Post on 11-Jul-2020
Every problem has a solution. You just have to be creative enough to find it.
The
PulmonaryPaperDedicated to Respiratory Health CareSeptember/October 2019 Vol. 30, No. 5
2 www.pulmonarypaper.org Volume 30, Number 5
Table of ContentsWe are hiding The Pulmonary Paper logo “guys” on the cover. Can you find them?
Features 4 | Calling Dr. Bauer
5 | Fibrosis File
6 | Ask Mark
7 | E-cigarettes; O2 Glasses
8 | The Ryan Report
10 | Sharing the Health
12 | Patient Airlift Services
Contest: Win an Inogen GS100 Concentrator
14 | Respiratory News
15 | An EFFORTS Member Speaks about Having COPD: “What I Wish I Knew Then”
Answers to Last Issue’s Quiz
For Fun13 | Sea Puffer Cruises
Plan an adventure with the Sea Puffers family! 2020 trips include the Caribbean in February; a Mississippi River cruise in April; and a Mediterranean Winery & Wonders cruise to Europe in July.
The Pulmonary Paper PO Box 4275, Ormond Beach, FL 32175-4275 Email: info@pulmonarypaper.org
The Pulmonary Paper, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is published by Main Clinic Supply. The news letters are available online at www.pulmonarypaper.org for all to share and benefit from.
All rights to The Pulmonary Paper (ISSN 1047-9708) are reserved and contents are not to be reproduced without permission.
As we cannot assume responsibility, please contact your physician before changing your treat ment schedule.
The Pulmonary Paper StaffEditor .............. Celeste Belyea, RRT, RN, FAARCAssc. Editor Dominic Coppolo, RRT, AE-C, FAARCDesign .................................. Sabach DesignMedical Director ................ Michael Bauer, MD Publisher ........................... Main Clinic Supply
The Pulmonary Paper is available four times a year for those with breathing problems and health professionals. The editor encourages readers to submit information about programs, equipment, tips or services.
Dedicated to Respiratory Health CarePaperThePulmonary
The Sea Puffers recently enjoyed a trip to New England and Canada that included a Lobster Party!
September/October 2019 www.pulmonarypaper.org 3
“Identify your problems but give
your power and energy
to solutions.” — Tony Robbins
Editor’s Note
We founded The Pulmonary Paper and published our first
newsletter in 1988 – before the internet and portable oxygen
concentrators were available – as a means to connect, educate
and support people who were dealing with chronic respiratory problems.
When so many oxygen users complained they could no longer travel, the
Sea Puffers were born to eliminate the fear and anxiety of what could
happen along the way.
The Pulmonary Paper has reached and helped many people with pulmonary
conditions, along with their family and friends, caregivers, pulmonary
rehabilitation centers, Better Breather Support groups, physicians and
medical professionals.
Main Clinic Supply has been a sponsor of The Pulmonary Paper for the past
seven years. Fran Fox, the president of Main Clinic Supply, knew how we
were struggling to keep ahead of the printing and mailing expenses and
wanted to help. We decided to join forces to continue to reach those that
could benefit from our supportive community. Fran is also a generous donor
of the latest in POCs when the Sea Puffers get together, giving people the
opportunity to try a model out and decide if it is the right equipment for
them.
We are very grateful for the donations made to support the organization
during the last 30 years. The newsletter will now be shared online to
anyone who would like to read it throughout the year. It will be available
on a quarterly basis and we welcome your input so that others may benefit
from our collective experiences.
Together with Fran, we are committed to continuing education and
support of all people so they will be able to be involved in making
informed decisions in their care, like getting your flu shot!
Sincerely,
We lost our friend Jeri this past August. She taught us how to enjoy life no matter what is thrown at you. Widowed at the age of 42, she raised five children including a special needs child, supporting them as a nurse. She took her Sequal Eclipse ice fishing every Minnesota winter and traded it in every 10,000 hours for a new one. Quilting and sewing for charities between many other volunteer activities, she took her oxygen on horseback in Costa Rica and to tour castles in Scotland. Her friends would carry her portable oxygen along the side of the pool as she swam. In 2016, she overcame a 156-day stint in the hospital, most of it on a ventilator. Jeri will be greatly missed by all, especially the Minnesota Twins and me.
