COPD Light House

Weeds in Your Yard Help Lungs and Adrenals, et al

2008-07-02T15:31:00.000-07:00

The following information came in my daily newsletter from Annie over at Care2. It's all about living green. The following has some good information on weeds in your yard and what they "treat." Enjoy and remember to always check with your pharmacist and physician prior to implementing new things into your healing process. Better safe.
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The Healing Weeds in Your Yard
posted by Annie B. Bond Jun 27, 2008 7:00 am

By the Care2 Staff, with thanks to Wise Woman Herbalist Susun Weed.

Many of the lawn-and-garden weeds that people kill with toxic herbicides actually contain health-giving properties and vital nutrients often missing from foods grown in depleted soil.

A weedy lawn is often a goldmine of healing and health! Find out what four of the most common weeds growing in your yard may offer you:

Chickweed:
Rich in nutrients, chickweed makes a great addition to the salad bowl, nourishing to the lymph and glandular systems, and offering healing for those with cysts, fevers, and inflammations. A good neutralizer for those with over-acid systems, and beneficial for those with yeast overgrowth and fatty deposits.

Dandelion:
All parts, from root to flower, are beneficial. Good for the liver, urinary tract, and female reproductive system, dandelion has cancer- and virus-fighting properties, and is a great beautifier. Dandelion is also beneficial for insomnia, arthritis, hypoglycemia and diabetes. Sap from a cut stem may be used to treat blemishes, corns, stings, warts and other skin problems.

Nettle:
Yes, they can sting you but if you gather them carefully and tincture or cook them, nettles are a fabulous source of calcium–a must to prevent osteoporosis–and a great ally for regrowing thinning hair. They are a tonic for the kidneys and adrenals (if you’ve been stressed or fatigued, nettle is the ally for you) and for the respiratory system, offering healing for asthmatics and those with other bronchial and lung complaints.

Red Clover:
Herbalist Susun Weed says red clover offers menopausal women many of the benefits of soy without any of the drawbacks. It is one ingredient of traditional spring tonics to purify and revitalize the entire system, high in calcium and compounds that are useful in treating bronchitis and other respiratory conditions.

CAUTION: Before you eat your weeds, be sure that you’ve picked them in an area free of animal waste, pollution from motor vehicles, and chemical herbicide or pesticide treatments.
Please consult a health professional before treating health conditions with herbs. We are not recommending that you discontinue conventional medical practices.

What Is COPD and What is the Treatment?

2008-06-28T01:23:00.000-07:00

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

What Is It?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) refers to a group of disorders that damage the lungs and make breathing increasingly more difficult over time. The two most common forms of COPD are chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Both are chronic (long-term) illnesses that impair airflow in the lungs. Currently, COPD affects at least millions of people in the United States, causing more than 100,000 deaths each year. In more than 80% of cases, the illness is related to cigarette smoking.

Chronic Bronchitis

In this respiratory disorder, the air passages in the lungs are inflamed, and the mucus-producing glands in the larger air passages of the lungs (bronchi) are enlarged. These enlarged glands produce too much mucus, which triggers a cough. In chronic bronchitis, this cough lasts for at least three months of the year for two consecutive years.
Chronic bronchitis affects about 3% of the people in the United States, most commonly men older than 40. You are more likely to develop chronic bronchitis if you:

Smoke tobacco
Are exposed to air pollution
Are exposed in the workplace to airborne organic dusts or toxic gases, especially in cotton mills and plastic manufacturing plants
Have a history of frequent respiratory illnesses
Live with a smoker
Have an identical twin with chronic bronchitis

Chronic bronchitis may have different symptoms in different people. In milder cases, a cough produces only a small amount of thin, clear mucus. In other people, the mucus is thick and discolored. Symptoms similar to asthma may develop, including wheezing and shortness of breath. Eventually, the airways become narrowed, limiting the amount of oxygen that gets to the air sacs. Blood vessels constrict in an attempt to divert the blood to better-oxygenated areas of the lung. This increases blood pressure in the arteries that feed the lungs, and strains the right side of the heart. Eventually, if blood pressure remains high enough in the lungs, heart failure develops, and blood backs up in the liver, abdomen and legs.

Emphysema

In this disorder, the tiny air sacs in the lungs, called alveoli, are destroyed. The lungs are unable to contract fully and gradually lose elasticity. Holes develop in the lung tissue, reducing the lungs' ability to exchange oxygen for carbon dioxide. As a result, breathing may become labored and inefficient, and you may feel breathless most of the time.
You are more likely to develop emphysema if you:

Smoke
Are exposed to passive ("secondhand") smoke
Are exposed to airborne irritants or noxious chemicals (lead, mercury, coal dust, hydrogen sulfide)
Live in an area with significant air pollution (high levels of sulfur dioxide and particulates)
An estimated 100,000 people in the United States have an inherited form of emphysema in which the lungs lack a protective protein called alpha-1-antitrypsin. In people with this form of the disease, lung damage can appear as early as age 30, decades sooner than smoking-related emphysema usually starts.

Symptoms

People with COPD commonly have symptoms of both chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

Chronic Bronchitis

Your first symptom may be a morning cough that brings up mucus and that occurs at first only during the winter months. As the illness progresses, the cough begins to last throughout the day and throughout the year, and produces more mucus. Eventually, about 15% of people with chronic bronchitis develop a continuous cough, breathlessness, rapid breathing, or a bluish tint to the skin from lack of oxygen.

Chronic bronchitis also makes you prone to frequent respiratory infections and to potentially life-threatening flare-ups of severe breathing difficulties that often require hospitalization. If heart failure develops, there may be swelling in the ankles, legs, and sometimes the abdomen.

Emphysema

If you have emphysema, you may first feel short of breath during activities such as walking or vacuuming. Because lung function decreases slowly in emphysema, you may hardly notice as breathing becomes more and more difficult. With time, you may develop increased shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, a tight feeling in the chest, a barrel-like distended chest, constant fatigue, difficulty sleeping, and weight loss.

Diagnosis
Your doctor will examine you, looking for evidence of COPD by checking for rapid breathing; a bluish tint to your skin, lips or fingernails; a distended, barrel-shaped chest; use of neck muscles to breathe; abnormal breath sounds; and signs of heart failure, especially swelling in the ankle and legs.
To confirm the diagnosis, he or she may order the following tests:

Pulmonary function test — In this test, you will breathe into a special mouthpiece, and a machine will take measurements to test how much your airways are blocked and how much your lungs inflate.

Blood tests — Blood tests measure the different types of blood cells or the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood. Others are used to check for low alpha-1-antitrypsin levels, especially in a nonsmoker who shows symptoms of emphysema.

Chest X-rays — These help to rule out pneumonia and lung cancer, and they also show heart size. If you have emphysema, chest X-rays can pinpoint areas where lung tissue has been destroyed.

Electrocardiogram — This test measures the electric activity of the heart and usually is done to make sure your symptoms are not caused by a heart problem.

Sputum analysis — A small amount of mucus is collected and tested for respiratory infection

.
Exercise stress test — In this test, you walk on a treadmill while a specialist monitors the intensity of your exercise. This test looks for any signs of coronary artery disease.

If you are diagnosed with the inherited form of emphysema, family members, including children, also should be tested to determine if they have a deficiency of alpha-1-antitrypsin.

Expected Duration
Symptoms of chronic bronchitis tend to begin in smokers after age 50. These symptoms persist and gradually worsen for the rest of the smoker's life unless he or she quits smoking.
Most cases of emphysema are diagnosed in smokers in their 50s or 60s. People with the inherited form of emphysema can show symptoms as early as age 30. Regardless of the cause, emphysema has no cure and lasts a lifetime.

Prevention
Because the majority of cases of COPD are related to smoking, you can drastically reduce your risk of this illness by avoiding cigarettes. If you smoke, get the help you need to stop. If you don't smoke, don't start. You also may reduce your risk of COPD by limiting your exposure to secondhand smoke and by avoiding outdoor activities when air pollution levels are high.

If you have been diagnosed with chronic bronchitis, avoid contact with anyone with symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection, because even a mild cold can trigger a flare-up of bronchitis symptoms. Wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your face with your hands during the cold and flu season. Also, anyone with COPD should be vaccinated against influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia.

Treatment
No treatment can fully reverse or stop COPD, but steps can be taken to relieve symptoms, treat complications, and minimize disability. First, your doctor will tell you to quit smoking, the most critical factor for maintaining healthy lungs. Although quitting smoking is most effective during the early stages of COPD and can reverse some early changes, it can also slow down the rate of decline of lung function in later stages. Other COPD treatments may include:

Environmental changes — If your doctor believes that your COPD is caused by work-related exposure to dusts or chemicals, he or she will recommend that you ask your employer to find an alternative work environment. In general, people with COPD also should avoid exposure to outdoor air pollution, secondhand smoke, and airborne toxins (deodorants, hair sprays, insecticides) in the home.

Medications — Doctors generally prescribe medications that open up the airways, called bronchodilators, taken as a spray that is inhaled or in pill form. Antibiotics also may be necessary to treat acute respiratory infections, such as bacterial pneumonia. Daily inhaled corticosteroids may be given to reduce airway inflammation. For flare-ups, an oral corticosteroid called prednisone often is prescribed.

Exercise programs — Regular exercise builds stamina and will improve your quality of life, even if it does not directly improve lung function. Pulmonary rehabilitation programs have been shown to lower the need for hospitalization.

Good nutrition — A balanced diet can help maintain stamina and improve resistance against infection. Also, getting enough water and other fluids can help to keep mucus watery and easy to drain.

Supplemental oxygen — If your lungs are not getting enough oxygen into your blood, oxygen therapy can improve your quality of life, increase your ability to exercise, help to relieve heart failure, prolong life, improve mental function, and lift your spirits.

Lung volume-reduction surgery — In carefully selected patients, surgery to remove the most severely diseased portions of the lungs allows the less damaged areas of the lungs to expand better. The long-term value of this procedure is unknown.

Lung transplants or heart-lung transplants — Transplants are rarely an option, except in very selected cases of early onset, severe COPD

When To Call a Professional
If you smoke or if you work in a job that carries a high risk of COPD, you should see your doctor once a year to be checked for early signs of lung disease. If you have family members with alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, tell your doctor so that you can be tested for the problem, too. If you already know that you have alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, your doctor can monitor your breathing regularly for early signs of emphysema.
Call your doctor whenever you have shortness of breath, a chronic cough with or without phlegm, or a significant decrease in your usual ability to exercise.

Prognosis
There is no cure for COPD, but quitting smoking, sticking to your treatment program, and exercising daily can significantly improve your function and sense of well-being.

People with COPD who continue to smoke can expect progressive deterioration of lung function. Quitting completely is the best chance of stopping or at least slowing down the process. It is never too late to quit. Even with severe chronic bronchitis, symptoms can improve. The lung damage from emphysema cannot be reversed. However, quitting smoking can decrease the risk of additional harm to the lungs.

http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9339/20740.html#treat

This is for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as medical advise. Always check with your personal physician prior to making any changes in your medical treatments.

Why Not Just Suck on a Tailpipe?

2008-06-19T19:41:00.000-07:00

Doctors: Stay off Peachtree while prepping for race

Those of us with Emphysema, Asthma, COPD, lung and heart dis-ease are all too familiar with the affects of poor air quality. We have come to recognize and respect that the pollutants can and will shut us down quickly. In this article, pulmonologists from Emory University Medical explain the pollution and how it can affect us. They also give us informational direction on where to get our outdoor exercise. Oh! The O-Zone, the particulates, the pollen, the mold! Someone pass the bong~I get sob just typing those things here! :)

On a side note ~ Best of success to all you Peachtree Road Racers and Possum Trotters! You totally Rock!!!
Hugs,
Luna
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Runners take in more bad air while training along major roads

By STACY SHELTON

The Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionPublished on: 06/18/08

With the 39th annual Peachtree Road Race fast approaching, a lot of runners are tuning up by running the course. But if you're hitting Peachtree Road during rush-hour for a jog, says an Emory pulmonologist, why not just suck on the tailpipe of a passing car instead?

That's about the equivalent of what you're doing to your heart and lungs, says Dr. W. Gerald Teague, professor of pediatrics at Emory University and director of the Emory Pediatrics Asthma Clinical Research Center.

"When you are running near a busy thoroughfare you not only are exposed to the pollution already in the air, you are also going to be exposed to particles, tire debris and exhaust emissions at the source, so you could get much more exposure versus exercising in a park," Teague says in a Q & A published by the Clean Air Campaign, a public-private partnership to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality in metro Atlanta. Teague is a member of the Campaign's board of directors.

Instead of exercising along a busy road, Teague suggests jogging, bicycling or walking in a park, or on side streets. And when a rare red alert is issued for smog, either work out in a gym or exercise in the morning or late evening. (Go to www.cleanaircampaign.com to sign up for e-mail alerts).

On Wednesday, forecasters issued an orange alert for the third day in a row, meaning that Thursday's air is expected to violate federal smog limits. That's particularly bad for children and people with heart and lung disease, no matter where they are in metro Atlanta. Public health experts advise them to limit prolonged outdoor exercise to the morning and late evening.
The threats to public health come from the generalized ground-level ozone, an ingredient in smog formed when man made pollution mixes with heat, and the localized tiny particles from vehicle exhaust.

Dr. David Schulman, chief of pulmonary critical care at Emory University Hospital, said Wednesday that long-term exposure to traffic pollution can decrease lung function, but it can also lead to heart problems — and even heart attacks. A study out of Scotland showed "during exercise, people who inhaled diesel exhaust increased the stress on their hearts three-fold as opposed to exercising in clean air," Schulman said.

Rich Heidal, a 29-year-old auditor who lives near Lenox Square mall and plans to run the Peachtree Road Race, said he's noticed a big difference between running Peachtree and bicycling in the North Georgia mountains, where the air is cleaner. On Peachtree, "the buses will knock you over. The heat from the pipes makes it more difficult to breathe. You definitely want to get off the [main] road."

The exception, of course, is running or walking in the July 4 race with 55,000 other people. The mass body odor can get downright nasty, but with only foot traffic, Atlanta's busy artery is far less hazardous to your health.

Joggers are not the only ones gagging in metro Atlanta's fumes. Study after study has shown a link between vehicle traffic and asthma in the general population, including an oft-quoted study from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. When metro Atlantans cleared the roads during the games, hospital visits for asthma attacks plunged between 11 percent and 44 percent, according to various health data.

It may not look like it, especially on days when Atlanta's skyline is blurred by a gauze of brown air, but the region's air quality has markedly improved in the last 30 years as power plants, industries, vehicle engines and fuels have gotten cleaner.

Still, asthma rates among children and adults are on the rise, a dichotomy that's often explained in academic studies as increased exposure: More people breathing in traffic pollution. The latest Georgia data from the state Division of Public Health estimates 10 percent of children have asthma and 7 percent of adults.

The problem is, we can't get away from our own pollution. Even in the enclosed environment of a car, we're still breathing in the toxins spewed by the vehicles in front of us, said Roby Greenwald, a post-doctoral researcher in Emory's Department of Pediatrics who is studying the effects of urban air pollution on asthma in children.

And the absolute worst thing you could do for your heart and lungs is live within about 100 yards of an interstate highway. As metro Atlanta grew, more residences — with balconies — were built next to major thoroughfares.
"I wouldn't live in those," Greenwald said. "A condo right on Peachtree is going to be much, much better than an apartment overlooking the Connector."

In an interview last year, Teague said just growing up near a major freeway can limit lung growth. Particle pollution has also been linked to emphysema, stroke, lung cancer and heart disease, he said.

But living on a cul-de-sac in the suburbs doesn't necessarily make you immune. Harmful pollutants have been measured all over metro Atlanta.

"Really, you can't move away from it," said Sonya Lunder, a senior analyst for the Environmental Working Group, a Washington-based advocacy group for public health and the environment. "It's hard for policy makers or the public to know what to do about it."
Some of the solutions, Lunder said, include better public transportation, anti-idling laws, and building schools, parks and residential developments away from major thoroughfares.

http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/peachtree/stories/2008/06/18/avoid_peachtree_while_training_for_race_0619.html

Stem Cell Success in Lung Disease

2008-06-19T19:27:00.000-07:00

Canadian Scientists Deliver On Promise Of Stem Cell Therapy For Lung Disease

MONTREAL, June 19 /CNW Telbec/ -

Two Quebecers suffering from pulmonary hypertension, a rare but debilitating lung disease, were treated in Montreal with their own gene-modified stem cells. This experimental treatment was administered at the Jewish General Hospital's Centre for Pulmonary Vascular
Disease.

"Our present therapies for pulmonary hypertension may control the disease
for a few years, but often fail and do not represent a cure," said Dr. David
Langleben, Director of the Centre for Pulmonary Vascular Disease and the local
Principle Investigator for this study. "We need new approaches such as this
cell-based therapy."

The therapy, developed by Dr. Duncan Stewart, CEO of the Ottawa Health
Research Institute, and founding scientist of Northern Therapeutics Inc., is
unique in the world as it is the only clinical study employing patient stem
cells genetically modified for clinical use in lung disease.

A team of scientists at the JGH led by Dr. Jacques Galipeau, Hematologist
and stem cell researcher, genetically engineered the stem cells with synthetic
DNA in an ultra specialized laboratory to produce nitric oxide, a critical
molecule involved in the repair and protection of blood vessels. With the
sponsorship of the Stem Cell Network, the study has moved forward and the
highest cell dose ever given to a human subject was administered to one of the
patients.

"These enhanced stem cells are given in a heart catheterization suite,
and lodge in the lung where it is hoped they will stimulate the repair and
regeneration of blood vessels in the lung," explained Dr. Galipeau, Associate
Professor of Medicine and Oncology at McGill University.

This procedure has cured laboratory rats with pulmonary hypertension, and
this study in Canadian volunteers afflicted with pulmonary hypertension seeks
to assess the safety of this type of stem cell treatment. This study, which
includes a site in Toronto as well as in Montreal, is the only one of its kind
in Canada, and rests at the cutting edge of stem cell therapies worldwide.

Two patients, enrolled in Toronto, were treated but received a lower dose
of cells. This research team is also planning to use a very similar enhanced
stem cell treatment in the near future to treat patients suffering from heart
attacks. These new therapies offer hope for better patient outcomes.

About the JGH
Since 1934, the Sir Mortimer B. Davis - Jewish General Hospital, a McGill
University teaching hospital, has provided "Care for All," serving patients
from diverse religious, linguistic and cultural backgrounds in Montreal,
throughout Quebec and beyond. As one of the province's largest acute-care
hospitals, the JGH has achieved a reputation for excellence in key medical
specialties by continually expanding and upgrading its facilities for clinical
treatment and teaching, as well as research at the Lady Davis Institute for
Medical Research. For more, please visit JGH.ca.

The Stem Cell Network, established in 2001, brings together more than
70 leading scientists, clinicians, engineers, and ethicists from universities
and hospitals across Canada with a mandate to investigate the immense
therapeutic potential of stem cells for the treatment of diseases currently
incurable by conventional approaches. Headquartered at the University of
Ottawa, the Stem Cell Network is one of Canada's Networks of Centres of
Excellence funded through Industry Canada and its three granting councils.
(www.stemcellnetwork.ca)

Networks of Centres of Excellence are unique partnerships among
universities, industry, government and not-for-profit organizations aimed at
turning Canadian research and entrepreneurial talent into economic and social
benefits for all Canadians. The NCE program is managed jointly by the three
federal granting agencies- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council,
the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and the Social Sciences and
Humanities Research Council.

For further information: Glenn J. Nashen, Director; Reena Kudhail,
Communications Specialist, Public Affairs & Communications, Jewish General
Hospital, (514) 340-8222 x 4120, rkudhail@jgh.mcgill.ca,
communications@jgh.mcgill.ca; JGH.ca

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2008/19/c5874.html

COPD Patient-to-Patient Tips on Living Well

2008-06-16T23:22:00.000-07:00

PATIENT TO PATIENT TIPS

For many people, the toughest challenge is not controlling symptoms such as coughing and shortness of breath, but rather coping with the relentless march of the disease as it slowly encroaches on daily activities. Knowledgeable as your doctor and other health professionals are, they can't advise you on the many small but significant ways that COPD can impair your ability to function. This is the sort of advice you can get only from resourceful patients who have faced the same problems you have and found ways around them. The following are tips gleaned from COPD patients.

Bathing
If you find a shower or bathtub difficult, try using a bath stool. For bathing, use a hand sprayer, which may be attached to the tub faucet or shower head. When excess humidity bothers you while bathing, leave the bathroom door open and use your bathroom exhaust fan. If you feel weak, don't take a bath or shower when you are alone. People who use oxygen may find that bathing is easier if they wear the apparatus during their bath or shower. The tubing can be draped over your shower curtain rod.

Grooming
Shaving and putting on makeup is much easier if you have a low mirror so that you can sit down. Women should avoid elaborate hairdos that require tiresome setting and extended use of dryers. Try to avoid toiletries that are heavily perfumed; many patients find them irritating.

Dressing
It's a bad idea to restrict chest and abdominal expansion; avoid belts, bras, and girdles that are tight. Men may find that suspenders are more comfortable than belts. Most women find that slacks and socks are much easier to put on than pantyhose. You can place your underwear inside your pants and put them on together. Wear slip-on shoes. Putting on any kind of shoe is much easier if you use a long shoehorn (12–28 inches). You may find that cotton underclothing is more comfortable than synthetic in both warm and cold climates.

Household gadgets
One of the handiest gadgets is a pair of pickup tongs (these look like giant scissors) for retrieving things from hard-to-reach places. Most medical supply houses stock these. Another pickup device is a magnet on a short string. It's great for getting thumbtacks, hairpins, etc., that have fallen on the floor. If you must vacuum, use a machine with a disposable bag or a filtering method to keep dust from escaping. A small hand vacuum is easy to use for spot cleaning.

Emergency planning
A matter of concern to those who live alone is how to get help quickly when needed. Make arrangements to have a relative or friend call at the same time every day to make sure you are okay. Consider buying a cordless phone and carrying it around with you. This way, if you run into trouble, you can call for help. Many companies offer monitoring services. They provide a panic button, worn on a chain around the neck, that can summon emergency help.

Traveling with oxygen
People who use oxygen can travel to most places, but it requires some advance planning.
Call your local oxygen supplier one to two weeks in advance to arrange for your oxygen supply while you are traveling. Your needs will vary according to your mode of transportation (see "Using oxygen on an airplane") and length of stay at your destination.

If traveling by air, book far in advance because airlines allow only a limited number of people traveling with oxygen per flight.

Take antiseptic hand-washing packets or gel to help avoid picking up bacterial or viral infections. Also wash hands with soap and water frequently.

If you are traveling to an area of high altitude, plan ahead for an oxygen supply at your location.

Medical content reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School. Harvard Health Publications, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Used with permission of StayWell.
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor.

http://www.aolhealth.com/respiratory-health/learn-about-it/living-well-with-lung-disease/patient-to-patient-tips

Finger Clubbing Puzzle Solved - Lung Disease

2008-06-16T19:40:00.000-07:00

UK Medics Solve Ancient Riddle Of 'Finger Clubbing'

ScienceDaily (Jun. 5, 2008) —

A puzzling medical condition, identified more than 2,000 years ago by Hippocrates, has finally been explained by researchers at the University of Leeds.

