COPD Expert Jane M. Martin shares COPD management news and commentary at COPDConnection.com. The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.HealthCentral.com) is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/19257 http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/19257/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/19257 http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/19257/91666/young-copd-diagnosis Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:54:00 -0400 Jane M. Martin In Part I we met Dave, who was just told he had COPD. Here is Part II with commonly asked questions about being Young with COPD.     If I am diagnosed with COPD at a young age, what's the first thing I should do? The first thing you should do if you've been diagnosed with COPD (at any age) is to get tested for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, a genetic cause of COPD, that can lead to advanced COPD for people in their 20's, 30's, and... http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/19257/91666/young-copd-diagnosis http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/19257/89490/young-copd Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:51:00 -0400 Jane M. Martin "COPD? At my age? I'm only 46! There's no way. I'm too young to have that horrible disease."   Dave was stunned. Lately he'd been a little more short of breath than usual, and his colds hung on for longer than they used to, but this... this just couldn't be.   "COPD is a disease for old people," he thought. "Old smokers who are hunched over, crabby, wrinkled, and have an oxygen hose in their nose. That's not me...or is... http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/19257/89490/young-copd http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/19257/89486/end-stage-copd-living Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:36:00 -0400 Jane M. Martin Dr. Rajani, a tiny lady no more than five feet tall, shook my hand, looked me in the eye and said, "Your father is a very sick man. His body is shutting down. Do you want us to put him on life support or should we make him a no code?     "Can we see how it goes?" I asked.   "You have to make a decision - soon."   Not exactly what I had in mind for my first meeting with this doc and certainly not the best way to begin a... http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/19257/89486/end-stage-copd-living http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/19257/85354/living-stage-diabetes Thu, 03 Sep 2009 14:05:00 -0400 Jane M. Martin Last time we talked about what you can do when you have "end-stage" COPD - things having to do with staying physically healthy. All important stuff, for sure, but we should never underestimate the value of emotional health, as well. Here is some wisdom on how to live a full and happy life from those who know, people with "end-stage" COPD. Not every suggestion works for everybody, but if you try just one or two you might be surprised how much... http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/19257/85354/living-stage-diabetes http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/19257/83488/healthy-happy-stage Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:01:00 -0400 Jane M. Martin Last time we talked about "end stage" COPD, what it is and what it means for you. We learned that in spite of what it sounds like, "end stage" is not a death sentence! On the contrary, you can live for many years with this diagnosis.   You may be thinking, "If end stage doesn't mean the end of my world, then what does it mean? How can I make the most of my life now - and for the rest of my life?"   Maybe the most important thing to... http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/19257/83488/healthy-happy-stage http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/19257/82193/stage-copd Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:56:00 -0400 Jane M. Martin "You have end stage COPD..." is possibly one of the most frightening - and confusing - things a person can hear.   Let's talk about the four stages of COPD and what it means for you. Here are three simple steps that anybody who has heard these dreaded words - and anybody with chronic lung disease for that matter - should follow.     1.)  Get the Facts Straight.   When somebody, anybody, tells you you're at a... http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/19257/82193/stage-copd http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/19257/58872/living-friend Mon, 09 Feb 2009 13:25:00 -0500 Jane M. Martin We all have things we keep, you know, little sentimental objects that might not get a second glance from most people, but hold great meaning to us.   On a bookshelf at my house, among books, family pictures, and assorted novelties is a pair of little wooden shoes, each less than two inches long, hand-painted and carefully etched with the words, "Holland, Mich." They are tied together with a string that goes through a tiny hole in the... http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/19257/58872/living-friend http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/19257/56852/serevent-aren Sat, 24 Jan 2009 16:58:00 -0500 Jane M. Martin Last month the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) voted unanimously that the benefit of Advair and Symbicort outweighed the risks of adverse effects in adults. This, following concerns about reports of adverse effects, even death, associated with these inhalers.   That's great news for the people who take these medicines and are breathing much better because of it. It's comforting news for people with asthma, but what about those with... http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/19257/56852/serevent-aren http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/19257/53303/inhalers-copd Wed, 24 Dec 2008 18:27:00 -0500 Jane M. Martin Tick...tick...tick...Do you hear it? That's the sound of the clock ticking down to December 31, 2008 - the day some of the inhaled breathing medicines you've grown to know and love will no longer be available. Now, before you get too worked up (and who wouldn't be?), let's find out what's going on and learn what you can do to keep on breathing easy.   What's this all about? When you use an inhaled aerosol medication, you are breathing in... http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/19257/53303/inhalers-copd http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/19257/52770/copd-holidays Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:27:00 -0500 Jane M. Martin If you're healthy and free of chronic disease, the holidays can be stressful enough. But, if you have COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, an umbrella term for emphysema and chronic bronchitis), you might be looking at the holidays with downright fear and trepidation and be inclined to say, "It's such a hassle. I'm tempted to forget the whole thing and just stay home."   Well, I'm here to tell you, it doesn't have to be that way!... http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/19257/52770/copd-holidays