Respiratory News Time to get in shape! UCLA researchers have found people with cardiovascular dis- ease who have high muscle mass and low fat mass have greater survival rates than those with other body compositions. The findings also suggest that regardless of a person’s level of fat mass, a higher level of muscle mass helps…
Answers to the Nutrition Quiz (by the University of California at Berkley Wellness Center from the March/April issue) Rank the following foods for potassium content from most to Answer: While bananas are an excellent source of potassium, with 420 milligrams, other foods have even more: yogurt, 530 milligrams; orange juice, 500; halibut, 490; broccoli, 460.…
The Language of Dyspnea Understanding Why You Are Short of Breath: The Language of Dyspnea by John R. Goodman BS, RRT, FAARC and Mark Mangus BS, RRT, FAARC People with cardiac problems commonly describe their chest pain as “pressure,” “tightness,” “dull” or perhaps “crushing weight.” Cardiologists use these descriptions to help them make a specific…
Sharing the Health! I would like to share that if anyone is on the medications Breo Ellipta or Spiriva, you can get Breo Ellipta free for one year and pay no more than $10/month for Spiriva. You may qualify even if you have insurance. See www.mybreo.com/COPD or call 1-888- 825-5249 and www.spiriva.com/copd/why-spiriva/savings-and-support for more information.…
The Ryan Report Home Oxygen Guru – The HO2G Pen 2016 Portable Oxygen Concentrator Guide Here it is, the 2016 version of our annual Portable Oxygen Concentrator (POC) Guide. Not much needs to be added from our previous 2015 version as there hasn’t been much introduced in the last year. Over the summer of 2015,…
Buyer Beware with Stem Cell Claims! There are an estimated 100 stem cell clinics in the United States operating on questionable claims and with little supervision. Reporters from the Tampa Bay Times reported on a local center known as the Lung Institute and their involvement in stem cell treatments. You can read the entire article…
Ask Mark … David from EFFORTS writes, My oxygen saturation (SpO2) readings stay around 92% to 94% at rest but during exerciseor activity, they drop to the mid 80s. They come back up within a minute or so. Am I hurting myself by not wearing my oxygen? Mark tells us, This is a subject about…
Fibrosis File Information Sources Dr. David Lederer is a pulmonologist from New York City who specializes in the care of people with pulmonary fibrosis and those who have undergone lung transplantation. Dr. Lederer created a blog called “Pulmonary Fibrosis–Clearing the Air,” to help increase awareness about the diagnosis and manage- ment of pulmonary fibrosis. It…
Calling Dr. Bauer Dear Dr. Bauer, JB from Orlando, FL, writes, I often feel chills and shiver when I don’t have a cold or infection. Could this be due to the fact that I am on oxygen therapy? Dr. Bauer explains, Circulation problems are nearly always the main cause of feeling cold all the time.…
Editor’s Note Over the years, I am totally amazed at the determination people with lung disease exhibit! We recently took a group of Sea Puffers all the way to Europe. Lots of planning went into the trip and everyone was excited and ready – even when our flight was delayed seven hours. We amused ourselves…