The phenomenon of "finger clubbing", a deformity of the fingers and fingernails, has been known for thousands of years, and has long been recognized to be a sign of a wide range of serious diseases – especially lung cancer.

"It's one of the first things they teach you at medical school," explained Professor David Bonthron of the Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine. "You shake the patient by the hand, and take a good look at their fingers in the process."

Lung cancer, heart disease, hyperthyroidism, various gastrointestinal diseases and many other conditions all result in finger clubbing. But exactly why swollen, reddened fingers should be an indicator of serious illness has remained a mystery – until now.

"There are benign cases of clubbing, where it isn't associated with other illnesses, but particularly because of the link to lung cancer, it is generally regarded as rather sinister," said Bonthron. "You look at the range of conditions connected to finger clubbing and wonder what on earth they could have in common."

The researchers found clues in the medical literature, detailing past cases and previous research. "We knew that in cystic fibrosis patients who have undergone a lung transplant, their finger clubbing goes away. The same goes for empyema patients who have had their lungs drained. It suggested that impaired lung function was somehow crucial to finger clubbing – but we didn't understand how."

Prof Bonthron, Dr Chris Bennett of the Yorkshire Regional Genetics Service and their colleagues studied a group of patients suffering from inherited primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (PHO), a genetic disorder in which the finger clubbing is accompanied by painful joint enlargement and a thickening of the bone.

Their findings implicated a fatty compound called PGE2, which is produced naturally by the body to mediate the effects of internal inflammation. Crucially, once it has done its work, PGE2 is broken down by an enzyme 15-HPGD, produced in the lungs. The patients followed by the Leeds study were found to have a genetic mutation which prevented the production of 15-HPGD, resulting in up to ten times as much of the PGE2 in their systems.

"If you don't have this enzyme the PGE2 isn't broken down normally and simply builds up," said Bonthron, whose findings are published online this week in Nature Genetics.
In lung cancer patients, it is most likely overproduction of PGE2 by the tumour that causes the clubbing. In congenital heart disease, blood bypasses the lungs, where PGE2 is normally broken down by 15-HPGD.

The researchers have suggested that a straightforward urine test for levels of PGE2 may be a useful first step in the diagnosis of individuals with unexplained clubbing, and to understanding whether it is the symptom of something far more serious. The results also suggest that existing drugs such as aspirin, which are already used to prevent PGE2 production, may be effective in reducing the painful symptoms of finger clubbing.

It has taken 2,000 years to make the connection, but Bonthron adds: "Actually, when you look back, it's rather obvious. When we found this gene, everything else fell neatly into place – it was like a smack on the forehead."

Journal reference:
Uppal S, Diggle CP, Carr IM, Fishwick CWG, Ahmed M, Ibrahim GH, Helliwell PS, Latos-Bielenska A, Phillips SEV, Markham AF, Bennett CP, Bonthron DT. Mutations in 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase cause primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy. Nature Genetics, 2008; 40 (6): 789 DOI: 10.1038/ng.153
Adapted from materials provided by University of Leeds.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080529163120.htm

VIDEO CONFERENCING REHAB SUCCESS FOR COPD'ers

2008-06-14T19:37:00.000-07:00

Video-Conferencing Program Helps Patients Breathe Easy

Allows staff to provide direction, support to chronic respiratory sufferers outside Edmonton
Sara Ditta, The Edmonton JournalPublished: 1:28 pm

Seventy-five-year-old Carmen Tien-kamp is buying a treadmill this week.
After completing half of an eight-week program to help her manage her chronic lung disease, she's more mobile than she has been in years.

The Breathe Easy program, provided by the Caritas Centre for Lung Health at the Edmonton General Hospital, is designed to help patients manage chronic lung disease through exercise and education. Fitness keeps the rest of the body healthy and takes the load off of the diseased lungs.

Tienkamp was diagnosed seven years ago with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, also known as COPD. Last August, she was put on supplementary oxygen.

"I had no energy," she said of her life before starting the Caritas program. "I was like a couch potato."

Patients across central and northern Alberta can also participate in the same program via live video through Capital Health's Telehealth network.

Art Measor, who lives in Wainwright, has taken the program twice. The first time, about 10 years ago, he drove 21/2 hours, twice a week, to participate.
"It was worth it," he said.

In 2006, he needed it again after being treated for lung cancer and found the trip was no longer necessary. He only needed to travel five blocks to the Wainwright Health Centre.
Measor, who was part of a two-year pilot project, consulted with a pulmonologist, listened to lectures and followed-up with doctors via live video. Exercise was overseen by rural therapists trained by Caritas staff.

After completing both versions of the course, he said there was little difference.
"The video one is fabulous. It's exactly the same thing," Measor said. "I received a similar amount of attention and the same followup."

Dr. Fred MacDonald, who created and runs the program, tried to reach rural patients with his rehabilitation program for years. Technology finally provided him the opportunity in 2005. Since then, it has reached about 120 rural patients in Peace Country, Aspen, David Thompson and East Central regions.

"Country patients have done very, very well," said MacDonald. "We have the patients now telling us what a joy it is that they don't have to go into Edmonton and can exercise in their own community."

Reaching more regions is key because only 1.2 per cent of Canadians have access to a rehabilitation program to deal with COPD.
"Most patients are given an inhaler and a lecture on COPD and told to deal with it," MacDonald said. "And that's it."
A Canadian dies every hour from complications related to COPD. To keep chronic patients healthy, it's necessary to provide more direction, he said.

"It has to become a way of life," he said. "The only way you can achieve that is to physically bring them into a program and coerce or encourage, browbeat or whatever it takes, to get them to do the things that are necessary to improve their health."

This is believed to be the only rehabilitation program available through video-conferencing in Canada.

MacDonald says patients also wait less time to see a pulmonologist by using the program. Without it, many patients must wait about six months.

The program's exercise component includes stationary bicycling, treadmill, step-ups and simple breathing exercises. The lectures include topics on eating right, goals, relaxation, travel and homecare.

Myron Peterson took the program 10 years ago and still regularly visits the gym at Caritas to lift weights. He said he would probably be in "bad shape" now if he had never met MacDonald.
"If it wasn't for him, a lot of us would be dead. I'm sure of that."

It's not unusual for patients to become more fit and active very quickly, said Tina Jourdain, a program respiratory therapist.

"Some of them put us to shame," she said. "It's embarrassing when an 80-year-old can do more on a treadmill than you and they have lung disease."

sditta@thejournal.canwest.com
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=002a84e0-b6f8-40f6-9612-90fb1c318b65

EXAM FOR COPD, OTHERS

2008-06-11T20:21:00.000-07:00

Exam Overview
Your medical history provides important clues that can help your health professional diagnose chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

In taking your medical history, your health professional will ask questions about:

Shortness of breath.
When were you first short of breath (at exercise or at rest)?
How often are you short of breath?
How long have you been short of breath? Is it getting worse?
How far can you walk and how many steps can you climb before having to stop because of shortness of breath?
Coughing.
How often and when do you cough?
How long have you been coughing? Is it getting worse?
Do you cough up mucus (sputum)? What color is it?
Have you ever coughed up blood?
Your and your spouse's or housemate's use of tobacco: whether any of you smoke, how long you've smoked, how many cigarettes a day you smoke, how long ago you quit smoking, whether you feel you can quit smoking, and more.
Exposure to airborne irritants, such as dust or chemicals, on the job.
Childhood respiratory illnesses.
Family history of respiratory disease.
Other medical conditions you may have and their treatment.
How your condition is affecting your quality of life: missed work, disrupted routines, and depression, for example.
What type of family and social support you have.

During the physical examination, your health professional will examine your body for other clues that may explain the cause of your symptoms. A physical exam involves:

Taking your temperature, weight, and body mass index (BMI), which measures weight for height and provides a way to estimate the effect of weight on health.
Examining your ears, eyes, nose, and throat for signs of infection.
Listening to your heart and lungs with a stethoscope.
Checking for signs that blood is backing up in your neck veins, which may indicate a heart problem such as cor pulmonale.
Pressing or tapping on your abdomen (abdominal palpation).
Examining your fingers and lips to see whether the skin has a blue tint (cyanosis).
Checking your fingers to see if their ends swell and the nails bulge outward (clubbing).
Evaluating your legs and feet for swelling (edema).
A physical examination is not painful, but parts of it (such as abdominal palpation) may feel slightly uncomfortable.

Why It Is Done

A history and physical exam help your health professional make a diagnosis. They are a routine and important part of any visit to a health professional.

Results

Your history may reveal risk factors that suggest you have COPD or an increased risk for developing COPD, such as:

Cigarette smoking.
Family history of emphysema.
Work-related hazards.
Frequent, severe respiratory illnesses.
Long-term (chronic) cough with or without mucus.
Progressive shortness of breath.
Your physical examination may also suggest COPD. Findings indicating COPD include:
An expanded chest (barrel chest).
Wheezing during normal breathing.
Taking longer to exhale fully.
Decreased breath sounds or abnormal breath sounds such as crackles or wheezes.

Certain physical exam findings will help your health professional assess the severity of your condition. These include:

The use of "accessory" muscles, such as the neck muscles, during quiet breathing.
Breathing through pursed lips.
The inability to complete full sentences without stopping to take a breath.
Bluish discoloration of the fingertips or nailbeds (cyanosis).
Swelling in the legs or abdomen.

Any or all of these findings may suggest severe impairment.

A careful history and examination of your heart should also be done to exclude heart disease that can either be associated with or cause symptoms similar to those of COPD. This is especially important because smoking is an important risk for heart disease as well as COPD. The heart exam may reveal a rapid heart rate or show signs of heart failure.

The liver may be increased in size, which sometimes can occur because of right-sided heart failure (cor pulmonale).

The result of the physical exam varies. Not every person will have all the possible symptoms or signs of COPD.

What To Think About

There are no special considerations for the history and physical examination.
Complete the medical test information form (PDF) (What is a PDF document?) to help you prepare for this test.

For More Information: http://body.aol.com/procedures/history-and-physical-examination-for-copd

LUNGS, COPD & SMOKING ~ 40 YRS LATER, RK'S WORDS STILL LOUDLY RING OUT

2008-06-08T20:03:00.000-07:00

While a century ago lung cancer was so rare that medical residents were called into the operating room to "see a condition you'll probably never see again," thanks to tobacco companies it has reached epidemic proportions, said Eriksen. The famous 1964 US Surgeon General's report commissioned by President John F. Kennedy - which concluded that smoking is a serious health hazard and requires urgent remedial action - was released on a Saturday because the government feared the news would crash the stock market due to the power of tobacco companies.

"WE IN the US still have not taken appropriate action," Eriksen declared, "and neither have you in Israel." In the US alone, over 160,000 deaths from lung cancer occur each year - more than the next four leading cancers (colon, breast, pancreas and prostate) combined. "This is unacceptable. It is a man-made form of cancer and preventible. "

The cumulative number of deaths by smoking around the world has reached 70 million. This figure is projected to reach 520 million by 2050 if nothing significant is done, Eriksen concluded.

A short time before New York senator Robert Kennedy was assassinated in 1968, the former US attorney-general stated: "The cigarette industry is peddling a deadly weapon. It is dealing in people's lives for financial gain. The industry we seek to regulate is powerful and resourceful. Each new effort to regulate will bring new ways to evade. Still, we must be equal to the task, for the stakes involved are nothing less than the lives and health of millions all over the world.

"But this is a battle [that] can be won. I know it is a battle [that] must be won."

Indeed, 40 years later, it still must.

Full article: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?apage=2&cid=1212659681334&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Deep Breathing Exerciser Spirometer for COPD/Emphysema

2008-06-04T19:59:00.000-07:00

Hudson TriFlo II Incentive Deep Breathing Exerciser Spirometer

Hudson RCITriFlo II Incentive Deep Breathing Exerciser

The TriFlo II Incentive Spirometer is ideal for developing, improving, and maintaining respiratory fitness.

The TriFlo II Incentive Deep Breathing Exerciser has been scientifically constructed as a means of encouraging you to take a slow Sustained Maximal Inspiration (SMI).

A Sustained Maximal Inspiration is vitally important to your general well-being. Deep breaths expand the small air sacs of your lungs and help clear the air passages of mucus. This, in turn, can help prevent the build up of fluid in your lungs.

Normally, you take many deep breaths each hour--usually without being aware of it. They are spontaneous and automatic, and occur in the form of sighs and yawns.

In certain instances, however, your normal breathing pattern can change. When you are experiencing pain following chest or abdominal surgery, for example, breathing tends to become shallow, and deep breaths are suppressed in an effort to minimize pain. In these instances, it is important that you strive to resume your normal breathing pattern--despite any discomfort you may have. Taking the deep breaths that you might ordinarily suppress will help prevent the possibility of respiratory complications.

By carefully following your physician's instructions and the directions provided with your TriFlo II Spirometer, you should be well on your way toward better breathing.

Features:
Manufacturer: Hudson RCI
Product: TriFlo II Incentive Deep Breathing Exerciser
Product Number: 8884717301

Instructions for Use:

With the unit in an upright position, exhale normally and place your lips tightly around the mouthpiece.
To achieve a Slow Sustained Maximal Inspiration (SMI), inhale at a sufficient rate to raise only the ball in the first chamber, while the ball in the second chamber remains at rest.
For a higher flow rate, inhale at a rate sufficient to raise the first and second balls, while the ball in the third chamber remains at rest.
Exhale after performing the exercise, remove the mouthpiece from your lips and exhale normally.
Relax following each prolonged deep breath, take a moment to rest, and breathe normally. Then, repeat the exercise as directed by your physician.

http://www.metromedicalonline.com/8884717301.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please note that I have no relationship whatsoever with the manufacturer(s) and/or distributors of this product. This is informational use only for those with COPD, Emphysema and other breathing issues. Remember to check with your doctor before implementing any form of exercise into your routine.

We Must Help To Heal Our Selves

2008-06-04T00:16:00.000-07:00

I want to share this with you. Since the COPD and asthmatic bronchitis diagnosis, I have realized that we are all responsible for the self healing part of body, mind, spirit healing. Without the self healing, the conventional treatments can only go so far. We must dig in, make and keep the commitment to self heal in partnership with our medical team. It is My body and no one knows it better than I.

I am healing and recreating myself day by day.

*********************************

Many of us go through life seeking healing from other people when really the only person who can heal us is ourselves. We run to doctors or healers to have them "heal" us. Yet, the body is the one which heals itself with the assistance of whatever remedies or assistance it receives.

The body is the one which knows what to do with the calcium, the vitamins, the enzymes, the healing energy... If it didn't have its own innate intelligence, it would not know how to utilize these healing substances that we ingest and accept into our being.

The medicines or the medical staff are not the healers... the body itself is the healer.

You can do "hands-on" healing on yourself. All you need is the willingness to accept that this is indeed possible and give permission to have Divine energy flow through you.

Thus, the responsibility for healing oneself returns to its only true home, yourself.

EXCERPTED FROM: Increase Your Healing Ability
by Marie T. Russell

REMOTE LUNG REHAB HELPS COPD'ers

2008-05-29T14:11:00.000-07:00

This is a very good indicator, imo, that ALL pulmonary rehab, whether via internet, teleconference or in person, is a definite and paramount ingredient to those of us who want to improve our physical abilities, thus, quality of life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Program Provides Lung Rehab Remotely

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A program that uses video-teleconferencing, the internet and other technologies to deliver lung rehabilitation remotely to people with the chronic lung disease COPD who live in rural areas helps them breathe more easily and get more out of life, researchers have found.

The Telehealth program shows similar results to standard in-person lung rehabilitation, Tina Jourdain, a respiratory therapist who is involved with the program, told the American Thoracic Society's 2008 international conference in Toronto.

The Telehealth program is an extension of the Breathe Easy Pulmonary Rehabilitation program based in Edmonton, Canada. According to Jourdain, referrals to the program have increased over the years, but many rural patients live too far from respiratory centers to benefit from it. To expand access, the Telehealth Pulmonary Rehabilitation program was launched in 2005, she explained in a statement.

With the Telehealth program, people with chronic lung disease "see" lung specialists and therapists and engage in a guided exercise program remotely. Two days per week patients attend educational sessions led by Telehealth at their local healthcare center and perform appropriate exercises supervised by a respiratory therapist or physical therapist at any community center with exercise space.

Jourdain and colleagues compared results achieved in the in-person program with those achieved by 113 rural patients who used the Telehealth program for 8 weeks.

The 86 patients who completed the 8-week program experienced significant improvements in the distance they could walk in 12 minutes and in quality of life, Jourdain reported.

"The results were similar between local programs and the Telehealth program," she said.
"Many patients are hesitant to exercise without supervision out of the fear of 'doing more harm than good' when they experience shortness of breath," she explained. "This results in the patient becoming more sedentary and deconditioned."

With the Telehealth program, "the patient is monitored and builds knowledge and self-confidence to do exercise regularly, which in turn improves their physical condition and their quality of life as well," Jourdain said.

According to the Canadian Thoracic Society, only 98 pulmonary rehabilitation facilities exist in Canada, with the capacity to serve just 1.2 percent of Canadians with COPD. Because many Canadian COPD patients live in rural areas, expanding the reach of such programs is important, researchers note.

http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSCOL84724320080528

In Memory of Our Military Veterans, Our Heroes

2008-05-25T19:36:00.000-07:00

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Annual visitors: 3,538,479
History: The V-shaped granite wall inscribed with American soldiers who died in the war was designed in 1981 by Maya Lin, an undergraduate student at Yale.

We Thank You for keeping us safe and free. We honor you for your sacrifice of your very life. May we be worthy of all you have done.

Rest in peace and glory, dear warriors. You are not forgotten.

Puppy Mills - Let's Help Those Poor Animals!

2008-05-24T18:18:00.000-07:00

I am going to break away from COPD articles today to bring a VITAL message from the ASPCA.
I ask you to help by following these guidelines and protecting our animals. They are so worthy of love and a good home, food, water, health care. Until a few months ago, I was owned by 2 Siberian Huskies for 13 years. They are gone now and I miss them each and every day. When I got to the point that I had trouble breathing with this COPD, these 2 wonderful babies tried their very best to breath for me. Words are inadequate to express my appreciate to them and to our Creator for entrusting those 2 beautiful souls to me for 13 wonderful years. So there is NO WAY I will ever believe that these beautiful animals God/dess has created do not have souls and feelings. And they just want to be loved and love you back so please help. Please. They deserve and count on our help and love. They have no other voice or hope than us.

Rest in peace, babies. I love you and have you tucked here in my heart.

Thank you and sweetest blessings,
Kasey/Luna
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FIGHT ANIMAL CRUELTY
10 Ways You Can Help Fight Puppy Mills

1. Do Not Buy Your Puppy From a Pet Store
That puppy who charmed you through the pet shop window has most likely come from a large-scale, substandard commercial breeding facility, commonly known as a puppy mill. In these facilities, parent dogs are caged and bred as often as possible, and give birth to puppies who could have costly medical problems you might not become aware of until after you bring your new pet home.

2. Make Adoption Your First Option
If you’re looking to make a puppy part of your family, check your local shelters first. Not only will you be saving a life, but you will ensure that your money is not going to support a puppy mill. There are many dogs waiting for homes in shelters all across the country―and an estimated one in four is a purebred! Your second option is breed rescue. If your heart is set on a specific breed you haven’t been able to find in a shelter, you can do an Internet search for a breed-specific rescue organization.

3. Know How to Recognize a Responsible Breeder
If you’ve exhausted your options for adopting and are choosing to buy from a breeder, remember that responsible breeders have their dogs’ interests in mind. They are not simply interested in making a sale, but in placing their pups in good homes. A responsible breeder should screen you as thoroughly as you screen them! Read the ASPCA’s responsible breeding statement to find out more about how a responsible breeder behaves.

4. See Where Your Puppy Was Born and Bred
One sign that you are speaking to an unscrupulous breeder is that they will not let you see the facility in which your puppy was born. Always ask to see the breeding premises and to meet both parents (or at least the mother) of the puppy you want to take home. You should also ask for an adoption contract that explains―in terms you understand―the breeder’s responsibilities, health guarantee and return policy.

5. Internet Buyers, Beware!
Buying a puppy from the Internet is as risky as buying from a pet store. If you buy a puppy based on a picture and a phone call, you have no way of seeing the puppy’s breeding premises or meeting his parents. And those who sell animals on the Internet are not held to the Animal Welfare Act regulations―and so are not inspected by the USDA.

6. Share Your Puppy Mill Story with the ASPCA
If you have—or think you have—purchased a puppy-mill puppy, please tell us your story. Every bit of evidence gives us more power to get legislation passed that will ban puppy mills.

7. Speak Out!
Inform your state and federal legislators that you are disturbed by the inhumane treatment of dogs in puppy mills, and would like to see legislation passed that ensures that all animals bred to be pets are raised in healthy conditions. You can keep up-to-date about current legislation to ban puppy mills by joining the ASPCA Advocacy Brigade.

8. Tell Your Friends
If someone you know is planning on buying a puppy, please direct them to our puppy mill information at ASPCA.org. Let them know that there are perfectly healthy dogs in shelters waiting to be adopted.

9. Think Globally
Have a webpage, a MySpace page or a blog? Use these powerful tools to inform people about puppy mill cruelty by adding a link to our puppy mill information at ASPCA.org.

10. Act Locally!
When people are looking to buy or adopt a pet, they will often ask the advice of their veterinarian, groomer or pet supply store. Download and print our flyers and ask to leave them in the offices of your local practitioners.
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cruelty_puppymills_topten

COPD/EMPHYSEMA: CONTROLLED COUGHING

2008-05-22T19:40:00.000-07:00

CONTROLLED COUGHING

COPD can cause your lungs to produce excess mucus, leading to frequent coughing. Not all coughs are effective in clearing excess mucus from the lungs. Explosive or uncontrolled coughing causes airways to collapse and spasm, trapping mucus.

The effective, or controlled, cough comes from deep within the lungs and has just enough force to loosen and carry mucus through the airways without causing them to narrow and collapse. Controlled coughing saves energy and therefore, oxygen.

Controlled coughing techniqueTo cough effectively:

1. Sit on a chair or on the edge of your bed, with both feet on the floor. Lean slightly forward. Relax.
2. Fold your arms across your abdomen and breathe in slowly through your nose. (The power of the cough comes from moving air.)
3. To exhale: lean forward, pressing your arms against your abdomen. Cough 2-3* times through a slightly open mouth. Coughs should be short and sharp.
* The first cough loosens the mucus and moves it through the airways. The second and third cough enables you to cough the mucus up and out.
4. Breathe in again by "sniffing" slowly and gently through your nose. This gentle breath helps prevent mucus from moving back down your airways.
5. Rest
6. Perform again if needed.

Tips
Avoid breathing in quickly and deeply through your mouth after coughing. Quick breaths can interfere with the movement of mucus up and out of the lungs and can cause uncontrolled coughing.

Drink 6-8 glasses of fluid per day unless your doctor has told you to limit your fluid intake. When mucus is thin, coughing is easier.

Use the controlled coughing technique after you use your bronchodilator medication or any time you feel mucus (congestion).

