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Coping Techniques Help COPD Patients Improve Mentally and Physically
Patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) could boost their quality of life and improve physical symptoms by using coaches to “manage stress, practice relaxation and participate in light exercise.” That is according to a study by researchers from Duke University Medical Center posted on Psychosomatic Medicine.
Researchers utilized telephone-based coaching to determine if step-by-step instruction in relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, tensing and releasing muscles, and tips to manage reactions to stressful events would improve patient quality of life.
The study was conducted over five years and included a total of 298 patients, all of whom had been diagnosed with COPD. One group was provided with phone consultations that included specific coping techniques. A control group of 151 patients also received phone counseling, but it was limited to topics such as medication and nutrition.”
While the study showed no direct improvement of COPD-related hospitalizations or deaths, the low-cost approach could “enhance quality of life, reduce distress and somatic symptoms, and improve physical functioning for patients,” according to researchers.
James Blumenthal, Ph.D., with the J.P. Gibbons Professor of Behavioral Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke, stated that many “patients with COPD do not often seek mental health services,” even though, based on the findings, they “could be a valuable treatment for patients with other chronic conditions.”
Study Finds Half of COPD Patients Suffer from Breathlessness
A group of researchers from GlaxoSmithKline R&D, the research and development arm of the global healthcare company, recently conducted a study testing the frequency of and factors associated with dyspnoea, or shortness of breath, in patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). According to a report on their findings in Lung Disease News, 46 percent of the more than 49,000 patients studied had moderate-to-severe dyspnoea and 36 percent of the 49,000 showed signs of mild airflow obstruction, which is defined as abnormal inflammatory response of the lungs to harmful particles in the air.
Researchers found that those with even mild dyspnoea are at “high risk for exacerbations and increased disease severity during follow-ups.” Other risk factors include “female gender, old age, obesity, previous moderate-to-severe exacerbations and the need to see a general practitioner frequently.”
While the findings are consistent with previous observational studies, this specific study found a consistent relationship between dyspnoea and airflow obstruction, meaning those with moderate-to-severe dyspnoea were also at a higher and more frequent risk for air flow limitation. The study also concluded that “the presence of dyspnoea in patients with COPD was associated with markers of greater disease severity and increased risk of poor outcomes.”
While patients may have no control over their diagnoses, COPD sufferers can combat the associated factors, such as obesity, in an effort to limit the frequency of dyspnoea.
Study Reveals 76 Percent Reduction in Risk of Death with NPPV Intervention
In an eye opening estimation, experts have predicted chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) will become the third leading cause of death worldwide by 2030. It’s a prediction that is leaving many researchers scrambling to invest more time and money into studies that focus on the treatment of this disease.
A press release on The Wall Street Journal website identifies the study as being funded by Res-Med, a global leader in the treatment of sleep-disordered breathing and other respiratory conditions. The study began in 2004 to investigate the success of long-term, non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV), also known as non-invasive ventilation.
NPPV treatment is a form of mechanical support in which positive pressure delivers a mixture of air and oxygen throughout the respiratory tree via a non-invasive interface. It holds the possibility to offer important benefits for patients with severe COPD and is likely to influence future clinical guidelines for their therapy.
The study states that “the control group received optimized COPD therapy and the intervention group received optimized COPD therapy plus NPPV, and was advised to use NPPV for at least six hours per day.”
Researchers measured survival rates and found that 33 percent of patients in the control group died within one year, while the risk of death declined by 76 percent for the intervention group. The survival benefit in the intervention group was maintained for longer than the year of the main study, suggesting that the benefits are long term.
"COPD takes an enormous human toll, and is also a significant burden on healthcare systems, putting a higher priority on pursuing treatments that have the potential to improve survival and reduce spending for healthcare organizations worldwide" says ResMed Chief Medical Officer Dr. Glenn Richards. “This study aligns with our goal of improving lives with every breath."
Click Here to Access the Full Study on The Lancet Respiratory Medicine
New Study to Investigate Whether Ibuprofen Can Reverse the Effects of Emphysema
An estimated 12 million adults have been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and another 3.1 million with emphysema, both responsible for the destruction of lung tissue that leaves those affected struggling to breathe.
With chronic lower respiratory diseases listed as the third leading cause of death in the United States, an increased emphasis has been placed on finding solutions for conditions such as COPD and emphysema. An article from Temple University introduces a new nationwide clinical study that will test the possibility that ibuprofen can reverse the effects of this debilitating condition.
