This may not be the latest news, or even the most scientific news - this is the news of interest to me, living a life that includes COPD. I hope that you will find something of value on these pages also.
After your visit here, please stop by my website -COPD and So Much More - because we are So Much More than a diagnosis...
Karen
8 Breathing Tips for People With COPD
Living with COPD
More than 12 million Americans have been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Almost as many may not realize that their shortness of breath and coughing are in fact symptoms of this debilitating condition.
Although such symptoms can start out as a mild annoyance, they can get worse with time. Eventually you may find yourself short of breath doing simple activities, like preparing a meal or getting dressed.
These eight healthy habits, from eating right to exercising, can help you breathe easier if you have COPD.
click here to read this article at health.com
September 2, 2010
Tags: breathing tips COPD Posted in: COPD - Coping With Breathlessness, COPD - Living With It 
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Keeping Your Cool In A Panic Attack
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September 2, 2010
Tags: control panic attack Posted in: COPD - Anxiety and Depression No Comments
Diabetes drug could keep lung cancer at bay
Metformin shows promise for helping smokers avoid deadly disease
The common diabetes drug metformin may hold promise as a way to keep smokers from developing lung cancer, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday.
They said metformin prevented lung tumor growth in mice exposed to a cancer-causing agent found in tobacco smoke, and because it is already widely used in people, it may be worth further study.
Metformin has been shown to switch on an enzyme that blocks mTOR — a protein that helps tobacco-induced lung tumors grow.
click here to continue reading this article at msnbc.com
September 2, 2010
Tags: diabetes drug lung cancer, metformin lung cance, prevent lung cancer Posted in: COPD - lung cancer No Comments
How To Eat Well - Enjoy Your Meals
Information from the National Institutes of Health
Eating is one of life’s pleasures, but some people lose interest in eating and cooking as they get older. They may find that food no longer tastes good. They may find it harder to shop for food or cook, or they don’t enjoy meals because they often eat alone. Others may have problems chewing or digesting the food they eat.
Small changes can often help overcome challenges to eating well. These changes can help you to enjoy meals more. They can also help make sure that you get the nutrients and energy you need for healthy, active living.
One reason people lose interest in eating is that their senses of taste and smell change with age. Foods you once enjoyed might seem to have less flavor when you get older. You can enhance the flavor of food by cooking meals in new ways or adding different herbs and spices.
Some medicines can change your sense of taste or make you feel less hungry. Talk with your doctor if you have no appetite, or if you find that food tastes bad or has no flavor.
If you don’t feel like eating because of problems with chewing, digestion, or gas, talk with your doctor or a registered dietitian. Avoiding some foods could mean you miss out on needed vitamins, minerals, fiber, or protein. Not eating enough could mean that you don’t consume enough nutrients and calories.
If you have trouble chewing, you might have a problem with your teeth or gums. If you wear dentures, not being able to chew well could also mean that your dentures need to be adjusted. Talk to your doctor or dentist if you’re finding it hard to chew food.
Chewing problems can sometimes be resolved by eating softer foods. For instance, you could replace raw vegetables and fresh fruits with cooked vegetables or juices. Also choose foods like applesauce and canned peaches or other fruits.
Meat can also be hard to chew. Instead, try eating ground or shredded meat, eggs, or milk products like fat-free or low-fat milk, cheese, and yogurt. You could also replace meat with soft foods like cooked, dry beans, eggs, tofu, tuna fish, etc.
If you experience a lot of digestive problems, such as gas or bloating, try to avoid foods that cause gas or other digestive problems. If you have stomach problems that don’t go away, talk with your doctor. If you do not have an appetite or seem to be losing weight without trying, talk to your doctor or ask to see a dietitian.
If you don’t feel like eating because food no longer tastes good, you might try cooking meals in new ways or using different herb and spices. Experiment with ethnic foods, regional dishes, or vegetarian recipes. Also try out different kinds of fruits, vegetables, and grains that add color to your meals.
Look for ways to combine foods from the different food groups in creative ways. You can do this while continuing to eat familiar foods that reflect your cultural, ethnic, or family traditions.
Try out new recipes from friends, newspapers, magazines, television cooking shows, or cooking websites. You might also learn new ways to prepare meals and snacks that are good for you by taking a cooking class. Grocery stores, culinary schools, community centers, and adult education programs offer these classes.