Mucus clearing devices

If you have trouble coughing up secretions, your physician may prescribe a mucus clearing device, such as the Flutter device or the Positive Expiratory Pressure (PEP) valve. There are other mucus clearing devices on the market that may be prescribed by your doctor.

A mucus clearing device (such as the Flutter) helps loosen mucus in the airways so you can cough it up more easily. The Flutter consists of:

A mouthpiece
Protective cover
High-density stainless steel ball
A circular cone

When you exhale, your breath moves the steel ball inside, causing vibrations in your lungs. These vibrations loosen the mucus so it can move up and out of the airways.

The PEP valve generates variable resistance to the air you breathe out (called positive expiratory pressure). The PEP setting best for you is determined by your physician or therapist.

To use the PEP valve, place the mouthpiece in your mouth, seal your lips around it, take a deep breath using your diaphragm and breathe out slowly with a moderate force through the one-way valve for as long as you can. The increased pressure in the airways will give you the feeling to cough. When you feel the urge to cough, take a deep breath in, hold for 1-3 seconds and cough to loosen the mucus.

For more health information content, go to Cleveland Clinic Health Information Center

This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. For additional written health information, please contact the Health Information Center at the Cleveland Clinic (216) 444-3771 or toll-free (800) 223-2273 extension 43771 or visit www.clevelandclinic.org/health/.

Personalized Asthma & COPD Therapy News

2008-05-20T19:44:00.000-07:00

Personalized therapy for asthma and COPD

Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have defined a new type of immune response that is activated in patients with severe asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Their discovery could dramatically improve diagnosis and therapy of patients with chronic inflammatory lung disease.

"We've cracked the first part of the molecular code that links a viral infection to the later development of chronic inflammatory diseases like asthma and COPD," says senior author Michael Holtzman, M.D., the Selma and Herman Seldin Professor of Medicine, director of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine and a pulmonary specialist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. "With this information, we can more precisely diagnose and monitor these types of diseases and then better target our therapy to specific abnormalities. That's a big step forward from simply monitoring breathing status".

The findings, published online May 18, 2008, in Nature Medicine, promise a way to determine whether a patient's asthma or COPD is the result of a chronic immune response that can be turned on by a respiratory viral infection. Guided by these new findings, this type of immune response could be detected by monitoring specific types of inflammatory cells or molecules in the lung or potentially in the bloodstream, giving physicians a more precise approach to diagnosis and therapy of lung disease.

This type of testing could eventually tell physicians whether a patient's condition is mild, moderate or severe, as well as track the effectiveness of therapy. It could also lead to the development of new types of drugs that target the underlying cause of inflammatory lung disease.

"With our results, we can now work on developing more rational ways to diagnose and monitor lung conditions such as asthma and COPD," Holtzman says.

"As it stands now, the diagnosis of chronic lung disease generally depends on clinical judgment and standardized tests of lung function, but we have little that tells us what's going on in the patient's lungs at the cellular and molecular level".

Asthma and COPD are both serious lung diseases that cause shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing and fatigue. In the United States, about 20 million people have been diagnosed with asthma and about 12 million with COPD, which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Holtzman's research aims to find therapies for these disorders that modify the underlying causes of the disease instead of simply suppressing symptoms as most present-day therapys do.

In this study, Holtzman and his colleagues observed that a common type of viral infection of the lung can leave behind a persistent trace of the virus. This viral remnant likely becomes an ongoing stimulus for a chronic immune response, which could last for long periods, even a lifetime. This response causes the cells in the lung passages to overproduce mucus and become hyper-reactive to irritants.

The research team uncovered the details of this immune process by studying mice that are infected with a respiratory virus that is very close to the type of viruses that cause similar infections in humans. When the mice got over their infection, they were left with chronic airway disease characterized by mucus production and increased airway reactivity to an inhaled irritant.

A key molecular feature of this chronic disease was the production of a powerful natural inflammatory substance, interleukin-13 (IL-13). Investigating the source of IL-13, the scientists tracked down a previously undescribed type of immune pathway. This pathway is part of the immune system that is supposed to be activated for only short periods of time. However, the researchers observed that the pathway can also be persistently activated after viral infection, likely due to the pathways ability to respond to viral remnants.

Under these conditions, they also observed that the pathway is set up to amplify its own activity. This combination of persistent activity and positive feedback leads to the long-term production of IL-13 as well as other substances that then cause continuous inflammation in the lung tissue and the development of chronic lung disease.

The team of researchers confirmed that the same immune process could also be detected in the lungs of people with severe asthma and COPD. This type of immune response is typically linked to parasitic infections and allergic disease, but here it appears to be associated with viral infection and chronic inflammatory disease. Importantly, the response produces a specific array of compounds that can be detected in the lung and likely in the blood to serve as diagnostic markers of disease. The research team is now working to verify that the profile of biomarkers for this immune response can be used to diagnose patients with asthma and COPD.

In another recent article, Holtzman and his colleagues "Now, identified another new type of immune mechanism that developed after respiratory viral infection and led to inflammatory lung disease. In this case, the virus triggered an allergic-type antibody response to cause the later development of disease. This pathway did not stay active quite as long but it still caused changes in the airways of the lungs that were similar to the disease found in humans with chronic asthma. The new findings show that patients with severe asthma and COPD may also share some mechanisms that cause their disease.

Now we have identified two new immune pathways that lead to chronic lung disease, and we already have evidence for additional pathways," Holtzman says. "Our goal is to find distinct biological markers for each pathway. This will tell us how to diagnose and what to treat. Then, we must develop therapeutics that are directed to each type of response so that physicians can deliver a therapy that is tailored to the specific type of asthma or COPD found in that patient".

Deciphering these unique immune pathways also can identify new targets for drugs that could block the harmful immune responses, as per Holtzman. He says the findings could also make drug development much more accurate.

"There appear to be a number of distinct ways to cause asthma or COPD. If an experimental drug works on only one of these causes, it is likely to fail in drug trials that include a broad range of patients," he explains. "But if we can set up trials so the test drug is targeting a specific immune response and is given only to those who have that type of response, then we can more accurately determine whether the drug is beneficial".

http://medicineworld.org/cancer/lead/5-2008/personalized-therapy-for-asthma-and-copd.html

Top 5 Health Tips for Good Health

2008-05-19T22:01:00.000-07:00

This came in my news letter from Gil. Gil's Health Tips. Very useful info. Enjoy!

Health Tips Top 5 for Good Health

1. Keep your Liver happy

This organ does many complex things in our body from digestion through to breaking down chemicals. Like the filter in a swimming pool, it plays a major role in clearing out the rubbish in our body.

TIP:* the juice of half a lemon in warm water when you get up in the morning is a naturopathic favourite to ‘kick start the liver’ for the day.* moderate any intake of drugs, alcohol, caffeine, fats and unnecessary pharmaceuticals.

2. Stay hydrated

Keep aiming for 1.5 –2.5 litres of positive fluid a day. More if you are exercising, have diarrhea, breast feeding. in hot weather or airconditioning.

TIP* Caffeine is a diuretic, pulling precious water out of your body. It can also interfere with the absorption/utilisation of many nutrients including calcium, iron, protein and water soluble vitamins. If you have to have it, ingest caffeinated drinks and foods at least 2 hours before or after meals and supplements.

3. Fruit and Veg

Load up your plate with at least 5-7 different vegetables and 2 fruits a day.

TIP• You can eat veges at any time not just at dinner time!

4. Exercise20-60 minutes a day, everyday for pure maintenance. For weight loss up have to up both time and intensity.

TIP• Exercise keeps your circulatory system happy, offering some prevention for heart disease and lowering unhealthy cholesterol levels

5. Stay connected

Feed your mind and soul, a happy mind creates a healthy body.

TIP* Being connected to a like minded community, regularly debriefing with family and friends, and laughter have been shown to increase quality and quantity of life in those with life challenging illnesses.

Don’t wait to get sick to start!

Stem Cells and Lungs

2008-05-16T22:32:00.000-07:00

Cord blood stem cells generate lung epithelium
by David Douglas
Last Updated: 2008-05-15 15:25:14 -0400 (Reuters Health)

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Stem cells obtained from human umbilical cord blood may make an effective alternative to adult bone marrow and embryonic stem cells for regeneration and repair of injured airway epithelium, according to findings by US and Italian researchers.

"The results of this study," senior investigator Dr. Daniel J. Weiss told Reuters Health, "demonstrate that it is possible to derive lung epithelial cells from human cord blood-origin stem cells."

As described in the April 1st issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Dr. Weiss of the University of Vermont College of Medicine Burlington, and colleagues obtained human cord blood from normal deliveries, and extracted and cultured mesenchymal stem cells in specialized airway growth media or with specific growth factors.

These cultured cells could be induced to differentially express markers of the airway epithelial phenotype including Clara cell secretory protein, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), and surfactant protein C.
Systemic administration of the cultured cells to immunotolerant mice led to some localization in the airway and alveolar epithelium. In both regions, the cells acquired cytokeratin expression. Moreover, those that appeared to have engrafted as airway epithelium showed human CFTR expression.

The investigators observe that their approach appears to be comparable to using stem cells from adult bone marrow. "With further research," concluded Dr. Weiss, "we hope these cells could be utilized to repair damaged lungs in diseases such as cystic fibrosis and emphysema."
Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2008;177:701-711.

http://www.rtmagazine.com/reuters_article.asp?id=20080515scie001%2Ehtml

Acne And Emphysema/COPD

2008-05-16T22:16:00.000-07:00

Antibiotic Commonly Used to Treat Acne Helps Emphysema Lungs

Researchers have found that doxycycline, an antibiotic commonly used to treat acne, can prevent tissue damage caused by emphysema. Doxycycline boosts the body’s ability to protect against damage in the lungs.

Emphysema sufferers have unusually low levels of the protein VEGF, which helps to maintain healthy lung tissue. Researchers found that when mice with reduced levels of VEGF in the lungs were given doxycycline, they suffered minimal lung damage compared with control mice.

“The images that we have of the lungs of mice that have been treated with doxycycline are startlingly different to those that we didn’t treat.

VEGF-deficient lungs show vast pockets of tissue damage when untreated and greatly reduced damaged when treated with doxycycline,” says Ellen C Breen, PhD from the school of medicine at the University of California, San Diego.

Researchers stress that it is too early to say whether these findings would have a preventive role for humans with a genetic predisposition to lung disease.

http://www.rtmagazine.com/news/2008-05-16_01.asp

Chased By Hounds

2008-05-16T09:37:00.000-07:00

So often I feel like this COPD and Asthma are chasing me down to the point of doubting that I can continue the fight because I am tired. So tired. Well, today, a dear friend shared the following with me and I want to share it with you.

Blessings,

Luna (Kasey)

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Chased By Hounds
E.M. Bounds
May 16, 2008

"Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed." (Psalm 57:1)

A. C. Dixon wrote, "Rising early one morning, I heard the baying of a deerhounds in pursuit of their quarry. Looking away to a broad, open field in front of me, I saw a young fawn making its way across, and giving signs that its race was well-nigh run. Reaching the rails of the enclosure, it leaped over and crouched within ten feet from where I stood.

A moment later, two of the hounds came over, and the fawn ran in my direction and pushed its head between my legs. I lifted the little thing to my breast, and, swinging round and round, fought off the dogs. I felt, just then, that all the dogs in the West could not, and should not capture that fawn after its weakness had appealed to my strength.

So is it, when human helplessness appeals to Almighty God. Well do I remember when the hounds of sin were after my soul, until, at last, I ran into the arms of Almighty God."

"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." (Romans 5:6)

E.M. Bounds

"The Necessity of Prayer"

http://www.injesus.com/index.php?module=message&task=view&MID=VB007EM5&GroupID=2A000MJQ&sLocation=Messages&criterio=Chased%20by%20Hounds&paging=search

WAYS TO LIVE WELL WITH LUNG DISEASE

2008-05-13T22:00:00.000-07:00

COPD Green

2008-05-05T19:56:00.000-07:00

12 Foods Where Organic Makes Sense
Avoiding the "dirty dozen" could dramatically cut your exposure to pesticides. What's the dirty dozen, you ask? It's a watch list of the 12 most pesticide-polluted fruits and veggies. Solution: Grab the organic versions. -- going organic with these 12 fruits and veggies could cut your exposure to pesticides as much as 90 percent!

Fruits
Peaches and nectarines
Strawberries and cherries
Apples and pears
Imported grapes

Veggies
Spinach and lettuce
Potatoes and celery
Sweet bell peppers

Beyond Pesticides
Cutting your exposure to pesticides is only one reason to go organic. La Puma says you'll be healthier, too, because some organic foods are more nutritious than their conventionally grown counterparts.

Tomato-y Treat That's Truly Tops
Whether it's revving up our veggie burgers or toning down our barbecue sauces, ketchup is one condiment few people could live without.So squeeze more out of it by going organic. Organic ketchup packs three times more lycopene than the regular stuff and almost twice the level of flavonoids. Here's what all that extra nutrition means for your body.

Love That Lycopene
Lycopene gives fruits (like tomatoes!) and veggies a rich red color, and it may give your body a leg up on loads of diseases -- from cancer to clogged arteries.

Organic Thought
Going organic may boost your intake of cancer-fighting antioxidants.
Researchers who recently tested the antioxidant content of corn that had been grown with and without the use of pesticides found that the corn grown without the chemicals had almost 60% more flavonoids compared to the corn grown with pesticides. Flavonoids are a type of antioxidant nutrient associated with reduced cancer risk.

Researchers speculate that organic produce may have more flavonoids because plants use flavonoids to defend themselves against pests and diseases. Produce grown with pesticides has less need for flavonoids and thus may produce less of them. However, organically grown produce will need to produce more flavonoids to protect itself from bugs and diseases. More research needs to be completed to confirm test results regarding the association between organically grown produce and increased flavonoid content.

Why You Should Snap Up In-Season Asparagus
Go ahead, celebrate this season's delicate asparagus spears by digging into a big pile. Why? Your pancreas will thank you. Seems that getting lots of folate -- specifically from food, not so much from supplements -- may help protect you from pancreatic cancer. And just half a cup of asparagus delivers 190 micrograms of the stuff, more than 25 percent of what you need. Your Pancreas, and MoreFolate is a member of the B-vitamin group, and it has long been touted as a heart helper. Some early research also links high folate intake to a lower risk of colon, breast, ovarian, and lung cancers.

Pancreatic cancer prevention is just the newest member of the why-we-love-folate list. (Do you know what pancreatitis is? Read up on the symptoms.)

Food Is a Factor
Folate from both food and the stuff found in supplements (folic acid) helps your heart. But in a study, when it came to defending against pancreatic cancer, only food sources seemed to have an effect. Folate-rich foods aren’t hard to come by if you go for the green -- as in artichokes, brussels sprouts, lima beans, avocados, soybeans, and broccoli. And of course, asparagus -- which is in season in many U.S. markets. Trim away the woody ends of succulent stalks, and serve them up in one of these three ways:

Steam them, and then garnish with fresh tomato for a salad alternative. Here's a recipe from EatingWell that shows you how.

Snip them into 1-inch pieces to make this creamy-yet-creamless Asparagus Soup.

Chop and boil them briefly, and then use the chunks to fill an omelet. (Did you know that eggs are back on the good-for-you list?)

Go organic, go Green. To your good health and better breathing!
Remember to recycle and use earth friendly products so that our beautiful Mother Earth can breathe better, too.

Blessings to all,
Luna (Kasey)

Asthma & COPD Inhaler Use = Awakening Opportunities

2008-05-01T18:35:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! This is just such a wonderfully pleasant and eye opening report that I had to share it here. What a wonderful point Mariah makes as well as giving us some smiles. Enjoy and take to heart.
Blessings,
Kasey
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Breathing Lessons
Meditation practice and using an inhaler can have surprising parallels.

By Mariah Burton Nelson

Two years ago, my doctor recommended something my Zen teacher, Cheri Huber, has been recommending since I first met her in 1984."Pay attention to your breathing," he said.

His reasons were different from Cheri's. "You have asthma," he explained.

At first, I didn't hear the part about breathing. I didn't make the connection between asthma and my spiritual path. I did not say, laughingly, as Cheri often does in response to unwelcome news, "Oh happy blessed opportunity!"

Instead, I heard "chronic incurable disease" and "daily medication for the rest of your life" and "avoid things you're allergic to, including dust, pollen, dairy products, and your beloved mutt, Rocky."

Yikes! I love my allergens! I didn't want to fear flowers and trees. I crave cheese, yogurt, milk. And there was no way I was giving up Rocky. Plus, I'm a professional speaker. I use my voice--including my breath--to earn a living. I can't cough through keynotes. And I'm an athlete. Sports require breathing. I can't have a "breathing disease"! Except--I do. Along with 15 million other Americans, I "suffer from asthma," as it says in my "You and Your Asthma" brochure.

Buddhism is "the path that leads to the extinction of suffering." Cheri says people seek enlightenment when they've suffered enough. After coughing convulsively for two months and cracking two ribs in the process, I had suffered enough. (My asthma is atypical, apparently, in that its primary symptom is coughing rather than wheezing.) So I started taking my doctor's (and Cheri's) advice.

Funny, I'd never really paid attention to my breath before. Despite more than a dozen years of meditation, I'd never questioned the fact that I rarely breathe through my nose. I knew I had allergies--and I knew, without testing, exactly what I was allergic to--but it had never occurred to me to avoid those things. Instead, I accommodated my chronic runny nose and post-nasal drip by littering my house with Kleenex boxes, stuffing pocket packs into every purse, swallowing Sudafed before any public appearance.According to my doctor, I have had "the sensitivity that produces asthma" since I was young. But I have not had the sensitivity to respond to my body's signals.

So I responded. I stopped eating dairy products. I started wearing a dust mask when I weed and mow. I began vacuuming more often. Rocky got more baths.

Best of all, my treatment program paralleled my spiritual program. It forced me to notice the moment. During those initial few weeks, I took three prescription inhalants (along with one internal steroid, prednisone). Each inhalant application involved spraying medication into my mouth or nose, then holding my breath for 10 seconds, then repeating the procedure two to four times--and two to four times a day. This added up to 24 hold-for-10 counts each day.My doctor (a Vietnamese Buddhist, by the way) taught me that how you use inhalants matters. You must shake the canister, exhale fully, spray, inhale gently, then count to 10. This sounded familiar. My meditation practice involves sitting and counting my breaths from one to 10, then starting over. So, in addition to Zen meditation, I did asthma meditation: Spray, inhale, count, exhale, repeat. Each day, 24 new opportunities to awaken. How difficult it is to inhale medicine, then count to exactly 10 without losing track! (Do other "asthma sufferers" admit this?) I expected to be "better" at this. When I was supposed to inhale this way four times in a row, I could lose count not only of the one-to-10 count but also the one-to-four count. The lesson became clear: When inhaling medication, just inhale medication. Like Zen: When chopping wood, chop wood. When breathing, breathe.

"This asthma diagnosis is the best thing that's ever happened to me!" I enthused to mother, who also happens to be a physician. Mom gently pointed out that prednisone can have an euphoric side effect. Uh-oh. You mean I'm mistaking intoxication for enlightenment? I hate it when that happens. But about two years later, I'm here to report that the euphoria has lasted. Especially on the way to sleep, I can feel almost giddy about this simple experience: unobstructed nasal breathing. For the first time in my life, my sinuses feel as wide open as garden hoses, as empty as the mind between thoughts. What a miracle to breathe with my mouth closed! What ecstasy to feel oxygen ascend through both nostrils at once! How pleasant not to drool on the pillow!

Paying attention is also paying off in other ways. My coughing has subsided. And I no longer need the medication on a daily basis, just occasionally. Paying attention to those allergens, and avoiding them, seems to be doing the trick. Fortunately, I don't have a life-threatening form of asthma. Therefore, paying attention to my breath and my health will not extend my life expectancy. Nor will such attention guarantee that I'll stop suffering entirely--from coughing, congestion, or other human frailties like shame or greed.

But for me, so far, the promise of asthma seems to be this: Each day for the rest of my life, I will focus, at least for a little while, on my breathing, on my body, on these precious moments of being alive.

A happy blessed opportunity indeed.

Lessons in COPD, Emphysema

2008-04-27T06:42:00.000-07:00

Those of us with COPD, Emphysema, Asthma oftentimes must step outside the box to make ourselves better; to help ourselves and the quality of our lives. The following offers a lot of info on how to help ourselves fight the attack of the oxidants. We truly must fight to holdfast to our stability and to diligently seek ways to hopefully restore our lung power and breathing abilities. Hoping this helps. It is rather lengthy but well worth the read. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive and debilitating lung disease. The disease is characterized by irreversible airflow limitation in the lungs.

The umbrella of COPD encompasses the following conditions:
Emphysema, in which the alveoli in the lungs, the tiny sacs where oxygen transfer takes place, are destroyed and enlarged;
Chronic bronchitis, or the permanent inflammation of airways, accompanied by a chronic cough.

COPD exacts a tremendous toll on society. It affects more than 16 million people in the United States, and by 2020 it is expected to rise from the sixth- to the third-most-common cause of death in the world (Kasper DL et al 2005). Unfortunately, there is no single safe and effective treatment. However, because COPD is an inflammatory disease in which sufferers are subjected to high levels of oxidative stress, high doses of antioxidants and natural anti-inflammatories may be able to slow the disease’s progression and reduce the amount of prescription medication needed.

Inflammation and Airway Restriction
The major cause of COPD in the United States is cigarette smoking, although it has also been linked to other factors, such as hyperresponsive airways, respiratory infections, and exposure to dust and environmental pollutants. The longer and more heavily people smoke, the more likely they are to develop COPD.

COPD is usually a progressive disease that develops slowly, often over the course of decades. In a typical case, a cigarette smoker would experience declining lung function for many years before being diagnosed with COPD and receiving therapy. During those years, while the disease is developing, the lungs are undergoing several changes characteristic of the disease.

The bulk of lung tissue is composed of alveoli, or tiny sacs, where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place. One of the primary factors in COPD is emphysema, which occurs when alveoli enlarge and cluster. This process destroys the very sensitive areas where gases are exchanged across thin walls. Emphysema occurs in stages. First, chronic exposure to an irritant, such as cigarette smoke, causes inflammatory cells (such as macrophages and neutrophils) to gather in the airspaces of the lung. These inflammatory cells release chemicals that damage the extracellular matrix of the lung, that is, the proteins that are responsible for providing structure to the lungs. Finally, the ability of the lung to repair the extracellular matrix is compromised, resulting in the coalescence of alveoli into larger, less efficient air chambers.

People with emphysema also suffer from airway obstruction, especially in airways less than 2 mm in diameter. A number of changes occur in these airways that aggravate the disease, including hypertrophy of smooth muscle cells, the formation of scar tissue in the airway walls (fibrosis), and the infiltration of inflammatory cells.

Underlying all this damage is an inflammatory response mounted by the immune system. In a typical case, cigarette smoke in the lungs would come into contact with macrophages (immune system cells) that normally patrol the airspace. In response to the toxins in the smoke, the macrophages release inflammatory chemicals and begin to recruit more immune-system cells, which in turn release more inflammatory chemicals, as well as enzymes that degrade the extracellular matrix.

