COPD and Living Comfortably with a Mask

If you do not feel comfortable wearing a mask, practice the same safety measures that have been in place since the pandemic began: stay home and contacting your physician if you begin experiencing symptoms such as a fever or a consistent cough.

As the number of coronavirus cases continues to spike across the country, health experts are imploring people to wear masks in public, especially indoors and other places where social distancing is impossible. While this practice has proven effective in combatting COVID-19, wearing a mask may be challenging for those living with lung conditions such as COPD and asthma.

Rather than simply not wearing a mask when going out in public – a huge risk for anyone, especially those with underlying conditions – there are some things people who are concerned can do. For starters, try wearing a mask around the house to get accustomed to with how it feels. Do not use n95 masks, which should be used solely for healthcare providers and can also be difficult to breathe through. And, whatever covering you choose, make sure it covers your nose and mouth.

Dr. Tania Elliott, an allergist and immunologist as well as the spokesperson for the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, suggests wearing masks that are moisture-wicking and made of breathable fabric. Bandanas and neck gaiters are good options as well because they are effective barriers but offer more breathability as they are open on the bottom, Dr. Elliott said.

If you decide to run an errand while wearing a mask, do what you need to do and head back home. This is the worst possible time to stroll around a store and browse. Also, clean your mask after each use.

“Wearing cloth masks can lead to a buildup of sweat, mucous and secretions if worn for a prolonged period of time,” said Dr. Elliott. “It’s very important to wash and dry masks on the highest heat setting after each usage so it doesn’t become a source of infection, especially for asthma or COPD patients.”

Check the weather too. Most people have a hard time breathing on hot and humid days, so try and pick a day with cooler temperatures in the forecast. And because air pollution can also make breathing difficult, log on to airnow.gov, enter your zip code and check the conditions before heading out.

For more information, read the story.

COPD Linked to Lung Cancer in Non-Smokers

According to a recent study, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can lead to a heightened risk of lung cancer even in people who have never smoked.

Respiratory conditions that constrict airways, such as bronchitis and emphysema, fall under the category of COPD, of which smoking is a main risk factor. But according to a study in the journal Thorax, nearly 40% of people who develop COPD have never smoked. To delve further into this matter, researchers looked at data from the National Sample Cohort study performed by the National Health Insurance Service of nearly 340,000 men and women in Korea with no history of lung cancer.

The subjects were monitored for seven years, during which 1,834 participants developed lung cancer – including 1,544 who did not have COPD. Among those who smoked, those without COPD were twice as likely to develop cancer. Those with COPD were six times as like to do so.

In summation, the study found that COPD on its own is a risk factor in developing lung cancer – with or without cigarettes.

"Given that poor lung function in COPD is often a barrier to optimal lung cancer treatment due to increased risk of treatment related morbidities,” the researchers wrote, “our study suggests that early detection of lung cancer in COPD patients may reduce the risk of treatment complications.

"Future studies should evaluate whether COPD patients are candidates for lung cancer screening, irrespective of smoking status.”

For more information, read the story as well as the study.

Protecting COPD sufferers during COVID-19 Pandemic

People with underlying conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at a higher risk during the COVID-19 crisis. But social distancing and handwashing are just some of the measures people with COPD need to take to stay safe, according to an article on Nursing Standard.

A key factor in self-management of COPD during the pandemic is to stop smoking, as smokers are more vulnerable to the virus. Ensuring patients have enough of their medication and are taking it correctly is also essential.

Because there are many similarities between the symptoms of COPD and COVID-19, it is integral to know the difference between the two: people with COPD often have shortness of breath and a cough, with or without sputum, while those suffering from COVID-19 also tend to have fatigue and a fever.

To maintain proper social distancing, many people have been using telehealth to communicate with their physician instead of going into the office. When patients with COPD are speaking with a nurse or doctor about their fears that they may have contracted coronavirus, it is important that they be able to answer questions about the nature of their cough and if it has changed in any way, as well as any fever they may have experienced.

Of course, the best way for those with COPD to guard against a COVID-19 infection is to practice the same guidelines that have been in place since the pandemic started – repeated handwashing for at least 20 seconds; avoid touching the eyes, nose and mouth; disinfecting surfaces; and self-isolating. It is also highly recommended that people with COPD wear a mask if they must be out in public.

Follow the link for more on this story.