Eating with others is another way to enjoy meals more. For instance, you could share meals with neighbors at home or dine out with friends or family members. You could also join or start a breakfast, lunch, or dinner club.
Many senior centers and places of worship host group meals. You might also arrange to have meals brought to your home.
When you eat out, you can still eat well if you choose carefully, know how your food is prepared, and watch portion sizes. Select main dishes that include vegetables such as salads, vegetable stir fries, or kebobs. Order your food baked, broiled, or grilled instead of fried, and make sure it is well done, especially dishes with meat, poultry, fish , seafood, or eggs. Choose dishes without gravies or creamy sauces, and ask for dressing on the side so you can control the amount you eat. Ordering half portions or splitting a dish with a friend can help keep calorie intake down.
Also, don’t be afraid to ask for substitutions. Many restaurants and eating establishments not only offer healthful choices but let you substitute healthier foods. For example, you might substitute fat-free yogurt for sour cream on your baked potato. Instead of a side order of onion rings or French fries, you could have the mixed vegetables. Ask for brown rice or rice pilaf instead of white rice. Try having fruit for dessert.
Meals are an important part of our lives. They give us nourishment and a chance to spend time with friends, family members, and others. If physical problems keep you from eating well or enjoying meals, talk with a health care professional. If you need help shopping or preparing meals or want to find ways to share meals with others, look for services in your community. Your Area Agency on Aging can tell you about these services. To contact your Area Agency on Aging, call the Eldercare Locator toll-free at 1-800-677-1116.
September 2, 2010
Tags: elderly eat well, elderly enjoy meals Posted in: copd nutrition No Comments
Eating Well As You Get Older - How To Eat Well
Information from the National Institutes of Health
Click to view Eating Well Video
How to Eat Well
Eating well means choosing a mix of healthy foods that give your body the nutrients it needs. Eating well also means consuming the right number of calories for your age, gender, and level of physical activity. You also need to know what foods to limit. And of course, it’s important to enjoy your meals.
How to Eat Well - Choose Nutrient-dense Foods
To eat well, it’s best to choose a mix of nutrient-dense foods every day. Nutrient-dense foods are foods that are high in nutrients but low in calories. Look for foods that contain vitamins, minerals, complex carbohydrates, lean protein, and healthy fats.
Plan your meals and snacks to include
plenty of fruits and vegetables
plenty of grains, especially whole grains
low-fat or fat-free milk and milk products
lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts
limited amounts of fats (saturated and trans fats should be as low as possible), cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars.
Fruits, vegetables, and grains offer important vitamins and minerals to keep your body healthy. Most of these foods have little fat. They also have no cholesterol. Fruits, vegetables and grains are also a source of fiber, and eating more fiber may help with digestion and constipation and may lower cholesterol and blood sugar.
Fruits, vegetables, and grains and beans also give your body phytochemicals. Phytochemicals are natural compounds such as beta-carotene, lutein and lycopene. Like vitamins, minerals, and fiber, phytochemicals may promote good health and reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers. Research is underway to learn more about these natural compounds.
Eat a variety of fresh, frozen, canned, or dried fruits every day. To make sure you get the benefit of the natural fiber in fruits, you should eat most of your fruits whole rather than as juices. Fruits may be purchased fresh, canned, frozen, or dried and may be eaten whole, cut-up, or pureed.
Also, eat a variety of colors and types of vegetables every day. Broccoli, spinach, turnip and collard greens, and other dark leafy greens are good choices. You might also choose orange vegetables, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, or winter squash. Vegetables may be purchased raw or cooked, frozen, canned, or dried/dehydrated. They may be eaten whole, cut-up, or mashed.
Foods made from grains are a major source of energy and fiber. Include grains in your diet every day. Any food made from wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley, or another cereal grain is a grain product. Grains fall into two main categories: whole and refined. When choosing grain foods, try to make half your grains whole. In other words, at least half of the cereals, breads, crackers, and pastas you eat should be made from whole grains.
Whole grains are better sources of fiber and nutrients than refined grains, such as white flour or white rice. Refined grains have had both the bran and germ removed and don’t have as much fiber or as many nutrients as whole grains. Most refined grains are enriched, with some B vitamins and iron added back in after processing. However, fiber is not replaced.
