MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR DISEASE
(Scroll down)

The information herein comes from many sources on the Internet as well as from our members and Medical Professionals. The information is meant as a means to help educate folks with emphysema and related lung disease in learning to deal with COPD.  Information contained herein should always be confirmed with your own personal physician.  We thank the sources we have used for providing this information to us.
Should you have suggestions for additions to the information shown on this page, please contact the list management -   mailto:ExecBoard@emphysema.net .  
To answer some of your earliest questions, click here:

If you would like to become a member of our e-mail discussion group to learn more, please fill out the application at http://www.emphysema.net/

TABLE OF CONTENTS 
(Please use your Browser to return to previous pages)

Causes, Symptoms, Overviews

Basic Information about COPD (Animated Video)

How lungs work

The Respiratory System

What happens if I smoke with Emphysema?

COPD, Emphysema, or Bronchitis?

Asthma or COPD?

Chronic Bronchitis or Emphysema?

Diagnosing Lung Disease

Diagnosing COPD

Diagnosing Emphysema

What is Alpha1 Emphysema?

Alpha1 (AAT) Fact Sheet

Mild, Moderate or Severe?

End Stage?

Pink Puffer/Blue Bloater

Pulmonary Hypertension

Congestive Heart Failure

Why do our feet swell?

Short of Breath or Winded?

Runny Nose, Bladder Probs, Panic Attacks, SOB

 

Diagnosis, Tests, & Testing

Basic Information about Spirometry (Animated Video)
Spirometry - GoldCOPD's PowerPoint Slides

Pulmonary Function Tests - Basic

Pulmonary Function Tests - More

Pulmonary Function Tests - Interpretation

Reading Your PFT Report

Peak Flow Meters

Blood Gases Manual  

Understanding Medical Tests - Information on all tests
Understanding Your Lab Test Results

 - Calculators -

PFT Predicted Values (NIOSH)
PFT Predicted Values (Johns Hopkins)
PEF (Peak Flow) Normal Values
BODE Index
Lung Age (for Smoking Cessation)
SaO2/PaO2 Equivalent Values
 

Medicines, Medical Devices

Copd Medicines

Advair (Seretide outside US)  

Ariflo (PDE-4 Inhibitor) in Development
Avelox (new antibiotic for chronic bronchitis)
Brovana (arformoterol solution)

Foradil (Oxis outside US)  

Perforomist (formoterol solution)

Spiriva 

Xopenex (levalbuterol)  

Nasal Wash Treatment (for stuffy nose)
Herbs, Botanicals & Supplements (Sloan Kettering)

Drug Details (4500+ Drugs) 

Drug Interactions Checker

Drug Interactions Checker also

Interactions- Medicines, Vitamins, Herbs

 - Prednisone -

All about Prednisone

Answers to FAQ about Prednisone

Prednisone and your eyes

Bruises and Bloodspots

 - Inhalers/Nebulizers/Other Devices -

Suggested sequence of multiple inhaled medications 

How to use inhalers (illustrated)

How to use inhalers (animated videos)
How to Use Spiriva Handihaler (Video)

How to use a spacer

How to use a nebulizer

Nebulizer - Omron, incl. Ultrasonic Portable

Nebulizer - Mystique Ultrasonic Portable

Nebulizer - PulmoAide

Acapella (Mucus Clearance Device) -Video [slow loading]

Flutter® Valve (Mucus Clearance Device)

Flutter Valve and Balloons?

Flutter Purchase Source

Flutter Valve and Balloons?

