The PulmonaryPaper...It may be ten years old, but Dr. Tom Petty’s second edition of the Adventures...

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: [email protected]

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.


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


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 [email protected]

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.


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.


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: [email protected]

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!


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 [email protected] 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 [email protected]


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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.


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


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 [email protected]

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!


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!


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.


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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The PulmonaryPaper...It may be ten years old, but Dr. Tom Petty’s second edition of the Adventures...

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