Living

Just recently, in one of the Alpha-1 support groups, questions have been asked about how often we should change the hoses on our oxygen concentrators. When reading some of the...

Yearning, I so want to smell the flowers. Wildflowers are my favorites. Yet, nothing compares to the aromatic lilacs from those beautiful lilac bushes. I remember picking them up when...

I want to thank a few of you members from our forums who reminded me of how this feels. I think we all have been through this, but it would...

At least once a day, I hear someone say how much they dread wearing supplemental oxygen. Some because their vanity dictates it, some because of prejudice, and others because, the...

Editor’s note: This article was written by Health Leader Jacqueline Harmon and originally appeared on our partner site BladderCancer.net. She shares her experience with shingles while living with multiple serious...

We asked our community of Health Leaders to share about their shingles experiences. What topped the list of challenges when dealing with a shingles infection? PAIN! It’s no surprise that...

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...

I have noticed every once in a while in our COPD forums that many people have asked about getting on disability, and I thought I would share my journey with...

It is true that when you have a chronic illness like COPD, your daily suffering will be a struggle that others cannot understand.  My symptoms go over their heads. I...

For many people, a shingles diagnosis will come as a painful surprise. But about 1 out of every 3 people in the United States will be affected by this common...

It is important to remember that our caregivers need some caring of their own. As hard as it is to live with a chronic illness like COPD, our caregivers live...

There are 15 million people in the U.S. with a diagnosis of COPD. Each one experiences this disease in unique ways. Some have mild COPD, while others have it severe...

Where I live, here in Illinois, we have to be prepared for everything because of our weather. We have windy, cold winters. In the spring and summer, we have thunderstorms...

I’m so excited! I will attend my first in-person Alpha-1 education day in over three years. You all know why: Covid. Alpha-1 is a genetic liver disorder that can cause...

Yesterday I saw the first robin of the year. It is always a delight because this is when we know that spring is coming. It’s been a long and cold...

After my mom’s diagnosis, we were all trying to learn how we could help support her health. After learning about pulse oximetry, we felt we had something to measure. Her...

Shingles is a viral infection that is often misunderstood. Understanding the myths and misconceptions about shingles can help reduce your chances of getting it. Here are 7 common myths about...

You may know what COPD is and that it affects your organs. It can affect your body and mind. It’s very important that you see your doctor as scheduled. Maybe...

Editor's Note: Always talk with your doctor before altering your drug schedule or if you have any concerns regarding your treatment. In the early 1990s, some of the world's most...

It is a new paradigm. We must learn to breathe differently by becoming more efficient at moving oxygen around our lungs and expelling used oxygen. I began to study the...