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Free COPD, Asthma Resources Now Available for Physicians and Patients
The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) is now providing updated resources, including a booklet and brochure, focusing on the differences and similarities between asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The booklet, "COPD and Asthma: Differential Diagnosis," was released for physicians, which contained information on the, “diagnostic differences between COPD and asthma, how to help patients self-manage their illness, and the importance of short- and long-term monitoring. It also provides guidance on how to maximize lung function and manage exacerbations and airflow limitations.”
The booklet highlights some of the more prominent differences in between COPD and asthma including:
- Asthma on-set occurance before the age of 20, while COPD on-set occurs after 40,
- Asthma symptoms generally vary over time, while COPD symptoms often persist with treatment,
- Asthma symptoms improve with bronchodilator treatment, while COPD symptoms may not respond to bronchodilator treatment.
The patient education handout, "COPD and Asthma: What You Need to Know", includes the definition of COPD and asthma. The handout also contains information about common symptoms and treatment options.
Both the booklet and brochure were sent to, “AAFP members and internal medicine physicians who subspecialize in pulmonology in the 14 states that have the highest prevalence of COPD.”
Clare Hawkins, a physician who helped develop the materials, explained, “The number of people who get ill and (are) hospitalized makes this a big public health priority, especially in disadvantaged populations.”
Both COPD and asthma are greatly impacting the health of Americans and may be underdiagnosed. Both conditions also appear alike, due to the symptoms.
“COPD is the third leading cause of death in the United States, according to the American Lung Association. An estimated 12.7 million Americans have been diagnosed with COPD, and 24 million U.S. adults have evidence of impaired lung function.”
Asthma is also a growing condition in the U.S., with 22.5 million Americans diagnosed. “The condition is responsible for nearly 440,000 hospitalizations, 1.8 million emergency department visits and 14.2 million physician office visits.”
The AAFP’s physician resources should aid physicians in selecting the best treatments for patients on an individual basis and focus on smoking cessation.
Click Here to Access the Full Story on American Academy of Family Physicians
Can COPD Patients Benefit From Music Therapy?
A recent study finds that music therapy benefits chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. The disease, “affects a person’s lungs and breathing, and the study found that music therapy in conjunction with traditional therapies can help improve symptoms better than standard treatment alone.” COPD symptoms include tightness of the chest, shortness of breath, and an ongoing cough.
Sixty-eight individuals, “who were diagnosed with chronic disabling respiratory diseases, including COPD,” participated. The study was conducted over a six-week period while, “a randomized group underwent musical therapy involving live music, visualizations, wind instrument playing and singing, which incorporated breath control techniques.”
“Music therapy has emerged as an essential component to an integrated approach in the management of chronic respiratory disease. The results of this study provide a comprehensive foundation for the establishment of music therapy intervention as part of pulmonary rehabilitation care,” explained Dr. Jonathan Raskin.
COPD patients have treatment goals, which strive to, “relieve symptoms, slow progression of the disease, improve exercise tolerance, prevent and treat complications, and improve overall health. These goals can be met with medical intervention and treatment coupled with alternative methods.”
Alternative remedies for COPD include:
- Control your breathing: Speak with your doctor or breathing specialist to find ways to better control your breathing
- Clear your airways: Keep your airways clear of mucus by drinking water, using a humidifier, and controlling your coughs
- Exercise regularly: Regular exercise improves overall strength and respiratory muscles.
- Eat healthy foods: A healthy diet keeps your weight in check and maintains overall strength
- Avoid smoke and air pollution
- See your doctor regularly
One of the most effective ways to prevent COPD is to completely stop smoking, as COPD is strongly linked to smoking.
Why is Anxiety Common Among COPD Patients?
Findings from a recently released study from COPD: Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, illustrated that “levels of anxiety are up to three times higher in older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) than in patients without COPD.”
Why is this?
The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Toronto, sampled more than 11,000 adults (50 years of age or older), measuring for “sociodemographic factors, social support, health behaviors, sleep problems, pain, functional limitations and early childhood adversities.” Based on these factors, the research team determined that of the more than 700 adults that reported their COPD diagnosis, “one in 17 had anxiety within the past year, or about 5.8 percent.”
Lead study author, Professor Esme Fuller-Thomson, noted that “even after accounting for 18 possible risk factors for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), individuals with COPD still had 70 percent higher odds of GAD compared to those without COPD.”
So, what are the risk factors associated?
