| It's a matter of breath and death! |
"COPD is a disease characterized by a progressive airflow limitations caused by an abnormal inflammatory reaction to the chronic inhalation of particles. (...) From a review of data from all over the world, it is clear that tobacco is not the only cause of COPD." (Chest, 117/2/Feb. 2000 Supplement) "Although COPD is a leading cause of illness and death, its recognition as a public health problem has been slow to evolve despite the rising mortality rate for COPD and the decline in death rates for most of the cardiovascular diseases. For example, between 1966 and 1995, the age-adjusted death rates for coronary heart disease and stroke declined by 45% and 58%, respectively, whereas the death rate for COPD increased by 71%!" (Chest, 117/2/Feb. 2000 Supplement) "COPD is a major and increasing health problem, which is predicted to become the third commonest cause of death and the fifth commonest cause of disability in the world by 2020. While there have been major advances in the understanding and management of asthma, COPD has been relatively neglected and there are no current therapies that reduce the inevitable progression of this disease. However, because of the enormous burden of disease and escalating healthcare costs, there is now renewed interest in the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms and a search for new therapies, resulting in re-evaluation of the disease. Despite its enormous global importance, there has been relatively little research into COPD and it is the most underfunded disease in relation to the global burden of disease." (N Engl J Med 1999;340:1881-1887) "....data from....US study suggest that 10% of persons with COPD account for > 70% of all medical care costs. International studies of trends in COPD-related hospitalization indicate that (...) admissions per 1,000 persons per year for COPD have increased in all age groups > 45 years of age. These trends reflect population aging, smoking patterns, institutional factors, and treatment practices." (Chest, 2000; 112:5S-9S) While the death rate for COPD continues to rise (nearly 125,000 in 2002), the funding for research Is meager each year. SEE LATEST STATISTICS. The Global Obstructive Lung Disease Initiative, initiated by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the World Health Organization, aims to raise awareness of the increasing burden of COPD, decrease morbidity and mortality, promote further study of the condition, and implement programs to prevent COPD. It is your responsibility as a citizen and a patient - if you happen to be one - to demand that the governments and legislative bodies worldwide launch a massive campaign to find effective treatment and possibly cure for this debilitating and deadly disease. You owe it to yourself and to the future generations. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ University of Pittsburgh Oral Cyclosporine in COPD Study Our recent studies suggested that some COPD patients appear to have an overactive immune system that might make their disease worse. The cyclosporine study is designed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of oral cyclosporine to control the immune system of people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The drug, cyclosporine, is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent rejection of organs in transplanted patients by suppressing the immune system. It is also used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis when other medications have not been helpful. We are currently looking for individuals between 45 and 80 years of age, who have a confirmed diagnosis of moderate-severe COPD, and willing to participate in all portions of the study including bronchoscopy. To learn more please call the Emphysema Research Center at the University of Pittsburgh 1-866-948-COPD (2673) or e-mail us at ECRC@upmc.edu. Additional information here. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ DR. TOM PETTY, A GIANT IN PULMONARY MEDICINE AND THE BEST FRIEND THE COPD PATIENTS COULD HAVE PASSED AWAY ON DECEMBER 12, 2009. THE COPD COMMUNITY IS MOURNING THIS LOSS AND JOINS HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN SORROW. Read Everything Respiratory, Fall 2009, vol. 4, issue 2 here A NEW BOOK BY DR. PETTY IN COLLABORATION WITH PULMONARY EXPERTS AND COPD PATIENTS -- ADVENTURES OF AN OXY-PHILE 2 -- HAS JUST BEEN PUBLISHED. FOR THE LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS AND ORDERING INFORMATION SEE @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ INFORMATION ABOUT PORTABLE OXYGEN EQUIPMENT (POC) LONG-TERM OXYGEN THERAPY (LTOT) @ATTENTION OXYGEN USERS!@ @PLEASE, TAKE THIS SURVEY!@ PORTABLE OXYGEN CONCENTRATORS 2008 LTOT SURVEY RESULTS NEW CRITICAL COMPARISON OF OXYGEN CONSERVERS! LTOT BLOGGER -- GET QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY AN EXPERT OXIMETER POCKET REFERENCE 2010 @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ OUR WEBSITE HAS BEEN RATED AMONG THE BEST IN TWOI CATEGORIES BY THE AMERICAN THORACIC SOCIETY. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| SM |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Disclaimer and Privacy Information All registered trademarks and trademarks that appear on this Web site are the property of their respective owners. Banners of organizations displayed on the site's pages are used for linking (often reciprocal) purposes only and not as advertising. This site is not funded by any organization or an individual. All costs are borne by the owner. COPD-ALERT 2000 Updated July 22, 2010 |
 |
| LYN COLE OUR MEMBER IN ALA COLORADO "RUN THE REGISTER" Click here BELOW MIKE McBRIDE RUNS MARATHONS ON OXYGEN. SEE HIS RUN AT THE BOSTON MARATHON IN APRIL 2009. HERE CHECK OUT MIKE GETTING READY FOR THE RUN THIS YEAR HERE. MARATHON START: "TEAM WHEEZY" |
 |
| CHECK WebMD IF YOU MAY HAVE COPD!!! Assess your risk for a heart attack here <><><><> OZONE ALERT <><><><> WORLD COPD DAY 17 NOVEMBER 2010 BREATHLESS NOT HELPLESS <><><><> IMPORTANT! THE MEDWATCH JUNE 2010 DRUG SAFETY LABELING CHANGES FOR ADVAIR BROVANA FORADIL SEREVENT SYMBICORT CLICK HERE <><><><> WE HAVE LOST JOAN CAMPBELL BREDEN ("MIZPATCHES"), ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF COPD-ALERT. HER DEDICATION TO PATIENT SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY WON HER A LOT OF RESPECT AND ADMIRATION IN THE COPD COMMUNITY. MORE |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| 2010 THE YEAR OF THE LUNG COPD-ALERT JOINS THE CAMPAIGN HOME OXYGEN PATIENT PROTECTION ACT, H.R. 2373, INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS on May 12, 2009, by Tom Price (R-GA) and Heath Shuler (D-NC) to remove Medicare's 36-month oxygen reimbursement cap and, thus, restore payment for home oxygen therapy through the beneficiary's period of medical need. See here. Please ask your Congressman to support it. MEDICARE GUIDANCE ON OXYGEN!!! CMS guidance overview here. SERIOUS PROBLEMS FOR OXYGEN USERS NOTED here. Contact your congressman and senators! @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES AND ASK THEM TO SUPPORT H.R. 3790, WHICH WILL ELIMINATE COMPETITIVE BIDDING THAT WILL BE HARMFUL TO MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES WHO RECEIVE HOMECARE AND THE HOMECARE PROVIDERS WHO SERVE THEM. TEXT OF THE BILL. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ ASK NOW!!! YOUR REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS TO SUPPORT THE MEDICARE RESPIRATORY THERAPY INITIATIVE, H.R. 1077 & S.343. FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THIS INITIATIVE CLICK HERE. |
 |
|