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…
Editor’s Note The word camaraderie is defined as mutual trust and friendship among people who spend time together. When you feel it, it is a special sensation. I have seen these friendships grow among people dealing with chronic lung problems who become fiercely loyal and protective of each other. No one can understand what it…
Respiratory News A new study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, investigates non-invasive ventilation (ventilator support given with a mask as CPAP and BiPAP) as a key element in an approach aimed at success- fully reducing COPD patient readmission rates. The study, which was funded and co- authored by Royal Philips, evaluated…
In the News The American Lung Association’s annual report on the State of the Air has been released. It can be seen at www.stateoftheair.org. The most polluted cities ranked for year-round particle pollution were: #1: Fresno-Madera, CA #2: Bakersfield, CA #3: Visalia-Porterville-Hanford, CA #4: Modesto-Merced, CA #5: Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA #6: El Centro, CA…
Editor’s Note We are very proud to bring you our annual Portable Oxygen Concentrator (POC) comparison chart with Ryan’s words of wisdom on choosing the best oxygen equipment that will meet your needs. It is not an easy task to decipher the facts when every manufacturer claims to have the right one for you. Unfortunately,…
Tax Time Again Do You Itemize Your Deductions? If you itemize deductions on your income tax return, you may be able to get some of your medical expenses back that you have paid for throughout the year. Determine whether the allowable expenses you paid during the year (home mortgage interest, property and state income taxes,…
Editor’s Note There is no reason why you can’t make every day of the year a vacation or a new adventure! Do something new with an old friend. I recently went on a guided bus tour of my own local town in Florida and found out things that I was totally unaware of – there…
Editor’s Note There is something about summer time that makes people smile – sometimes just the anticipation of it during cold winters! Remember to balance the good and bad in your lives. During our summer family vacation, we had to leave in a hurry because a hurricane was headed our way. It made us appreciate…
Lung Cancer is Number One Killer of Women When American women were asked to name a cancer that is top-of-mind, only one percent named lung cancer. The truth is, every eight minutes, lung cancer kills a woman in our country. What are the lead- ing causes of cancer death among women? Number one is lung…
Editor’s Note Decisions, Decisions, Decisions! How do you know you are making the right one? The only thing you can do is gather as much information and opinions as you can about the subject. A member called one day and asked why you would choose one Portable Oxygen Concentrator (POC) over another. The answer is…