4 www.pulmonarypaper.org Volume 30, Number 5
Questions for Dr. Bauer? You may email him at info@pulmonarypaper. org.
Dr. Michael Bauer
Calling Dr. Bauer …
As a lung doctor, I will frequently perform pulmonary function tests
(PFTs) to monitor lung capacity in a very objective fashion. When
someone “scores” better than 80 percent of their predicted results, I often
congratulate them and say, “Your lung function is within the normal range.”
Sometimes they score 70 percent (mild lung disease) and yet have difficulty
doing the activities they want to do. Other people in our clinic may have 30
percent lung capacity (severe impairment) and yet, they get outside every
day and remain physically active. How can this happen?
There may be good medical explanations for this apparent discrepancy,
but in my medical experience, the major factors are often motivation and
attitude. There is no pill I could prescribe to improve motivation and atti-
tude, but there are some steps one can take in that direction.
Setting a goal is an important tool to improve your
ability to become more active. The goal can be a
small one, such as, “I want to cut back my cigarette
use from 2 packs a day to 1-1/2 packs a day.” Or
a big one, such as, “I want to quit entirely.” The
important thing is the little steps you take every
day to get to your goal.
Making a commitment to begin the journey to accomplish an activity you
want to do is the most critical step. Whether or not you reach your goal
should not be your measure of success. It’s the journey you take every day
and the effort to do the best you can that should be your only scorecards.
Editor’s Note – Following his own advice to break a goal into smaller parts, it has taken several years, but Dr. Bauer is about to finish walking the entire Appalachian Trail. Congratulations!
Reward yourself. Even for the small suc-
cesses! If you make it through your first day
without a cigarette, buy yourself a magazine
on a topic you are interested in. For every
day you don’t smoke, put the money you
would have spent on cigarettes in a fund
to spend on yourself. Start your exercise
program and pick out the new outfit to treat
yourself. Tell a friend or family member
about the goals you want to accomplish. If
someone is rooting for you, it will help hold
you accountable. And if the friend will go
to water aerobics or the gym with you, it
motivates you to go too!
Motivation Techniques That May Help Accomplish Your Goals
September/October 2019 www.pulmonarypaper.org 5
Drug NewsPamrevlumab, developed by FibroGen,
is an antibody that blocks connective tissue growth factor, which has a central role in the process of fibrosis. PRAISE was a Phase 2 study to determine the effectiveness and safety of pamrevlumab in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). Trial results showed the drug, given intravenously, re-duced the decline in lung function. Results were published in the journal The Lancet Re-spiratory Medicine. A larger Phase 3 clinical trial, called ZEPHYRUS, is currently enroll-ing. For more information, visit clinical tri-als, gov/ct2/show/NCT03955146#contact location or call Raquel Ortega at 415-978-1562. Her email is rortega@Fibrogen.com
Gabapentin is a drug used to treat nerve pain caused by the herpes virus or shingles, as well as restless legs syndrome and sei-zures. Participants in an online IPF support group shared that taking gabapentin had almost entirely eliminated their chronic dry coughing. Ask your physician about this treatment possibility if this is a concern for you.
The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation has partnered with Responsum Health to pro-vide a means for you, your loved ones and caregivers to become strong advocates in the management of your lung problems. You may access daily news, resources, clinical trials, financial assistance information and contact health professionals with ques-tions. Visit www.responsumhealth.com/ responsum-for-pf
Fibrosis FilePrincess Mette-
Mar it, wife of Crown Prince Haakon of Nor - way, has been diag-nosed with pulmonary fibrosis (PF). We wish
her the best of luck as she joins us in the fight to find the cause and cure of PF.
Charlene Marshall recently wrote of her feelings the day she was told she had IPF. She had never heard of it and felt sadness and anger that her lungs were not healthy at the age of 28. She was relieved to finally know what was wrong, but was afraid to let her family and friends know. She felt in denial and that everything was her fault.
She advises it’s important to let yourself feel the various emotions, work through each, and then allow acceptance of your limitations. It will take time to master.
Look for alternatives: I’ve never wanted to be different from my peers. I now accept what I can’t do and look for alternative ways to thank friends for their help.
Let it go: Letting go of what I can’t do and thinking of what I still can do, bene-fits my mental health.
