COPD Exacerbation: Stop It Early! You should recognize the signs that you may be in the early stages of having a com- plication or exacerbation of your COPD. Exacerbation (or “exasperation” as many know it) is a worsening of your condition, such as pneumonia, that will often land you in the hospital. Acting quickly is…
Ask Mark Deb from Pennsylvania asks if Medicare will pay anything toward the purchase of oxygen equipment or does it only pay for rental? She is nearing the end of her five years with her current supplier and wants to buy her equipment rather than deal with the company that has the contract in her…
Calling Dr. Bauer Dear Dr. Bauer, I was diagnosed with COPD over ten years ago. There is one question which has continued to puzzle me. I see frequent references to “a lot of coughing,” “excessive mucus,” or similar terms. Yet, I have never coughed a lot, nor do I produce mucus, let alone a significant…
Editor’s Note The definition of exploration is the action of traveling in or through an unfamiliar area in order to learn about it. This could mean reading about a subject you are interested in, attending a class or touring a region to see, touch and feel things with your own senses. A professor once advised…
Exploring Different Kinds of Exercise After you have your schedule of walking and strength training established, you may want to add yoga to your exercise rou- tine. Deep breathing and postures practiced in yoga can help with relaxation, flexibility and mind-body wellness. A study in the Journal of Thoracic Disease suggests yoga may help people…
Respiratory News A professor at the University of Texas at Arlington, has invented a hand-held breath monitor designed to detect the flu virus, similar to the breathalyzers used by police officers. Semiconductor sensors similar to those in a household carbon monoxide detector isolate biomarkers associated with the flu virus and indicate whether or not the…
Qualifying for Disability Benefits with a Pulmonary Disorder by Deanna Power, Director of Outreach, Disability Benefits Help Pulmonary disorders affect millions of Americans every year. From asthma to COPD to cystic fibrosis, lung dis- ease is one of the fastest-growing causes of disability in America. If you are unable to work due to your pulmonary…
Required Reading! by Jim Nelson Over the years, Jim Nelson, a lung transplant receipient, has written about a lot of subjects related to COPD, lung disease of other kinds, and the processes that people and their caregivers experience. However, there is one subject that he has not addressed directly – how to get your caregivers,…
Sharing the Health! ResMed announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared AirMini™, the world’s smallest continuous positive air- way pressure (CPAP) device. ResMed’s tiny yet fully-featured AirMini™, to be launched later this year, is designed as a secondary CPAP, making it easier for people to contin- ue their sleep apnea therapy while traveling.…