The study was able to determine that “lack of social support and exposure to parental domestic violence during the patients’ childhoods” was one of the leading factors. Additionally, “older adults without social support involved in their important decision making had more than seven times the odds of having anxiety in comparison with the patients who did have a friend or social support.” In participants who had been exposed to ten incidences or more of parental domestic violence, “their odds for anxiety in comparison to the adults without COPD rose to about five times the risk” of those patients without COPD.
The study’s aim was to highlight the need for healthcare provider’s participation in “identifying and providing promising interventions to reduce anxiety for individuals with COPD, in particular by screening for and addressing pain and functional limitations and targeting those most at risk.”
Dealing With Declining Lungs: Weapons to Control COPD
Lung diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and emphysema can often lead to increased and worsened health problems if left untreated. The most powerful treatments often come in the form of exercise, education, breathing methods and taking medications as prescribed.
It has been noted in several studies that a combination of these techniques can help slow the progression of such diseases and improve quality of life. Additional benefits have also been seen when COPD patients quit smoking, lower their blood pressure and properly manage their weight, as all these factors contribute to the progression of these diseases.
In effort to help patients some hospitals and medical centers have begun offering exercise classes like yoga as a form of therapy to increase stamina in the lungs. These programs are helping patients to lead more fulfilling lives by teaching them to adjust their daily activities.
In addition to these exercise programs, medical facilities are also supplyingpatients with information about their conditions and ways to cope. “Part of the education is about communication, communicating their needs and educating them so they know what to ask about,” said Bobbi Brown, LRH respiratory therapist, Lakeland Regional Health. Education is critical to proper treatment and symptom recognition is the condition worsens, so the disease can be managed accordingly.
These skills, combined with proper and regular medication and education, patients dealing with chronic lung conditions can improve daily life and increase physical endurance, helping them maintain a healthier, active lifestyle.
Lung Disease Patients Need to Work Simple Exercises Into Daily Routines, Study Advises
A recent review of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) studies was conducted that found patients should be maximizing their time spent doing daily simple exercises in order to “reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular and metabolic disease, some cancers, and all-cause mortality.”
A total of three studies were reviewed, all included researchers from Australian universities, and focused on “lung disease, health behavior change, physical activity and sedentary behavior, and highlighted that performing 150 minutes of exercise weekly can reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular and metabolic disease, some cancers, and all-cause mortality.”
While 150 minutes of exercise is often unattainable for COPD patients, there is still “strong evidence” that even the smallest amount of exercise will help those suffering by improving energy levels and increasing exercise capacity which leads to a higher quality of life.
Also noted in the study review was the emphasis to reduce sedentary positions like sitting. By standing or moving, patients can improve blood flow, which reduces the risk for disease in the heart and blood vessels.
Dr. Kylie Hill, the review’s senior author advised a 30-minute walk each to help improve circulation and increase propensity to exercise. In doing so, patients can reduce their risk to have more invasive rehabilitation or surgery in the future.
Questions Not Focused on Smoking History Can Help Identify COPD
According to a study presented at the European Respiratory Society’s International Congress this past September suggested that there may be a way to identify if an individual is suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) without hounding them with questions about their smoking habits. This tool may even have a way to “speed up the diagnosis time and reveal COPD before serious exacerbations and further loss of function occurs.”
The research team noted that they felt “COPD is under diagnosed, partly due to subpar screening tools that rely on smoking history and patient reported cough and sputum.” They sought to find a screening tool that would help more individuals get diagnosed faster, leading to quicker treatment.
The results of this were a set of five “yes or no” questions that had the ability to identify “whether a person had moderate or severe COPD, or if people were at risk for COPD exacerbations. The questions asked about breathing, how easily a person got tired, and acute respiratory illness.” It was found that the questions were able to not only identify people before they have serious complications of COPD, but also included an assessment of exacerbation risk, as noted by the researchers.
The team also noted that in the future, they hope the questionnaire can “improve how physicians find COPD”, and also pinpoint patients with “more severe disease and those at risk for exacerbations, so they can be treated.”
How Stem Cell Therapy May Help Treat COPD
Most of us have heard of stem cells, but not as many know how helpful they can be for chronic conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Between the story below and the results of recent treatments using stem cell therapy, you can determine for yourself if this type of treatment is right for you or someone you know.
Our story begins with a woman namedMarilyn Calick. Marilyn had suffered from asthma for her entire life, but over the past decade she had also developed COPD, forcing her to use steroids and a rescue inhaler daily. This type of condition and treatment is all too familiar for many Americans.
While the medications helped manage her symptoms, they weren’t anything close to a permanent solution. If she were to stop taking the medication, her symptoms would come back, sometimes worse than before. Marilyn felt like she was running out of options. That’s when she reached out to Dr. David Borenstein, an integrative medicine physician in New York City.
