Articles

Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency is a condition that may result in serious lung disease in adults and/or liver disease in infants, children, or adults. This condition is passed on from parents...

Stress is my enemy. It can wreck my day, make my heart race, and take my breath away. How those of us with COPD handle stress impacts our daily life. It can make...

It has taken me a very long time to find my comfort level living with COPD. I am still working on some issues that give me a great deal of...

Have you noticed any change in your sleep pattern and how you get comfortable? I have noticed a lot of change. No longer do I sleep on my back, and...

Digital therapeutics (DTx) first entered clinical discussions in the 1990s. The idea was that technology could improve healthcare access. It could help overcome barriers of location, time, and resources. This...

I have been getting lots of questions lately about flutter valves and acapellas. A common one that has been advertising heavily is a brand called AirPhysio. I am asked, “What...

I’m sure most of us are familiar with the term "invisible illness." This is a term for medical conditions that are not physically obvious but are life-changing. They can range...

“While writing about my health issues has not cured them, it has helped me develop better coping skills and even contributed to better management of my symptoms (and I could...

Pre-COPD, I had always led a fairly active life. Up until about ten years ago, I snow skied, hiked, gardened, and worked lots of hours. As this disease progressed, I...

Tips on how to recover from panic breathing include using a pulse oximeter, pursed-lip breathing, using a rescue inhaler, and more. Interested in trying some breathing exercises? Click the button...

As a pharmacist, I am often asked whether over-the-counter mucus secretion drugs are beneficial for people with COPD. Some people with COPD produce significant amounts of thick mucus, causing difficulties...

Understanding COPD cannot be done unless you live it. That is really true of any illness. True understanding comes from experiencing daily life with the symptoms, particularly the worst days...

Editor's note: This is part 3 of a 3-part series. Be sure to check out part 1 and part 2! When I was first diagnosed with Alpha-1, I was still working...

I needed a new doctor after moving. When we arrived in the UK, we registered at the local GP's surgery and I got an appointment to see her really quickly. This...

Just like working through the different stages after any traumatic event in life, how we deal with a COPD diagnosis is different for everyone. Going on 7 years living with...

Long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) is a treatment option for some people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This lasting lung illness can hinder airflow and result in low oxygen levels...

It happened last week and it is going to happen again next week. What a difference it made for everyone’s mental and emotional health. Well, I should have known because...

Editor's note: This is part 2 of a 3-part series. Check out part 1 and part 3! When I was first diagnosed, I felt so lonely. Not that my family...

COPD comes with many symptoms, not just shortness of breath. It took some time to figure this out, learn which ones affect me, and how to manage them. I feel...

It is inevitable that your life will change after being diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). You may have chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both, and those conditions fall within...