Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) develops slowly
over many years sometimes before you notice symptoms such as
“feeling short of breath.” Cigarette smoking is the most common
cause of COPD. It can also be caused by breathing in lung
irritants like pollution, dust, or chemicals over a long period
of time.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is usually diagnosed in
people 40 years old or older, and is a major cause of death and
illness throughout the world. In the U.S.A., chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease is the 4th leading cause of death. There is no
cure for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is not a
contagious disease.  Damage to airways and lungs cannot be
reversed. There are only things you can do to feel better and
slow the damage to your lungs.

In a healthy person airways of the lungs are clear and open and
the air sacs are small, elastic, and springy. In people
diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the
airways and air sacs lose their shape and become floppy.

Causes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease include:

•Cigarette smoking (most common cause)
•Breathing fumes and other pollutants that irritate and damage
the lungs and airways
•Pipe, cigar and other types of tobacco smoking can cause COPD
especially if the smoke is inhaled.
•People with a family history of COPD are more likely to get the
disease if they smoke
•Secondhand smoke plays a role in causing COPD
•Frequent, severe lung infections in childhood may increase the
risk for acquiring COPD later in life

Symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease start years
before the flow of air in and out of the lungs is reduced and
include:

•Cough with sputum production (most common is a cough that does
not go away and coughing up lots of sputum)
•Shortness of breath especially with exercise
•Wheezing or whistling sound when you breathe
•Tightness in the chest

It is important to note that not everyone who has a cough and
sputum goes on to develop chronic pulmonary obstructive disease.


A doctor looking for chronic pulmonary obstructive disease will
examine you, listen to your lungs and ask you questions about
your medical history. Physician questions will include what kind
of lung irritants you may have been around for long periods of
time and if you smoke.

A breathing test called “spirometry” may be used. It is painless
and used to show how well your lungs work. Based upon this the
spirometry test results, your doctor can determine if you have
chronic pulmonary obstructive disease and just how severe it is.
There are four levels of chronic pulmonary obstructive disease
severity, they are:

•People at risk for COPD
•People with mild COPD
•People with moderate COPD
•People with severe COPD

Goals of treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
include:

•To relieve symptoms with no or minimal side effects from the
treatments
•To slow progress of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
•To prevent complications from the disease
•To improve overall health

The exact treatment plan for chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease can be different for each person and is based on whether
symptoms are mild, moderate or severe.

Treatments used for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
include:

•Medications such as bronchodilators that work by relaxing the
muscles around the airways to open them up and make it easier to
breathe. Bronchodilators are inhaled directly into the lungs via
an inhaler
•Pulmonary or lung rehabilitation
•Oxygen treatment
•Surgery
•Treatments to manage complications or sudden onset of symptoms
•Pneumococcal vaccine may be recommended to prevent pneumonia
•Annual flu shot to avoid breathing complications from the flu

Surgery is usually done for patients with severe symptoms that
do not improve from other types of treatments, and have a hard
time breathing most of the time. The two types of surgery that
are considered in cases of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease are:

•A bullectomy to remove a large air sac that may compress a good
lung
•A lung transplant

Hospitalization may be needed if:

•You have a lot of difficulty catching your breath
•You have a hard time talking
•Your lips or fingernails turn blue or gray

Source: The American Lung Association

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food
and Drug Administration. The information in this article is not
intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All
health concerns should be addressed by a qualified health care
professional.

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Age-related Macular Degeneration Disease: Exciting Discovery

The clinical trial called the Age-Related Eye Disease Study
sponsored by the National Eye Institute found that high levels
of antioxidants and zinc significantly reduce the risk of
advanced age-related macular degeneration. Advanced age-related
macular degeneration is a leading cause of vision loss. The
study involved 4,757 participants, 55-80 years of age in 11
clinical centers nationwide.

People at high risk of developing advanced stages of AMD
received a high-dose combination of vitamin C, vitamin E,
beta-carotene, and zinc.

It was an exciting discovery for people at high risk for
developing advanced AMD. These nutrients are the first
discovered for effective treatment to slow the progression of
the disease. Treatment for advanced age-related macular
degeneration is very limited.

The nutrients studied delay the progression to “advanced”
age-related macular degeneration in people who are at high risk,
those with intermediate AMD in one or both eyes, or those with
advanced AMD in one eye already. AMD is a leading cause of
vision loss and blindness in Americans 65 years of age and
older.

