Evidence suggests higher levels of iron in pulmonary macrophages heightens the risk of infectious exacerbations. A new report yielded fresh insights into the role of pulmonary iron in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), suggesting that excess iron in pulmonary macrophages may increase the risk of recurrent airway infection. Writing in the journal Respiratory Research, corresponding author…
An international team of researchers has published a new framework, dubbed the Rome proposal, for defining and classifying exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). “The ‘Rome Proposal’ represents an important milestone for better understanding and treating a very important and troubling component of COPD progression and, the prospect for more accurate treatment and better…
Millions of people around the world have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Most people experience mild or no side effects after vaccination. Severe side effects are rare for the three COVID-19 vaccines approved in the United States. Currently, the latest scientific evidence suggests that people with asthma are not at an elevated risk of developing side…
Millions of adults in the United States have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and just as many are developing it. But many of them are unaware, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. One question many people with COPD have is, “How long can I live with COPD?” There’s no way to predict the exact…
If your patients have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you may be thinking about having them quit smoking a little more seriously. There are proven benefits to quitting smoking. It can help improve symptoms and slow the progression of COPD. After hours, days, months, and years of quitting, there are benefits for the lungs and…
Cognitive behavioral therapy can help people with COPD deal with the anxiety associated with breathing difficulties. Relaxation techniques are among the therapies people with COPD can use for anxiety. Imagine not being able to breathe easily. You’d probably be a little anxious. That’s what happens to many of the 12 million adults in the United States…
Specific factors, such as experience with technology and health literacy, were key drivers of whether a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) would benefit or be likely to use eHealth tools to improve self-management skills, investigators concluded. Motivation, comfortability with technology, and health literacy levels are the key factors influencing whether patients with chronic…
Researchers at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University (LKSOM) have been awarded a $30,000 CHEST Foundation Research Grant to study racial differences in lung health among smokers, with an emphasis on African Americans. Lung function is an important health indicator and can be compromised by various factors, the most important of which…