Respiratory News A University of Eastern Finland study showed that low vitamin D levels are a risk factor for pneumonia. The risk of contracting pneumonia was more than twoandahalf times greater in people with the lowest vitamin D levels than in those with high vitamin D levels.. New research from St. Michael’s Hospital…
Keep Your Eye on the Weather! A recent study in the American Journal of Critical Care Medicine reported there was a 4.3% increase in hospital admissions for respiratory problems for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit rise in mean daily summer temperatures from 1999 through 2008. Lightweight, lightcolored and loosefitting clothes are best to wear…
Sharing the Health To make my home oxygen concentrator less noticeable, I pur chased a freestanding threepanel fireplace screen. It has a three piece metal frame, screening on the panels for air flow and decorative metal vines and leaves on the screening. Small feet raise it enough for the hose to go underneath.…
Fibrosis File Matt from Florida recently asked if there are any “specific” exercises that target the conditioning needs unique to those with pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Mark Mangus answers, The main problem or limita tion to exercising with pulmonary fibrosis is shortness of breath. You will have to do extra work to move sufficient…
Ask Mark Tom asks how low can you let your oxygen saturation drop before you get into trouble? Mark replies, That is a loaded question and not easily answered with a simple, straightforward response. A onetime drop in saturation will rarely cause any direct harm, in and of itself, as long as it…
Pulmonary Rehabilitation at Home Pulmonary rehabilitation has the potential to signi ficantly improve the lives of those with COPD but not everyone is able to attend a formal program at a hospital or other facility. Researchers in China showed participants experienced significant relief in difficult breathing after 12 weeks of homebased pulmonary rehabilitation…
Physical Exams Yield Important Information about Your Health Let’s Get Physical! Who hasn’t had either a routine annual physical exam or perhaps had a hospital admission where a physician did not perform at least a brief “history and physical”? The answer in most of the civilized world is virtually no one! Hippocrates practiced medicine…