Emerging evidence suggests that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) could be a risk factor for stroke.1,2 COPD is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide, and up to 80% of patients with the disease have at least one comorbidity.2 Many of the commonalities between COPD and stroke portend poor outcomes for patients with both diseases: age, indoor…
The American Lung Association offers resources and support for this serious, life-threatening lung disease Pulmonary fibrosis is a rare lung disease that causes irreversible scarring of the lungs, which can cause shortness of breath and a persistent cough, and progressively gets worse over time. And because there is no cure, a diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis…
Regular aspirin use was associated with a more than 50% reduction in emphysema/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) progression in an elderly cohort over a decade in a longitudinal analysis of data from a large lung study. The association was seen across aspirin doses and was greatest in older study participants with significant airflow obstruction. “These…
Moving chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients from hospitals to their homes could improve the sustainability of Canada’s health system while improving individual outcomes, says the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement (CFHI). Data from health systems participating in the INSPIRED study conclude that offering Canadian COPD patients the right support services in their homes improved…
The natural decline in lung function over a 10-year period was slower among former smokers with a diet high in tomatoes and fruits, especially apples, according to a study from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, suggesting certain components in these foods might help restore lung damage caused by smoking. The researchers found…
Many chronic diseases have an age dimension. As we grow older, the body’s ability to repair itself changes, and damage can accumulate in various parts of the body. Cancer, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and dementia are all diseases that tend to afflict older adults more frequently than younger adults. Chronic obstructive pulmonary…
Obese people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who get weight loss surgery may go to the hospital less often with acute breathing problems after their operations, a U.S. study suggests. Among obese adults with COPD who had what’s known as bariatric surgery to lose weight, the proportion of patients who needed emergency room or…
The chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) market is expected to reach $14.1 billion by 2025, according to a recent GlobalData report. COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the world. It is characterized as an abnormal inflammatory response and airflow obstruction that cannot be fully reversed. GlobalData forecasts that sales for the COPD…