What is Airflow Limitation?You hear the term bandied around. It’s described by the GOLD COPD guidelines as a key component of COPD. If you have it, and it’s always there to some degree... By John Bottrell, RRT3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
Are You My Doctor?People have asked frequently about lung doctors and who are they. Is there someone else they should be seeing? They wonder if they are getting the right medications, because medications... By Janet Plank4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
When the Doctor Leaves QuestionsBased on the feedback on my last article, which was fantastic by the way; I am left with a growing number of questions for my doctor. I’ve been told to... By Steven Workman2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments4 comments
COPD Lexicon: Hospital Staff (Folks You’ll Meet in the Hospital)I work at a small town hospital. Where I work professions are color coded. This makes it nice for patients. Once they know the color scheme, they know who they’re... By John Bottrell, RRT4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Do You Know These Ten Things About COPD?1. Did you know that COPD was first referred to as “chronic airflow obstruction” and “chronic obstructive lung disease.” The first person to use the term COPD, was in 1965... By Janet Plank3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments6 comments
Spring Is In The AirIt looks so beautiful outside, yet it’s cold, It’s only the first day of March. Geese are flying, so we know that spring is in the air and getting closer... By Janet Plank2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
10 Things Not To Say To Someone With COPDHere are ten things not to say to someone living with COPD. (Followed by what a person with COPD might say in response!) So, what are some things you think... By John Bottrell, RRT3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments16 comments
If You Don't Like The Weather, It Will Always ChangeIt’s early March 2018 and so many here in the United States have been going through flooding, for many others, it’s blizzards. My heart goes out to so many and... By Janet Plank3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
First Ever COPD National Action PlanFrom left to right: Grace Ann Dorney Koppel, Dr. MeiLan Han, Dr. Jim Kiley, NHLBI, Harold Wimmer. Recently the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) announced the first ever... By American Lung Association2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
COPD Lexicon: Hospital Terms DefinedSo, you happen to be sitting in an emergency room. Here are some of the things you might hear or see. Scrubs. Comfortable, pajama-like uniforms worn by doctors, nurses, and... By John Bottrell, RRT4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
The Power of WaterWater is something that we often take for granted, yet it’s the most essential element. When the thought of writing about water and how it relates to our lives with... By Janet Plank2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments3 comments
Tips for Living Your Best Life With End-Stage COPDDespite the label, "end-stage," there is no reason to give up once you reach stage 4 of COPD, which is considered "very severe." On the contrary, there are still many... By Kathi MacNaughton3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Why a Medication Formulary is Your Best FriendHow 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... By Theresa Cannizzaro, Respiratory Therapist2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Our Bodies Beyond COPDWhen I think of COPD, I also think of the whole body. COPD, and the medications for it, can often affect the whole body, and other health issues and medications... By Janet Plank2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Hey, You're Looking GoodWhen looking in the mirror, at times I ask, “Who is that white haired lady, with the baggy and darkness around eyes and in other areas of my face. The... By Janet Plank3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments3 comments
A New DayNow that I have had time to digest my diagnosis with COPD, things do not seem as scary as I originally thought. I am still unsure about the future, but... By Steven Workman3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments5 comments
Tips for Staying Healthy With Stage 3/Severe COPDCOPD is a chronic inflammatory illness of the lungs and airways that gets progressively worse over time. How long that takes can vary from months to years. Eventually, though, most... By Kathi MacNaughton5 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
How Does Albuterol Work?Albuterol is a very effective rescue medicine. It’s the best selling beta adrenergic of all time. It opens airways fast, making breathing easy. It does this with negligible side effects... By John Bottrell, RRT3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments4 comments
How to Ask for HelpYears ago when I was struggling with something, a wise woman once told me, “It takes a really strong person to ask for help.” That saying has stayed with me... By michelle.vincent2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Preventing & Managing COPD ExacerbationsThis is a follow up post that will go into how to manage COPD exacerbations. Check out the first post where I looked at recognizing the signs of an exacerbation... By Kathi MacNaughton3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments7 comments