These changes in the lung are detectable but incremental. Symptoms appear gradually and may actually have been present for many years before a patient seeks medical treatment. Coughing, sputum production, and breathlessness are the characteristic symptoms associated with COPD. Early in the disease, the patient’s physical examination may even be normal. Later in the disease, however, patients sometimes develop the classic “barrel chest” associated with COPD. It occurs because residual air is trapped in the lungs, leading to their hyperinflation. In addition, the increased effort required to exhale can produce wheezing, while pursed lips or grunting respirations may signal the patient’s efforts to keep the airways open by increasing pressure at the beginning of expiration (Lim TK 1996).

COPD is a variable condition, with some patients having more symptoms of emphysema, such as breathlessness and “air hunger,” while others manifest more symptoms of chronic bronchitis or asthma, such as wheezing and air trapping (Kasper DL et al 2005). The manifestations of COPD are not limited to the lungs. COPD also puts patients at increased risk of atherosclerosis and osteoporosis. Poor lung function and poor nutrition may cause muscle weakness, abnormalities in fluid and electrolyte balance, and depression.

Genetic Causes of COPD
Although cigarette smoking is the major risk factor for COPD, in recent years researchers have uncovered genetic abnormalities that may make people more susceptible to the disease. Hereditary deficiency of an enzyme called alpha-1 antitrypsin confers significant increased risk (Kasper DL et al 2005). Unlike other forms of COPD, lung damage in alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency appears relatively early in life (Lee P et al 2002). Patients with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency also may have liver disease and other organ system damage, and they are more vulnerable to the damaging effects of cigarette smoke (US National Library of Medicine 2005).

Variations in other genes may explain some of the variability in severity and age at onset of COPD, and researchers hope to identify markers of these genes that will permit early identification of people at the greatest risk (US National Library of Medicine 2005; Meyers DA et al 2004).

Diagnosis and Conventional Treatment
COPD should be considered in any individual with a chronic cough, sputum production, shortness of breath, or risk factors such as tobacco use, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, or occupational exposure to dust and chemicals. Diagnostic testing should include pulmonary function tests (PFTs). PFTs determine lung volume and capacity and take dynamic measurements, such as the amount of air the patient can force out of the lungs during a given time interval. The results of PFTs are used to determine the severity of COPD, which in turn can establish the likely prognosis and may help guide treatment (Pierson DJ 2006). Other tests, such as x-rays, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, may be performed if complications such as pneumonia are suspected.

COPD cannot be cured, in part because it usually is the result of years of development. According to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease, effective COPD management has the following goals (Global Strategy 2004):

Preventing disease progression
Relieving symptoms
Improving exercise tolerance and health status
Preventing and treating complications and exacerbations
Reducing mortality

Among the most important steps for smokers is to quit smoking immediately. Studies have shown that if smoking is ceased early in the disease, the rate of lung decline might be slowed to that of a normal nonsmoker (Kasper DL et al 2005).

Bronchodilators are first-line therapy for COPD (Sutherland ER 2004). This large group of drugs includes the following (Weder MM 2005):

Beta agonists, or agents derived from adrenaline (such as albuterol)
Anticholinergics, or agents related to atropine (such as ipratropium)
Methylxanthines, or agents related to caffeine (such as theophylline)

All three categories have some effectiveness, but all three also produce significant side effects, such as increased heart rate and blood pressure, trembling, and cardiac arrhythmias. The anticholinergics, particularly some of the more recent long-acting agents such as tiotropium, may provide the best combination of tolerability and duration of action (Koumis T 2005).

Side effects of these drugs include chest pain, blurred vision, and more.

Theophylline has fallen out of use in the industrialized world because of better alternatives, but its low cost and wide availability make it a still-useful agent in less-developed countries (Weder MM 2005).

Patients who cannot be maintained on bronchodilators may need to start an inhaled steroid medication. At low doses, these medications are safe, and they have been shown to contribute to an improvement in quality of life for patients suffering from COPD (Calverley PM 2004).

When COPD patients experience an exacerbation of their disease, more aggressive medical therapy may be required. The most commonly used medications in this situation are the short-acting bronchodilators, which are sometimes used on an as-needed basis to relieve acute symptoms (Chorostowska-Wynimko J 2005; Urbano FL 2005). Inhaled and occasionally oral steroid medications may be added as well. If the acute exacerbation is caused by a bacterial infection, antibiotics may be prescribed.

The most severe exacerbations of COPD require hospitalization, often with mechanical ventilation in an intensive care unit. Unfortunately, ventilatory management of COPD patients is complex and has many pitfalls. This has led to increased use of home, noninvasive, positive-pressure ventilation systems that may stave off the need for more-aggressive treatment (Brochard L 2003; Wijkstra PJ 2003).

New drugs
About 70 therapeutic drugs are in development for related COPD needs. The newest class of drugs is phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors; two of these, roflumilast and cilomilast, may be available in the near future (Business Wire 2004). Phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors produce bronchial smooth muscle relaxation by taking away the intracellular stimulus that maintains contraction. This effect is similar to that of the other bronchodilators, though it is produced by a different and more targeted mechanism and produces fewer side effects.

These drugs have been shown to reduce inflammation, improve lung function, decrease exacerbations, and improve quality of life (Vignola AM 2004).

Researchers are also reporting amazing results with retinoic acid, a biologically active form of vitamin A. In a mouse model of emphysema, retinoic acid was able to completely restore lung architecture and alveolar function (Hind M et al 2004; Maden M et al 2004). Human studies have been similarly encouraging.

In one randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, all-trans-retinoic acid was administered in low doses to 20 patients with severe emphysema. The drug was well tolerated, with few side effects, and the researchers called for longer studies with higher doses (Mao JT et al 2002). The same group of investigators also found that retinoic acid restores the balance of important enzymes called matrix metalloproteinases that are thought to contribute to alveolar breakdown (Mao JT et al 2003).

Flu vaccines
Flu vaccines can reduce COPD exacerbations, serious illness, and death by 50 percent. They are given in the fall or twice a year, in fall and winter. Vaccines that prevent infection with the bacterial organism pneumococcus can reduce complications such as pneumonia and may reduce the rate of exacerbations of the disease. (Alfageme I et al 2006; Ansaldi F et al 2005).

Nutritional Therapy
Medications and surgery can be effective in treating symptoms, but they do little to prevent disease progression. Mortality rates from COPD are still high, and quality of life is often severely impaired.

Nutritional supplementation aimed at increasing antioxidant capacity and reducing inflammation may offer significant added value (Schols A 2003; Romieu I et al 2001). In addition, people with COPD have increased energy requirements because it is harder for them to breathe. Difficulty breathing may affect eating, potentially resulting in malnutrition. Proper nutrition through a balanced diet and appropriate supplementation is important in COPD management.

Because of the role of oxidant stress in causing and perpetuating COPD (Drost EM et al 2005) and the low levels of natural antioxidants in patients’ tissues (Kluchova Z et al 2006; Rahman I et al 2006; Nadeem A et al 2005), antioxidant supplementation may be helpful (Kelly FJ 2005; Spurzem JR et al 2005; Romieu I et al 2001).

Vitamins A, C, and E. Levels of vitamins A and E are significantly lower during exacerbations of COPD than they are in stable COPD, suggesting that antioxidants should be used during exacerbations (Tug T et al 2005). Although vitamins A, C, and E are beneficial, vitamin A may be most important because it catalyzes removal of the most reactive form of oxygen radical (Tug T et al 2005). Serum levels of vitamin A are lower in those with moderate or severe COPD. Vitamin A supplements for 30 days improved performance on PFTs in one small study (Paiva SA et al 1996).

Vitamin E levels are low in smokers, increasing their susceptibility to injury from free radicals. Vitamin E supplementation can reduce the risk of COPD in smokers (Daga MK et al 2003). Serum vitamin C levels are also frequently reduced in COPD (Tug T et al 2005). High-dose vitamin C may prevent oxidant-mediated lung injury during inflammation. Vitamin C also reactivates vitamin E that has been depleted by oxidant molecules.

Coenzyme Q10. When coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) was given to eight COPD patients with low levels of the nutrient, they experienced improved oxygenation of blood without a change in lung function. Oxygen pressure significantly improves, and heart rate decreases. Exercise performance increases. CoQ10 affects muscular energy metabolism in chronic lung diseases (Fujimoto S et al 1993).

N-acetylcysteine. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a powerful antioxidant that protects against toxins, including acrolein, found in cigarette smoke. NAC is a selective immune-system enhancer, improving symptoms by breaking down mucus and preventing recurrence of lung illness such as chronic bronchitis. Supplementation with NAC reduces exacerbation and improves chronic bronchitis (Stey C et al 2000).

L-carnitine. Respiratory infections increase the frequency and severity of exacerbations. L-carnitine may boost immune function, enhance fatty acid and glucose energy metabolism, and prevent wasting syndrome. In one very recent human trial, carnitine improved exercise tolerance and the strength of respiratory muscles in COPD patients; levels of the metabolic by-product lactate, which causes fatigue, were also reduced (Borghi-Silva A et al 2006).
Bromelain. Bromelain, which is present in the pineapple fruit, can benefit stable COPD patients and decrease exacerbations by reducing mucus production (Bernkop-Schnurch A et al 2000). Individuals allergic to pineapple may be sensitive to bromelain. Gastritis can be aggravated by bromelain (Jaber R et al 2002).

Essential Fatty Acids
Essential fatty acids are those that cannot be produced by the body and must come from dietary or supplemental sources. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential in modulating toxic inflammatory responses. Omega-3 fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) protect against damaging inflammatory reactions and, with vitamin E, build healthy cell membranes and repair tissues (Ergas D et al 2002; Fernandes G et al 1996).
The destructive effects of chronic inflammation on cellular structures can be reduced by supplementing with EPA and DHA, which repair both cell and mitochondrial membranes (Chapkin RS et al 2002). Mitochondrial membranes, because of their involvement in energy production, are especially susceptible to oxidant damage.

Supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids improves oxygen transfer in adult respiratory distress syndrome, a condition in which oxidant damage and inflammation cause impaired lung function. Omega-3 supplements have been shown to be beneficial in patients with COPD. One study showed a significant improvement in dyspnea and pulse oximetry levels and a decrease in inflammatory markers in serum and sputum in a group of patients receiving supplementation, compared with controls (Matsuyama W et al 2005). Higher dietary levels of omega-3 fatty acids may protect smokers against COPD (Shahar E et al 1994).

Nondrug Strategies
Smoking cessation and patient education. The major cause of COPD is cigarette smoking. Comprehensive smoking cessation programs include counseling, organized “quit” plans, and when necessary, nicotine replacement therapy (such as gum, inhalers, skin patches, and other methods). Drugs such as bupropion (Wellbutrin®) are also effective when taken under a doctor’s care (Cornuz J 2006). Both hypnosis and acupuncture may be helpful in quitting smoking (Zwick H 2005). The National Network of Tobacco Cessation Quitlines at 1-800-QUITNOW (1-800-784-8669) can provide information on finding a quitline in any geographical area in the United States.

Exercise programs. Because air passage is obstructed in COPD, the lungs and heart work harder to carry oxygen throughout the body. Exercise programs strengthen chest muscles and facilitate breathing. Multidisciplinary pulmonary rehabilitation programs provide well-monitored exercise programs.

Breathing exercises. Breathing exercises induce relaxation and make breathing easier. Pursed-lip breathing stimulates relaxation, increasing oxygen intake and preventing shortness of breath. It has been shown to increase exercise tolerance and shorten recovery times (Garrod R et al 2005). Breathing exercise regimens are an important part of a COPD rehabilitation program. Respiratory therapists working closely with physicians can specify the best regimen for each individual (Beckerman M et al 2005).

Oxygen
Oxygen therapy alleviates a lack of oxygen but increases oxidative stress, potentially increasing damage to airways. Patients with COPD are known to have reduced antioxidant capacity (Kluchova Z et al 2006; Rahman I et al 2006), which may be further diminished by oxygen therapy (Nadeem A et al 2005). A recent study, however, demonstrated that supplemental oxygen actually reduced levels of oxidant molecules and inflammatory cytokines in exercising patients with COPD, presumably by supporting normal metabolism and preventing stress-induced oxidant species from being produced (van Helvoort HA et al 2006).

Surgery
Surgical interventions are becoming more important in COPD as techniques improve (Kasper DL et al 2005). When alveoli coalesce in emphysema, they can form large blebs, or bullae; surgical removal of these bullae can help restore lung volume and allow remaining healthy parts of the lung to function better. Similarly, lung volume reduction surgery has been used successfully to improve lung function and quality of life. Lung transplantation is also a consideration for COPD sufferers.

Life Extension Foundation Recommendations
Any patients with COPD, emphysema, or bronchitis are urged to stop smoking and to limit their exposure to environmental toxins whenever practical. Additionally, exercise, breathing exercises, and oxygen therapy may be helpful, as well as the use of steam and hot-mist vaporizers. If the breathing difficulty results in trouble eating, a strong multivitamin that includes magnesium is recommended to prevent malnutrition and restore energy to damaged cells.
Studies have shown that retinoic acid has a remarkable ability to restore alveolar architecture. Retinoic acid is available as Vesanoid (tretinoin) for the treatment of leukemia, but it can be prescribed for COPD.
In addition, the following nutrients have been shown to restore antioxidant capacity and help reduce inflammation:
Vitamin A—25,000 international units (IU) daily
Vitamin C—3000 milligrams (mg) daily
Vitamin E—400 IU daily (with at least 200 mg gamma tocopherol)
NAC—600 mg, three times daily
CoQ10—200 to 400 mg daily
Omega-3 fatty acids—1000 mg DHA and 1400 mg EPA daily
Gamma-linolenic acid—900 to 1800 mg daily
Acetyl-L-carnitine—2000 to 3000 mg daily
Bromelain—500 mg at the beginning of each meal

Product Availability
All the nutrients and supplements discussed in this section are available through the Life Extension Foundation Buyers Club, Inc. For ordering information, call anytime toll-free 1-800-544-4440, or visit us online at www.LifeExtension.com.

The blood tests discussed in this section are available through Life Extension National Diagnostics, Inc. For ordering information, call anytime toll-free 1-800-208-3444, or visit us online at www.LifeExtension.com.

COPD Safety Caveats
An aggressive program of dietary supplementation should not be launched without the supervision of a qualified physician. Several of the nutrients suggested in this protocol may have adverse effects. These include:
Acetyl-L-Carnitine
Acetyl-L-carnitine can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and diarrhea.
Bromelain
Consult your doctor before taking bromelain if you are taking anticoagulants or antithrombotic agents. Bromelain can thin the blood.
Bromelain can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and diarrhea.
Bromelain can cause bleeding from the uterus between menstrual periods (metrorrhagia) and excessive uterine bleeding during menstruation (menorrhagia).
Coenzyme Q10
See your doctor and monitor your blood glucose level frequently if you take CoQ10 and have diabetes. Several clinical reports suggest that taking CoQ10 may improve glycemic control and the function of beta cells in people who have type 2 diabetes.
Statin drugs (such as lovastatin, simvastatin, and pravastatin) are known to decrease CoQ10 level.
EPA/DHA
Consult your doctor before taking EPA/DHA if you take warfarin (Coumadin). Taking EPA/DHA with warfarin may increase the risk of bleeding.
Discontinue using EPA/DHA 2 weeks before any surgical procedure.
GLA
Consult your doctor before taking GLA if you take warfarin (Coumadin). Taking GLA with warfarin may increase the risk of bleeding.
Discontinue using GLA 2 weeks before any surgical procedure.
GLA can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and diarrhea.
NAC
NAC clearance is reduced in people who have chronic liver disease.
Do not take NAC if you have a history of kidney stones (particularly cystine stones).
NAC can produce a false-positive result in the nitroprusside test for ketone bodies used to detect diabetes.
Consult your doctor before taking NAC if you have a history of peptic ulcer disease. Mucolytic agents may disrupt the gastric mucosal barrier.
NAC can cause headache (especially when used along with nitrates) and gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and diarrhea.
Vitamin A
Do not take vitamin A if you have hypervitaminosis A.
Do not take vitamin A if you take retinoids or retinoid analogues (such as acitretin, all-trans-retinoic acid, bexarotene, etretinate, and isotretinoin). Vitamin A can add to the toxicity of these drugs.
Do not take large amounts of vitamin A. Taking large amounts of vitamin A may cause acute or chronic toxicity. Early signs and symptoms of chronic toxicity include dry, rough skin; cracked lips; sparse, coarse hair; and loss of hair from the eyebrows. Later signs and symptoms of toxicity include irritability, headache, pseudotumor cerebri (benign intracranial hypertension), elevated serum liver enzymes, reversible noncirrhotic portal high blood pressure, fibrosis and cirrhosis of the liver, and death from liver failure.
Vitamin C
Do not take vitamin C if you have a history of kidney stones or of kidney insufficiency (defined as having a serum creatine level greater than 2 milligrams per deciliter and/or a creatinine clearance less than 30 milliliters per minute.
Consult your doctor before taking large amounts of vitamin C if you have hemochromatosis, thalassemia, sideroblastic anemia, sickle cell anemia, or erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. You can experience iron overload if you have one of these conditions and use large amounts of vitamin C.
Vitamin E
Consult your doctor before taking vitamin E if you take warfarin (Coumadin).
Consult your doctor before taking high doses of vitamin E if you have a vitamin K deficiency or a history of liver failure.
Consult your doctor before taking vitamin E if you have a history of any bleeding disorder such as peptic ulcers, hemorrhagic stroke, or hemophilia.
Discontinue using vitamin E 1 month before any surgical procedure.
http://www.healthknowledge.com.cn/?p=189

Note from Luna: Always consult your physician and/or pharmacist prior to adding to, taking from or altering your medications. Also, be sure to check with your pharmacist to ensure that any herb and/or vitamin supplement will not have an adverse effect on you or your medications. Some herbs and meds just do not mix well at all. So please err on the side of caution.

Reshaping of Life ~ COPD, Chronic Lung Disease, Emphysema

2008-04-18T20:40:00.000-07:00

This came today in one of my many newsletters. I found it particularly meaningful for us COPD'ers. As we all know, a lot of reshaping is done with COPD. We're tested, pounded on, disciplined. I know I've been out on that ledge many times and will probably climb out there again! God bless all who take the time to read it. And thank you for playing in and visiting the COPD Light House today.
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Anvil Time
by Max Lucado

On God’s anvil. Perhaps you’ve been there.

Melted down. Formless. Undone. Placed on the anvil for…reshaping? (A few rough edges too many.) Discipline? (A good father disciplines.) Testing? (Buy why so hard?)

I know. I’ve been on it. It’s rough. It’s a spiritual slump, a famine. The fire goes out. Although the fire may flame for a moment, it soon disappears. We drift downward. Downward into the foggy valley of question, the misty lowland of discouragement. Motivation wanes. Desire is distant. Responsibilities are depressing.

Passion? It slips out the door.
Enthusiasm? Are you kidding?
Anvil time.
It can be caused by a death, a breakup, going broke, going prayerless. (Luna's Note: It can also be caused by COPD. I know. I've been there.) The light switch is flipped off and the room darkens. “All the thoughtful words of help and hope have all been nicely said. But I’m still hurting, wondering…..”
On the anvil.
Brought face to face with God out of the utter realization that we have nowhere else to go. Jesus in the garden. Peter with a tear-streaked face. David after Bathsheba. Elijah and the “still, small voice.” Paul, blind in Damascus.
Pound, pound, pound.
I hope you’re not on the anvil. (Unless you need to be, and if so, I hope you are.)

Anvil time is not to be avoided; it’s to be experienced.
Although the tunnel is dark, it does go through the mountain.
Anvil time reminds us of who we are and who God is. We shouldn’t try to escape it. To escape it could be to escape God.

God sees our life from beginning to end. He may lead us through a storm at age thirty so we can endure a hurricane at age sixty. An instrument is useful only if it’s in the right shape. A dull ax or bent screwdriver needs attention, and so do we. A good blacksmith keeps his tools in shape. So does God.
Should God place you on his anvil, be thankful. It means He thinks you’re still worth reshaping.

From http://www.maxlucado.com/

ALTERNATIVE COPD~EMPHYSEMA TREATMENTS

2008-04-17T15:55:00.000-07:00

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a term used to categorize a number of lung diseases like emphysema, chronic bronchitis and chronic asthma. Living with lung disease is not easy, and there is no cure for COPD. However, there are affective ways to manage and improve COPD using alternative medicine. Acupressure /Acupuncture, Guided Imagery, Massage therapy, Yoga, and Biofeedback can all be very effective in improving the condition of COPD.

Acupressure and Shiatsu-- are both finger pressure massage systems based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), A hands on medicine that has been around for a few thousand years. This gentle approach help people with COPD start breathing easier. The idea is to treat special points along meridians, invisible channels of energy flow within the body. The pressure unblocks the energy and restores comfort. Acupuncture achieves the same goal by using simulating needles to the same points on the body and improve the function of different organs.

Studies show increased relaxation outcomes in people with COPD who use Guided Imagery Techniques. Relaxation is one of the methods of dealing with the anxiety and nervousness, which often accompanies COPD. Guided imagery is a meditative relaxation technique sometimes used with biofeedback. Audiotapes, books, are available as well as interactive guided imagery, classes, workshops and seminars to help you with this therapy.

Massage has come to be regarded as a complement to conventional medicine. Many of its positive effects seem to be mediated by increasing relaxation and decreasing stress hormones such as cortisol. For chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a massage can strengthen respiratory muscles, reduced heart rate, increase oxygen saturation in blood, decrease shortness of breath, and improved pulmonary functions.

The controlled breathing in yoga can ease anxiety, provides relaxation, and more oxygen to the blood stream. The exercises help open blocked airways caused by bronchitis or emphysema, which are linked to COPD, and improve the function of circulation. Simple yoga moves can even aid those with advanced COPD.

Those who suffer from COPD may believe exercise will make their condition worse, but studies have showed that simple exercises helps improve endurance, reduces anxiety levels, which in turn helps those with COPD to breathe more easily and improve their ability to perform normal activities.

Home Remedies Suggestions:For hacking cough, that robs you of breath several times a day, try this suggestion from an herbalist-simple place a few drops of essential oil of frankincense on a handkerchief (or tissue) and inhale ever hour or so as needed.

Also for hacking cough, try this acupressure treatment with a partners help. Find the bump in the spine where the neck and shoulders meet. Apply pressure to points directly on ether side of the bump, the amount of times depend on the severity of the cough. This treatment can be repeated throughout the day.

Vitamin C and magnesium improve lung function in the cases of those suffering from COPD.

Massage gently the lung area meridian from the top of shoulder to the end of your thumb to help clear chest of mucus. Also, massage between the shoulder blades. Then try applying a warm ginger compress to the chest and back. To make a ginger compress use 2 quarts of water and 5 ounces of grated ginger. Make the water very hot but do not boil it. Steep for 15 minutes, strain, apply as a compress by soaking a small towel in the tea, and then apply.

Try black tea, many COPD sufferers turn to tea for relief from tightening in the chest. Black tea contains chemicals related to the stimulant theophylline, which is also the basis of many modern medical remedies. Three or four cups of black tea can open airway passages and ease breathing.