Ask for help: As a society, I believe we glorify independence. There is no shame in asking for help. Think of what you’d be willing to do for loved ones if they asked.
Tell people about IPF: I’ve learned the hard way that withholding information from those around you sets everyone up for failure. When people know about your lung condition, and you’re up front about what you can and cannot do, expectations remain realistic. As difficult as it is to be open, I believe transparency is best.
6 www.pulmonarypaper.org Volume 30, Number 5
Mark W. Mangus, Sr. BSRC, RRT, RPFT,
FAARC
Ask Mark …
Elbert from EFFORTS tells Mark he creates some commotion when
health professionals ask what his oxygen liter flow is. I tell them,
“It depends on whatever I need to get around at the time!”
Mark says, Good response! You are doing your part to help educate them
on the best way to use oxygen. They will come to understand that you need
to use whatever settings will keep your oxygen saturations above 90 per-
cent or the level your physician advises. Your oximeter IS your best friend!
It may be ten years old, but Dr. Tom Petty’s second edition of the Adventures
of an Oxy-Phile is great reading. The book may be downloaded at tinyurl.
com/6r5smw2
Michael M. tells Mark when exercising, it
seems like he has too much air coming in and
can’t exhale enough out. His doctor told him
it is because his carbon dioxide (CO2) levels
increase to too high a level. That is because
of the ‘obstruction’ from his lung disease that
causes him to breathe in more and more air
than he can breathe out as he exercises. The
increase in (CO2) levels results from that ob-
structive action which affects exhalation. It is
more a ‘result’ than a ‘cause’.
Mark replies, European researchers looked at the possible benefits of ex-
ercising for a longer period of time at less intensity in a study in the Journal
of Clinical Medicine. They concluded that exercising for twice as long is fea-
sible and can lead to benefits on exercise tolerance. But, still, exercising at
higher intensity will result in better conditioning and tolerance of exertion.
So, your goal should be to try to exercise at a higher intensity, even if the
duration of exercise you can tolerate may be shorter. Over time, your ability
to exercise longer at a higher intensity should increase.
One strategy to get you there is to follow a pattern of ‘interval’ exercising.
You walk at a slow speed for several minutes then abruptly increase your
speed for a couple of minutes at a time, working to ‘achieve’ significant
windedness. Then you slow back down to the more manageable speed
and recover using pursed lips breathing. And depending upon how long
you are able to exercise in each continuous episode, you repeat the interval
increase, and so on.
No matter what, though, hang in there and keep moving!
Mark Mangus RRT, BSRC, is a member of the Medical Board of EFFORTS (the online support group, Emphysema Foundation For Our Right To Survive, www.emphysema. net). He generously donates his time to answer members’ questions.
September/October 2019 www.pulmonarypaper.org 7
Tobacco and E-cigarettesA 17-year-old girl and her friends pur-
chased an ice-cream-flavored e-cigarette
liquid to vape. She ended up fighting for
her life after her body reacted to inhaling
the liquid into her lungs.
There have been 1,604 lung injury cases,
including 35 deaths, associated with e-cig-
arette products in 49 states, the District
of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Alaska is the only state without a reported
case, according to the Centers for Disease
Control. The median age of the people
who have died is 45, and 23 for those who
survived. All have been associated with
recent electronic cigarette use or “vaping.”
Vaping is a word used to describe the use of
an electronic system to deliver inhaled
drugs, most commonly nicotine and can-
nabinoids (natural or synthetic forms of
marijuana). “Juuling” is another term that
is used to describe the use of a specific vape
device.
The progress made in reducing the use
of tobacco products in our young people
has been erased.
The State of Tobacco Control report from
the American Lung Association gives 43
states and the District of Columbia an “F”
for funding state tobacco-prevention pro-
grams. The good news is that the strength
of smoke-free workplace laws in 29 states
received a “B”.
The compa-
ny Aires Medical
(www.airesmed
ical.com) prom-
ises to give us the
world’s first truly
portable continu-
ous flow oxygen
concentrator in the next two years.
Until then, Anne Morrison of Connecti-
cut (shown here) is enjoying Aires Medical’s
oxygen glasses. Based on the same idea as
Oxy-View glasses (www.oxyview.com),
these are a new addition to the market.