The $4.4 million study, funded by the National Institutes of Health’s National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, will seek to determine if a common over-the-counter, non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug can provide a novel treatment for emphysema.
Gerard J. Criner, director of the Temple Lung Center and the trial’s local principal investigator claims that “if this treatment is successful, it could restore lost lung function and change the course of treatment for millions of Americans living with emphysema.”
Emphysema has long been considered irreversible. This trial looks specifically to determine whether or not ibuprofen can block the production of prostaglandin E (PGE) in the lower respiratory tract. Increased levels of PGE have been shown to slow the repair process in lungs. Therefore, by blocking production of PGE, the lungs have a greater probability of repairing themselves.
The measure of the trial’s success will be whether patients who receive ibuprofen have improvement in lung function and in the lung’s ability to repair itself. If successful, researchers will seek approval to conduct a larger clinical study.
Patient Education and Awareness are Key in Preventing Flare-Ups
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) can mean dealing with the sometimes debilitating symptoms that interrupt everyday life. A new survey by the COPD Foundation urges patients to educate themselves to help prevent exacerbations, which can become increasingly uncomfortable if not managed correctly.
The first portion of the two-part national survey found that nearly two-thirds (63%) of participants did not know much exacerbations, commonly known as flare-ups, while 16% were unaware of what an exacerbation even was. Of those that did know what a flare-up was, 60% reported that they did not have an action plan for dealing with them.
These numbers are troublesome as they reflect low patient awareness and readiness which can hinder better health and lung functionality.
The second part of the study focused on the physicians treating COPD patients. Nearly all (98%) stated that they regularly discuss exacerbations and establish action plans with their patients.
Scott Cerreta of the COPD Foundation noted that “developing an action plan with instructions to help patients – and their caregivers – identify warning signs and what steps to take if an exacerbation should occur is a critical part of managing COPD.”
These action plans must start with effective communications between physician and patient. The physician must be willing to diagnose early and provide the patient with clear and direct instructions. The patient should be willing to adhere to the appropriate strategies recommended by their physician or caregiver in order to reduce the chances of exacerbation.
The survey concluded with a just 12% of participants revealing that they felt their condition were “completely controlled.” This led researchers to assert that physicians need to “develop an individualized approach that works best for each patient” in order to increase patient awareness.
New Respiratory Disease Breakthrough
It is well known that a continuous cycle of inflammation can lead to continued decline in lung function, making it increasingly difficult for emphysema and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) sufferers to breathe or take part in routine activities. However, a new discovery by University of Newcastle and University of Bonn respiratory researchers may change the way inflammation affects these conditions.
Published in the international journal Nature Immunology, this discovery sheds new light on an immunological factor known as the “inflammasome,” which has the ability to “inhibit inflammatory conditions at their genesis.”
Lead researcher Professor Phil Hansbro of University of Newcastle describes inflammasomes as “a recently discovered complex of proteins that form once a cell is exposed to a pathogen such as a virus or bacterial infection. They trigger the release of a load of inflammatory proteins.”
He explains that inflammasomes are “normally beneficial in response to infection but can become abnormally activated and may lead to chronic respiratory diseases” such as emphysema and COPD.
Hansboro and other researchers are finding that people may have an “overactive baseline inflammatory response” which releases inflammasomes to areas of the body that do not need them in an effort to fight off bacteria and infection. Hansboro explains that this drive a “continual cycle of inflammation…it becomes exaggerated and uncontrollable, which could underpin why we get asthma attacks or COPD exacerbations for example.”
This breakthrough finding is helping to spur the development of drugs and inhibitors that target inflammasomes and restore the perpetual inflammatory response to normal, limiting inflammatory disease development.
Click Here to Access the Full Story at The University of Newcastle
Are COPD Patients More Likely to Suffer from Depression?
A recent study by University of Amsterdam researchers sought to investigate whether depression occurs more often in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) than in those without.
The study focused on patients diagnosed with COPD who were age 40 and over and had a history of smoking. The study, which appeared in Thorax, assessed depression levels using the Centers for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale. This is a screening test developed to detect levels of depressive disorder and measure the symptoms associated.
The results were conclusive in determining that patients with mild to moderate COPD did not have an increased risk of depression, while patients with severe COPD were found to have a 2.5 times greater risk of developing depression than those in the control group. It should be noted that patients at any stage of COPD who lived alone were found to have respiratory symptoms and physical impairment associated with significantly higher scores on the CES-D scale. Thus, living alone may increase the likelihood of developing depression at any stage of COPD.