Ginkgo when used regularly the active ingredient has helped some patients to cut down on prescribed medication. Taken three times a day for a week or a month at a time. Ginkgo helps relax the lungs and keeps the breathing passage clear. Check with your Doctor before taking this herb.

Chewing on comfrey leaves: Comfrey leaf helps because it stimulates new cell growth and support quick healing. This makes it an excellent natural remedy for the lungs. It inhibits the cough reflex, softens and soothes damaged and inflamed bronchial mucus membranes. It helps to loosen mucus from the bronchial tubes so that it does not accumulate. You can buy comfrey leaf or root in various forms. There was a report of a man who had chronic asthma for 30 years. One night his sleep was better than most nights. Not realizing why, he thought back to what he did the day before and remembered eating comfrey leaves. Now he eats them everyday because of the notable improvement with his asthma.

Check with your Doctor before taking this herb.

Anyone with COPD should consult his or her physician before undergoing any Alternative therapy. Also, speak with your health care provider if you are considering herbal, homeopathic, and other natural remedies to avoid any interactions with your current medication.
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art34015.asp

EMPHYSEMA~COPD VITAL INFO HERE

2008-04-14T23:27:00.000-07:00

Most of us know what it feels like to struggle to catch our breath when we're running, biking, or trying to keep up with the latest aerobics video.

"People with emphysema experience shortness of breath when performing very simple daily activities such as brushing their teeth, taking a shower, and even eating," says Lisa Schulz, a respiratory therapist at the National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine in Denver.
As the disease progresses, however, a stroll through a garden or just a walk from the house to the car may leave you gulping for air like a goldfish.

Emphysema involves irreversible damage to the air sacs inside the lungs where the vital exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place. The air sacs lose their elasticity, making it hard to exhale fully. So the lungs remain filled with stale, oxygen-poor air, and fresh air can't get in.

This lung damage doesn't happen overnight, says Sally Wenzel, MD, associate professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver. "Most people with emphysema are long-term smokers or former smokers who develop this condition in their fifties and sixties," she says. "And these days, almost as many women as men get the disease, as more long-term female smokers hit middle age and beyond."

If you still haven't been able to kick the smoking habit, try imagining your life with emphysema.

Treatment
People with severe emphysema use pressurized oxygen to get around. A new surgical procedure called lung reduction surgery also helps people with emphysema to better use the remaining good parts of their lungs. These additional tactics can help damaged lungs work their best.

Pucker up and blow. An exercise called pursed-lip breathing helps people with emphysema move more stale air out of their lungs with each exhalation, says Dr. Wenzel.
To do this exercise, inhale fully through your nose, purse your lips as though you are going to blow out a candle, and then, after holding your breath for a second or two, exhale slowly and fully for a count of at least six. "I tell people to hold the back of their hand 3 to 5 inches away, facing their mouth," says Betty Booker, a respiratory therapist and pulmonary rehabilitation coordinator at University Hospital in Denver. "If they can feel their breath on the back of their hand, they are exhaling really well." Pursed lips provide a little resistance that maintains air pressure in airways. "That keeps the airways from collapsing before air has left the lungs, which can happen in people with emphysema," says Dr. Wenzel. "That's what traps stale air in the lungs and makes it even harder to breathe." Most people do pursed-lip breathing during exertion if they feel short of breath, Schulz says. "It can require a little practice initially, especially to exhale slowly and fully, but it is very relaxing. We also encourage people to do it whenever they feel short of breath or anxious."

Breathe from your belly. To take deep breaths that fill your lungs with air from the bottom up, you need to properly use your diaphragm, the sheet of powerful muscles that create the vacuum that makes your lungs fill.
"You can learn to do this while lying down, sitting up straight in a hard chair, or standing," says Schulz.
Place your hand on your belly, relax your belly, then inhale slowly through your nose, concentrating on relaxing your abdomen so that your diaphragm drops down and your belly expands. When exhaling, pull the abdomen in and the diaphragm up, to slowly push the air out of the lungs through pursed lips. "People can learn to focus their energy on certain muscles or on certain areas of their lungs to breathe more efficiently," Schulz says. "It takes concentration and practice, but it works."

Position yourself for better breathing. "Some people with emphysema can actually get in more air if they lean forward and place their forearms on a table or shopping cart," says Karen Conyers, a respiratory therapist at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City. Most other times you'll want to sit or stand up straight, keeping your belly relaxed. "This allows your diaphragm maximum movement," she says.

Shake a leg. It's a vicious circle. People with emphysema tend to become more and more sedentary. "The gradual reduction in activity is barely perceptible to most people, but the less they do, the less they are able to do," Conyers says.
Although exercise won't improve your lungs' function, it does improve endurance, Dr. Wenzel says. "It helps the heart and other muscles to use available oxygen more efficiently, so people can do more."

Most people with emphysema can walk on a treadmill or outdoors, or use a stationary bicycle. It's best to check with your doctor first if you haven't been active, says Dr. Wenzel.

You can be tested to see if you do better getting supplemental oxygen while you're exercising.
Some people begin with only 2 minutes of walking before they need to rest. "But once they get past 2 weeks or so, they see their endurance begin to pick up and they are willing to extend the time more," Booker says. "Some really get into it." Their goal isn't marathons, but to be able to do simple activities without hauling an oxygen tank.

Don't be passive about smoke. Chances are it's cigarette smoke that damaged your lungs in the first place. So you want to avoid even secondhand smoke. "This can be really hard for people whose friends still smoke," Schulz admits.
Get extra oxygen when flying. Cabin pressures on airplanes can lower blood oxygen levels enough to cause problems for people with lung disease, Dr. Wenzel says. You won't be allowed to bring your own oxygen tank onto the plane, but many airlines can arrange for supplemental oxygen during a flight if they have advance notice.

Drink enough water. Aim for at least eight glasses of water, juice, or the equivalent a day, says Dr. Wenzel. "Being well-hydrated thins out mucus in the lungs, making it easier to remove."

Dress loosely. Clothes that pinch you around the waist make it hard to breathe properly, Dr. Wenzel says.

Eat wisely. Don't eat so much that you become uncomfortably full, Dr. Wenzel says. "The size of meals is very important. If you eat too big a meal, your stomach pushes up on your diaphragm and you can't breath properly."

Guard against girth. Just as a full belly can cramp your diaphragm, so can weight around the middle, Dr. Wenzel says. "If you can keep your weight normal, you'll have fewer problems."

When to See a Doctor
If you have emphysema, you should be seeing your doctor regularly for checkups. That's because labored breathing can put a big strain on your heart. If your symptoms seem to be worsening, if you have congestion in your lungs, or if you have swelling in your legs, see your doctor as soon as possible, says Dr. Wenzel.

And be sure to line up early for flu shots. Add an acute infection to a chronic disease, and you have the potential for deadly trouble. "I tell my patients to get flu shots every year as soon as the shots are available, usually in October," says Dr. Wenzel.

If you feel like you're getting a cold or the flu, or if you have fever, chills, or severe coughing, you should get to a doctor quickly for antibiotics or other treatment. Don't wait, Dr. Wenzel says.

COPD~EMPHYSEMA VIDEO

2008-04-12T22:27:00.000-07:00

http://myseniors.magnify.net/item/5XDZ0753SZV6502C

The above link will take you to a short movie that is very informative about COPD and Emphysema and the treatments available. It also shows a smoker's lung before quitting and after quitting. Awesome photos!

You will learn the different inhalers and steroids as well as hear a little bit about 02 therapy. The doctor covers a lot in a short time.

I hope this short video helps you. It is awakening for those who have not yet seen the difference in the lung prior to and after quitting.

COPD'er/Emphysema~1 Easy Step to Boost Your Immune System

2008-04-08T23:20:00.000-07:00

Again, from Mike's newsletter. 1 very easy step to improved immune system. Enjoy and good health!

Just a quick tip today on a very simple way to make every meal you eat a lot healthier... here it is:

Make sure to ALWAYS include at least 1 source (or more) of high-antioxidant food or drink with each and every meal or snack you eat. This could be many different things...

*iced green, white, oolong, or red tea (unsweetened or very lightly sweetened with raw honey or stevia)

*hot tea (unsweetened or very lightly sweetened with honey or stevia)*pure unsweetened cocoa

*berries (blue, straw, rasp, black, etc)

*red wine (in moderation...still high cal so watch the quantity)

*raw and cooked vegetables

What I like to strive for is to try to get at least 1 vegetable with every meal I eat. Usually for bigger meals like dinner, I'll try to get at least 1 raw vegetable (or a full salad) and at least 1 cooked vegetable (there are benefits to both raw and cooked vegetables).

In addition to at least 1 vegetable with every meal, it's a huge benefit to at least try to get some other form of antioxidant-rich food/drink into the meal. For example, if you're having a smoothie, you could add pure cocoa powder(unsweetened) to the smoothie;

Or if you're having a turkey sandwich, you could add a glass of unsweetened tea and/or a handful of berries;

Or if you're having a piece of sprouted grain toast with almond butter, you could add a cup of hot green, white, or oolong tea with it.

You get the idea.

