Theresa Cannizzaro, Respiratory Therapist

Getting a COPD diagnosis is downright scary. So many emotions and questions go through your head and trying to make sense of it all seems like an impossible feat. One...

The term “self-care” has become quite a buzzword in recent times and I am a huge fan of it. Self-care is literally taking time to care for yourself. We live...

Wouldn’t it be nice if we were able to bounce back immediately after a COPD flare-up? To be able to have some energy and fall back into our regular routines?...

Have you ever experienced worsening COPD symptoms during certain types of weather? Whether it is too hot, humid, cold, or rainy? I think we all have our “ideal weather” type...

COPD is a chronic inflammatory disease that makes it difficult to breathe due to airflow limitations in the lungs. It is often easier to get air in (inhalation) than out...

How can employers better work with COPD patients? In addition to having lung issues myself, I am a respiratory therapist by trade. I work in a hospital setting as well...

I’m a planner. I like to be as prepared as I can for just about any situation I can think of. It is no different when it comes to a...

Probably the most valuable thing I have learned as an adult is the incredible importance of boundary setting, both when it comes to my health, and in my personal and...

Traveling can be a stressful time for anyone. Having COPD and preparing to travel can seem like an impossible task. Not to mention the possibility of encountering the plethora of...

Anyone with any sort of breathing problems and/or lung disease know that some days are just HARD. Using up all of our energy to breathe leaves very little left for...

Having COPD is a struggle in itself. Managing our disease when it comes to symptoms, triggers, medications, flare ups etc is not always easy. We constantly need to be on...

I spent my entire life in Southern California until the spring of 2017 when my family and I decided to move to the Midwest. While it was a relatively “mild”...

Much like any disease (or anything really) out there, there are many myths that surround it. There are also a lot of half-truths as well that can be downright scary...

Journaling can be very therapeutic for anyone. When it comes to managing COPD, keeping a diary/journal is very important. Different from a regular diary, a COPD diary is one that...

When people have chronic illnesses, managing your health becomes a full time job. And for those who are still within the workforce AND managing COPD, it leaves little to no...

I was given the asthma/COPD overlap diagnosis when I was 25 years old. But for me, the COPD part has been pretty mild, however I do have severe asthma. Being...

How many of us can relate to the following scenario: we make a visit to our doctor and are prescribed a new medication that sounds very promising. One that just...

We all know that our inhaled corticosteroid inhalers come with their fair share of potential side effects. While not everyone gets the side effects, some seem to be plagued with...

It’s that not so lovely time of year again— flu season. It is probably the most dreaded time of year for anyone who suffers from chronic illness. Even more so...

I have COPD, but I also see and take care of many COPD patients on a daily basis while working in the hospital. I can tell you that without a...