Respiratory News A type of plant-produced chemicals known as flavonoids found in dark-pigmented fruits like red grapes and blueberries may slow the lung function decline that occurs with aging, according to new research by John Hopkins researchers. Anthocyanins, the type of flavonoid investigated in the current study, appear to reduce mucus and inflammatory secretions and…
Pulmonary Hypertension News Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) affects around 133 million Americans. People from Scotland with PAH can now be treated with Actelion’s Uptravi® (selexi- pag) through the country’s National Health System. The use of this will be restricted to adults whose symptoms are not manage- able or do not tolerate other available PAH therapies.…
Airline Travel, Altitude and Oxygen Saturation On a recent cruise vacation, an oxy- gen user who lives in New Mexico at a high altitude, was able to go without his oxygen at sea level. His oxygen saturation stayed above 90 percent during the trip. On the other hand, people who travel to altitude have to…
Sharing the Health! Russell Winwood from Australia is known as a COPD athlete – he has com- pleted the Boston Marathon and is a qualified Iron Man! Phillips Respironics has teamed with Russ to raise awareness of COPD and to inspire those who have been diagnosed with lung disease to live their lives to the…
The Ryan Report Home Oxygen Guru – The HO2G Pen Ryan Diesem is Research Manager at Valley Inspired Products, Apple Valley, MN. Contact Ryan at [email protected] com with questions or comments. 2018 Portable Oxygen Concentrator Guide Welcome to the 2018 version of our annual Portable Oxygen Concentrator (POC) Guide. One of the many questions we…
Fibrosis File Best of Care The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) has added 15 treatment sites to its nation- wide Care Center Network – centers with recognized expertise in diagnosing and treat- ing people with pulmonary fibrosis. These sites raise the total to 60 such centers in the United States. Care centers use a multidisci- plinary…
Ask Mark Bruce B. from California tells Mark he was told that blowing up balloons was dangerous for those with emphysema but good for asthmatics. Those with emphysema risk bursting bullae blowing against too much pressure or even straining too hard holding their breath. Is this true? Mark answers, A bullae is an airfilled sac…
The Best Exercises for COPD Patients Deborah Leader RN of www.verywellhealth.com has an excellent article about exercises for people with COPD. Shortness of breath, weakness, and lack of energy often tie into fear of exercise for those with lung problems. Learning the basics of exercising when you have COPD will get you well on your…
Calling Dr. Bauer Dear Dr. Bauer, I have a lot of trouble sleeping at night – is this related to my COPD? Vicky M., Florida Many of us have a lovehate relation with sleep. We love it when we get that great night of refreshing sleep but become frustrated on those many nights when sleep…
Editor’s Note We met a man who was big in stature and using oxygen with one of the smallest portable oxygen concentrators (POC) on the market. He said the unit was recommended to him by his home care company, but he was always short of breath. When he tried a POC with a bigger oxygen…