Living

As my regular readers know, I am a respiratory therapist at a small-town hospital, where a significant portion of my patients are people living with COPD. In many ways, they...

As we age, our bladder loses the ability to hold urine for long periods. If we also have COPD, we are prone to limited mobility and a higher infection risk. Devices like this...

As the seasons change and the days grow shorter, this time of year often marks the onset of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) for many people, particularly those with COPD. SAD...

Recently, I had the privilege of caring for someone with severe COPD. As we spent time together, I got to know her as both a patient and a person with...

When Zephyr® Valves emerged as a promising innovation, I was quick to document their potential in an article. Over time, I've heard numerous success stories. Most were through discussions with...

Dealing with COPD can come with a lot of challenges. For many people, heart disease is one of the biggest issues they face. How does COPD raise your risk for...

During a recent conversation with a home healthcare specialist, I discovered that high-frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) vests are now accessible for certain people managing COPD. But what exactly are...

Throughout your journey with COPD, you will no doubt spend a great deal of money on medicine and supplies to assist you with your symptoms. Insurance does cover some, but...

It feels like not long ago, the bitter cold of winter was the major discussion. Think about it: we all have some type of weather in common. It's something people...

Let's dive into the future. A future where living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) takes a turn for the better. My optimism stems from the promising winds of change...

The last thing you may want in the flurry of the COPD mix is extra responsibility while having to make an income, yet money often makes the world go round. I...

I was just told I have a condition called bronchiectasis. According to The American Lung Association, bronchiectasis is a chronic lung condition where the walls of your airways (bronchi) widen...

When I was growing up, my grandmother was abruptly diagnosed with advanced lung cancer, which rapidly declined in a matter of weeks. The term hospice was reserved for the end of...

Like many in our community, I couldn't imagine life without my trusty rescue inhaler. Over the 35 years I've been dealing with asthma, this little device has become a reliable...

I have never been on a maintenance dose of antibiotics myself, but I know many who have. I have heard many praise that they have felt better on this maintenance...

It begins when others see that you're not as energetic or that you move more slowly. My mother's complaint was that she didn't want to make our weekly treks to...

In the past, I have written an article about air travel with COPD but today I'd like to talk about train travel. We don't hear a lot about train travel...

It’s not the young, healthy, strong, freckled-faced girl I used to see years ago. At times, I see a few wrinkles, age spots, a few frown lines, a few straggling...

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is more common among women than men. This is partially due to the different rates and effects of cigarette smoking. But COPD still affects many...

I am very blessed and have quite a few reasons why. My main caregiver is my husband, Dave. He has told me from the beginning of my diagnosis that I...