Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Show 1369: What to Do If You Catch the Flu
This week, we hear from pulmonologist Roger Seheult, MD, about ways we can strengthen our immune responses to respiratory infections. Seasonal influenza activity is high and still rising in most parts…
Show 1341: Lessons Learned from Long Illness
You may not have thought much about long illness, but chances are you know someone who is suffering with one. The CDC estimates that some chronic condition afflicts as many as one in six American adul…
Can You Overcome Depression with Exercise?
Millions of people globally are suffering from depression or anxiety. There is some good news, however. An overview of systematic reviews (an "umbrella review") of more than a thousand randomized cont…
Lactose in ADVAIR DISKUS Is Unexpected Ingredien…
Our readers often make us aware of medication problems we could never discover on our own. Such is the case with lactose in ADVAIR DISKUS for asthma or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Th…
Will You Breathe Easier If You Take Less Iron?
Many people need to take iron supplements because they don't get quite enough of the mineral from their diets. Doctors may recommend supplements for people with restless leg syndrome (RLS) or extreme …
The FDA Fails on Ventilators, CPAP Machines …
How well does the FDA assess the risks of medical devices? A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine (July 26, 2021) analyzed a random sample of 1000 adverse event reports in the FDA’s MAUDE datab…
Trelegy for COPD Leads to Hoarseness
According to the CDC, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is surprisingly common. The experts say that at least 16 million Americans suffer with this challenging breathing problem. We’re …
Do NOT Trust People Smiling During Drug Commerci…
Have you ever smiled at a stranger and received a smile in return? It inevitably makes you feel good. Everyone loves a smile. It disarms us and makes us feel warm and fuzzy about the person smiling. B…
Do People Who Eat Fish Grow Old More Healthfully…
Does eating fish or taking fish oil make any difference for your health? For decades, researchers have touted the anti-inflammatory benefits of the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil. They have sug…
Steroid Inhaler Laryngitis (SIL) More Common Tha…
The standard treatment for asthma and COPD often involves inhaled corticosteroid drugs like beclomethasone (Qvar), budesonide (Pulmicort, Symbicort) and fluticasone (Advair, Flovent). One side …
COPD Drug Side Effects Can Be Deadly
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a very serious lung condition. People with COPD often complain of a constant cough, wheezing, difficulty breathing, chest tightness, mucus and fatigue. …
Will Inhaled Steroids Make You Vulnerable to Met…
Inhaled corticosteroid medications such as beclomethasone or fluticasone are prescribed to calm lung inflammation. Such drugs make it easier for people with asthma or COPD to breathe. Doctors have f…
Vitamin C Alleviates Muscle Fatigue in People wi…
People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have trouble breathing and tire easily, especially when they exercise. A new study suggests that some of the muscular fatigue may be due to oxidative …
Spiriva (Tiotropium) Side Effects & Memory …
You may have seen commercials of a person with an elephant sitting on her chest. Here's a link in case you may have missed them. It's a clever marketing strategy to reinforce the idea that a serious b…
Low Vitamin D Levels Are Linked to Worse Symptom…
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is a lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. There is no cure and treatment can be challenging. This condition is often associated with years or dec…
Drugs for COPD Raise Risk of Heart Attacks
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD is common in older people. It is a leading cause of death in senior citizens. The primary drugs for COPD treatment are long acting bronchodilators called…
Acupuncture Aids COPD Patients
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a common complication of long term smoking. It interferes with the ability of people to breathe easily and exercise, and it can have a devastating effect on th…
Zithromax Helped Reader Breathe Easier
Q. I have had COPD for decades. After taking azithromycin for about 15 weeks I am feeling well for the first time in over 20 years. A. A placebo-controlled study found that the antibiotic azithromycin…
Antibiotic Helps Fight Chronic Lung Problem
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD is a common breathing problem. When there is an acute flareup, patients often experience wheezing, coughing and labored breathing. The usual treatment inv…