Aires Oxygen Eyeglasses™ are hollow eye-
glass frames with discreet nose tubes that
reduce the negative stigma associated with
using medical oxygen. They are available
in black and clear and are made of medical
grade silicone tubing and polymer at a cost
of $199. Prescription lenses can be installed
by a certified optician.
You may email: sales@airesmedical.com
or call (734) 430-0028 for more informa-
tion.
Research shows exacerbations (flare ups
or infections) in those with COPD are more
frequently noted for between November and
February. Could stress during the upcoming
holiday season make us more susceptible
to illness?
If you are invited to a party and feel it
would be too much, you could send the host
or hostess a gift with your apologies.
Is the idea of putting up a Christmas tree
or decorations overwhelming to you? Try
a tabletop model – a fraction of the work
and you still enjoy the spirit of the season.
Be careful of the dust when getting things
out of storage!
8 www.pulmonarypaper.org Volume 30, Number 5
Ryan Diesem, RRT
The Ryan ReportHome Oxygen Guru – The HO2G Pen
Question & Answer
I have been a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) user for three years with oxygen bled in from a home stationary concen-
trator at 3 L/min. My nighttime oxygen was my only supplemental oxygen use until now. With time, my COPD has worsened and I have been advised to begin using supplemental daytime oxygen out-side my home. My question is, can a pulse only POC, like the Inogen One 5, serve both purposes? M.M.
Ryan answers, I cannot recommend that you use a pulse POC to bleed oxygen into your CPAP circuit. There are a couple reasons for this, primarily that the CPAP flow generator is constantly delivering
its flow. It creates a slightly negative pressure from the oxygen connection port as the flow passes by, which would likely make the POC erratically or inconsistently trigger.
If a cannula is placed under the CPAP mask, there is likely little chance the POC would be able to appropriately and accurately sense your inspira-tion. You are also likely adding a considerable leak between the mask surface and your face, which
may also complicate things. On top of that, the pulse only POCs just are not capable of generating more than 1000-1260 mL/min (1 to 1.26 LPM) of oxygen per minute. Even if they consistently triggered and you could simply disable the alarm, pulse only POCs would still only be able to pro-vide about one-third of the oxygen volume you typically require at night.
I know this is a complicated subject, but I recommend you continue to use a continuous flow oxygen device with your CPAP. There are larger continuous flow capable POCs as the Oxlife Independence and Eclipse 5 that can deliver oxygen at a 3 LPM continuous flow setting if you are looking to use only one concentrator for day and night use with your CPAP.
Ryan Diesem, RRT, is Research Manager at Valley Inspired Products, Apple Valley, MN. Contact Ryan at rdiesem@inspiredrc.com with questions or com ments.
Has Your Liquid Oxygen System Been Taken Away?The U.S. COPD Coalition is fighting to get you the oxygen equipment you need. Accord-ing to the Code of Federal Regulations, oxygen suppliers are prohibited from switching your oxygen equipment at any time during the 5-year reasonable useful lifetime period unless the beneficiary requests the change or their physician orders different equipment and explains why the user’s current equipment does not meet their needs. It is important for Congress, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and our community to know what is happening. Send comments to ksiegel@uscopdcoalition.org
September/October 2019 www.pulmonarypaper.org 9
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10 www.pulmonarypaper.org Volume 30, Number 5
Now that winter is al-
most here, be sure to pro-
tect your airway in the cold
weather! There are many
masks available on the mar-
ket. Jenny S. from Colorado
recommends visiting www.coldavenger.com
Sharing the Health!Traveling for the holidays, don’t forget to
start planning early!
As we all know, holidays can be stressful!
The best advice you can follow is to pace
yourself and avoid anyone who even looks
like they may have a cold or the flu.
If you are flying, the airlines each have
their own regulations about bringing port-
able oxygen concentrators on board. If
you wait until the last minute, you may be
prevented from boarding the plane. Keep
copies of your oxygen prescription and your
medications with you.
In the words of a Better Breather:
If you like to travel,
you should be knowing,
COPD doesn’t keep you from going.
It’s just that for some things
you have to prepare,
Like mountains and flying and polluted air.
