Clinical

A neat thing about having COPD is it communicates with you. It lets you know when something is wrong, or when a flare-up is impending. It communicates by presenting you...

In any clinical trial, participants must meet certain criteria to be eligible to participate. There are two commonly used terms when describing clinical trial eligibility, and those are “inclusion criteria”...

Making decisions can be tough, especially when they relate to your health! One decision you may face is whether or not participating in a clinical trial is right for you...

Studies show that 13-45% of COPDers also experience anxiety. In fact, COPDers are 85% more likely to be diagnosed with anxiety compared with the general population. Despite this, less than...

Each year thousands of clinical trials occur. Learning about clinical trials can feel like you are learning a new language. The good news is that there are lots of resources...

Informed consent is the term that signifies a person has been given information regarding all possible consequences for a treatment, including both potential risks and benefits. While informed consent frequently...

Flu season is fast approaching, and it's crucial for people with COPD to know how to fight the influenza (also known as "the flu") is a serious contagious illness that...

Clinical trials can provide an opportunity for patients to receive the latest treatment, provide a new treatment option for those whose previous treatment didn’t work, and allow patients to be...

"Hi, I’m John from respiratory. I have to draw some of your blood.” This is how I usually introduce myself when I come to draw an arterial blood gas (ABG)...

It’s often said that cigarette smoking is one of the hardest habits to break. Quitting smoking, for lack of a better way of putting it, is a “Pain in the...

When many people think of clinical trials, they may think of testing a new experimental drug or taking a placebo pill. But, not all clinical trials involve treatment! Even among...

In "Explaining Emphysema, Part 1", we discussed the risk factors and symptoms associated with this condition. Now, let's look at what can be done about it in terms of treatment...

There are many people in the United States, and around the world, living with COPD. Emphysema is one lung condition that falls under the umbrella of COPD. If you've ever...

Your prescription says, “Albuterol QID.” Your doctor wants you to get a PFT and ABG?” These and other abbreviations are commonly used by medical professionals, so what do they mean?...

The coughing associated with COPD produces large amounts of a slimy substance called mucus. The increase in the production of mucus and secretions are due to an excessive amount of...

A clinical trial is a research study that is conducted to determine whether a specific medical intervention, such as a treatment, device, procedure, or change in behavior is safe and...

Every clinical trial is designed to look at a specific population, so each participant is required to have certain traits (eligibility criteria) in order to take part in the study...

There are several terms that are commonly used when discussing clinical trials. Here are some that come up often:Adverse event: an undesirable experience associated with the use of a medical...