Dr. Borenstein is just one of many physicians in the US using stem cells to treat certain diseases, including COPD. The stem cells, “which can self-renew and replace damaged areas of the body”, are drawn from the “patient’s buttocks or midsection during liposuction, and then separates the stem cells in a centrifuge. Next, stem cells are mixed in a solution, which is administered through an IV and put into a nebulizer, from which the patient inhales them.”
Dr. Borenstein says that about “two-thirds of his patients see COPD relief within several weeks to about five months, and that those results last for about a year.” These results sound much more promising than daily medication and a decreased quality of life. The procedure costs about $8,000, which is usually less than the more invasive lung reduction surgery that is more common.
After having the procedure even Marilyn can attest to an improved quality of life, saying she can now “go out with different friends, stand for long periods of time and walk places”.
New Infographic Report Helps COPD Patients Pick Appropriate Health Plan
We all know how difficult it can be to select a health plan from the multitude of options available, especially if you are dealing with a chronic disorder such as emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). To help make the process easier, the American Lung Association has developed an “infographic to guide patients through the process of picking a health plan through Healthcare.gov or a state exchange”.
This helpful and easy-to-understand guide helps Americans who are not yet eligible for Medicare “determine the best health plan available to them.” Because COPD is a high-cost health need, it is important to consider all factors associated with the condition and what those will mean for your out-of-pocket costs (i.e. premium, deductible, co-pay, etc.). The infographic also advises individuals to account for a plan’s coverage for doctors and specialists, as well as hospitals and medications.
American Lung Association President and CEO, Harold P. Wimmer, addressed concerns associated with plan selection stating: “understanding the true total cost associated with each of the available plans is so important. Having access to care doesn't help patients with COPD unless they can afford to utilize it”.
While COPD is not able to be cured, it is treatable. With the proper access to treatment options and medical care, COPD patients can improve their quality of life.
Click Here to Access Infographic from American Lung Association
COPD Predicted By Expiratory Snoring in Sleep Disordered Breathing
If you haven’t heard of sleep disordered breathing (SDB), you may want to see some new study findings. According to a recent study, SDB, which is described as expiratory snoring, can help predict obstructive airway disorders such as emphysema, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Published in the December edition of Annals of the American Thoracic Society, lead study author Abdulrazak Alchakaki, MD, from the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center and colleagues“examined whether the presence of airflow obstruction could be predicted by the presence of expiratory upper airway narrowing during sleep among 93 males with SDB”. Study participants underwent in-lab polysomnography, a sleep study associated with oxygen intake, and complete pulmonary function tests in order to test for airway obstruction.
Researchers found that those participants with expiratory snoring, associated with SDB, “had increased odds of having evidence of lower airway obstruction – with smokers also having increased odds”. Additionally, researchers noted that patients showing these symptoms should be more “carefully assessed for pulmonary disorders such asthma and COPD”. This information will be beneficial for doctors and potential patients moving toward diagnoses and treatment of airway obstruction.
Click Here to Access the Full Article from Neurology Advisor
Adding 'Flowsheet' to EHRs Can Help With COPD Management
The outcome of a new study published in Respiratory Medicine indicated that “integrating electronic health records into the outpatient process for individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can help disease management for such patients.”
How so? Let’s explore:
Study researchers knew that COPD required lifetime management, citing patients whose disease went unmanaged often end up hospitalized or at the emergency department, how to best and most-easily manage the disease, however, was unclear. It was decided that study researchers would “develop a standardized COPD "flowsheet" based on clinical guidelines.” The flowsheet was then “embedded in patients' EHRs and appeared on the providers' screen during COPD outpatient visits.”
The researchers then viewed study participants’ (some used flowchart and others did not) medical records and “compared their status before and after the addition of the flowsheet.” Based on their observations, the researchers hypothesized that a “structured approach that used information in the EHR system would boost compliance with clinical practice guidelines for management and evaluation of patients with stable COPD.”
Based on findings, the researchers concluded that those patients using the recommended flowchart experience an “improved advanced assessment of COPD and other quality-of-life measures”. Of these, researchers distinctly saw improvements in the areas of “influenza vaccinations, inhaler technique education, referrals to rehabilitation programs, use of long-acting lung medications, use of short-acting rescue inhalers and use of tools to for measuring a patient's COPD.”
Due to these positive findings, researchers noted that the “implementation of a standardized COPD flowsheet developed from clinical practice guidelines [is key to] improving advanced assessment of patients with COPD.”