Living with Chronic Conditions Increases Risk of COVID-19

Those suffering from chronic conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, lung disease and heart disease may be at a higher risk of contracting a severe illness from COVID-19, according to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Based on data from about 7,000 cases, the study found that 78% of COVID-19 patients in the United States who required admission into an intensive care unit had at least one underlying condition, as did 94% of hospitalized patients who died from COVID-19. Diabetes (32%) was the most prevalent, followed by heart disease (29%). Chronic lung disease, which includes COPD, asthma and emphysema, was found in 21%.

“These preliminary findings suggest that in the United States persons with underlying health conditions or other recognized risk factors for severe outcomes from respiratory infections appear to be at a higher risk for severe disease from COVID-19 than are persons without these conditions,” wrote the CDC researchers. “Community mitigation strategies, which aim to slow the spread of COVID-19, are important to protect all persons from COVID-19, especially persons with underlying health conditions.”

The study also showed that while COVID-19 poses a great risk to the country’s elderly population, people of all ages are susceptible to infection – 23% of the COVID-19 cases were found in children and teenagers age 19 or younger. Only a small number from this group – 48 – were admitted to a hospital, however, and just eight were admitted to an ICU, the report found.

The researchers acknowledged the results of the study were preliminary, noting that “the analysis was limited by missing data related to the health department reporting burden associated with rapidly rising case counts and delays in completion of information requiring medical chart review. These findings might change as additional data become available.”

For more information, read the full study or article.

Tips for Getting Through the COVID-19 Pandemic for COPD

Refill your medication, contact your oxygen supplier and read the Disaster Preparedness Plan Booklet. These are among the recommendations offered by the COPD Foundation to those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) who may have concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic. No one is immune to the virus but, like seasonal influenza and pneumonia, COVID-19 poses a greater risk to people with underlying conditions such as COPD.

The foundation also recommended refilling medications as soon as possible and keeping at least a 30-day supply available. If a pharmacy runs out of a medicine, patients should check with their healthcare provider for alternatives. The foundation also recommended that patients contact their oxygen supplier about how they are preparing for a possible COVID-19 outbreak in their area.

Some patients living with COPD may rely on caretakers such as visiting nurses or aides. In those cases, they should ask what precautions are being taken to prevent a potential spread of the COVID-19 to make sure they don’t bring any semblance of infection into a patient’s home. Most importantly, the foundation stressed that patients with COPD who begin experiencing symptoms of a possible COVID-19 infection should seek medical attention out immediately.

Read the full article here.

Unhealthy Lungs Can Lead To Severe Complications From COVID-19

Everyone is susceptible to a COVID-19 infection, but to those living with unhealthy lungs, the virus can be even more harmful. That’s according to a study of more than 1,000 hospitalized patients in China which found that those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are more than twice as likely to develop severe symptoms from COVID-19. Half of those patients died from the virus or had to be admitted to an intensive care unit and/or put on a ventilator.

“If you add another injury on a system which is already behind, that will put that system in a very dire condition,” says Rabih Bechara, MD, a pulmonologist at the Medical College of Georgia.

Healthy lungs and airways are lined with cilia – small hairs that push phlegm and other secretions out of the lungs and into the throat. But for those living with chronic lung conditions, the cilia are damaged and destroyed, allowing secretions to pile up and constrict airways. Damaged cilia also prevent the lungs from clearing out viral infections such as COVID-19.

“These people tend to collect organisms in their lungs that healthy people clear with a good cough,” explains Jill Ohar, MD, a pulmonologist at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in North Carolina.

Some people may have COPD and not even know it. Someone over the age of 40 with a history of smoking and who gets winded after a 10-minute walk could be in the early stages of COPD.

Consequently, it is important to be hyper vigilant and take precautions to stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among those precautions are maintaining social distance, limiting trips to the store or getting your groceries delivered, and seeing physicians via phone or video rather than going into the office.

Wear a facemask when leaving the house. And, if you do get sick, make sure you have enough medication for at least two weeks.

Read the full article here from Health Central.

COVID-19 Poses Serious Risk to People With COPD, Asthma

People living with chronic pulmonary obstructive disorder (COPD), asthma or other chronic lung diseases should take extra precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to experts from the American Lung Association.