The nutrients will not cure AMD or restore vision already lost
from the disease. They will play an important role in helping
people at high risk to not develop “advanced” AMD and keep their
vision.

Drusen is a common feature of age-related macular degeneration.
Drusen are yellow deposits under the retina found often in
people over age 60. A lot of people will have drusen during an
eye exam in which the pupils are dilated. Drusen alone does not
cause vision loss. It is the increase in the drusen size and/or
number that increases a person’s risk of developing advanced
age-related macular degeneration. Age-related macular
degeneration can cause serious vision loss.

Studies previously suggested people who have diets rich in
green, leafy vegetables have a lower risk of developing
age-related macular degeneration. The high levels of nutrients
that were evaluated in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study are
extremely difficult to achieve from diet alone. There was also a
cataract portion of the study in which researchers found that
the same nutrients had no significant effect on the development
or progression of age-related cataract.

Taking large doses of antioxidant vitamins or zinc may not be
appropriate for all people with intermediate age-related macular
degeneration disease because of medical reasons. For example, if
you are a smoker, beta-carotene has been shown to increase the
risk of lung cancer. These groups of people will need to discuss
with their primary care doctor the best combination of nutrients
for them. It is also necessary to add appropriate amounts of
copper to the diet when using high levels of zinc to prevent
copper deficiency.

The participants reported minor side effects from the treatments
which included:

• Urinary tract problems that required hospitalization

• Anemia at a slightly higher rate, however, testing of all
patients for anemia showed no difference among treatment groups.


• Yellowing of the skin is a well-known side effect of large
doses of beta-carotene; this was reported slightly more often by
participants taking antioxidants.

The AREDS study is the first to demonstrate an adequate
treatment for people at high risk for developing advanced
age-related macular degeneration disease. The formula will help
to save the vision of many who otherwise would have serious
vision loss.

Source: The National Eye Institute, which is part of the
National Institutes of Health and is the Federal government’s
lead agency for vision research.

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food
and Drug Administration. The information in this article is not
intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All
health concerns should be addressed by a qualified health care
professional.

Body And Hair Changes To Expect As You Age: Healthy Lifestyles Count

As you age expect increasing amounts of fat tissue toward the
center of the body. Fat will increase and lean body mass will
decrease. The liver, kidney and other organs may lose some of
their cells. Bones lose some of their minerals and become less
dense. Water in your body is decreased by tissue loss. You may
even become shorter. This loss of height is related to aging
changes in the bones, muscles and joints.  Height loss is
greater after 70 years old. All total you may lose 1 to 3 inches
in height as you age.

Ways to reduce height loss:

• Physical activity
• Proper diet
• Treating osteoporosis

The change in total body water may make older people more likely
to get dehydrated.

Loss of muscle mass in the legs and changes in body shape can
affect balance which contributes to falls.

Most age-related changes cannot be prevented. Steps you can take
to help slow or reduce these changes include:

• Exercise
• Avoid smoking
• Eat healthy
• Excessive alcohol use and illicit drug use can accelerate
age-related changes

Your lifestyle will play the largest role in how fast these
age-related changes take place. Do not accept the picture of a
hunched over, frail man or woman with a big belly, skinny arms
and legs as something that happens to everyone in old age. You
don’t have to look like that.

Probably the most obvious sign of aging is hair color change. As
you age the hair follicles produce less pigment (melanin), which
causes the graying process. Gray hair often starts to appear in
the 30s, although this varies. You may start to notice graying
at the temples. The hair becomes progressively lighter and most
usually eventually turns white.

Hair coloring is probably the easier and painless way to conceal
a person’s true age. The quality of hair coloring has improved
so much over the years that most people would never guess it was
not your own natural color. Hair coloring is usually best done
about every 6 weeks.  In fact, hair color products can actually
improve the texture of the hair and provide more body, even more
shine. An important note here might be: Choose a knowledgeable
and skilled hair stylist or specialist for your hair coloring. I
live in a very small town, and I could not be more pleased with
the expertise of the hair stylist who colors my hair. Good
hairdressers and hair products do not belong only to the rich
and famous!

Graying is a lot genetically determined. Caucasians gray sooner.
Asians are late to get gray hair.  Nutritional supplements,
vitamins and other products will not stop or decrease the rate
of graying. However, I have two sisters who both started graying
much sooner than I did. Of the three of us, I am the most health
conscious! I believe healthy lifestyle also plays a part in when
our hair starts to gray.

