COPD News - Cecil Montgomery
COPD-LIVING WITH IT
This was written several years ago by Bill Horden.
He was the ultimate patients advocate for COPD. I worked with him a few times on some projects and the man knew more than most Dr's. Check out his website below and
you will be amazed at what you will find.
A Survivor’s Guide Through a Healthy Kitchen
Revision 2.0
Introduction
Diet and food preparation are special problems for those of us who have COPD, and the few articles I’ve found on the subject seem to be written by scientists, to scientists, and not very useful to the average patient or care giver.
Those of us with COPD need more than just advice on the proper nutrients, maximum fiber and minimum salt. We must also deal with loss of appetite and/or poor
senses of smell and taste, and we also have days when we fight that indigestion caused by our many medications. Some must also contend with excessive under or over-weight problems and, to make matters even worse, we are often dismayed by the energy it takes to just prepare and eat a meal.
For many, there is also the problem of "getting on in years," and the need to prepare meals for only one or 2 persons (including the fun of trying to please the
second palette), or the difficulty of standing while preparing the food, or tolerating the heat in the kitchen, or the complications of an accompanying
health problem, like osteoporosis, diabetes, or "heart trouble."
So, I've undertaken this project.
But it’s a lot of ground to cover, so please understand that I must limit this project to specific COPD-patient concerns. Oh, I'll cover good general nutritional advice (like the use of minimum salt, moderate sugar, unsaturated fats, and lots of liquids) but those folk with dietary restrictions imposed by other diseases or health
conditions will have to exercise the same caution they would with any "cookbook."
To Read More - Visit Bill's Website at
www.copdadvocate.com
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From Virginia:
Johns Hopkins Medicine offer free information to help keep you up to date on the latest breakthroughs for the most common medical conditions which prevent healthy aging. The web site is www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com.
You can read the information on the web site or sign up for free email newsletters. This interesting Copd information was included in my latest edition.
_Recognizing COPD Complications_
COPD complications can be serious. Johns Hopkins specialists provide bottom line advice to help you recognize a COPD problem before it turns dangerous. If you have COPD, how do you know when you're not
merely in discomfort, but in danger? Here are some danger signs that you shouldn't ignore:
*COPD flare-ups and infections.
If you feel increasing shortness of breath, more mucus in your throat, and greater wheezing and coughing than usual, you may be experiencing a COPD flare-up --
something you need to share with your doctor. You should also call if the material you cough up changes color or if you have a fever lasting more than 24 hours. COPD flare-ups often result from a bronchial infection, which may be treatable with antibiotics, or from breathing fumes, dust, or pollution.
* COPD and heart failure.
Swelling of the legs, ankles, and feet is a warning that someone with COPD may have developed a type of heart failure called cor pulmonale, or right ventricular failure. Because COPD makes the heart work harder (particularly the right
side, which pumps blood into the lungs), that side of the heart may enlarge. As the blood pressure in the lungs rises, the right ventricle contracts less efficiently. Cor pulmonale increases the risk that a blood clot will develop in a leg vein.
*COPD and pneumothorax.
A hole that develops in the lung, allowing air to escape into the space between the lung and the chest wall, pneumothorax causes the lung to collapse, leading to severe
shortness of breath. People with COPD have an increased risk of pneumothorax, because changes in their lungs cause air to be emptied unevenly from the lungs. Symptoms of pneumothorax include: sudden shortness of breath; painful breathing; sharp chest pain, often on one side; chest tightness; dry, hacking cough; rapid
heart rate.
*COPD and too many red blood cells.
Weakness,headaches, fatigue, and light-headedness may indicate the presence of an uncommon condition known as secondary polycythemia, which arises when there
isn't enough oxygen in the blood. Someone who develops polycythemia may have visual disturbances such as blind spots, distorted vision, and flashes of light. Gums and small cuts may bleed, and there may be a burning sensation in the hands and the feet.
Bottom line advice on COPD: If the problem is a flare-up of COPD, quick treatment can prevent serious breathing problems that might send you to the
hospital. Call your doctor immediately if:
You have COPD and you have shortness of breath or wheezing that is rapidly worsening.
You have COPD and are coughing more deeply or more frequently, especially if you
have an increase in mucus or a change in the color of the mucus you cough up.
You have COPD and cough up blood.
You have COPD and have increased swelling in your legs or abdomen.
You have COPD and have a fever over 100°F.
You have COPD and have severe chest pain.
You have COPD and develop flu-like symptoms.
You have COPD and feel that your medication is not working as well as usual.
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From Cecil
Smoking with COPD and Smoking Cessation are the areas of my greatest concern and interest. If you go to my website <www.geocities.com/lmontg3322 and read my story you will understand why.
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I have another pearl of wisdom that I think you might be interested in. We have lost a lot great COPD advocates over the years and I am proud to say I knew
almost everyone of them and they taught me a lot.
However, they have left us a great legacy that a very few really know about. If you go to the below listed sites you can see how it was 10 years ago and a lot of
it is still pertinent today as well as educational.
I wish I was in their league.
Bill Powell www.papapoo1.com
Olivija Newton www.Olivija.com/lungs
Bill Horden www.copdadvocate.com
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We are the ones that you don't see each day but we exist
We can not function due to pulmonary illness', a lack of air
The ones who look normal with no wounds or scars to show our illness
Our illness is not taken seriously, though incurable,
there is a definite lack of care
We are sometimes given dirty looks or chastised when using handicap access
We get minimum help or research for a cure, only pity
They blame us, saying we did this to ourselves,
this illusion must be put to rest
we smoked, also worked in high chemical areas, lived in pollutants in the large cities
This is the most ignored illness but the fourth largest killer in all the nations
We don't ask for much, just our share of the emphasis to find a cure
Not for us so much as for our future generations
We just want this to be done before we go so we can be assured
We believe without recognition and acceptance we have no recourse
We are unknown even to each other
we want future generations to have their share of the attention and the sources remember we are so invisible that one of us could be your sister or your brother
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Life is what we make of it good or bad. However, remember it takes a mixture of things to make one thing complete. We all have to accept this disease and all aspects of it. What I am saying is if you look at it constantly as a positive thing, too much sweetness can give you diabetes. We all have our good and bad days - go with them and don't put on a face of happiness constantly. A little self pity and venting is good for us. We just don't allow ourselves to wallow in it.
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Until next Friday take care and if you feel like it let us have a few words from you. It is nice to know if we are helping or not.
(The Old Redneck) Cecil
