quiz/Quiz.aspx?QuizID=526
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> > > > > > > > > > RECIPE < < < < < < < < < <
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OLD FASHIONED CHICKEN POT PIE
This pie is wonderful, comforting and smells great as it bakes!
It's so easy to make with the help of canned potato soup and
vegetables!
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 25 Minutes
Ready In: 35 Minutes
Makes: 1 - 9 inch pie
Ingredients
2 pounds cooked chicken, chopped
1 (15 ounce) can mixed vegetables
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of potato soup
1/4 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon dried parsley
salt to taste
1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C.) Roll one ball
out to fit a 9-inch pie plate. Place bottom crust in pie
plate. Roll out top crust and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine chicken, vegetables, potato soup
and milk. Season with pepper, thyme, parsley and salt to
taste. Pour filling into pie shell. Cover with top crust.
Seal edges and cut several slits in the top to allow steam
to escape.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until
golden brown.
(Allrecipes)
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> > > > > > > > > CLOSING THOUGHT < < < < < < < < <
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Out of clutter, find simplicity.
From discord, find harmony.
In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.
-- Albert Einstein --
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Thank You For Your Readership
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Notes
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