Almost everyone will experience some hair loss as the result of
aging. The quantity of hair you have on your body and head is
determined by your genes. Even if you had thick, coarse hair as
a young adult, it will eventually become thinner, fine and
light-colored. Men may begin to show signs of baldness at age
30. By age 60, about two-thirds of men have significant
baldness. With new technology and products even “baldness” is
correctable to a degree for some individuals.

Source: National Institute of Health

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food
and Drug Administration. The information in this article is not
intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All
health concerns should be addressed by a qualified health care
professional.

Anti-Aging Skin Care And Tips For Dry, Itchy Skin

As a person ages it is normal to see the appearance of wrinkles
and age spots. Elderly people can also develop skin disorders
that can lead to serious medical problems. Older people need to
give their skin more care than when they were younger. This is
important because older skin is less oily, less elastic and
thinner. It will bruise easier and take longer to heal when cut.


To protect against most kinds of skin cancer at any age use a
sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Also consider
wearing long sleeves and a shady hat to give protection from the
sun.

If you experience any of the following symptoms call a health
care professional or go to the emergency room:

• Sudden, severe generalized itching, which can be a sign of
liver or kidney disease, thyroid disorder or allergy

• Blisters or rash on forehead or temple with inflammation or
pain in the eye. This could be indication of shingles involving
the eye, which is an emergency that must be treated immediately.


Call a health care professional during office hours if you
experience any of the following problems:

• Severe itching on underarms, abdomen, hands, wrists and groin,
which can be a sign of scabies or mites and is easily treated.
Sometimes scabies and mites can be picked up during a hospital
stay

• If a mole grows in size, larger than one-quarter inch, are
discolored (pearly blue, black or red and irregular shape) or if
moles bleed

• A skin problem that starts or becomes worse just after
starting a new medicine, increasing dose, or finishing the
course of a medicine

• If a skin ulcer stays longer than two weeks without healing or
grows in size

Dry and itchy skin may be more of a problem in winter when there
is less humidity. Consider the following as suggestions to
prevent or treat dry, itchy skin:

• After shower or bath, gently pat skin with a towel, but leave
the skin moist. Apply a lotion, body oil or moisturizer that is
high in petroleum such as AquaphorTM or EucerinTM. Avoid
moisturizers with perfume or alcohol; these will dry and
irritate the skin

• Use warm, not hot water for your bath or shower and keep them
short. Do not scrub the skin roughly. Use a soft cloth or
sponge. Use glycerin soap or moisturizing cream such as ToneTM
or DoveTM and rinse off well.

• If you experience problem dry spots, try applying petroleum
jelly to the troubled areas after bath or shower. If you use
petroleum jelly be sure to wear pajamas and/or sock to protect
bedding and clothing.

• Change bed sheets and clothing often. Wash clothes and sheets
in detergents free of perfumes and fabric softeners that could
irritate the skin. Be sure to rinse clothes and bedding
thoroughly. An older person should wear cotton. Synthetics and
other fabrics can be irritating to the skin.

• Drink plenty of water. Decrease us of caffeine and alcohol.

Source: Foundation for Health in Aging

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food
and Drug Administration. The information in this article is not
intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All
health concerns should be addressed by a qualified health care
professional

Low-Dose Aspirin Has No Effect Against Aging Brains

There has been hope that the use of low-dose aspirin would
protect older, healthy women against cognitive decline such as
memory and thinking. However, according to a study published
recently in the British Medical Journal, this is not the case at
all.

Earlier evidence suggested aspirin and other anti-inflammatory
drugs might help protect aging brains from dementia. The Women’s
Health Study focused on brain health and involved 6,400 women
aged 65 or over between the years of 1998 and 2004 and did not
reveal evidence that use of low-dose aspirin would protect aging
brains.

Low-dose aspirin has significant cardiovascular benefits.
Low-dose aspirin taken on a daily routine basis helps to prevent
both heart attacks and strokes in women 65 and over. The new
guidelines state women under 65 should not be taking aspirin
routinely.

In the Women’s Health Study the first assessment was taken after
5.6 years of treatment. It was found that cognitive performance
was similar in the two groups. The second assessment after 9.6
years of treatment revealed the same results. The risk of
decline in cognitive function was comparable between the two
groups. One area in which there was a hint of better performance
was on the category fluency test. The association was far from
definitive.