It goes a long way to helping your body battle free radicals by having a constant supply of natural antioxidants with each meal.

~~~~~~~~~~
*One last note for today:
If you'd like some extra motivation to get in great shape by summer (and win some cashola in the process), my colleague Rob Poulos is having a contest (similar to the old Body for Life contests), and you could win your share of $2300 in cashola by entering! All you have to do is grab a copy of Rob's Fat Burning Furnace program, and then you can enter the contest. What do you have to lose? Nothing but a lot of body fat and possibly make some decent coin at the same time! Go to the following site to enter (once on the page, click the link below the days counter for the contest info):

http://www.fatburningfurnace.net/

(Note from Luna: I went to the above site and clicked on the link just below the counter and received the 40+page free ebook totally free of charge. In only minutes I had it in my email. So, you can get the info for free. YAY!)

That's all for today.
Til next time,Don't be lazy... be lean.

Mike Geary
Certified Nutrition Specialist
Certified Personal Trainer

OMEGA 3'S IN LAND MEAT, TOO

2008-04-07T01:30:00.000-07:00

The following is my newsletter from Mike, the Nutritionist and Trainer. Just FYI, I have no monetary or other investment ~ interest in Mike's Newsletter or the website he mentions in the following letter. I do, however, share his interest in the Omega 3 meats and its benefits to our health. Omega 3 has helped me with the COPD/Emphysema as well as healthier heart. So, I want to share this newsletter with my fellow COPD'ers and all others who wish to further build their immune systems and get healthier. Enjoy. And thank you, Mike, for all your hard work and the sharing of information.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I know you've heard all of the buzz over the last few years about the health benefits of wild salmon and other fish that have higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids.

However, did you know that there's a "land meat" that has similar omega-3/omega-6 ratios as wild salmon? In fact, this "land meat" not only contains as much, or even higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, but without the possible negatives such as heavy metals (mercury, etc) and PCBs that can be found in fish frequently.

I've talked about this type of meat before and how it's one of the healthiest forms of meat you can possibly eat... It's grass-fed beef and other grass-fed ruminant meats such as bison, buffalo, lamb, and venison.

Now I know that a lot of people will try to convince you that meat is not good for you... and to be honest I partially agree with them when it comes to your typical factory farm-raised meat where the animals are fattened up with huge quantities of grains & soy that are not their natural diet & given unhealthy doses of hormones, antibiotics, etc.

However, when animals are healthy and eat the diet they were meant to eat naturally, the meat is actually healthy for us.

Let's take beef for example... When cattle eat mostly grain and soy, the fat composition of their meat becomes higher in inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids and lower in beneficial omega-3 fatty acids.

On the other hand, when cattle eat mostly grass instead of grains/soy, their meat becomes higher in omega-3s and lower in omega-6 fatty acids. In addition, grass-fed beef also contains much higher levels of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which has shown some promising benefits in studies for losing body fat and gaining lean muscle mass.

A similar comparison can be made between wild salmon and farm raised salmon. Wild salmon is a healthier option than farm raised salmon and has higher levels of omega-3s because the wild salmon eat what they're supposed to eat naturally. On the other hand, farm raised salmon are fattened up unnaturally with grain/soy based food pellets which detrimentally changes the salmon's fat ratio of omega-6 to omega-3.

The problem is that it is VERY hard to find healthy grassfed meats in typical grocery stores. In fact, even at health food stores, you might find some "organic" meats (which is at least a little better than standard), but it is often hard to find any real grass-fed meats.

Well, about 2 weeks ago, I did some searching and found a great website that sells all kinds of varieties of grass-fed healthy meats...

http://healthygrassfed.2ya.com

They have everything you could ever want... grass-fed burgers, filet mignon & any other quality beef cuts, grass-fed buffalo, grass-fed cheeses, and even free-range chicken and turkey!

And better yet, they deliver it right to your house with no shipping costs either... and I actually found that the prices were pretty comparable to what I usually pay at the grocery store anyway.

I'll tell ya... I was like a kid in a candy store when I found this site. I placed my order for all kinds of goodies on a friday, I got a shipping notification email that Monday, and my delivery came right to my door the very next day in a sealed cooler... I couldn't believe the service I got from this company.

Wouldn't it give you peace of mind to know that you and your family are eating meat that is actually good for you instead of the mass produced junk at most grocery stores? I know I'm getting most of my meat from them from now on.

Everything in my order ended up being awesome... here's my recommendations:

*the grass-fed filet mignons (delicious and tender!)
*grass-fed burgers and bison burgers when I need a quick but healthy 5-minute meal (use some grass-fed cheese and sprouted grain roll for the ultimate balanced meal)
*the free-range chicken and turkey sausages (makes great italian dishes or healthier breakfast sausage)
*grass-fed cheese and butter (higher in CLA and omega-3 than normal butter or cheese)
*they even have free-range turkeys available for upcoming thanksgiving (you won't find free-range turkeys in stores)

Plus, besides getting much healthier meat than you'd ever find in the store, another benefit to this site was that it was like doing my grocery shopping from my living room, instead of fighting the crowds at the store.

Well, they've got me hooked, and thought I'd pass on this little discovery to you. Here's the site again...

http://healthygrassfed.2ya.com

(FYI - from looking at the site, I believe you can only order the meats if you're in the US and Canada)

Enjoy!

If you liked todays article, feel free to fwd this email on to any of your friends, family, or co-workers that would enjoy it.

Til next newsletter...

Don't be lazy, be lean.

Mike Geary
Certified Nutrition Specialist
Certified Personal Trainer

COPD And Strong Life Force

2008-04-04T06:13:00.000-07:00

A strong life force
By Nicole Laskowski
Thu Apr 03, 2008, 12:31 PM EDT
Arlington, Mass. -

Arlington, Mass. - Prudy Bulger never really knew what chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or chronic bronchitis and emphysema, was until she was diagnosed with it 15 years ago. That was after she started realizing that the simple act of walking was wearing her out more than it used to, after she was admitted to Boston City Hospital because her airways had become so constricted, she was barely able to breathe. After she had a chest x-ray and a handful of breathing tests to find out just what was going on with her. When the doctors reached a diagnosis, Bulger was frightened and didn’t know what she was going to do.

But the biggest concern for Bulger wasn’t the diagnosis alone. It’s that her lungs were deteriorating at such a young age. Bulger is only 56 years old. Ten years ago, she had 25 percent lung capacity. Today, she only has 13 percent capacity. Now she’s hooked up to an Oxygen tank at all times and even has to wear a machine at night to help remove the carbon dioxide build up from her body.

“I’m so young, and the damage is so great that the doctors think some of this might be inherited,” she said. It’s not just her inherent level of susceptibility that may have contributed to her diagnosis. When Bulger was 13 years old, she remembers waking up to electrical fire in the middle of the night. Being what she described as “the rescuer” of the family, Bulger wouldn’t leave the dense smoke until she knew that her parents and all four siblings had successfully vacated the home.

Bulger also said she realizes that her almost thirty years as a light smoker didn’t help matters, which is why she gave that up nearly 10 years ago when she started having trouble breathing.

“I’m not ready to go, that’s for sure,” she said.
Because her breathing is so constricted, she has two aides who come to her home and take care of the shopping and cleaning, sometimes even washing her hair because Bulger finds the task so exhausting. While she’s homebound, she said she’s not an invalid. But she admits that without the help of her aides, she would not be able to stay on top of keeping healthy.

Bulger is now waiting for a lung transplant, her only hope for survival. To help with her chances, Bulger has been traveling back and forth between Arlington and the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio where the waitlist for a lung transplant is much shorter.

Her out-of-pocket expenses, though, in travel and hotel stays are starting to add up, forcing Bulger to borrow money from friends and balance her budget as strictly as possible. And now she’s looking ahead. She knows that it’s going to cost quite a bit of money to have the operation itself. While the operation will be covered by her insurance, it won’t pay for the airfare or the month she may have to stay in the hospital in order to recover. Because Bulger is homebound, she can’t work to save the money. Instead, she’s borrowing from friends, living as strictly as possible on the disability money she receives and is even in the beginning stages of planning a fundraiser in June with the help of one of her aides.

“I have a very strong life force,” she said. “I don’t know where it comes from. I want to live so badly.”

If you are interested in helping Bulger, make checks payable to the Prudy Bulger Transplant Fund. Mail checks to: TD Banknorth, 880 Mass. Ave., Arlington, MA 02476.

http://www.wickedlocal.com/arlington/homepage/x79620820

Help for Bronchitis, Emphysema, COPD~includes some helpful herbs

2008-04-01T21:52:00.000-07:00

Bronchitis means inflammation of the air passages to the lungs. Bronchitis can be acute or chronic. Acute bronchitis is usually due to a viral infection that begins in your nose or sinuses and spreads to the airways. To be considered chronic, you must have a cough productive of sputum at least three months out of the year. Chronic bronchitis occurs most often in smokers and, together with emphysema, is known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Signs and Symptoms

Acute bronchitis:
Cough that produces mucus
Burning sensation in the chest
Wheezing
Sore throat
Fever
Fatigue

Chronic bronchitis:
Chronic cough that produces excessive amounts of mucus
Wheezing, shortness of breath
Blue-tinged lips
Ankle, feet, and leg swelling

Causes
Acute bronchitis is usually caused by a virus, but can also be caused by bacteria. Generally, acute bronchitis is passed from person to person.

The main causes of chronic bronchitis are cigarette smoking and prolonged exposure to air pollution or other irritants such as dust and grain.

Diagnosis
Your provider will listen to your chest and back, look at your throat, and may draw blood and take a culture of the secretions from your lungs. If your doctor is concerned about possible pneumonia or COPD, a chest xray might be ordered.

Preventive Care
The best way to avoid chronic bronchitis is to not smoke and to stay away from air pollutants. To avoid infection that may lead to either acute bronchitis or exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, get an annual flu vaccine and pneumococcal vaccine once in your lifetime.

Treatment Approach
Acute bronchitis from a virus generally clears on its own within 7 to 10 days. Using a humidifier, taking a cough medicine that contains an expectorant (something that helps you "bring up" secretions), and drinking plenty of fluids can help relieve symptoms. If a bacterial infection is suspected or confirmed (by, for example, sputum cultures), your health care provider may prescribe antibiotics to help treat your bronchitis.

Lifestyle
DO NOT smoke.
Use a humidifier or steam in the bathroom.
Drink plenty of fluids.
Rest while you have an active infection.
If you have low oxygen levels from chronic bronchitis, home oxygen therapy will be prescribed.

Medications
Bronchodilators (such as albuterol) this is an inhaler that can help open up your airways
Corticosteroids -- inhaled or oral to reduce mucus and inflammation
Cough suppressant or expectorant
Antibiotics for bacterial infection

Nutrition and Dietary Supplements
If you have chronic bronchitis, you might want to experiment with different food choices to see if changes to your diet make any difference in your symptoms. As you do this, keep a careful record of how you are feeling (that is, any changes in your symptoms). For example, try reducing your intake of dairy which may increase mucus production. Also, try eliminating eggs, milk, nuts, food coloring, preservatives, and additives. Try adding onions and garlic.

N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC)
A review of scientific studies found that NAC may help dissolve mucus and improve symptoms associated with chronic bronchitis.

Zinc
Zinc supplementation enhances immune system activity and protects against a range of infections including colds and upper respiratory infections (such as bronchitis).

Other supplements to consider may help prevent you from catching an infection or may help relieve symptoms from bronchitis:

Bromelain
Lactobacillus
Quercetin
Vitamin C

Herbs
The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Herbs, however, contain active substances that can trigger side effects and interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, herbs should be taken with care and only under the supervision of a practitioner knowledgeable in the field of herbal medicine.

Barberry (Berberis vulgaris)

This herb contains substances that help fight infection and improve immune function. For this reason, herbalists commonly include barberry in the treatment of respiratory infections like bronchitis.

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globules)

Eucalyptus is commonly used in remedies to treat coughs and the common cold. Eucalyptus oil helps loosen phlegm, so many herbal practitioners recommend inhaling eucalyptus vapors to help treat bronchitis, coughs, and the flu.

Peppermint (Mentha x piperita)

Peppermint and its main active agent, menthol, are effective decongestants. Because menthol thins mucus, it is also a good expectorant, meaning that it helps loosen and breaks up coughs with phlegm. It is soothing and calming for sore throats (pharyngitis) and dry coughs as well.

Slippery elm (Ulmus fulva)

Slippery elm has received recognition from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a safe and effective option for sore throat (pharyngitis) and respiratory symptoms including cough.

Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica)

Active compounds in stinging nettle may act as an expectorant (meaning that it can loosen and break up a cough) and may have anti-viral properties.

Other

Additional remedies that an herbalist might consider as part of the treatment for bronchitis or its symptoms include:

Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus)
Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia/Echinacea pallida/Echinacea purpurea)
Garlic (Allium sativum)
Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
Ivy leaves (Hedera helix L.)
Jamaica dogwood (Piscidia erythrina/Piscidia piscipula) Note: there has been little to no scientific research on Jamaica dogwood, so the safety and effectiveness of this herb is relatively unknown. Jamaica dogwood is a potent herb and should be used only under the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional.

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) ? Note: this herb should NOT be used if you have high blood pressure

Linden (Tilia cordata and Tilia platypus)

Lobelia (Lobelia inflata), also known as Indian tobacco ? Note: this herb, which is potentially toxic, should NOT be used without specific instruction from a trained and qualified herbal specialist.

Marshmallow (Althea officinalis)
Red clover (Trifolium pratense)
Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens/Sabal serrulata)

Homeopathy
Although very few studies have examined the effectiveness of specific homeopathic therapies, professional homeopaths may consider the following remedies for the treatment of bronchitis in addition to standard medical care. Before prescribing a remedy, homeopaths take into account a person's constitutional type. A constitutional type is defined as a person's physical, emotional, and psychological makeup. An experienced homeopath assesses all of these factors when determining the most appropriate treatment for each individual.

Aconitum -- for early stages of bronchitis or other respiratory disorders; this remedy is most appropriate for people with a hoarse, dry cough who complain of dry mouth, thirst, restlessness, and being awakened by their own coughing; symptoms tend to worsen in cold air or when when lying on one's side

Antimonium tartaricum -- for wet, rattling cough (although the cough is usually too weak to bring up mucus material from the lungs) that is accompanied by extreme fatigue and difficulty breathing; symptoms usually worsen when lying on one's back; this remedy is particularly good for children and the elderly and is generally used during the later stages of bronchitis

Bryonia -- for dry, painful cough that tends to worsen with movement and deep inhalation; this remedy is most appropriate for individuals who are generally thirsty, chilly, and irritable

Hepar sulphuricum -- for later stages of bronchitis, accompanied by wheezing, scant mucus production, and coughing that occurs when any part of the body gets cold

Ipecacuanha -- for the earliest stages of bronchitis accompanied by a deep, wet cough, nausea and vomiting; this remedy is commonly prescribed for infants

Phosphorus -- for several different types of cough but usually a dry, harsh cough accompanied by a persistent tickle in the chest and significant chest pain; this remedy is most appropriate for individuals who are often worn out and exhausted, tend to be anxious and fear death, and require a lot of reassurance

Massage and Physical Therapy
Aromatherapy
Running a humidifier with an essential oil such as cedarwoord, bergamot, eucalyptus, myrrh, sweet fennel, jasmine, lavender, tea tree, or marjoram at night may help thin mucus and ease cough. Consult an experienced aromatherapist to learn which oil, alone or in combination, is best for you.

Acupuncture
Acupuncture can help relieve symptoms of acute bronchitis and, possibly, help improve quality of life for those with chronic bronchitis.

Acupuncturists treat people with bronchitis based on an individualized assessment of the excesses and deficiencies of qi located in various meridians. Needling treatment for bronchitis tends to focus on the lung and spleen meridians. Acupuncturists usually perform other treatments as well to clear the blockage of qi in the chest area. These treatments may include specialized massage, moxibustion (a technique in which the herb mugwort is burned over specific acupuncture points), breathing exercises, lifestyle counseling, and herbal remedies.

Prognosis and Complications

For acute bronchtitis, symptoms usually resolve within 7 to 10 days if you do not have an underlying lung disorder. However, a dry, hacking cough can linger for a number of months.

The chance for recovery is poor for advanced chronic bronchitis. Early recognition and treatment, combined with smoking cessation, significantly improve the chance of a good outcome.

ALWAYS check with your physician and/or pharmacist prior to implementing any new source into your medicinal regimen.
This is information for your use only and is not medical advise or diagnostic. Always, always check with your medical team first.

Supporting Research

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Belongia EA, Berg R, Liu K. A randomized trial of zinc nasal spray for the treatment of upper respiratory illness in adults. Am J Med. 2001;111(2):103-108.

Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinkman J, ed. Herbal Medicine. Expanded Commission E Monographs. Boston, Mass: Integrative Medicine Communications; 2000:33-35, 297-303, 335-340.

Bromelain. Alt Med Rev. August 1998;3:302?305.

Cummings S, Ullman D. Everybody's Guide to Homeopathic Medicines. 3rd ed. New York, NY: Penguin Putnam; 1997: 68.

DerMarderosian A, Burnham TH, Short RM, et al, eds. Red clover monograph, a monograph in the series The Review of Natural Products. St. Louis, Mo: Facts and Comparisons; 2000.

Fischer C. Nettles-an aid to the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Eur Herbal Med. 1997;3(2):34-35.

Frank LG. The efficacy of Echinacea compound herbal tea preparation on the severity and duration of upper respiratory and flu symptoms: a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study. J Comp Alt Med. 2000;6(4):327-334.

Hofmann D, Hecker M, Volp A. Efficacy of dry extract of ivy leaves in children with bronchial asthma--a review of randomized controlled trials. Phytomedicine. 2003;10(2-3):213-220.

Jackson IM, et al. Efficacy and tolerability of oral acetylcysteine (Fabrol) in chronic bronchitis: a double-blind placebo controlled study. J Int Med Res. 1984; 12(3): 198-206.

Jonas WB, Jacobs J. Healing with Homeopathy: The Doctors' Guide. New York, NY: Warner Books; 1996: 210.

Kruzel T. The Homeopathic Emergency Guide. Berkeley, Calif: North Atlantic Books; 1992:40-43.

Langner E, Greifenberg S, Gruenwald J. Ginger: history and use. Adv Ther. 1998;15(1):25-44.

Lindenmuth GF, Lindenmuth EB. The efficacy of echinacea compound herbal tea preparation on the severity and duration of upper respiratory and flu symptoms: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study. J Altern Complement Med. 2000;6(4):327-334.

Maa SH, Sun MF, Hsu KH, Hung TJ, Chen HC, Yu CT, Wang CH, Lin HC. Effect of acupuncture or acupressure on quality of life of patients with chronic obstructive asthma: a pilot study. J Altern Complement Med. 2003;9(5):659-670.

Mahady GB. Echinacea: recommendations for its use in prophylaxis and treatment of upper respiratory tract infections. Nutr Clin Care. 2001;4(4):199-208.

Melchart D, Walther E, Linde K, Brandmaier R, Lersch C. Echinacea root extracts for the prevention of upper respiratory tract infections: a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial. Arch Fam Med. 1998;7:541?545.

Reichling J, Fitzi J, Furst-Jucker J, Bucher S, Saller R. Echinacea powder: treatment for canine chronic and seasonal upper respiratory tract infections. Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd. 2003;145(5):223-231.

Rotblatt M, Ziment I. Evidence-Based Herbal Medicine. Philadelphia, PA: Hanley & Belfus, Inc; 2002:160-165, 252-256, 259-261, 337-338.

Stead LF, Hughes JR. Lobeline for smoking cessation (Cochrane Review). In: The Cochrane Library, 1, 2002. Oxford: Update Software.

Stey C, Steurer J, Bachmann S, Medici TC, Tramer MR. The effect of oral N-acetylcysteine in chronic bronchitis: a quantitative systematic review. Eur Respir J. 2000 Aug;16(2):253-262.

Ullman D. Homeopathic Medicine for Children and Infants. New York, NY: Penguin Putnam; 1992: 70-72.

Ullman D. The Consumer's Guide to Homeopathy. New York, NY: Penguin Putnam; 1995: 227-228.

Yildirim A, Mavi A, Oktay M, Kara AA, Algur OF, Bilaloglu V. Comparison of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of tilia (Tilia argentea Desf ex DC), sage (Salvia triloba l.), and black tea (Camellia sinensis) extracts. J Agric Food Chem. 2000;48(10):5030-5034.

COPD~Emphysema Big Belly = Brain Fog

2008-03-31T21:06:00.000-07:00

This is of particular interest to many of us who live with COPD/Emphysema. We find ourselves getting that "bowling ball" belly or suddenly looking pregnant and we have no idea why. So it is important to get to the source of the "why" and act on it. I do notice "brain fog" on many days which scares the lilly out of me! Please read and take heed.
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Big Bellies Fuel Brain Fog

Excess abdominal fat in middle age linked to increased risk of dementia later in life
by Craig Weatherby

Caution … gaining an extra inch (or foot) around your belly may end up costing you more than a new set of clothes.

A study by scientists at the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research shows that people in their 40s with larger stomachs – so-called “central obesity” – have a higher risk of developing dementia.

Evidence from prior studies indicates that being obesity or overweight raises the risk of all forms of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), and that being obesity or overweight promotes the degenerations in brain function associated with dementia.

Studies have also shown that having a large abdomen in midlife increases the risk of diabetes, stroke, and heart disease.

However, being underweight in late life is also associated with dementia, so by the time you reach your late sixties it may be a bad idea to lose lots of weight in an attempt to forestall mental fog.

The results of many studies show that excess belly fat is a bigger risk factor for cardiovascular disease and diabetes than being obese. But until now, no researchers had investigated whether the same pattern holds true for risk of dementia.

The results of the new Kaiser Permanente study support the notion that the degenerative changes underlying dementia begin decades earlier.

As lead author Rachel Whitmer, Ph.D. wrote in an evidence review published last year, “There is a need to take a ‘life course approach’ and to consider the role of risk factors prior to the onset of old age.” (Whitmer RA, April 2007)

Dr. Whitmer made these key observations (KP 2008):

“Capturing abdominal obesity in midlife may be a much better indicator of … dementia risk. Measuring abdomen size in older age people may not be as good an indicator because as people age they tend to naturally lose muscle and bone mass and gain belly size.”

“Autopsies have shown that changes in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease may start in young to middle adulthood, and another study showed that high abdominal fat in elderly adults was tied to greater brain atrophy. These findings imply that the dangerous effects of abdominal obesity on the brain may start long before the signs of dementia appear.”

What the study showed

Dr. Whitmer’s Kaiser Permanente team analyzed the medical records of 6,583 people in Northern California who had had their "abdominal density" measured between 1964 and 1973, when they were 40 to 45 years old (Whitmer RA et al. 2008).

The Kaiser Permanente team then looked for diagnoses of dementia in the subjects’ medical records an average of 36 years later (from January 1, 1994, to June 16, 2006).

As it turned out, some 16 percent of the participants were diagnosed with dementia years after their belly fat was measured.

The people who had a large belly and were overweight were 2.3 times (230 percent) more likely to develop dementia than people with a normal weight and belly size.

People who had a large belly and were obese were 3.6 times (360 percent) more likely to develop dementia than those of normal weight and belly size.

Those who were overweight or obese but did not have a large abdomen were still at increased risk, but they were only 80 percent more likely to have developed dementia.

Having a big belly raised the risk of dementia regardless of whether the participants were of normal weight, overweight, or obese, and regardless of existing health conditions, including diabetes, stroke and cardiovascular disease.

(The people more likely to have abdominal obesity included non-whites, smokers, people with high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes, and those with less than a high school level of education.)

As the authors wrote, “Fifty percent of adults have central obesity; therefore, mechanisms linking central obesity to dementia need to be unveiled.”

As with all such studies, it is possible that the statistical association between big bellies and dementia stems from a complex set of health-related behaviors that raise the risk of dementia and abdominal obesity simultaneously.

But that seems unlikely, given the known connections between abdominal obesity and cardiovascular disease and the connections between cardiovascular disease and dementia.

LIVING WELL WITH COPD, EMPHYSEMA, LUNG DISEASE

2008-03-30T09:33:00.000-07:00

Prevent respiratory infections
Any respiratory infection — even the common cold — can cause an acute exacerbation of COPD, so it is to your advantage to do whatever you can to avoid catching what's going around. Washing your hands frequently with soap and water can reduce your risk. Alcohol-based instant hand sanitizers can also help. As much as possible, stay several feet away from people who have colds or other respiratory infections that can be spread by sneezing or coughing.
In addition to having an annual flu shot and an immunization against pneumonia every five years (see "Immunizations"), you may also benefit from antiviral medications for preventing and treating influenza, such as zanamivir (Relenza), amantadine (Symmetrel), and rimantadine (Flumadine). These drugs are not substitutes for a flu shot, but they can offer added prevention. If you get the flu, they can help reduce the severity and duration of your illness.

Exercise regularly
If you are attending a pulmonary rehab program, you will also need to exercise at home on the days you don't attend sessions. It's especially important to find an exercise that you enjoy well enough to do almost every day. Aerobic exercises, which increase the heart rate and breathing rate, are most beneficial. If you don't like the treadmill, try tai chi, yoga, swimming, or walking around your neighborhood with a friend. Aim for at least 20 minutes a day on most days. Even if you aren't in a pulmonary rehabilitation program, regular exercise helps maintain strength in your arms and legs and prevent you from becoming easily tired during physical activities.

Do breathing exercises
Another lesson from pulmonary rehabilitation that can easily become a part of your daily routine is pursed-lip breathing. This technique is valuable for helping you improve your breathing before and during physical activities. Before you start moving, inhale through your nose so deeply that your abdomen expands. Then, as you begin to move, exhale through your mouth with your lips pursed to slow down the airflow. Your exhalation should last twice as long as your inhalation. You will feel pressure in your windpipe and chest as you slowly breathe out. When you finish exhaling, rest for a moment, then inhale and start the process again.
Breathing exercises can help keep you from feeling out of breath while going up and down stairs, walking in the mall, or otherwise exerting yourself. Use breathing exercises to pace yourself through physical activities. When climbing stairs, for example, you might inhale, then climb three steps as you exhale, rest, then inhale, climb three more steps as you exhale, and so on until you have reached the top of the stairs.

Eat and drink regularly
Small meals are easier to digest and use less energy than large meals. If you have been avoiding eating because it makes you tired or out of breath, try having smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day instead of three large meals. In addition, drink plenty of water or other noncaffeinated, nonalcoholic beverages. This can help relieve congestion by thinning mucus, enabling you to cough it up more easily. There's no magic number of glasses you should drink daily; simply get into the habit of drinking regularly throughout the day.

Avoid lung irritants
An important way to control your symptoms and prevent acute exacerbations is to keep your airways from becoming irritated. Many things can irritate the airways, especially exhaust fumes from your stove, smoke from your fireplace, dry air, and molds and mildew from water damage in your home. If you have allergies, try to avoid exposure to whatever causes them — pollen, pet dander, house dust, mold, and so on.

Here are some specific tips for avoiding irritants:
Use a humidifier when the air is very dry. Moisture in the air can reduce irritation by keeping your airways moist. A humidifier is especially helpful during the winter, when the air in your home may be dry. Change the water and clean the filter of your humidifier regularly to prevent buildup of mold and bacteria.

Ventilate your home. Good ventilation can reduce the amount of irritating dust and cooking exhaust in the air. Use an exhaust fan vented outdoors when cooking. Avoid using a fireplace or wood stove; wood smoke is a lung irritant. Unless you are allergic to pollen and other outdoor allergens, keep windows open when the weather is warm enough. Fresh air not only helps ventilate your home but can also raise the humidity level. Although it would seem that air purifiers may help, there is no clear evidence that they are beneficial for people with COPD.

Have furnaces and chimneys inspected. Making sure that furnaces are operating normally can reduce the amount of smoke and fumes they emit. Having chimneys cleaned can ensure that they vent smoke and exhaust effectively.
Avoid aerosol products. Just about any aerosol (other than medicine or oxygen therapy) can irritate your airways. That includes hairspray, perfume, deodorant, paint sprayers, and insecticides. Instead of aerosol products, use gel or liquid preparations; for deodorants, use roll-on or stick forms.

A patient's experience: Pulmonary rehabilitation
After smoking for 35 years, Kurt reached a point when his concern for his health outweighed his craving for a cigarette. So he quit cold turkey, with the support of his wife and children. A decade later, his doctor diagnosed emphysema and asthma. "I used to be able to handle heavy loads with no trouble, but then I found myself huffing and puffing," recalls Kurt, 67, whose job in computer training sometimes required that he carry heavy computers. "I also started getting tired and out of breath on my endurance walks."
For several years, Kurt was able to control his symptoms with bronchodilators, but then the symptoms got worse. "If I climbed stairs while carrying a briefcase, I became exhausted," he says. His doctor recommended pulmonary rehabilitation.

