About COPDChronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD, is a disease that encompasses one or more of the following:
Emphysema can best be characterized as the progressive destruction of the grape-like sacs that fulfill the lung's basic function: exchanging oxygen in the air for carbon dioxide in the cardiovascular system. Emphysema is the chief "culprit" in COPD.
Chronic Bronchitis is a first step toward impending emphysema/COPD. It often results from "ordinary" chest infections (colds, flu). Folks with chronic bronchitis know that every, or nearly every, cold they get will "go straight to the lungs". With proper care it need not lead to COPD. In a COPD patient chronic bronchitis contributes to the "gunk" that we spit up regularly (there's no pretty way to say it)
Chronic Asthma is the third constituent of COPD. Not all COPD patients have asthma, and most certainly most asthma patients do not have COPD. But many of us suffer from it greatly. Already sick, our airways are easily constricted by all manner of airborne nasties. It is why we carry our inhalers. Some authorities do not consider asthma a component of COPD because unlike emphysema and chronic bronchitis, asthma can be reversed.
What Are The Signs?
Symptoms vary somewhat from one individual to another. However, most of us have experienced most of these:
Shortness Of Breath after normal-to-light exertion is an important sign and something that needs medical attention.
A lingering, or even constant cough. If a cough lingers long after a lung infection has cleared up something is wrong.
A history of lung problems. Chest colds don't clear up like they do for other folks...they linger. Maybe you've had flu several times, or worse, pneumonia.
Other family members have been diagnosed with emphysema. Perhaps your family carries the gene responsible for Alpha1 Antitrypsin Deficiency which is a brand of emphysema brought on by an enzyme deficiency and which may be contracted even though the individual has never smoked.

Where To Go From Here
Persons with COPD can most certainly lead productive, fulfilling lives. How we handle our disease, and its effects, is very important.
If we sit back and let it take charge, then it will. We may decline rather rapidly; our spirits suffer; normal activities become major obstacles.
However, if we take charge then we can dramatically affect the progress of the disease, learn that we can still lead quality lives, and be proud. At whatever stage of the disease, this simple approach can make an important difference.
These web pages are but a beginning. But through them you can start the journey to improving your life and your spirits - in a significant way. There are many excellent COPD sites on the net. Our web links page can be your jumping off place to these valuable resources.
Join One Or More Of Our Programs
Our internet mail list (e-mail) is an excellent way to stay in touch with other COPD patients and caregivers. We are patients, some with mild lung problems, some with quite severe. We are also caregivers and friends of COPD patients. We are sons and daughters as well as health care professionals. If the volume of mail inherent in an mail list is too much, or if you just want additional information then you might look into one of our other programs which include a Caregivers List, COPD Newsletter, COPD-Watch Program, SmokeNoMore Program, chatroom with scheduled chats, a link page with only top notch information which has been reviewed by our staff, and a listing of member pages which may be of interest. So, if you are interested in any of our programs, click here for our Programs Page and choose what suits you.
The list began in January 1997 when six or seven people were solicited to participate in this experiment in information sharing. By our first anniversary we had grown to 267 members. We now have members on every continent except Antarctica. We share knowledge of the things that have helped us, and the things that have hurt us. We stay informed regarding treatments and medications. But, most of all, we give one another the encouragement and support that is so important to our lives. Many of us become very dear friends. If you are interested in becoming a subscriber please read both the explanation of what to expect as a list member as well as our posting guidelines and then join us. We hope you will introduce yourself to us soon.
Financial Base
There is no charge for any subscription. However, sponsorships, donations, and memorial gifts are greatly appreciated! The hosting of our lists by outside vendors and our other programs does cost money. These costs are paid by COPD-Support, Inc. which is the corporation established to provide the means to fund, administer and manage the Family of COPD Support Programs. Some subscribers and organizations help provide funds by joining the corporation as a member or with voluntary contributions. We would prefer, however, that new subscribers to any of our programs DO NOT contribute until they have at least 60 days with us. This will allow adequate time to determine if your subscription provides you with necessary and lasting support. While we certainly welcome such contributions, please do not believe that they are necessary. We're kind of like public television - contribute if you think we're performing a service that makes a difference in your life or the life of someone you love. If you're not sure, or can't afford it, then that's OK. Contributions are all used to defray direct costs of running the various programs. Individuals serving as Management are not paid for their time, labor, or the use of their computer equipment.
COPD-Support, Inc.
We are recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a non profit organization under the definition provided in Internal Revenue Service Code 501(c)(3). As such, donations to the organization may be tax deductible the same as other charitable organizations. Donations will be acknowledged and should be forwarded to:
COPD-Support, Inc.c/o Janice L. Reynolds85 Main StWindham, ME 04062

