31 Aug PERF Monthly Newsletter – August 2015
AUGUST
2015
Here is a roundup of the articles, news & updates that we've published on the PERF blog site during the past month. Click on the "Read More" link at the bottom of each excerpt to read the full article.
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Statistical Data On COPD
Sometimes numbers tell more than words. Here are statistics on COPD, found on the American Lung Association website:
- Over 12 million adults in the U.S. have been diagnosed with COPD; twice that number have problems with lung function but have yet to be diagnosed with COPD.
- Emphysema affects 4.7 million Americans, 92% of whom are 45 or older.
- For the past eleven years, more women than men have died from COPD.
- Emphysema now is diagnosed in more women than men.
- Twice as many women as men are diagnosed with chronic bronchitis.
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How Does Alcohol Affect COPD?
We are often asked whether drinking is particularly bad for COPD sufferers. As with so many things related to COPD, there’s no simple yes or no answer. But here are the many aspects of alcohol intake and COPD that you should consider:
First, alcohol intake doesn’t just affect COPD. Drinking can affect emotional state, breathing function, sleep patterns, and nutrition.
It’s common for your physician to approve of having a glass of wine at night. But more than that level of intake can cause problems, such as a reactive depression.
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Singing With Shortness of Breath
The following is a question we received from a patient. PERF board member Mary Burns, RN, BS, answers:
Hi,
I read your article on pursed lips breathing. What is the ratio of the intake of air and the release of it? Do I have to keep the air in for a while, by holding my breath? Should pursed lips be like whistling? I have shortness of breath when singing. Every time I have a performance and sing I lack air.
Thank you,
Vintage
Dear Vintage,
This is a good question. It sounds simple, but it is really very complex.
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E-Cigarettes Might Not Get a Free Pass in California Any Longer
State Senate Bill 140 seeks to classify e-cigarettes as tobacco products, and subject them to the same laws that apply to regular cigarettes. It’s set for discussion soon at a capitol hearing.
If SB 140 passes then, just as with cigarettes, e-cigarettes will be banned at workplaces, schools, hospitals, restaurants, and other public places statewide. The public will be protected from having to inhale second-hand e-cigarette vapors, just as they’re currently protected against second-hand smoke.
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