He went to an outpatient rehab center for 12 weeks, starting out twice a week and then going once a week. Under the guidance of a physical therapist, he exercised on a treadmill. The therapist recommended that he use a portable oxygen canister while exercising to help reduce his shortness of breath.

The therapist also taught him breathing retraining, techniques to make it easier to breathe even without oxygen therapy. First, she showed him diaphragmatic breathing, a technique for inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly to prevent running out of breath during activities. Then she taught him to pace his breathing so that he inhaled deeply before doing something physical, then exhaled slowly during the activity. She also told him that he could improve his breathing even more by improving his posture — relaxing his shoulders instead of hunching them as was his habit. "It all worked," he says.

Kurt credits pulmonary rehabilitation with restoring his vitality and vastly improving his well-being. "When I started rehab, I was able to walk for only 20 minutes on a treadmill. Then I worked up to 40 minutes," he says. Not only that, but his lung capacity improved by 22% by the end of his rehab and another 1% six months later, as he continued to exercise on a treadmill at home.

A year later, Kurt works part time, although he has someone else do the heavy lifting. "You can't reverse emphysema," he says, "but you can stabilize it."

REDUCING INFLAMMATION NATURALLY (COPD, ASTHMA, EMPHYSEMA

2008-03-25T00:34:00.000-07:00

The New Mind-set. A new attitude

(NaturalNews) Inflammation is a double-edged sword. While it is very critical for the healing of wounds, it is also a bodily response that can become too much of a good thing. Any infection, injury or toxicity problem inflicted on our bodies is handled by the inflammatory response that occurs automatically. Unfortunately, if certain substances in our bodies become unbalanced, the inflammation switch can come "on" at the wrong time or forget to go "off" when no longer needed.When inflammation occurs, it can be seen externally as a rash or swelling. A more dangerous kind is that which occurs internally. If it goes on too long it can cause damage to any organ or organ system. People with auto-immune and chronic inflammatory diseases are very familiar with the problems inflammation can cause.

Diseases in which inflammation plays a role are heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s, cancers, arthritis, gingivitis and other “itis” disorders. On the positive side, since the growth in such diseases can be correlated with and related to our increased diets of fast, convenient foods, it is possible to end the inflammation process with a change in diet. Not only do we need to eliminate saturated and trans-fats, refined sugars, starches, commercial meats and artificial sweeteners, but we can reverse problems of chronic inflammatory diseases by choosing certain foods and herbs available at the grocery store. It is being shown time and again that the common therapy for inflammation – pharmaceuticals - has been a miserable and costly failure. Rather than submit your body to the side effects of such drugs, please consider the much healthier alternatives discussed below.

Dietary polyphenols, found in many edible plants, are being found to have anti-inflammatory properties. Studies on animals in the lab have demonstrated such properties, and studies done on different human populations have shown that those who consume polyphenol-rich foods have lower incidences of inflammatory disease. Fruits rich in this phytochemical include blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, sour cherries, pomegranates and cranberries. If you drink these in juices, make sure to read the label and avoid any with sugar added.

Another group of dietary nutrients receiving much publicity today are the omega fatty acids. Don’t be confused by the wording here. Omega-3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory, while omega-6 acids can actually help cause inflammation. That is why we need to balance the use of omega-6’s with omega-3’s. If your diet has been predominantly rich in the omega-6 oils, you will have to do more than achieve a balance by increasing omega-3’s and drastically reducing the omega-6’s.

Quercetin is a flavonoid, and a very powerful one. It is found in red grapes, red and yellow onions, garlic, broccoli and apples.Anti-oxidant properties in some foods also help fight inflammation by protecting the body from free radicals. Vitamin C-rich foods fall into this category, including carrots, orange winter squash, bell peppers and tomatoes.To reduce swelling and inflammation quickly, eat half of a fresh pineapple or papaya daily. Pineapple contains the enzyme bromelain and papaya contains papain. Pain and swelling should go down in two to six days.Eating at least five servings of such fresh fruits and vegetables daily is a minimum. If inflammation is a problem, it is recommended to increase the intake of this food group. In fact, some natural health experts advise a diet that is 75% raw foods.The flavorings and herbs used in cooking your lean meats and fish are very important as well in fighting inflammation. Turmeric, and its yellowing substance curcumin, are most commonly found in Indian foods like curry and in mustards. The author makes capsules of grocery store-bought turmeric, which has helped with arthritis symptoms. At least one naturopath has stated it works much like anti-inflammatory pharmaceuticals, without the side effects. Ginger is another flavoring that has many healthful properties, one of which is an anti-inflammatory. Garlic has been the object of much research and has been shown to inhibit the growth of 23 organisms, including bacteria, mold and yeast. It is also very helpful as an anti-inflammatory.Remember, while adding spices like turmeric, it is just as important to decrease, if not eliminate,flavorings such as salt, sugar and artificial sweeteners. Also avoid colas, white flour products and junk foods.Just one precaution: Herbs and spices should be used with medical supervision if one is also taking medications because their medicinal properties can interfere with the drugs. When it comes to soy and soy products, the advice and research findings are contradictory. More research is needed on these foods.

In conclusion, if you want to reduce inflammation, eat healthier. Replace your processed foods with meals like cold water fish, chicken, salads, and steamed vegetables. Avoid deep-fried foods and hydrogenated oils. Bake or stir-fry instead of frying. Use olive oil, an omega-9 fatty acid, instead of corn and related oils.

Remember to always check with your pharmacist and/or physician prior to adding or eliminating anything to your medical regime.

COPD Walking

2008-03-22T23:20:00.000-07:00

So many COPD'ers know that walking is a life saver for many of us. Exercise is so vital to our well being and quality of life. So, too, is getting rid of baggage, stress ~ letting go of anger and those negative emotions that can truly and adversely effect our health and hasten progression of the COPD. In that spirit, I offer the following that is so very helpful for us while we are on our walking paths. Plus, Spring is here and a lot of us will emerge from the coziness of our homes and spring out into the reawakening of our sweet mother earth. Enjoy the magic walking. ;)

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Walk Your Blues Away

Adapted from Walking Your Blues Away, by Thom Hartmann (Inner Traditions, 2006).

Could it really be this simple? Yes! This easiest of self-help techniques has gained widespread recognition: you really can solve problems, heal trauma and transform stress by walking. Here are the five easy steps for walking your blues away.

There are five steps to correctly performing a Walking Your Blues Away session. They are:

1. Define the issue. Before going for your walk, consider the issues that are still hanging around in your life that you feel are unresolved. This could range from past traumas, hurts, angers, or embarrassments to relationship issues with people you no longer have access to (including people who have died). There is no specific right or wrong issue to work with. If you can think of it, visualize it, and get a feeling from it, then you can walk and work with it.

2. Bring up the story. Story in this context refers to such thought patterns as “She was cruel towards me” and “He had no right to hurt me like that” and “Why did she have to die?” There is always an internal story, with you and the object of the story at the center, and it’s important to pull that story out so you can say and hear it explicitly. How would you describe the story to yourself, in your most private and safe space, if you had to boil it down to a few words or a sentence or two? Notice the strength of the emotional charge associated with this event. Using a scale of 0 (truly don’t care) to 100 (the most intense you have ever felt), come up with a number to rank the emotional charge connected with this event.

3. Walk with the issue. Pick a route that is at least a mile long, and ideally two miles. (Luna Note: Walk what you can handle. You know your body!) The key is not to find a distraction-free walking area--that’s pretty much impossible. Rather, the key is to continue to remind yourself to hold your picture and/or feeling in front of you while walking. When you find your attention wandering, just bring it back to the issue. Relax into it. To motivate yourself, think of the positive resolution that you’re trying to achieve. There is no failure. There is only feedback. Learn from the feedback and continue on.

4. Notice how the issue changes. As the emotional value or the emotion attached to a picture/memory changes, the sub modalities will change. When people walk with an unpleasant memory, it’s not uncommon for them to say they see it beginning to disintegrate or get dimmer or lose its color or move farther away or even behind them. Once the change has happened, people notice that the emotion they feel about the picture is now different. It’s still possible to remember the event, but the feeling about the event has changed. Often the story of “I was hurt and it still hurts,” for example, changes to something like “I learned a good lesson from that, even if it was unpleasant.” Present-tense pain becomes past-tense experience. Let the process proceed until you notice a perceptible shift in feeling. Then ask yourself, “What’s my story about this memory now?” If the process is complete, you’ll discover that the story you’re telling yourself will be considerably healthier, more resilient, and more useful than the previous story.

5. Anchor the memory. When the picture is well formed and you notice that your self-told story about the event has changed, anchor this new reality by reviewing it carefully--observe the way the picture has changed, listen to yourself repeat the new internal story, and notice the feelings associated with the new state. Notice all the ways it’s changed. Think of other ways it may now be useful to you, even helpful. As you’re walking back to your starting point, think about how you’d describe it if you were to choose to tell somebody else about it. When you get home, consider writing something about your new experience, your new vision, your new story. If you don’t want to write it down, just sit in a quiet and safe place and speak it out loud in private to yourself. These steps help anchor the new state, fixing it in its new place in your mind and heart, so it will be available to you as a resource--rather than a problem--in the future.

Sweetest blessings,
Luna (Kasey)

HELPFUL HINTS LIVING WITH COPD

2008-03-21T21:42:00.000-07:00

Hair Drying can be almost impossible for COPD'ers and, on some days, it IS impossible. Here is a helpful hint and it's not expensive either. While I'm at it, I'm adding some more help hints for us, too.

Hair Drying/Styling

Purchase a tabletop stand for your hair dryer. Sit in a chair and allow the hair dryer to blow your hair dry. This will also free one of your hands to make styling your hair easier.

Adjustable Hair Dryer StandAdjustable height hair dryer stand saves time styling and drying hair, leaves both hands free for combing, applying products, curling and more by supporting hair dryer in flexible gooseneck stand with Velcro strap.These can be found at Target.

Pantyhose
When donning pantyhose or girdles, try applying powder to your legs and thighs beforehand. This will absorb any moisture and allow the pantyhose or girdle to slide on easier.

Utility Cart
These are wonderful. Even my 02 delivery guy uses the one I have. It makes it so much easier for me. UPS and FedEx drop packages directly into my cart, too. So helpful. I just roll it from the garage into the house and unload the groceries, mail packages, whatever happens to be in there for me. Invest in a utility cart for your home. A cart can help you with many chores and the moving of objects from room to room. Use it for serving meals, carrying laundry, bringing in groceries, etc. (My FIL made mine from an old roll away stereo cabinet he had squirrelled away in his garage so it has a deep basin in it for the 02 deliveries and such. I love it.) I have 2 large dogs and I order their food each 2 weeks. The delivery comes via UPS or Fed Ex and is really heavy. One bag of the dry food is 35#, then there are the 4 cases of cans with 24 to a case. That's a lot of weight. UPS & Fed Ex put it in the cart and I can roll it around. Plus the cart is hip high on me so the deep bending is eliminated. It's all a team effort around here.

Toothbrushes
If you have difficulty grasping your toothbrush, try slipping a spongy curler or a piece of pipe insulation over the handle. If you do not have either of those, you can also wrap a clean washcloth around the handle and secure with rubber bands.

Humidity in shower
Showering
Turn on bathroom exhaust fans during showering. Exhaust fans should vent to the outside of your home. If you do not have an exhaust fan in your bathroom, have one installed where they can capture the most moisture. If possible, buy an exhaust fan that has its own timer switch so it can keep removing moisture after you have turned out the light.

I hope these help you as much as they help me....well I dont wear a girdle. LOL But the powder helps with slacks and shoes, too.

THAT HARD COPD POT BELLY

2008-03-21T01:18:00.000-07:00

Look out! It's about to blow!

She looks like I feel!

This COPD'er (myself) is growing a pot belly. A hard pot belly. (Well, it's not quite as bad as the one above but I'm on the way if I don't nip it now!) I've moaned and groaned at my doc and blamed it on prednisone. I've seen lots of my pals over at EFFORTS write in about the same issue, too. Then, I got Mike's newsletter and found this information enlightening and something I will discuss with my MD next week when I see him. This newletter also "promotes" Mike's fat loss and fitness programs which I personally have not tried and, therefore, cannot endorse or condemn them. I've included the links, though, so you can visit his site and decide for yourself. However, please enjoy the infomation on fat that he provides. Abdominal fat is just such a danger to us. I hope this helps.

Blessings,

Luna (Kasey)

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Did you know that the vast majority of people in this day and age have excess abdominal fat? The first thing that most people think of is that their extra abdominal fat is simply ugly, is covering up their abs from being visible, and makes them self conscious about showing off their body.

However, what most people don't realize is that excess abdominal fat in particular, is not only ugly, but is also a dangerous risk factor to your health. Scientific research has clearly determined that although it is unhealthy in general to have excess body fat throughout your body, it is also particularly dangerous to have excess abdominal fat.There are two types of fat that you have in your abdominal area. The first type that covers up your abs from being visible is called subcutaneous fat and lies directly beneath the skin and on top of the abdominal muscles.The second type of fat that you have in your abdominal area is called visceral fat, and that lies deeper in the abdomen beneath your muscle and surrounding your organs. Visceral fat also plays a role in giving certain men that "beer belly" appearance where their abdomen protrudes excessively but at the same time, also feels sort of hard if you push on it.

Both subcutaneous fat and visceral fat in the abdominal area are serious health risk factors, but science has shown that having excessive visceral fat is even more dangerous than subcutaneous fat. Both of them greatly increase your risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, sleep apnea, various forms of cancer, and other degenerative diseases.

Part of the reason visceral fat is particularly dangerous is that it apparently releases more inflammatory molecules into your body on a consistent basis.

If you care about the quality of your life and your loved ones, reducing your abdominal fat should be one of your TOP priorities! There's just no way around it. Besides, a side effect of finally getting rid of all of that excessive ugly abdominal fat is that your stomach will flatten out, and if you lose enough stomach fat, you will be able to visibly see those sexy six pack abs that everyone wants.

So what gets rid of extra abdominal fat? The first thing you must understand is that there is absolutely NO quick fix solution. There are no pills or supplements of any sort that will help you lose your abdominal fat faster. Also, none of the gimmicky ab rockers, rollers, or ab belts will help get rid of abdominal fat either. You can't spot reduce your stomach fat by using any of these worthless contraptions. It simply doesn't work that way.

The only solution to consistently lose your abdominal fat and keep it off for good is to combine a sound strategic nutritious diet full of unprocessed natural foods with a properly designed exercise program that stimulates the necessary hormonal and metabolic response within your body. Both your food intake as well as your training program are important if you are to get this right. I've actually even seen a particular study that divided thousands of participants into a diet-only group and an exercise/diet group. While both groups in this study made good progress, the diet-only group lost significantly LESS abdominal fat than the diet & exercise combined group. Now the important thing to realize is that just any old exercise program will not necessarily do the trick. The majority of people that attempt getting into a good exercise routine are NOT working out effectively enough to really stimulate the loss of stubborn abdominal fat. I see this everyday at the gym.

Most people will do your typical boring cardio routines, throw in a little outdated body-part style weight training, and pump away with some crunches and side bends, and think that they are doing something useful for reducing their abdominal fat. Then they become frustrated after weeks or months of no results and wonder where they went wrong.

Well, the good news is that I've spent over a decade researching this topic, analyzing the science, and applying it "in the trenches" with myself as well as thousands of my clients from all over the world to see what works to really stimulate abdominal fat loss. The entire solution... all of the nutritional strategies, as well and training sequences, exercise combinations, and more have all been compiled in my Truth About Six Pack Abs Program. Keep in mind that the point of this whole program is NOT abdominal exercises (that is only a very small portion of it). The main point of this program is showing you the absolute most effective strategies for losing your stubborn abdominal fat, so you can get rid of that dangerous health risk, as well as get a flatter more defined midsection. If you follow the guidelines, you WILL lose your belly fat that has been plaguing you for years. This is not guesswork... it is a proven system that works time and time again for all of my clients on every corner of the globe that actually apply the information I teach. If you apply it, the results will come. It's really that simple. The only reason most people fail in their fitness goals is that they have good intentions at first to adopt a new lifestyle, yet after a few weeks or months, they abandon their good intentions and slip right back into their old bad habits that gave them the excess body fat in the first place. I want to help you succeed in finally getting rid of that extra abdominal fat that is not only UGLY, but also DANGEROUS.

A lot of people have emailed me with questions about whether they need any special equipment, if they're too old or too young for this program, etc. I've made a page that should answer all of your questions...

http://www.truthaboutabs.com/abdominal-fat-loss-program-questions.html

Also, I think you'll want to see some of the reader reviews from people that are using the system and getting killer results...

http://www.truthaboutabs.com/testimonials.html

Don't waste another day allowing that nasty abdominal fat to kill your confidence as well as contribute to your risk for MAJOR diseases. Get the solution to rid yourself for life of this problem at...

http://www.TruthAboutAbs.com/

Train hard, eat right, and enjoy life!

Mike Geary

Certified Nutrition Specialist

Certified Personal Trainer

Founder - TruthAboutAbs.com & http://busymanfitness.com/

PS - please feel free to forward this email on to any friends, family, or colleagues that you think would enjoy today's topic. Other recommended resources:

http://beyondcardioworkouts.com/

http://sexybuttexercises.com/

Dancing with COPD ~ Get Going!

2008-03-20T01:34:00.000-07:00

As we COPDer's know, we either "use it or lose it." Exercise is so very vital to improve our quality of life. Before the diagnosis of COPD, I went dancing all the time. My friend, Alden, and I. We danced all over the city and then some.

It kept me thin, happy, and strengthened my lungs.

So I had to ask myself why did I stop dancing? As with most other things, I had to make a few adjustments to dancing but, hey, it is GREAT exercise and a wonderful antidepressant. This is why I share the following article that arrived in one of my newsletters today.

All I want to do is, All I want to do is dance, dance, dance.

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I just finished dancing. I put on music I love, and I danced on my elliptical trainer and danced in the living room. I feel SO SO SO much better!

I am not an “exerciser.” I really don’t enjoy a gym or weights or anything that smacks of “I should do this because it would be gooooooooooood for me.” My activities need to have some passion to them. That is what gets my blood flowing and my mood soaring.

But I’ll let you in on a secret… as soon as I haven’t been rejoicing in movement for awhile, it gets harder and harder and harder to get moving! Is it the same for you?
I’ve had the thought that I want to be more active—to stretch, dance, and move—at least two dozen times in the past week, and I have not acted on it until this morning. What’s UP with that?

Each time I’d have the positive thought, the thought of what I desire (health, vitality, flexibility), it would be followed by The Indictment: YOU ARE GUILTY of NOT FOLLOWING THROUGH yesterday, or the day before, and _____, ____, __________, and _________. (Fill in your own reasons).
It’s interesting how it’s so easy to move from the positive, action-oriented vision of what we desire to what we do NOT desire. And with that shift from what we want to what we do NOT want, have you noticed that there is a corresponding, instantaneous shift in emotions??? We go from a flash of inspiration to dark depression.

This… is a CLUE. Our emotions are guiding us in where to direct our attention. So this morning, what I did was get up early, meditate, read a spiritually inspiring book, and then stayed focused on my positive vision of my health and my body—my personal internal image of Thriving Rick. And each time a thought that was not a match for my vision came in, before, during, and after the dancing, I just noticed it, noticed the shift to a negative energy, and brought my thoughts back into focus on my positive desire.

Did I have to use

EFT and tap? Yes, once.
“Even though I have not cared for myself, nor moved the way that is healthy for me over the past few weeks, I deeply and completely forgive myself and I choose to move forward towards my positive vision."

I encourage you to dance. Fast, slow, even in your imagination if you are not able to move physically. When I was recovering from my back surgery years ago, I remember listening to music where I could feel myself moving freely, gracefully… soaring with the eagles. I wasn’t literally moving. In fact, I was moaning every time I tried to roll over in bed! Yet, my time in bed was eased by those imaginings, and I have ended up far more flexible and mobile than I was ever before.

So dance in your heart, dance in your mind, dance in your whole body! Dance in joy and gratitude for this wonderful life and the chance to dream.

EASING OUT OF COPD~INTO ABUNDANCE

2008-03-18T22:08:00.000-07:00

The Feng Shui of Abundance
Feed the Birds, feed the Earth

In the roots of Feng Shui, there is a teaching: "if you want abundance feed the Earth, feed the birds."

Birds are a symbol of wealth, strong chi, harmony and joy. They only come where there is food, life. where there is enough to share.

Outside my late winter window the turkeys parade. The males are territorial, trying to impress a mate. The jays, cardinals, crows, squirrels and snowbirds feast on the grains by the rock. Near a statue of St Francis and by a carved mantra of compassion, they all mingle with little fear.

The sky signals spring yet in many places the Earth is gripped by winter, water and wind. The currents stir calling for awakening and movement. The Chi moves as the suns changing electromagnetic currents pass over the Earth.

Spring relates to the Direction of the East, new beginnings, new life. Sunrise, rebirth. As we approach spring, we must encounter the birth canal, shed what is old.

To the two leggeds, four leggeds and winged ones it is signal to prepare to move forward. The hummingbirds start their startling navigation from South America to their North American nesting grounds. Around the world, the herds and flocks feel the changes and prepare to move, coming together in massive numbers. As spring approaches, we prepare to step out, move forward.

Is there space for the winds of change to blow gently? Look at your homes, your communities? Are there areas of stagnation that need to be moved?

Have you nurtured your environment, fed the Earth, fed the birds? Have you given back as much as you have taken? We are part of the cycle of life and if we want our prosperity nurtured, we must feed and honor what sustains us.

We have learned that a disturbance in the honey bee population can affect our entire food supply. In Norway, a doomsday seed bank has been set up in the permafrost. In Feng Shui, we want to repel “Sha” or evil influences. So we replace them with good aspects. If we give out kindness, most likely, we will live in a kinder environment. It is no secret that Bill Gates and Warren Buffet expressed enormous joy at the gift of being able to give away vast fortunes to help heal the world. Ask them what true wealth is.

They know what they had to give. As we turn towards the East, we find in ourselves that which is new. In truth we all have riches to share to bring in positive, abundant chi, sometimes though very small acts.

Can we take our small corners of the world and make them refuges for life?

As we come to the equinoxes we come to a place of possible balance. Change brings the opportunity of the new.

It is the time to apply our values. To plant them in our homes and our communities. Is your home a place that feeds the Earth, feeds the birds? Look around you, see if you are nurturing the environment. Are you adding toxins to the waters or air?

If you live in a city, what is your community doing to reduce pollution, add green spaces and renewal resources? What are other ways we can bring nurturing? Can you help with your time, your voice, your resources? If yes, that will come back to you a thousand fold.

With each step, you become your own feng shui master, by noticing what needs to be moved to allow the wind and water to flow and nourish all.

Betsy Stang
Healing by design Feng Shui

COPD and Zen

2008-03-17T21:58:00.000-07:00

As those of us with COPD know all too well, a lot of anxiety and panic accompanies the dreadful COPD monster. This will help with controlling these issues. This is reprinted with permission of Prevention Magazine. Be sure to check with your medical professional before incorporating any changes into your regimen.

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Fresh twists on tried-and-true de-stressors can take you to a new level of calm

Want to find the ultimate in peace and happiness? The key is to make sure you haven't fallen into a relaxation rut. If your usual stress buster isn't soothing your anxiety like it used to, you need to try something new to boost peace of mind. We found five cool variations on popular pastimes that can settle your nerves in record time.

If you wind down with a bath...Try a natural hot springMove over, Mr. Bubble. It's worth going the extra tension-taming mile to plunge into a natural spring. "Soaking in hot springs lowers levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which reduces inflammation and built-up strain in your ligaments and joints," says Pamela Peeke, MD, MPH, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Some top spots include Dunton Hot Springs in Colorado ($75 for the day, including lunch), the Hot Springs Resort & Spa in North Carolina (from $12), and Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs in New Mexico (from $16). For more ideas, visit trails.com, which has a substantial database of hot springs, including secluded ones that require a hike through the woods.

If you empty your mind with meditation...Try qigongShake up your seated practice with qigong (pronounced chee-gong, which means "energy work"), an active Chinese meditation routine that mixes and matches hundreds of fluid, graceful dancelike exercises. By focusing on these repetitive movements and your breathing, your mind pushes aside intrusive thoughts and elicits the body's relaxation response: Your heart rate slows down and blood pressure, adrenaline, and cortisol levels drop.
Classes are often held at YMCAs, gyms, and community or wellness centers and cost around $10 to $20 per session. To find a local instructor, go to the National Qigong Association's Web site, nqa.org.

If you walk off a bad day...Try a labyrinth strollThese mazelike paths, which date back thousands of years, have grown in popularity, thanks in part to promising research documenting meditation's effects on blood pressure, cortisol levels, and other markers of stress reduction, according to M. Kay Sandor, PhD, an associate professor of nursing at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Labyrinths can be inlaid on church floors, marked by stones in a garden, mowed into grassy fields, or painted on the ground in public parks. Walkers follow a single circuitous route free of wrong turns or dead ends toward the center. Most courses take about 20 minutes to complete, but Sandor suggests that you go at your own pace. When you reach the center, take as much time as you'd like for reflection--then retrace your steps back out.

Finding a labyrinth is relatively easy: More than 1,000 hospitals, spas, schools, churches, and wellness centers in the United States have installed labyrinths on-site. (You can also search veriditas.net to find one near you.)

COPD~Chronic Illness Weaves Some Common Threads

2008-03-16T01:01:00.000-07:00

I found the following excerpt by Dr. Amatuzio to be very helpful and insightful and hope that you, too, will glean the comfort, hope, strength and ideas.

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It's been said that a lifetime can be compared to a tapestry, each experience weaving in a new thread. Perhaps, in time, grief strengthens and hones us. Much like a resilient hidden thread, it adds strength and fullness to our lives. If we didn't love, we wouldn't grieve.

I carry these messages with me and try to apply them to my life. I have slowly come to recognize a few common threads. Even so, I am keenly aware that the tapestry, like each person's life, is in the hands of its weaver.

A death or the discovery of a serious illness jars us out of our daily routines. We stop all that we are doing. Other than death and illness, there are few things in life that temporarily relieve us of obligations. Grief seems to have that effect; it stops us and, at times, numbs us. But when sorrow has exhausted us and tears have emptied us, stillness overtakes us. When the mind becomes quiet, the heart can feel. Maybe then our loved ones dance into our awareness and our dreams and delight us. Their presence comforts and fills us with reassurances of their love. Such experiences change lives and heal hearts. Maybe stillness is one of the threads that connect us.

THE THREAD OF LOVE

A death or serious illness (such as COPD) reminds us that all beginnings have an ending, that each interaction with one another could be our last. This reminder has a way of cutting through the nonessential stuff of life. It may change what we say or what we do. Maybe, like the young woman whose husband was killed in a construction accident, we will remember to kiss our loved ones goodbye. Each moment becomes a gift, and time becomes sacred. This remembering may cause us to treat one another more honestly, gently, and deliberately. It seems there is nothing that love cannot heal, and in the presence of love, there is life, always and forever. Love seems to be the thread that connects all of what is seen with our eyes and felt in our hearts. Ultimately, it must be what connects us with eternity.

THE THREAD OF HOPE

The experiences I have recorded here fill me with a sense of hope. Perhaps when we stop dismissing our awareness of a presence or a synchronicity, we begin to glimpse something more. Many times, as I have begun a postmortem examination, I have observed how quickly the body disintegrates after death. I marvel at the strength of the life force that sustained it. I marvel at the life force, God, and feel as though there is so much more to know.