How can panic attack cause heart arrest? JadeAnswers a person was suffering from congestive heart failure (cor pulmonale due to COPD) and i am wondering if high anxiety/panic attack could have lead to cardiac.cure panic attacks - http://jadeanswers.com/panic-attacks/
COPD exacerbation: Lost in translation COPD News Of The DayDemosthenes Bouros and Demosthenes Makris BMC Pulmonary Medicine 2009, 9:6doi:10.1186/1471-2466-9-6 Published: 29 January 2009 Bio Med Central - The Open.COPD News Of The Day - http://copdnewsoftheday.com/ Health 101 » Many Common Causes of Death in Americans Can Be ...Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) (5.1%) 5. Accidents or other unintentional injuries (4.7%) 6. Diabetes (3.1%) 7. Alzheimer’s dementia (2.8%) 8. Influenza / Pneumonia (2.5%) 9. Kidney Diseases (1.8%) 10. Sepsis (1.4%) ...Health 101 - http://blogs.kvoa.com/health/
COPD - MiniMins.com - Weight Loss Support ForumHi My mum has just been diagnosed (literally this morning) with COPD and she obviously really really needs to quit smoking if she wants any chance at.MiniMins.com - Weight Loss Support Forum - http://www.minimins.com/ Juan Knowles » Archive du blog » Remeron Thrifty drug storeHigher amounts of vitamin C and magnesium intake were associated with significantly improved lung function in the cases of those suffering from COPD. After nine years of follow-up, subjects who consumed higher amounts of vitamin C had ...Juan Knowles - http://securityaaa.com/juankknowlesn/
Pulmonology Medical NewsRoth T - Insomnia symptoms and associated disruption of sleep are prevalent in COPD patients but treatment with traditional benzodiazepines may compromise respiratory function. This review summarizes the efficacy and ...Apnea/Sleep Disorders News - http://www.mdlinx.com/PulmonologyLinx/news.cfm/newspage/1/spec_id/14/subspec_id/319

Hi, my name is Bruce. I was diagnosed with copd, emphysema in 1999. I was unaware of the symptoms i was experiencing was copd. I grew up with asthma as a child so i have always been a little (short of breath) most of my life. Seems like symptoms would be worse while exercising or participating in sports activities. I quit smoking in 1990 after a 18 year pack a day habit. Both my parents were smokers so i was introduced to this at an early age not to mention the tv ads that were prolific during the 60's and 70's. I didn't quit smoking soon enough as the damage to my lungs by the time i quit were already moderately severe. Statistics show that quitting smoking has many health benefits providing you quit now, before the damage is done. I hope to reach as many people as possible with this message, Stop Smoking Now before the damage is irreversable, as in my case. By the way I was 43 years old when i was diagnosed. If you want to quit smoking there are lots of organizations that can help.
One place you can go to find help is at http://www.emphysema.net/bindex.html
This website has alot of information about copd and it is made up of folks with copd where we can email questions about symptoms, medicine, treatment, advocacy. It is called EFFORTS. Please use the link above and see how they can help you. I have been a member now for several years. The organization was started back in 1997 and here is an overview from the website.
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The origin of EFFORTS
In late November of 1997, Gary Bain, Mick Wagner (We lost Mick to our Lord on 1/20/2000) and Sharon Adkins, were members of another support group that did not allow advocacy. We had an idea that there might be interest in forming sort of a "members profile" site that would be accessible by the group. From there we typed up a questionnaire so we could compare notes with others in our "boat" so we would all know if we were "normal" in our disease.Things like;Was it common to lose bladder control a little, or our nose run, when we are panicky and out of breath?,What was causing us suddenly to become panicky?Were we receiving the same medicines and told that this was the best they could do?Were we told to "get our affairs in order"?Did we suddenly find everything stressful?,Did they send us to Pulmonary Rehab?Did they understand how we really felt?Were there better medicines and were our doctors aware of them?How long had we had the disease and how had it affected us individually?We started it in December of 1997 and it took off like gangbusters. Suddenly everyone was interested in completing the Questionnaire to see how they compared to others by actually comparing the Profiles in writing. We kept adding questions to it as well. It still is one of our favorite parts of our "family" and can be seen by clicking on Members Pages and Profiles . Early in March of 1998, we came upon the idea of forming an advocacy/activist group to find out what kind of research, if any, was being done specifically for our disease.
Since the previous list was only a support group, it was difficult to organize any type of activist group for emphysema since we were somewhat limited as to what we could post. It was then we felt that we could start another support group that also provided an activist side and begin fighting for more effective treatment and cure for our disease from what we had learned.So our list would be as fairly run as possible, we realized we needed other input to manage the new site.
Others, who were also active on the other list, came with us as Executive Board members. This gave us 5 folks to "run" the list with, allowing 5 to prevent tie votes in such matters important to the day to day activity of the list. We opened EFFORTS on May 6th 1998. Since then, we now have 9 members on our Executive Board.Several other folks joined us from the same support list, all wishing to also become activists. Several are still members of both lists. Many are active on our Teams in helping meet our goals.We have no commercial ties with any company. We are only people with Emphysema, we are only human. We are only humans with Emphysema. We are not multimillionaire's although we are an industry for many multimillionaire's. We are the "tired, the hungry, and the poor" in many ways.
We are self-funded, meaning that we have sufficient means to pay for our needs in maintaining the list. No company supplies us with funds, we take in nothing and spend very little except our precious time. As you will learn, we also are self sufficient by being completely voluntary. Each of us can help the other and many have in different ways. Limited though we may be, some have helped more than others.Our name includes the word Foundation. This hints to the fact that we may provide funds as other endowment type Foundations might. In fact, our Foundation means only that we are built from a solid base (and it was a word that worked in well with EFFORTS :>), (Emphysema Foundation For Our Right To Survive.).
We accept no contributions nor affiliations with any group that would compromise our integrity. This explanation is for our friends and new members, as well as those who were interested in just who we are and what are our intentions.
Our intentions are extremely simple. We hope to help direct more research into more effective treatment and hopefully a cure for emphysema and related lung diseases, teach fellow patients how to live with their new lifestyle, and teach others what it is like to have this disease and what can be done to help prevent it.If anyone has any questions, please feel free to contact any of us personally. Thanks for listening."
Gary Bain, President Frank Barrett, Vice President
Executive Board MembersJoan EspositoBeth McDonaldLinda Watson