Researchers note that “the results of this study underscore the importance of reducing symptoms and improving physical functioning in patients with COPD.”
The study has been the most conclusive in its results thus far in studying the occurrence of depression due to the large number of patients and control groups used. Its findings help clear the way for more selective and specified treatments and lifestyle changes for those living with COPD and bring attention to the idea that depression should be considered a disorder in COPD patients.
Limiting the Impact of COPD
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is described as a progressive disease, meaning it develops slowly and the symptoms gradually worsen over time. Although there is no known cure, COPD sufferers should not feel hopeless. New treatments and lifestyle changes are slowing progression of the disease while helping people feel better and remain more active. An article from the The Spectrum highlights ways COPD patients can educate themselves and limit the impact COPD has on their life.
The first major point is to know the signs of COPD. Because the disease typically progresses very slowly, many people do not recognize the symptoms until it they become debilitating.
In addition to knowing the signs and symptoms, it is helpful to understand the stages of COPD, as each level has different treatment options. The four stages of COPD are mild, moderate, severe, and very severe. These stages are based on measurements of the amount or flow of air as you inhale and exhale.
In addition to knowing the signs and symptoms, it is helpful to understand the stages of COPD, as each level has different treatment options. There four stages of COPD are mild, moderate, severe and very severe, and are based on measurements of the amount or flow of air as you inhale and exhale.
At any stage of COPD, it is imperative to avoid lung irritants such as smoking, chemical fumes, dust, or areas with dense air pollution, as these can exacerbate the symptoms. It is also important to get regular exercise to keep the lungs functioning at maximum capacity. While very severe stage COPD sufferers may be limited here, engaging in physical therapy known as pulmonary rehabilitation has been shown to improve shortness of breath and quality of life, and provide strategies for coping with COPD.
Education, awareness and knowing what to avoid can help prevent COPD from inhibiting routine activities, allowing for a better quality of life and symptom management.
One Step Closer to a Breath Test for Lung Cancer
The results of a recent University of Colorado study presented at the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting 2014 show that a test of organic compounds in exhaled breath can not only distinguish patients with lung cancer from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but can also define the stage of any cancer present. The article, published in Digital Journal, describes a device developed by researchers that resembles a Breathalyzer, with the ability to acutely detect lung cancer in four out of five cases.
With cancer as the United States’ number one killer, researchers have spent many years trying to find a more accurate screening process. They now have the technology to detect particles down to one part per trillion, greatly improving the ability to create detailed cancer scent signatures. This advancement has also accurately distinguished between early and advanced stage lung cancer 79 percent of the time.
By eliminating the large number of false positives given by CT scans, this technology could revolutionize the way patients are screened and treated for lung cancer, potentially saving billions of dollars. The breath test technology is an accurate low-cost alternative that could help to weed out those individuals who definitely do not have lung cancer.
The research team now is working on tests that can monitor tumor shrinkage to determine whether lung cancer treatments are working. While research continues, one U.S. company has already licensed the breath test technology and is working to bring it to market within the next few years.
Tiny Coils Help COPD Patients to Breathe Easier
The permanent lung damage caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may have a new foe in the form of a procedure that does not require surgery.
The new procedure, which researchers are testing in clinical trials at Cleveland Clinic and other hospitals across the U.S., helps the damaged lung tissue regain the elasticity lost to the disease. In an article posted by Health Hub at Cleveland Clinic, pulmonologist and researcher Dr. Joseph Cicenia describe the method by which they are able to treat the lung, improving quality of life for those treated.
Doctors “insert special flexible scopes through the patient’s mouth to place metal coils into the damaged tissue of the patient’s lung. The coils return elasticity to the diseased tissue, allowing the lungs to work in a more normal way,” he says.
This procedure has the potential to return COPD patients to a more normal lung function, reducing the hyperinflation that causes shortness of breath.
The procedure and coils have been in use in Europe since 2008. Patients receiving the coils in clinical studies have reported “substantial improvements in their lung function, capacity for exercise and quality of life.”
Preliminary studies show the coil procedure gives results that are comparable to the lung volume reduction surgery. However, because there are no incisions or tissue removal, the recovery process is much quicker, with patients returning home after an overnight stay in the hospital.
Dr. Cicenia says “the preliminary results are promising” and that expanded clinical trials are expected to help confirm the results seen in Europe.
Click Here to Access the Full Story on Health Hub at Cleveland Clinic
