COPD Expert Kathi MacNaughton 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/96870 http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/96870/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/96870 http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/96870/88559/copd-smoker Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:20:00 -0400 Kathi MacNaughton You've never smoked a cigarette in your life, but your doctor just told you that you have COPD, which stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Are you wondering how this can be? Isn't COPD a disease of smokers and former smokers?   While it's true that in the United States, COPD in 80% to 90% of all people diagnosed was due to smoking, there is a small percentage of people who develop this disease due to other risk factors. Some... http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/96870/88559/copd-smoker http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/96870/88566/autumn-shot-coming Mon, 05 Oct 2009 20:15:00 -0400 Kathi MacNaughton In my area of the world, leaves are beginning to drop from branches and litter the ground, the air is noticeably cooler after the sun goes down and sandals and tank tops are pushed into the back of the closet in favor of socks and sweatshirts. Must be autumn...   As the fall season overtakes us, it is time to start thinking about preventing winter viruses, including the flu and pneumonia. These respiratory infections can be irritating and... http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/96870/88566/autumn-shot-coming http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/96870/84977/live-full-life-copd Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:59:00 -0400 Kathi MacNaughton Yes, it IS possible... you CAN live a quality life, even after you've been diagnosed with COPD. I'm not saying there won't need to be changes. You have to accept the reality that your life will never be quite the same once you've been diagnosed with COPD. But that doesn't mean you need to give up on life, not by a long shot.   Living with COPD can be challenging, especially as it progresses and your activity tolerance lessens. And it can... http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/96870/84977/live-full-life-copd http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/96870/84973/diagnosed-copd-steps Wed, 09 Sep 2009 10:15:00 -0400 Kathi MacNaughton This is the third post in my series for people who have just recently been diagnosed with COPD. Previous posts have covered the emotional and physical changes that occur with this diagnosis. In this post, I'll give you some action steps to take to keep COPD from ruining your life.   Action is the cure to just about any problem. OK... action won't cure your COPD, but it can help you feel better and get on with the business of living.... http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/96870/84973/diagnosed-copd-steps http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/96870/84970/diagnosed-physically Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:37:00 -0400 Kathi MacNaughton This is the second in my series for people who have just been diagnosed with COPD (and their caregivers). It will deal with what to expect physically now that you know you have this disease. COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Let's break that down: Chronic. This means the disease, once it starts, does not go away. There is no cure. Obstructive. This means your airways are partially blocked, making breathing... http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/96870/84970/diagnosed-physically http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/96870/80964/perspectives-moving Mon, 10 Aug 2009 21:00:00 -0400 Kathi MacNaughton This is the final post in my ongoing series on the stages of grieving for COPD caregivers. It's been a tough road as you've moved through your grief about your loved one having the terminal illness of COPD.  You've experienced tremendous highs and even more intense lows. You've refused to believe the facts, railed against fate, bargained with the universe, and retreated into sad loneliness. But now, you have finally moved through those... http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/96870/80964/perspectives-moving http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/96870/80966/diagnosed Sat, 01 Aug 2009 21:28:00 -0400 Kathi MacNaughton You've just come from your doctor's appointment where you were told some shocking news -- you have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, also known as COPD. It's an incurable, slowly progressive respiratory illness. Though you may have been hearing for years about the dangers of smoking, or noticing that you were getting more and more short of breath, you probably never really believed it would happen to you. But now it has... so what do you... http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/96870/80966/diagnosed http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/96870/80962/perspectives Sat, 01 Aug 2009 20:41:00 -0400 Kathi MacNaughton This is the fifth post in an ongoing series on the 5-stage grieving process experienced by those caring for a person with COPD. It's not easy being a caregiver for someone with COPD. Watching them slowly lose the person they once were is extremely tough to live through. Losing hope is almost inevitable, at least some of the time.   The next stage in the grieving process, after bargaining, is often depression. At this stage, you finally... http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/96870/80962/perspectives http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/96870/76722/perspectives Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:56:00 -0400 Kathi MacNaughton This is the fourth post in an ongoing series on the 5-stage grieving process experienced by those caring for a person with COPD. Watching someone you love die by inches isn't easy, is it? So, it's only natural to do everything you can to try to change their fate (and yours).   The next stage in the grieving process, after anger, is often bargaining. At this stage, you still hope that you can change the inevitable outcome of COPD. If you... http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/96870/76722/perspectives http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/96870/76726/untethering Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:35:00 -0400 Kathi MacNaughton When a person with COPD is told that his or her lung condition has deteriorated to the point that supplemental oxygen is needed, feelings of despair and fears of being trapped at home begin to creep in. After all, if you need oxygen to breathe, then how will you ever leave home without that big, heavy tank sitting in your living room?   The good news is there are many options for leaving the home with oxygen these days. It's called... http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/96870/76726/untethering