Occasionally I catch a glimpse of what heals — the awareness of our loved ones in the whisper of the wind or in the soft beauty of a star-gleaming night, or gently dancing into our dreams as we sleep. Why does awareness of these connections heal? Perhaps because we must stop to absorb them and be still to observe them. Then we can remember that we are not alone, that we are dearly loved, and that all is well.

I am filled with heartfelt appreciation for those who, in the midst of their grief, have spoken of their treasured experiences. I feel honored to share their stories with others. Many times I have wondered if I could move past grief as well as those who I've cared for have done. When something happens to you personally, it hurts deeply. Part of your life is changed forever.

by Janis Amatuzio, M.D. Reprinted with permission of the publisher, New World Library.

The Silver Linings of COPD and Other Chronic Conditions

2008-03-13T15:10:00.000-07:00

Though illness can be scary and unpleasant, there are spiritual gifts to be found in it.

Most people think of illness as inconvenient at best, tragic at worst.

We focus on what we are not doing: our normal daily routines, work, outings with friends, being physically active, time with family. Yes, illness is a time-out from our normal lives of health and activity, but it needn't be time 'lost.'

Illness can be a fertile time if you can focus your attention away from what you do not have, and focus on what it offers in abundance. Even if your illness is one from which you may not recover, making it a spiritual practice will imbue your journey with rich rewards. Follows are two ways to help turn physical infirmity into a sacred time of life.

Slow Down ~
"Healing happens in the slow lane," hospital chaplains tell patients. Think of life like film, 24 individual images moving rapidly in sequence to create the illusion of action. When illness makes you slow down, you have a rare opportunity to view each individual moment of your life on its own, and see how you unconsciously string moments together to create patterns of behavior. This new view gives you the chance to reorder moments into new and healthier patterns of behavior.For instance, when I was bedridden for 3 months last year with pneumonia, I realized how I had grown used to being able to rush to rescue someone with a problem. I spent my precious energy on others and thus depleted myself, contributing to my illness. Weak from illness, I couldn't rush to anyone's aid and had to rescue myself. It felt healthy and I've since made it my practice to give others a chance to resolve their own issues, and fix my own first.

Have A Beginner's Mind ~

"Part of my journey with cancer is giving myself opportunities to be a learner again," says musician Eileen Hadidian. "One of the most powerful ways to experience playing and teaching music without striving towards perfection is to become a beginner again on a new instrument. I let go of abstract expectations of having to achieve a goal by a certain time, and remember why I am taking lessons: for the joy of it."

For Eileen, her journey through cancer has taught her to let go of her attachment to product and outcome - the opposite of what she normally does as a professional musician. Now, she is experiencing the pleasure of music for her own healing.

By: Toni Weingarten

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Luna's Note: What a marvelous way to think of it. Now my body is effected by the COPD so I must learn to play my new instrument ~ my changed body ~ I am a beginner with a new instrument. Wonder what surprises await in the learning of it?! Let me get about the business of getting acquainted with my new instrument and ascertain what it is capable of.

Blessings to all,

Luna

Riding Out The Illness in the Sea of Faith

2008-03-10T23:08:00.000-07:00

A serious illness tests our faith. Even when doctors tell us eventually we'll recover, illness can seem to drag on interminably and we sink into despair; our current reality of pain, immobility, and weakness blot out our memory of health.

Have faith that you will get well, especially if your doctors tell you so. Practice having faith that "the land of wellness" exists. Believe in your own recovery.

During my pneumonia, I came to imagine myself on a shipwrecked raft at sea. While I couldn't see land (health) I knew that it was out there and believed that I would someday wash up on its shore. As I slowly recovered, I had glimpses of it in the distance and my spirits rose; in my mind I rode the crest of wave towards this far shore. Then my strength waned and I imagined myself in the trough between two big waves, and I could only see water all around me. I kept faith that the waves carried me towards health, even if I couldn't see it.

I held fast to my faith, as I would to a raft at sea, until I did indeed eventually wash ashore, stand up on shaky legs and slowly walk back to my life. Hold tight to your faith.

The Disconnect Can Harm Us

2008-03-08T01:08:00.000-08:00

For many of us, the path to truly knowing about and understanding our bodies can be a difficult one.
Yes, we inhabit our physical shells, this "temple of our soul". Yet how much about the workings of our body do we truly understand?

This is not a trivial question, either. I believe that many of the most common, most expensive, and most debilitating health and medical conditions prevalent in our society today are caused in large part by this disconnect between what the body actually needs to thrive, versus how we treat it. It's more than just a simple lifestyle issue, too. Yes, the sedentary, stressful lifestyle that so many people lead is not healthy. But this is a symptom of the larger disconnect we may feel. For those of us with any type of chronic health condition - be it high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic fatigue, asthma, or being overweight or obese - this disconnect can seem huge. I know when my asthma was at its worst, I began to see my body as the "enemy." Why was it whacking out on me, why was it letting me down? And I've battled my weight a couple different times in my life. After awhile, I begin to tune out many of my body's signals because it seemed like an alien to me. Plus, so often, these signals seemed to herald bad news. You can probably relate.

Of course, this is the exact opposite of what we should be doing if you suffer from a chronic health condition. Ironically, the most direct way to get back in touch with our bodies - and our psyches and spirit, for that matter - is through breathing. I say ironic because breathing is the most vital process going on in our bodies. Just a few minutes of not breathing means the heart and brain shut down. Yet most people take breathing for granted. And that's one reason why I place such an emphasis on breathing and energy exercises in my approach to health and fitness. Simply doing a series of exercises like in the Secret Power of Dynamic Energy Exercise Course, Volume II - on a regular basis can make a huge difference in your energy levels...and increase your sensitivity to your own energy, as well as that of the other people around you. So, my challenge to you is this: take this "weak spot" in your body - your breathing, the area you tend to take for granted - and begin to use this as the foundation for getting back in touch with yourself. It doesn't require anything elaborate. Simply taking the time once or twice a day to sit quietly and focus on your breathing is an excellent start. For example, sit and breathe as gently, fully and slowly as you can first thing in the morning. This will tell you quite a bit about how you are feeling, your energy levels, and your mental outlook. Later, take a few moments before you go get your lunch to sit and breathe deeply. As you breathe, ask your body what it feels like eating. Does it want the Big Mac and fries you were about to go get. (Sitting in your car at the drive through, of course. No need to walk into the restaurant if you don't have to.) Or, now that you have taken a minute to calm yourself and relax, does a fresh salad with some chicken or steak feel more like what you need right now. Those are two everyday examples of how you can take a moment and use your breathing to help you tune in to your body. A better connection to yourself - on all levels, not just physical, although physical is a great place to start - helps you access the internal wisdom you already possess. You Can Do It!

Taken from Karen Van Ness Newsletter.

LISTEN TO YOUR BODY TALK, YOUR BODY TALK

2008-02-27T13:16:00.000-08:00

I know how tough it can be to start a fitness program.Reasons abound - good, bad and indifferent - for not embarking on this most wondrous of journeys into yourself. No time, low energy, too much work, in a bad mood, and so forth. Or my favorite: I don't feel up to it today. So I'll get crackin' tomorrow.

But I tell you, when you don't regularly engage in some form of physical activity, you're missing out on one of the most uplifting and personally rewarding habits you can ever develop. I know this from personal experience, and having been on both sides of the exercise - no exercise continuum.

I've often spoken of coaxing yourself into action.And this works quite well for many.

Start small, start short, and you may surprise yourself once you get into it: you're actually enjoying yourself.

The key is to stop while you still want to do more. Make it so you actually look forward to your next session. As opposed to cranking it up, going in full bore...and suffering severe soreness or injury. Over time, you will improve - I guarantee it. What was once hard becomes easy. What once seemed out of reach is within your grasp.

It's amazing the impact this can have on your life. Beyond the mechanics of getting started and maintaining a regular exercise program, there is one very important point that needs to be made:

Exercise is it's own reward.

I'm not talking about the health benefits that accrue, which I Know you've heard a gazillion times.I'm talking about the intrinsic and highly personal benefits you receive from giving of yourself - of your time, of your energy - to this life-sustaining, health-promoting activity. It doesn't matter what you are doing, or why.Perhaps you need to start exercising to help control high blood pressure. Or you want to lose weight, or build more stamina.

Maybe you are into yoga, or weight training, or you enjoy going for long walks

.And of course, you may be interested in how to develop your breath and energy to new levels, for enhanced fitness and health. And before you think, "Breathing isn't exercise", I have some news for you. Breathing can be the perfect exercise - the one that supports all other physical activity, makes it seem easier and less taxing. For example, you can perform the exercise series I teach you in the Secret Power of Dynamic Energy Exercise Course,Volume II -http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com/dynamic_energy2.html - at varying levels of intensity, to fit your present mood and needs. But when you perform these exercise at "full speed and power", with focused intent - whew,let me tell you, you can really feel it. It is indeed an excellent workout, especially if you only have a few minutes you can carve out of your busy day. Whatever you are doing, use that time to focus on it. Put your full intent into the activity.

This doesn't mean to kill yourself. Exercise at a level of intensity that pushes you just a bit. Killing yourself, really pushing yourself, can come later, when you are fitter, tougher,or perhaps training for an athletic event or competition. For most of us, our minds are the primary driver during our days. We obsess, we get stressed, we are constantly thinking and worrying. We are rarely in the present moment. When you exercise, you put aside those thoughts and all that "monkey chatter", as the psychologists call it. You let your body be the driver for a change. When you are in the middle of a good workout, you forget about the worries of the day. If you do it with a level of concentration and care, you can lose yourself. And so find yourself.

The other benefit is the feeling of control and trust you gain when you exercise, push and refine your body on a regular basis. You feel more in control of every aspect ofyour life - your eating, your work, your relationships - when you develop the discipline to do something good and virtuous each day. And you begin to trust in yourself. You see, you've made a promise, a commitment to yourself, and you are fulfilling it. What a wonderful thing! You'll know you're experiencing the genuine thing when, once in awhile, you get that feeling of liberation.You feel it in your chest, your lungs, and your heart. It's a feeling of liberation and freedom that, ironically, discipline brings.

You Can Do It!

from the Karen Van Ness Newsletter

Luna's Note: Be certain to get your doctor's "OK" prior to beginning any exercise program. This is especially important for those who have been sedentary.

One Legged Exercise for COPD

2008-02-26T05:17:00.000-08:00

Wonder if kicking my ex in the butt for about 15 minutes would count as one legged exercise?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

By Will Boggs, MD
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Exercising one leg at a time can improve aerobic capacity more than two-legged exercise in patients who have stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a report in the latest issue of the medical journal Chest.
"We may have a new approach to enable patients with severe lung disease to improve their fitness," Dr. Roger S. Goldstein told Reuters Health. "Hopefully this also increases their mobility, activities, and quality of life."
COPD is a common, progressive lung condition that is mostly seen in smokers and former smokers. It is characterized by emphysema and chronic bronchitis, which obstructs air flow to the lungs. COPD is the 4th leading cause of death in the United States.
Goldstein from the University of Toronto, Ontario, and Thomas E. Dolmage note that shortness of breath limits exercise intensity for most COPD patients. "One-legged exercise," at half the work load of exercise using two legs, "places the same metabolic demands on the targeted muscles." However the stress on the lungs is reduced, permitting patients to increase their exercise capacity, the researchers point out.
They investigated the effects of one-legged training on the peak oxygen uptake on 18 COPD patients during stationary bicycle exercise compared with conventional two-legged training. "Two-legged trainers cycled continuously for 30 minutes, whereas one-legged trainers switched legs after 15 minutes." The conditions were otherwise the same in terms of training frequency and session duration.
Both groups were able to increase their training intensity over the duration of the training program, the investigators report, and both groups significantly increased their total work per session.
The researchers found that the improvement in peak oxygen uptake was significantly higher in the one-legged training group than in the two-legged group. The one-legged group also had a significantly greater increase in peak ventilation and lower submaximal heart rate than the two-legged group.
"Although the one-legged group exercised at a higher muscle-specific intensity," the investigators write in their report, "their overall exercise intensity remained below that of the two-legged group."

"This approach enables patients who would otherwise be too short of breath to exercise to train at a lower work load (one that would allow them to continue exercising for longer) by using one leg at a time -- in other words, by using a lower muscle mass," Goldstein explained.
The technique is "easy to do, inexpensive, and it's simple to modify a stationary bike," Goldstein pointed out. The best candidates for this program are patients with severe but stable lung disease who would otherwise be too short of breath after minimal exertion to participate in any meaningful exercise.
"Single-leg exercise has been used to study physiologic mechanisms for more than 30 years," writes Dr. M. Jeffery Mador, from the University of New York at Buffalo, in a related editorial. "The authors are to be commended for translating this type of study into exercise that is potentially adaptable to clinical practice and may benefit patients with COPD."
Whether this approach is "ready for prime time" or just represents an interesting study will require additional trials with a larger number of patients, along with evaluation of actual patient benefits, the editorialist concludes.
Goldstein told Reuters Health that his group does plan to test the method in a larger sample of subjects before recommending it as an exercise training program for COPD patients.
SOURCE: Chest, February 2008.

THE SIX BLESSINGS OF FOOD

2008-02-25T20:42:00.000-08:00

As COPD'ers, we are aware of how important proper nutrition is to us. The COPD along with the meds we take and the slower pace makes it so vital for us to consume proper fuel and plenty of antioxidents. I found the following to be a form of mindful eating for us and know that you will find it helpful and loaded with good information. It is worth the read!

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Because our current approach to nutrition isn't working well for so many of us, as a nutrition researcher, educator, and health journalist, it appalls me that so much of the literature in my field continues to focus exclusively on only one of the six secrets: what to eat. If the dice in Las Vegas casinos were fixed so that only the same side kept showing up every time you rolled them, everyone would scream "cheat!"
We are being cheated nutritionally. Food constitutes a six-part gift, but all we're hearing about is one thing. But this skewed perspective, focusing solely on the physiological aspects of food, has become the norm. I call our one-sided, limited view the Dark Ages of nutrition. We think that nutritional science is at its pinnacle, but in fact, most of us are still in the dark about what can most benefit us about food. This is because we're ignoring the most important elements of food and nutrition -- the healing secrets of food -- that have served humankind for centuries.

They are:
1. Unite with others through food.
2. Be aware of your feelings before, during, and after eating.
3. Bring moment-to-moment nonjudgmental awareness to each aspect of the meal.
4. Appreciate food and its origins -- from the heart.
5. Create union with the Divine by "flavoring" food with love.
6. Eat fresh, whole foods in their natural state as often as possible.

All these elements count -- not just one or two in isolation.

From Secret to Celebration

As powerful as the healing secrets of food are, I am disappointed that experts -- from food writers to dietitians and religious leaders -- don't learn, practice, and teach what these secrets have to offer, emphasizing their valuable health-giving properties and benefits every opportunity they get.
I am disappointed that we consider only what can be measured in food, while we've forgotten that what is not so easily measured might be much more valuable to our health. I am disappointed that society as a whole isn't paying more attention to the healing secrets of food. Instead we choose to ignore a powerful truth: food has the ability to heal us in many ways -- if we take the time to tap into its powerful healing properties.
Where, I wonder, is the meaning, the invisible satisfaction in our food? The human connection? The pleasure? The delight? The soul satisfaction? Where are the missing "secret ingredients," what philosopher Huston Smith calls "forgotten truth" about food and its meaning in our lives? Author Ken Wilbur articulates this dilemma of objective scientific truth versus underlying meaning that cannot be measured objectively. In his book The Marriage of Sense and Soul, he writes, "Science is clearly one of the most profound methods that humans have yet devised for discovering truth, while religion remains the single greatest force for generating meaning."
Our ancient ancestors understood instinctively the significance of putting meaning into meals. Throughout the centuries, people of many religions and cultural traditions have infused food with meaning in ways that are still evident today. For instance, devout Christians begin meals with a prayer of thanks; Indians refer to bhoga, a collective term for any food ingredient being used as an offering to God; with compassion for food animals as a guideline, Jewish dietary laws specify prohibited and acceptable food; and a reverence for, and connection to, nature and food is an integral part of Native American Indian beliefs.

When the meaning in our meals is lost, what's left is a list of rules and regulations that are not meaningful and therefore not motivating or sustainable. This truth became evident as my mom and dad struggled to overcome their heart problems. I knew they understood the heart-healthy dietary information I'd given them, but in retrospect, I realize that the underlying message was, "You should be eating differently. You should stop eating familiar and comfortable foods. You should assess and analyze what you're eating." Should.

Surely what we should do or eat isn't a great motivator (nor is it emotionally appetizing). Indeed, the dictionary states that the word should implies obligation. Is this what food is really about? Is it something we're obligated to eat, to analyze, to weigh, to judge, to avoid, to crave, to overconsume, to underconsume, to control, to love, to hate, to fear, or to revere?
When we assess the vast nutritional resources of our culinary heritage and merge this wisdom with what modern nutritional science has to tell us, our relationship to food becomes integrative and therefore optimal. In lieu of being tossed around in a storm of nutrients and numbers, you become empowered to actualize an eating style that holds the potential not only to nourish your physical health but also to enhance your emotional, spiritual, and social well-being. Food becomes a celebration of life.
The Main Course
I'm calling for a renaissance -- a reflowering of the way we view food and nutrition. This new view asks that we pay attention to all the healing secrets -- and to demystifying, understanding, and practicing them every day. I'm especially thrilled to tell you about these long-lost healing secrets -- not only because of their timeless wisdom, but because they contain the answers we've been looking for -- but in all the wrong places.
Ultimately, their message is simple: the healing gifts of food are available to us each time we eat. As a matter of fact, every time you shop for, prepare, and eat food you have the opportunity to connect with the life-giving, life-containing mystery inherent in food. These activities are also opportunities to connect with loved ones, with the earth, with life itself. In this way, you can heal not only yourself but, ultimately, the planet.

This article is excerpted from:

The Healing Secrets of Food by Deborah Kesten.
Reprinted with permission of the publisher, New World Library, Novato, California.

Living With Rhythm

2008-02-21T09:56:00.000-08:00

Developing rhythms in sleeping, eating, and eliminating brings greater order. Eating before the sun goes down, and rising before the sun comes up, allows the power within and the power below to align with the circadian rhythms of the sun. When our neuroendocrine systems are aligned with the circadian rhythms of the sun, there is greater order, and therefore abundance of energy liberated purposefully. Benjamin Franklin spoke wisely when he said, "Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise."
If we are arrhythmic in our cycles, we align our neuroendocrine systems with the ultradian rhythms of the moon. How surprised would you be to discover that in ancient times the sun was revered for its dependability and rhythm, while the moon was considered to be flighty and erratic in its cycles? No wonder that someone who is extremely emotional, erratic, and impulsive to the point of irresponsible conduct is called a "lunatic."

Did you catch that awesome Lunar eclipse last night?

The Power of Breath

2008-02-20T04:36:00.000-08:00

Life begins with a first breath and ends with a last breath. Air contains the electricity that charges our vital capacitor with energy. Breathing, posture, physiology, and function are interrelated in expressing our vital potential energy. Energy is infinite and is universally available to the one with greater order. Higher-ordered breathing transforms and liberates energy. Disordered breathing stifles and imprisons energy.
Breathing only from the chest is short, shallow, disordered breathing that depends upon several muscles of the neck to elevate the rib cage. It is the 80% effort that returns 20% results. It can literally be a pain in the neck because the muscles manifest tension due to the stressful breathing. Symmetrical, diaphragmatic breathing, which will be described shortly, is the 20% effort that returns 80% results.
Greater inhalations than exhalations excite. Greater exhalations than inhalations sedate. Balance inhalations with exhalations. Balance long slow breaths with short fast breaths. Both are useful.
Balanced, even, symmetrical breathing generates great energy and brings the power within and the power below into synergistic present-now consciousness with the Power on High. Uneven, unbalanced, asymmetrical breathing brings the higher minded power within and the lower-minded power below into a consciousness of guilt about the past or fear of the future.
The higher-minded power within directs our striated skeletal muscles. The lower-minded power below directs our smooth, involuntary muscles. If you are in future fear and past guilt, the lower-minded power below rules the higher-minded power within you and you omit what is purposeful and commit what is perpendicular or tangential to what is purposeful. Balanced, diaphragmatic breathing keeps you on purpose.
Have you ever noticed how a baby breathes? Babies "belly breathe" by innately utilizing their diaphragm. They continue their diaphragmatic breathing until they are about 12 years of age. Perhaps it contributes to their boundless energy. The diaphragm is the heart of the lymphatic system. Symmetrical, diaphragmatic breathing cycles pump the lymphocytes and fatty plasma through the lymphatic system, and surround and block off foreign invaders such as bacteria.
Symmetrical breathing cycles, which begin and end with the diaphragm, balance and bring order between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Symmetrical diaphragmatic breathing balances acid and alkaline pH. Symmetrical diaphragmatic breathing stimulates both the left and right cerebral hemispheres and activates the corpus callosum, the highest evolved, higher-minded part of the brain.
You can easily learn diaphragmatic breathing as you practice perfect breathing a little each day.
Begin by standing erect or lying supine. Place your hands upon your abdomen.
As you inhale through your nose for a slow count of seven, let your abdomen protrude. Feel it move with your hands.
Hold your air for a slow count of seven.
As you exhale through your nose for a slow count of seven, use your hands to feel your abdomen pull in.
Continue pulling your abdomen in and tighten it for a slow count of seven.
Repeat this cycle for a total of seven cycles.
Practice this exercise perfectly for one week and begin to add cycles until you can complete 12 perfect cycles. Keep practicing for 21 consecutive days. After 21 days of practice, you will have mastered diaphragmatic breathing to the point that you can easily experiment with both slow and fast cycles of breathing.
Practice diaphragmatic breathing for periods of five, ten, fifteen minutes, or more. If you feel like you are going to fall backwards, put your back against a wall. Notice the feeling you experience as you complete the exercise. Realize that as you control your breathing, you control your mental magnetic power to take action with energy now.

Dr. Richard Bellamy

ENTHUSIASM!!!

2008-02-20T04:27:00.000-08:00

I have noticed that some days, I wake early, full of energy and zest. I get up feeling ready to "take on" the world.
On the other hand, there are some mornings where I can't seem to get moving. Now, I am not talking of those mornings when I may be physically tired and need the extra sleep. I speak rather of those mornings when I've had enough hours of rest, yet can't seem to get motivated to "rise and shine".
At those times, I ask myself what it is that I want to escape. "What is it in my life that keeps me from feeling enthusiastic about the upcoming day?" Of course it is easy to lay the blame on someone else. It's so-and-so's fault I'm angry, it's their fault I'm depressed, etc.
Yet when I'm honest with myself it's always my action (or inaction) that is the source of my lack of energy. Sometimes, it is a call that I have been putting off because I fear it won't be successful; at other times, there is a situation or person that I don't want to deal with. There is usually something I am trying to avoid, and rather than have to face it, my avoidance is translated into a listless feeling of wanting to stay in bed. Rather than find a constructive way to deal with the situation, sleep seems to be the easier route. So I avoid taking responsibility by slipping into a state of avoidance, of listlessness.
The question is: is that really the easier way -- to procrastinate and try to avoid what we fear about the day ahead of us?
You can't put anything off forever. You may think that you can, that you have shelved something "forever", yet your sub-conscious will remember and keep reminding you in subliminal ways. You will carry that feeling of the `blah's' until you deal with what is causing you to feel that way.
Unresolved issues are a drain on your energy. It is as if you have a tube connected to the `problem' and energy keeps leaking from you until you sever the connection by changing your attitude, taking action, and resolving the issue.
Are you enthusiastic about life?
Do you wake up excited to face another day?
Are you interested in your work, and are you involved in it with intensity, energy, and zeal?
Are you doing what you would choose to do were you to make a completely fresh start?
Are you committing your time to activities you enjoy?
For one to live a happy and fulfilled life, the answer to these questions needs to be an enthusiastic YES. Otherwise, you are dragging yourself about, performing tasks which don't really interest you.
So, if you wake up in the morning and feel as if you don't want to get up out of bed, I would suggest you take responsibility for that feeling and ask yourself what it is you are running from and then deal with the situation.
Once you've get rid of those "unsolved mysteries", you will find that you've regained your lost enthusiasm and your life will be much more enjoyable. The avoidance of expected pain or imagined confrontations translates into a mediocre existence lacking in joy and vitality. Your level of vibrancy will be very different when you affirm and practice an enthusiastic and responsive approach to life.
Life can be joyful and happy. You can be like an exuberant child again -- eager to face the toys and joys of the day, and wanting to participate in all of the excitement life has to offer.
Take a look at your life and see where you are siphoning off your own energy. Fix your `leaky pipes' and live your life enthusiastically, always expecting the best, and looking forward to what each new day will bring.
Life's purpose is to live creatively, fulfilling our innermost and highest desires. Go for it!
When you reach for your dreams and jump into them enthusiastically, taking responsibility for your thoughts and actions, you will be a much happier (and healthier) person.

By: Marie T. Russell

Magic Message

2008-02-17T20:34:00.000-08:00

This is a story about a remarkable little bird and I hope you will see that its message applies to us COPD'ers.

Sometimes Mother Nature just astounds me. A case in point is found in an example I saw just the other morning. This occurred as I was going through my typical morning routine. One of the things I do every morning is fill the bird bath that sits on the rail off my deck. I always like to make sure my feathered friends have clean water to drink even though they occasionally take baths in that very same water. Anyway, I was standing at my sink filling the water jug when I looked out at the bird bath to see a sparrow sitting on the edge getting its early morning drink of water. I didn’t give it another thought until I went to the door a few minutes later to go out on the deck and fill the bath. It was then that Mother Nature took me by the hand and taught me the very valuable lesson that I am going to share with you today. Let me begin by telling you that this was no ordinary bird. But before I share with you what was so special about this little sparrow, let me give you a play by play. I stood at the door for a few more minutes to wait for the bird to finish drinking before I opened the door and scared it away. After standing there a few minutes, with the bird showing no sign of leaving, I got impatient and decided to go out there and fill the bath. I opened the door and stepped outside and was surprised that the bird didn’t fly away. So I slowed my pace and thought I would see how close I could get before it saw me and took flight. Well, it never flinched even as I got to within a few feet. As I crept even closer, it became obvious to me why this bird didn’t fly away. This bird had no eyes! I would guess based on how it looked that this was a birth defect, as the bird didn’t look hurt or injured in any way. It had been surviving like this for some time it appeared. I could have literally grabbed that bird if I had wanted to but then it suddenly flew away using its wings to feel its way through the tree above. I was amazed at that encounter and very impressed by this little bird. What does this have to do with wellness and healthy living? In a word, everything!Just as that sparrow had to adapt to survive, so must you. Adaptation, in my opinion, is one of the critical keys to successful lifestyle change. You see, as I watched this sightless bird feel its way through the branches with its wings, I was struck by the power of adaptation. Mother Nature has given that to us humans as a birthright but most people never truly test its potential. But, for those of you who want to turn that dream of healthy living into a real life experience, adaptation is the key. Even though this bird had the odds stacked against it, it was still able to find its way and live its life. Remember this little bird the next time you struggle with adapting to healthy living.