Make arrangements for Oxygen
along the way,
If that’s one of the meds you use every day.
Nebulizers, inhalers and all of your pills,
Your medical history in case you are ill.
So cover these bases and avoid stress,
And your trip becomes a great success.
Now back your car slowly
out of the garage
Vaya Con Dios, Aloha, So Long,
Bon Voyage!
Today, there are more than 250 inhaler
brands on the market providing targeted
delivery of medication to the lungs. Users
typically own more than one inhaler, and
with so many brands available, problems
can result if these inhalers are designed to
operate in different ways. Less than 10 per-
cent of people use their inhalers correctly.
To help reduce errors associated with
inhaler use, guidelines recommend the addi-
tion of a valved holding chamber – a device
that attaches to an inhaler and captures
medication as it sprays out. Valved holding
chambers streamline delivery of medication
and maximize how much medication is de-
livered into the lungs.
The most commonly prescribed metered-
dose and soft-mist inhalers include the
AeroChamber Plus® Flow-Vu® chamber to
ensure that the optimal dose of medication
is received. Masks help users overcome
challenges experienced while determining
when to inhale after activating the inhaler;
proper use results in optimized delivery of
medication and improved outcomes.
September/October 2019 www.pulmonarypaper.org 11
About 85 to 90 percent of all COPD
is caused by cigarette smoking, but for
some people, COPD is actually related to a
genet ic condition called alpha1-antitrypsin
deficiency or alpha-1 for short. It is caused
by a deficiency in a specific protein called
alpha1-antitrypsin which plays a critical role
in safeguarding the lungs. Having low levels
of the alpha1-antitrypsin protein can leave
your lungs vulnerable to serious damage.
You can find out if your lung disease
is genetic by ordering a free test kit. Visit
www.geneticcopdtest.com to order the kit
and share it with your physician. The test is
an easy finger stick that
takes less than 10 min-
utes to perform. If it does
show you have alpha-1,
there are alternative therapies available.
For those of you who do not have access
to a Pulmonary Rehabilitation program
near you, Dr. Noah Greenspan runs the
Pulmonary Wellness Online Boot Camp, a
6-week online program that will benefit any
individual living with respiratory problems.
Dr. Greenspan is offering Pulmonary
Paper readers a coupon code, Noahbday50,
when registering, to receive a $50 discount
on the cost of the boot camp. (This is half
the normal rate).
Visit www.onlinepulmonarywellness.com
to enroll for breathing and strength exercis-
es, seminars, relaxation training and social
interaction with others coping with similar
problems. There is also the option to con-
tinue after the six weeks.
I was talking to my friend about how
the way you wake up in the morning can
set up your whole day. We made a list of
helpful things to do so we can look forward
to each day!
Do some stretching exercises while still in
bed. Make half your bed while you’re still
in it. Pull the top sheet and blanket up on
one side and smooth them out. Get out from
the unmade side, which you can then easily
finish making the bed.
Use a thick terrycloth robe after your
shower instead of towel drying. I use a bath
stool and sprayer that make breathing easier.
I hang my oxygen tubing over the shower
curtain to keep it out of the way.
I had my beautician give me a short hair-
cut that takes a minimum of care. I don’t
use aerosol sprays – just fluff and go and
I’m ready for the day!
I think it is important to get dressed before
breakfast. Most days, I wear loose fitting
clothing. If wearing pants, I put my under-
wear in the pants and pull them both on
at the same time and use a long-handled shoe -
horn for putting on shoes to avoid bending
over. Enjoy a good day!
SpecialOffer
Use Coupon Code:
Noahbday50
12 www.pulmonarypaper.org Volume 30, Number 5
Charity Based Airlift ServicesPatient Airlift Services (PALS) is a charity
based at Republic Airport in Farmingdale,
New York. PALS relies on a network of
about 660 professional pilots across the
U.S. who donate their time and resources to
help people with rare diseases in need. It is
not an illness-specific organization.
If you need to visit a medical specialist
for evaluation or treatments that require
you to fly, PALS can help. A video about
the organization can be viewed at https://
tinyurl.com/y5wakwdp
The organization has served more than
2,900 families, organized around 3,500
ground trips, and 20,000 flights since its
inception in 2010. That’s equivalent to 4.6
million passenger miles.