"Everyone's health is at risk from COVID-19, and those living with a lung disease or who are immunocompromised may be more vulnerable to the impacts of the virus," said Dr. Albert Rizzo, the association's chief medical officer.

To protect themselves from COVID-19, which can cause a pneumonia-like lung infection with a range of symptoms from mild or absent in some to life-threatening in others, Rizzo said it is important for people with chronic lung diseases to take their medications while keeping their healthcare provider updated about any symptoms or changes in their health. This includes patients with lung cancer whose immune systems may be compromised.

Social distancing – maintaining 6 feet between yourself another person – is one way to lessen the chances of getting infected with COVID-19. Other measures include washing your hands for at least 20 seconds, avoiding touching your face, nose and mouth and, perhaps most importantly, avoiding contact with people who have contracted the virus.

“It’s important for those with lung disease to use their best practices in managing their disease,” Rizzo said.

Chronic lung disease isn’t the only condition that can lead to complications from COVID-19. Cigarette smokers, including people who vape and use e-cigarettes, are also at an increased risk, Rizzo said.

"Cigarette smoking and vaping are linked to lung inflammation and lowered immune function in the lung's airways, both of which can increase the likelihood of complications if exposed to COVID-19," he said. "Therefore, long-term smokers and e-cigarette users may have a higher risk of developing chronic lung conditions associated with severe cases."

Access the full article here from Web MD.

More studies link vaping to asthma and COPD

Although studies cannot definitively prove a link between the use of electronic cigarettes and asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung illnesses and deaths from vaping continue to make headlines—and two recent studies show potential evidence of the practice's long-term respiratory concerns.

The new studies connect the use of e-cigarettes to asthma and COPD, adding "to the body of evidence on the relationship between electronic cigarette use and lung conditions,” said Dr. Albert Osei, a post-doctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, who was the lead author of a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

The studies cannot prove a cause-and-effect link, but the results suggest that “further longitudinal studies" are required, he added.

E-cigarettes have been marketed for more than a decade as being less harmful than traditional tobacco cigarettes, and as a solution for helping people quit smoking. In 2016, they were used by nearly 11 million American adults.

Previous studies show that vapor may irritate airway cells, impair their ability to fight infection, and lead to the destruction of lung tissue. Other studies have shown that e-cigarette users are at significantly higher risk of chronic lung diseases, including asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and COPD. Since January 7, 2020, there have been more than 2,600 illnesses and 57 deaths linked to vaping products with THC, the component in marijuana that produces a high.

Osei's study examined a database of more than 705,000 adults. About 65,000 smoked regular cigarettes and more than 25,000 smoked e-cigarettes. The average age was between 30 and 34 and more than 200,000 were previous smokers. Among the findings:

• 53,000 said they had COPD, chronic bronchitis, or emphysema
• E-cigarette use was associated with 75% higher odds of COPD among those who had never smoked tobacco cigarettes
• Daily e-cigarette users had a 2.6 times higher likelihood of COPD than people who never smoked cigarettes.

A second study – published in the journal BMC Pulmonary Medicine – had more than 400,000 adults who never smoked cigarettes. More than 34,000 had asthma; 3,100 people currently use e-cigarettes. Their average ages were 18 to 24. The risk of asthma was 39% higher in current e-cig users than in people who never vaped. The more they vaped, the higher their asthma odds.

Study author Osei pointed out that both combustible and e-cigarettes contain nicotine.

For more information about the study, visit Health 24.

Vitamin D Deficiency Associated with Worsening Lung Function in COPD

Researchers have found that, in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a deficiency in vitamin D may be associated with worsening lung function and disease exacerbations.

According to study results published in CHEST, samples from more than 1,600 patients with COPD who participated in a previous study were included in this analysis. All were current or former smokers, and between ages 40 and 80 years.

Researchers assessed the levels of vitamin D and categorized samples as either being deficient or not. The samples collected predicted forced expiratory lung volume in one second with COPD exacerbations the primary outcomes of interest. Based on these findings, vitamin D deficiency was found in more than 20% of those in the study.

Prevalence of the vitamin D deficiency was highest in those who were younger; active smokers (48% vs. 30%), and black participants (29% vs. 10%). Participants with vitamin D deficiency had a significantly lower post-bronchodilator percent.

The takeaway:  a vitamin deficiency may impact the level at which COPD develops.

For more information about the report, see the complete story on Pulmonary Advisor.