‘Doser’- an Inhaler Use Counter

 Counterstrips - Inhaler Use Counters

 

Exercise, Rehabilitation

Even Modest Exercise Helps!
Pulmonary Rehab - Guidelines
Pulmonary Rehab - Handbook
Home Exercise (NIA Guide) Online
Home Exercise (NIA Guide) Printed, DVD, or VHS Tape

More Home Exercises

Exercises for People With Breathing Problems (Huff n Puff)

Starting a Home Exercise Program

An RRT’s Notes/Advice on Treadmill Exercise

 

Breathing Techniques
Breathing Distress
Pursed Lip and Diaphragmatic Breathing
 

Oxygen, Oxygen EQUIPMENT, Oximeters

Long Term Oxygen Therapy (Nat'l Jewish)

Long Term Oxygen Therapy (Postgrad. Med)

Long Term Oxygen Therapy (UK)

Notes on Oxygen Therapy, by several RRTs

Transtracheal Oxygen (TTO) 

Liquid Oxygen and Medicare

All about Portable Oxygen systems

Oxlife Portable O2 DC Concentrator

Oxymatic Portable Oxygen Systems

Helios Portable O2 System (Liquid)

Other Portable O2 Systems (Gas)

Cannulas (Salter Labs)

Water in Oxygen Supply Tubing ('Rain-out')
Oxygen Flow Meter (Jameson Liter Meter)
Oxygen Flow Meter (Oxyview® )  NEW 10.08

What is an Oximeter; how does it work?

Update on Oximeters and how they work. ( Mary Burns, RN)

Use of an Oximeter from a Pilot’s viewpoint

Letter for Oximeter Prescription By Doctor

How an oximeter works

Oximeter Sources

Digit Pulse Oximeter

Air Hunger?  Oxygen OK, But..

O2 Backpacks, Shoulder Bags (1)

O2 Backpacks, Shoulder Bags (2) DISCOUNT FOR MEMBERS

O2 Backpacks, Shoulder Bags (3) 

Refurbished Concentrators

 

Wheelchairs, Gadgets and helpers

 

Nutrition

Nutritional Guidelines for People With COPD
Eating Right (AARC)
What Should You Eat (Lincare)
COPD Nutrition (Apria)
COPD Nutrition (Olivija's page)
Eating well when you have COPD (Yahoo Health)
Nutritional Support, Body Weight, and COPD (Part 1)
Nutritional Support, Body Weight, and COPD (Part 2)
Micro-nutrients for older Adults
 

Surgery - LVRS, BVR, STENTS, Transplants

Surgical Therapy for COPD

History of Lung Volume Reduction Surgery

About Lung Volume Reduction Surgery

History of NETT, and Participant Qualifications

National Emphysema Treatment Trial (NHLBI)

National Emphysema Treatment Trial (Baylor)

[BVR] - How Bronchial Volume Reduction Works

[BVR] - Emphasys Endobronchial Valve (EBV)

[BVR] - Spiration Intra-Bronchial Valve (IBV)

[BVR] - Aeris Adhesive Procedure (BLVR)

EASE - Exhale Airway Stents for Emphysema

Lung Transplant

Transplant Support

BiPap or Ventilator?

Personal Experiences of Surgeries

Diary of a recipient of an LVRS- Richard Young

Personal accounts of an LVRS – Joe Kowalski

Personal accounts of LVRS Experiences

Personal accounts of Lung Transplant approvals

Personal NETT experiences

 

Exacerbations & Panic Attacks

How to help control Panic Attacks

Control Breathing/Panic Attacks (Long)

Pursed Lip and Diaphragmatic Breathing

Bladder Control Problems

 

SLEEPING DISORDERS (Tired all the time)

Sleep Apnea - All About It (OSA)

Sleep Apnea - (The Sleep Foundation)

Sleep and COPD

Sleep Study 'In Progress'

Sleep Apnea and a CPAP

Tips on using a CPAP

The difference between a CPAP and a BiPap

Noninvasive Ventilation

 

Traveling with Oxygen

Disabled Parking Permits
Travel Preparations (Checklist)
Travel with Oxygen (Breathin' Easy) Tips & Articles
O2 Sources while traveling
Portable Concentrators & Other O2 on Airlines
Patient Information about Air Travel with Oxygen
 

Coping Tips

Coping with Everyday Life: Tips from our members
Disabled Parking Permits

 - For Family and Friends -

Sick Lungs Don't Show
An Open Letter to Family
Relationships with Spouse, Family and Friends
Living with and caring for persons with COPD
 
Making the Most of YOUR Doctor Visits
Communicating With Your Doctor_(Video)