Whole-grain foods, such as whole-wheat bread, are made with the entire seed of a plant, including the bran, the germ, and the endosperm. Together, they provide lots of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, healthy fat, carbohydrates, and fiber.
Try whole wheat pasta instead of regular pasta or use brown rice in a casserole in place of white rice. Look for “whole wheat” or “whole oats” rather than just “wheat” or “oats” on the ingredients list of packaged goods to make sure you’re getting whole grains.
Low-fat or fat-free milk and milk products should be among the foods you choose every day, too. These products provide calcium and vitamin D to help maintain strong bones. They also provide protein, potassium, vitamin A, and magnesium. Low-fat or fat-free milk, cheese, and yogurt are good options.
If you don’t drink milk, be sure to have other products that contain the nutrients that milk provides. Some cereals and juices are fortified with extra calcium and vitamin D. Salmon, sardines and mackerel are good sources of vitamin D.
If you avoid milk because of its lactose (milk sugar) content, you can get needed nutrients from lactose-reduced or low-lactose milk products. You might also drink small amounts of milk several times a day or take tablets with the enzyme lactase (available in most drugstores and grocery stores) before consuming milk products. Other sources of calcium include foods such as hard cheese, yogurt, boney canned fish like salmon or sardines, and calcium-fortified tofu or soy beverages.
Protein helps build and maintain muscle, bones, and skin, and you should include some protein in your diet every day. Meats and poultry are sources of protein, B vitamins, iron, and zinc. When buying meats and poultry, choose lean cuts or low-fat products. They provide less total fat, less saturated fat, and fewer calories than products with more fat.
For instance, 3 ounces of cooked, regular ground beef (70% lean) has 6.1 grams of saturated fat and 236 calories. Three ounces of cooked, extra-lean ground beef (95% lean) contains 2.6 grams of saturated fat and 148 calories.
Consider varying your sources of protein. Try replacing meats and poultry with fish or with bean, tofu, or pea dishes. These foods tend to be low or lower in saturated fats, and beans provide fiber. Pinto beans, kidney beans, black beans, chickpeas, split peas, and lentils are all healthy options. Look for ways to add nuts and seeds to your meals and snacks too, but keep amounts small since these foods can contain high amounts of fat.
Fats are a source of energy and help maintain healthy organs, skin and hair. Fats also help your body absorb vitamins A, D, E, and K. It’s okay to include some oils and fats in the foods you eat, but be aware that fat contains more than twice as many calories as protein or carbohydrates. Try to choose foods that are low in fat or fat free.
Some fats are better for you than others. Choose polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats when possible. Sources of better fats include vegetable oils such as soybean, corn, canola, olive, safflower, and sunflower oils. Polyunsaturated fat is also in nuts, seeds, and fatty fish. Walnuts, flaxseed and salmon are examples of foods with polyunsaturated fat.
Be sure to consume plenty of liquids, especially water. You need to replace the fluids you lose every day. You can increase your intake of water by eating fruits and vegetables, which have a high moisture content. This may help prevent constipation and dehydration. Other good choices are unsweetened tea, low-fat or fat-free milk, and 100 percent fruit juice.
Read the food labels on packaged foods and canned goods to learn what’s in the products you buy. All food labels contain a list of ingredients and nutrition information. Ingredients are listed in order by weight, which means that the ingredient present in the largest quantity is listed first and the ingredient present in the smallest quantity appears last. Nutrition information is found on the Nutrition Facts label.
The MyPyramid Plan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or USDA, can help you choose a mix of healthy foods that are right for you. This online tool at www.MyPyramid.gov suggests what and how much to eat from each food group. The amount depends on your age, sex, and activity level.
Another balanced eating plan is the DASH eating plan. DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. It is designed to help prevent or manage high blood pressure, or hypertension. The plan suggests which foods to eat and how much to eat. Your doctor may recommend other eating plans to help manage health conditions that occur as you get older. For more information about DASH, contact the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute at 1-301-592-8573 or 1- 240-629-3255 (TTY)
Wholesome foods provide a wealth of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients you need to stay healthy. Eating properly is the best way to get these nutrients. However, if you have concerns that you are not eating as well as you should, you should talk to your doctor about taking a multivitamin and mineral supplement.
September 2, 2010
Tags: eating well and aging, senior nutrition Posted in: copd nutrition No Comments
