LAST ISSUE’S ANSWERS: Comedy Quiz 1a. Who is considered to be the first stand-up comedian?: a) Frank Fay; b) Milton Berle; c) Will Rogers; d) Jack Benny (Answer: Frank Fay) Frank Fay was a vaudeville emcee who created a “revolutionary shift in stand-up” during the 1920s when he would serve as a host…
COPD Nutrition Sense: Eating Right to Stay Healthy WebMD.com reports: Breathing is hard work if you have COPD. Your inflamed lungs and partially blocked airways make it a struggle to get air in and out. That effort to breathe burns a lot of calories – way more than someone with healthy lungs. As…
This article is excerpted from public service information of the American Thoracic Society. Mold-Specific Concerns for Those with Lung Disease After natural disasters such as hurri- canes, tornadoes and floods, excess moisture and standing water may contribute to the growth of mold and other microbial contaminants in homes and other buildings and may be…
Lung Disease and Exercise It is okay to get short of breath when you exercise. Research into the benefits of exercise for people with chronic lung disease shows it is widely recognized as one of the most beneficial things you can do. What Are Your Options? Aerobic exercise gets your heart and lungs…
Smoking News The U.S. Food and Drug Administra- tion (FDA) will focus on reducing nicotine levels in cigarettes to make them less addictive, while also making other nicotine products, including patches and gum, saf- er. They are also delaying implementation of last year’s rules on e-cigarettes current- ly on the market to make…
Stem Cell Research The hope of stem cell therapy may finally have taken a legitimate step forward! Stem cells are immature cells that can grow and turn into adult cells in order to repair injuries. Some types of stem cells have anti-inflammatory and anti- fibrosis properties that make them particu- larly attractive as…
Flu Facts Flu season varies but generally begins in the United States around October and runs through the following spring. The months when flu season has peaked the most in the over the past 34 years are February (14 seasons), December (7 seasons), March (6 seasons) and January (5 seasons). Since it takes about…
Fibrosis File Charlene Marshall writes a column for Pulmonary Fibrosis News (www.pulmonary fibrosis.com) titled “Under 30 Living with PF”. She recently expressed her frustrations about not being able to answer the ques- tions she is often asked, What do you need? How can I help? Sometimes she simply does not know what she…
News from EFFORTS on Bronchoscopic Lung Volume Reduction Jean Rommes, a very smart lady with COPD, actively works to help those living with chronic lung disease. She recently attended a meeting discussing Broncho- scopic Lung Volume Reduction (BLVR) and reported what she learned to the members of EFFORTS (www.emphysema.net). Lung volume reduction surgery…
Just Like Your Mama Told You A recent Internet blog discussed the importance of eating fruits and vegetables. Experts agree that a high consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with a reduced risk of many chronic (ongoing) illnesses, including COPD. What’s more, a healthy diet that includes fish, fruit and dairy products…