“Several studies have found high rates of pain medication use among COPD patients, and pain has also been an important determinant of overall health status and quality of life in COPD,” senior research associate, Melissa Roberts at the Lovelace Clinic Foundation in Albuquerque, NM, said in an American Thoracic Society news release. Researchers determined pain levels among study participants … Read more
Next to your skin, your lungs are the largest organs in your body by size, and just like all of your organs, they need to be healthy to perform critical tasks. Your lungs act almost like muscles; they need to be trained through exercise and provided the proper diet to take on the work needed … Read more
For people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis and other chronic lung diseases, keeping a close eye on their blood oxygen level is often part of the daily routine. However, for people living with COPD and other chronic lung conditions, receiving enough oxygen can be challenging. Every cell, organ and tissue in … Read more
One of the many challenges of living with a chronic lung disease is having low blood-oxygen levels. Hypoxia can occur when the organs, cells, and tissues of the body do not receive enough oxygen. Having a chronic lung disease can increase your risk of developing hypoxia. We’re here to help you better understand low blood oxygen and how … Read more
For those of us with chronic pulmonary conditions, we may frequently hear our doctors and other people refer to our lung capacity. With all of the terminology that gets thrown around with a medical condition, sometimes it can be confusing to break everything down. In this post, we’re going to take a look at what … Read more
With all of the numbers, facts, and information you have to remember about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you may have many questions. One common question is, “how long can I expect to live with COPD?” The life expectancy of people diagnosed with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) reduces significantly over time. The period varies by gender, … Read more
Having enough oxygenated blood can be challenging when you have a chronic lung disease, such as pulmonary fibrosis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). For people with lung disease, lung function and lung capacity can diminish over time. Lung function is a metric determined by how much air your lungs can hold, how quickly you … Read more
For millions of Americans diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the first question to their doctor may be, “How long do I have?” Coping with COPD symptoms and living well may seem nearly impossible. COPD causes shortness of breath, fatigue, wheezing and persistent coughing. Often, people with COPD need to use supplemental oxygen to ensure … Read more
Understanding your idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis stages and life expectancy is critical to knowing what’s next. For those who have been diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), knowing what’s next and what you can do will often prompt some difficult questions. Some of the question include “what is the disease,” what are its stages” and what’s its … Read more
Staying active when you live with a chronic lung disease is both important and challenging. When it’s difficult to breathe, exercising, even in its gentle forms, can seem nearly impossible. However, staying active can increase exercise tolerance and improve lung capacity. Start out slowly, find a local instructor who understands your needs and goals, and remember to talk … Read more