Hope for COPD

New Study for People with Severe to Very Severe COPD This research study is testing whether a new investigational drug that targets eosinophils (a type of white blood cell) could help patients with  COPD   (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) control symptoms and reduce exacerbations (flare-ups) that lead to hospitalizations. The new investigational drug will be compared to oral and inhaled corticosteroids, the current standard of care for COPD. More about the study: The study drug (Benralizumab) is administered by Subcutaneous (under the skin) injection (SC). There will be 3794 participants in this trial If you are interested, please find the full study details and eligibility criteria listed  here . Eligibility Criteria: Participants must: be between 40 – 85 years old have been diagnosed by a medical professional as having severe to very severe COPD be a current smoker or former smoker Participants must not: be taking any steroid medicat...

How to Improve Indoor Air Quality in 14 Easy Steps Face it, upon the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) which is an umbrella term that includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis, you have to constantly consider if the environment you are in is safe for your respiratory health. With a diagnosis of a chronic lung disease there are numerous lung irritants no matter where you go, but the one place that should be your respiratory safe haven is your home. Today we will be discussing 14 tips on how you can ensure that your home is free of symptom worsening lung irritants so you can relax and actually enjoy the time you spend at home. Enough chatter, it’s time to get into the nitty gritty details of how to effectively improve your home’s indoor air quality starting today. The Three Types of Substances that Reduce Indoor Air Quality: Allergens – This type of substance causes your body’s immune system to have an allergic response. Typically the most common sources of...

FALLING IN LOVE WITH COPD So, this isn't the first time I have fallen in love... But, is the last time I do. Or did. Except for my baby girl Tiny. And no, there is no one new in my life. It all started about 11 years ago when a couple I am friends of mine owned their car sales lot... I used to go in and hang out with my my friend and we would talk about the guy that worked with them, who flirted with me every time I came in. We talked about what an amazing worker he was, handsome... Oh my! Great with kids, great at everything he did. How he would be a great husband and father one day. He kept dropping hints about where he would be on a Friday or Saturday night, but I didn't bite. For months. I was afraid...  Somehow I knew that if I gave in, I would get hurt so bad. One night, he said he would be at the little bar by my house and that I should come in and have a drink with him... I called a friend to see if she would mind going in there with me and she agre...

27 Healthy Changes for COPD When you have COPD or any chronic illness, it is important to make sure that you are taking care of your health. We all fall into bad habits, or just lose track of goals. We need to eat right, but that microwaveable meal is so much easier to make! Right? Our goals vary as well. Some need to lose weight, while others need to gain a few pounds. But, what simple things can be done to boost our health and well being? Here are 27 easy things to do for your health. Simple changes, slowly over time, will be a huge benefit. Try one or two new things each day. Right after waking, drink a 6 ounce glass of water. Have smoothie for breakfast. The fruit and veggies will provide lots of nutrition and fiber. Skip your morning coffee and have your favorite tea instead. Caffeine in coffee  may cause a stress response in your body. Drink at least one, 6 ounce glass of water  for every 10 pounds you weigh each day. This will keep your body we...

What is this IODINE that I keep posting about? IODINE, is an amazing site and Chrome browser extension!  Why am I writing about this? I am always reading and posting new information about COPD research and information. This tool will help you, as it helps me, make the best of the research and information.  When we can really understand what we are reading, we can better understand our disease, treatment  options, medications, and better communicate with our doctors about our concerns. Education is POWER! You install it to your Chrome browser and it will search for medical terminology or jargon, then highlight and translate it to simpler terms when you move your mouse over it!  This makes reading medical information a breeze for those who have little or no medical background, or even those that have been out of service for many years. Like a refresher course! This picture shows you what it will look like after being installed,...

Is it COPD? Or something else? Every week I scour the internet and medical journals for new COPD related information. I came across this news article, by a small TV news Team. I thought it was important to get this information out globally. So I s ent out a Tweet about it.  I got several replies thanking me for the tweet!  Apparently, this is something that medical professionals need to be more aware of when diagnosing and treating COPD patients or others with respiratory ailments.  Open         Collapsing Collapsed In a nutshell, the trachea and bronchi become weakened, flaccid, and collapse usually when one is breathing harder than normal, eating, crying or, you guessed it... Coughing.  I have ALWAYS told my doctors that when I have an exacerbation, it feels like my throat is closing. I can't get air in or out. So this is something I will be having checked at my next appointment.  If you too feel li...

 COPD is a grossly misunderstood disease. Commonly thought to be an elderly gentleman's disease, a lifelong smoker... Someone who perhaps worked in a very polluted environment, like coal mining. This is simply not true. As the number of people diagnosed with COPD grows, more and more women are being diagnosed. Many people under 40, and nonsmokers. With increased awareness, and earlier detection, I believe we will see an increase in much younger people having COPD.  This article serves to educate the public about the facts. The true causes of COPD.  It is currently estimated that 210 million people worldwide have COPD.  SO, WHAT CAUSES COPD? COPD is an umbrella term used by medical professionals to describe a variety of illnesses that affect the lungs. Emphysema, asthma, and chronic bronchitis are a few of the most well known players under the COPD umbrella.  Genetics - Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency is...

How relationships MAY change when you are chronically ill.  Finding out you are chronically ill, is challenging at best. But, there are other things you may find more hurtful. Please do not take this the wrong way. I want you to find a positive even in the event of a negative.  Here is a (by no means comprehensive) list of things I have experienced since finding out I had stage III lung disease. They are in no particular order, but I feel they are important to talk about. Knowing what to expect, makes the disappointment hurt a little less.  1. Your friends and family may doubt you. Google "invisible illness", it is any disease or defect that is not visible to other people. Because you look healthy, or "normal" people may not believe you are really sick. They may be down right nasty about it.  Now, there are ways to handle this. And, I am not here to tell you what is the correct way. Each person is different, and will need further explainin...