They are not a medical ambulance.
There is no medical staff on board, so if a
pilot is midair and there’s a crisis, the pilot
wouldn’t be able to intervene.
For further information, call 1-888-818-
1231 or visit www.palservices.org/
he Inogen GS100 Concentrator gives you constant flow oxygen from 1-5 LPM. The 18-pound unit is packed in a padded suitcase, making it an ideal travel companion for your night and inside use. Being medical equipment, it is not counted as checked luggage with the airlines, helping with baggage fees.
To enter the drawing for the GS100, send in a tip, past experience or advice on using oxygen that you think would help others. The winner will be drawn from all entries we receive by January 1, 2020.
Mail to: The Pulmonary Paper, PO Box 4275, Ormond Beach, FL 32175 or email to cbelyea@pulmonarypaper.org
Thanks for participating in our win-win contest and good luck!
Win an Inogen GS100 Concentrator & Travel Case!Courtesy of Main Clinic Supply
Get up to 5 LPM constant flow oxygen wherever you may travel!
T
SEND US YOUR TIPS! • SEND US YOUR EXPERIENCES! • SEND US YOUR ADVICE!
September/October 2019 www.pulmonarypaper.org 13
CARIBBEAN CRUISE February 12-23, 2020 (on Holland America’s Koningsdam)
Roundtrip, 11 nights, from Fort Lauderdale. HIGHLIGHTS: Visiting St. Maarten, Fort de France, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, St. Thomas and Half Moon Cay. Enjoy special Valentine’s Day fun!
Enjoy one of our group cruises escorted by Respiratory Therapists or call us to arrange your individual or family vacations.
Join the Sea Puffers family for life-long friendships and support.
Call Cruise Planners – Get Up and GO2 at 1-866-673-3019 or visit seapuffers.com
FST–
ST39
068
Independently Owned & Operated
Luxury sailing for 7 days. Tour Barcelona before sailing in luxury to Rome where we will visit the Eternal City. HIGHLIGHTS: Mallorca, Marseille, Antibes, Monte Carlo, Cinque Terre,Florence/ Pisa/Tuscany.
MEDITERRANEANWINERIES & WONDERS July 9-16, 2020 (on Oceania’s Riviera)
Travel with the Sea Puffers!
Spend the night in New Orleans before boarding the Ameri-can Queen’s Count-ess to sail on the
Lower Mississippi River to Memphis. Explore the history and charm of the area as you step back in time on this unique journey! Your cabin oxygen will generously be supplied by Main Clinic Supply!
MISSISSIPPI RIVERSTEAMBOAT CRUISE April 19-27, 2020 (on American Queen’s Countess)
Join
the F
un!
14 www.pulmonarypaper.org Volume 30, Number 5
Respiratory NewsAccording to data from the CDC, each
year about one million people in the U.S.
are hospitalized with community-acquired
pneumonia – pneumonia that you contract
outside the hospital. About 50,000 people
die from the disease. The most commonly
identified pathogens are Streptococcus
pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae,
atypical bacteria and viruses. The FDA re-
cently approved Xenleta (lefamulin) to treat
adults with community-acquired bacterial
pneumonia.
Researchers from France studied the diet
habits of more than 120,000 people over
the past year. Participants who scored high-
est on measures of diet quality – including
whole grains, vegetables, nuts and omega-3
fats – were 33 percent less likely to develop
COPD than those who reported eating the
most low-quality options like sugar-rich
beverages, trans fats and sodium-packed
foods. The researchers aren’t exactly sure
how a healthy diet works to prevent the
disease, but it might be due to some anti-
inflammatory compounds in those foods.
A new study shows that the incidence of
home oxygen fire fatalities is underreport-
ed, and likely is as high 100-150 fatalities
a year, according to a new study produced
by BPR Medical Gas Control. Oxygen us-
ers, family members and firefighters were
among those lost. Seventy-two percent of
the oxygen fires in the study were either
caused or probably caused by people smok-
ing while using oxygen therapy.
Encourage your friends and family to be
active and exercise! A study from Copen-
hagen followed the respiratory health of
middle-aged men to see if maintaining an
active lifestyle would lead to a lower chance
of getting COPD. According to a report in
Thorax, the men who had the most exercise
time, had a 62 percent lower risk of being
diagnosed with COPD.
