Sharing the Health

 

Aerobika®, from Trudell Medical International, is a new oscillating positive expiratory pressure (OPEP) device that has shown to improve shortness of breath and help raise mucus in people with COPD. The device was used four times a day for four weeks in a clinical pilot study presented at the American Thoracic Society meeting. Traditionally, OPEP therapy also helps in clearing secretions in those with Cystic Fibrosis and Bronchiectasis. There is a slight resistance when you exhale through the Aerobika®, allowing airways to be held open and loosening your mucus. Aerobika® will be available in hospitals sometime in July and probably in pharmacies sometime next year.

 

I cope with COPD by going to pulmonary rehab and all my doctor’s appointments. I take my medicine when and how I am supposed to. I exercise and go to Better Breather Club meetings. It works!

Elizabeth Goldberg, Rochester, NY

When the batteries of your Porta- ble Oxygen Concentrator (POC) no longer hold a charge, you may be wondering how to dispose of them.If you contact the supplier you bought them from, they may be able to give you a discount on a new one if you send it back to them. You could also check with stores like Best Buy, Home Depot or Lowes that often have battery recycling kiosks where they accept re-chargeable batteries like the ones used in POCs. Another option is to contact a local hazardous waste disposal location although there may be a charge to drop them off there.

 

 

 

The American Lung Association has updated their online site that allows people with breathing problems to connect and find support in their area. Visit http:// connection.lung.community.org.

State of the Air 2013: American Lung Association report finds the top five, cleanest U.S. cities for year round particle pollution:

#1: Cheyenne, WY #2: St. George, UT

#2: Santa Fe-Espanola, NM #4: Prescott, AZ

#5: Farmington, NM

The worst cities were all in California: #1: Bakersfield-Delano, CA

#1: Merced, CA

#3: Fresno-Madera, CA

#4: Hanford-Corcoran, CA

#4: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside, CA

I found a web site that shows how to correctly use a variety of inhalers at http://use-inhalers.com. I often get confused and found it helps to review the proper techniques!

Christine Davenport, Tallahassee

 

Karen Deitemeyer of Kissimmee, FL, wants you to know about a free Friends and Family Health Kit you may get from the FDA. It is a collection of 20 easy-to- understand publications from FDA’s Office of Women’s Health. You may download the information directly from the web site or order a free set for by visiting http:// promotions.usa.gov/dearabby.html#order.

 

GlaxoSmithKline introduced a new program to help consumers recycle their empty inhalers and keep waste out of landfills. Inhalers may not be recycled at the curb-side. The “Complete the Cycle™ Recycle Program” is being offered to communi- ty-based retail pharmacies in 31 U.S. markets to make available to their customers.

 

Reminder: The last two inhalers – Combivent and Maxair Autohaler – in the United States that contain ozone-damaging chloroflurocarbons (CFCs) will both be taken off the market by the end of this year. People with asthma and COPD who use these inhalers should talk to their health care providers about a prescription for an alternative.

Combivent will no longer be available after July 2013. An alternative inhaler is Combivent Respimat which does not contain CFCs.

 

Maxair Autohaler will not be available after Decem- ber 31, 2013. Alternative inhalers are available that contain other bronchodilator medicines, such as albuterol or levalbuterol, but do not use CFCs as a propellant to move the medicine from the inhaler.