A team of researchers has identified a
previously unknown antibody that protects
mice against a wide range of potentially
deadly strains of influenza. The study pub-
lished in the journal Science could lead to a
single, more reliable flu vaccine that could
be used for either treatment or prevention.
Research notes that only 5 percent of
people wash their hands the correct way and
for the correct amount of time needed to kill
germs and bacteria on both hands. The CDC
recommends: 1) Wet your hands with clean,
running water (warm or cold), turn off the
tap and apply soap. 2) Lather your hands
and be sure to soap the backs, between your
fingers and under your nails. 3) Scrub for at
least 20 seconds – which is about the time it
takes to sing “Happy Birthday” to yourself
twice. 4) Rinse your hands well under the
running water. 5) Dry your hands using a
clean towel or let air dry.
When people have COPD and also suffer
from Vitamin D deficiency, taking Vitamin
D supplements can cut their exacerbation
rate in half. The results of the study ap-
peared in the medical journal BMJ.
September/October 2019 www.pulmonarypaper.org 15
Answers to “Summer Heat Quiz” in the last newsletter1. What type of clothes should you wear to stay cool?
Loose-fitting clothing. Dress cool by wearing loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothing. They help reflect heat and sunlight to keep your body cool.
2. What is the best surface to walk on to keep cool in the summer? If you want to stay cool outside, try walking on a dirt path, which doesn’t absorb the sun as much as other surfaces. It also helps to hold a cold water bottle in your hands while walking. You could freeze the bottle of water, as it melts, you can drink some of the water to cool you down even more.
3. Which of the following foods can help you stay hy-drated the most? Taking a bite out of a tomato is the best. Tomato is made up of 94 percent water, so it will help keep you from getting dehydrated. Cucumber is a close second with 90 percent water and pear is made up of 85 percent water.
4. Applying ice to which of these spots can help you stay cool? Your pulse points are your body’s quickest cooling spots. Placing ice cubes on easy-to-find pulse points like
your wrists, neck and inner elbows and knees, can help you cool off quickly.
5. Adding which of these to a glass of water can help you feel cool? While it may not actually lower your temperature, mint can provide a cool sensation that feels refreshing on a hot day.
6. True or False? Drinking a super cold drink can keep your body cool for up to an hour. True. New Zealand researchers found that drinking a frosty mix of flavored shaved ice could keep body temperatures cool for about an hour.
7. True or False? Stay away from salty foods to prevent heat exhaustion. False. Sweating depletes the body of water and salt. To prevent heat exhaustion or heat cramps, try foods like salted crackers or salted pretzels.
8. Why is it especially good to eat watermelon, papaya and celery to stay cool on a hot day? Not only are watermelon, papaya and celery rich in water, but they also contain sodium and potassium, which are all needed to prevent dehydration.
John from Emphysema Foundation for Our Right to Survive (EFFORTS, www. emphysema.net) was asked, “When you were first diagnosed with COPD, what do you know now that you wish your physi-cian had discussed with you then?”
John answers, I wish he had stressed that COPD is not a death sentence, it is treatable. People need help and hope, as they will be scared, angry, confused and feeling lost. It is simply another chapter in their book – which they can make into a wonderful story or a tragedy. Mindset and positive mental attitude are critical in determining and aiding in quality of life!
Also, I wish there was more help with smoking cessation, other than ‘You need to quit’. Point people towards resources to help with navigating disability, pharmacy assistance, peer support, smoking cessa-tion, how to explain COPD to family and loved ones.
Also, treat and value the person as a per-son, not someone with a disease. I try and never use the term “disease” as it sounds negative and could affect my mindset. I call my COPD a “condition that I live with”.
Little things like that can set the stage for living with a good attitude.
Too, we need to understand what an exacerbation is. Is it just an off day or is this the start of something more serious? I contact my doctor right away to see if I should start prednisone and antibiotics. We need a personalized action plan right from the beginning to know what steps to take when symptoms start. The American Lung Association has COPD Action and Management Plans that you can download at www.tinyurl.com/y4h69jp5
And finally, I wish he had encouraged me to attend a pulmonary rehab program to learn from others and improve the qual-ity of my life.
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