Researchers found that the data suggested low-dose aspirin might
be of help among people who are current smokers or have elevated
cholesterol if these were not “chance” findings. They could not
find other studies that replicate this finding.

Limitations of the study included:

• The population in question was generally “younger old” and
white.

The risk of dementia is really more prevalent in women after age
85. Since the trial ended, researchers cannot continue to follow
these same women at the later age. Therefore, whether or not
aspirin is beneficial in those who are older and high-risk is
really not known. What they did conclude was that there is no
significant improvement at all in women less than 85 years of
age.

The study was well-run and had a big sample with careful
measures. If there was a relationship, researchers feel, the
Women’s Health Study would have found it.

Source: Healthday

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food
and Drug Administration. The information in this article is not
intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All
health concerns should be addressed by a qualified health care
professional 

Help For Preventing Bone Fractures In Women Age 50 And Older

A study of more than 6,000 Canadian women concludes osteoporosis
drugs called anti-resorptive agents help reduce risk of
low-trauma bone fractures in women age 50 and older. Examples of
anti-resorptive drugs include:

• Estrogen
• Bisphosphonates
• Selective estrogen-receptor modulators
• Calcitonin

The study began seven years ago. The group of women in the study
was asked about their use of anti-resorptive agents and the
women’s bone mineral density was measured at the beginning of
the study.

Researchers found an average 32 percent reduced risk of
non-vertebral osteoporosis-related bone fractures associated
with the use of anti-resorptive agents. This risk reduction was
higher among women with major risk factors for fractures.

These findings are similar to previous studies that found
anti-resorptive agents helped fractures in women with
osteoporosis.

Another study found that low-dose estrogen therapy is more
effective in treating osteoporosis in women with lower natural
levels of estrogen in their blood. This is the first study to
suggest a very low dose of estrogen may vary in effect
substantially from woman to woman based on their natural
estrogen levels.

A once-a-year injection of a common osteoporosis drug called
zoledronic acid could be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration. Findings published in the May 3, 2007 issue of
the the England Journal of Medicine state researchers report
annual injections of zoledronic acid greatly reduced older
women’s risk for fractures.

The once-a-year injection can be given to patients in the office
with a 15-minute IV. The FDA has not approved a single-year
injection yet, but researchers are very hopeful it will. This
treatment would be a very convenient alternative for people who
cannot or will not take traditional anti-resorbtive medicine.
Still yet, it is not for everybody researchers warn. The study
was in older people. Younger people should not be seeking this
type of treatment. An outside expert agreed the new drug
formulation could change the way people care for their bones.

Osteoporosis is a bone disease that primarily affects women in
their postmenopausal years. Men can also acquire osteoporosis;
it is just not as common in men as it is in women. As
Osteoporosis progresses bones get thinner and become more
fragile. Thinner and more fragile bones mean “easier fractures.”
The goal is to help keep the bones strong and reduce bone loss
to prevent fractures in women after menopause and/or over 50.

For women able to take these drugs, it is a very exciting
discovery that will help prevent fractures in postmenopausal
and/or women age 50 and over.

Source: Science Daily

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food
and Drug Administration. The information in this article is not
intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All
health concerns should be addressed by a qualified health care
professional

Anti-aging Diets: Calorie Restriction Diets Pros And Cons Explored

A diet involving eating less, while still getting enough
vitamins and nutrients is of great interest. Researchers find
that calorie restriction diets extend the lives of animals. It
is unknown if the anti-aging diets help people to extend their
lives. Limited studies have been done in people.

Animal studies focused on insects and animals with short life
spans. Researchers found animals on restricted diets live
longer. They also found that calorie restriction diets are more
important to the life span than striving to maintain healthy
weight and exercising regularly. There are studies under way
involving animals with longer life spans and will take years to
finish. There is promise with the preliminary results in
monkeys.

Although scientists have doubts about actual positive effects of
the anti-aging calorie restriction diet, calorie restriction
research may give doctors clues about the aging process and
aging may be slowed.

The way a calorie restriction diet works is to eat less than
your body needs to maintain your normal weight. How much less a
person eats varies. People who follow a calorie restriction diet
hope to slow the aging process and live longer.

The diet involves restricting how much food you eat and
carefully monitoring food intake to ensure getting enough
vitamins and nutrients. Choices consist of foods full of
nutrients, but low in calories, such as vegetables and whole
grains.

The benefits of short trials of calorie restriction diets in
people include:

•Blood pressure
•Blood sugar
•Body fat percentage
•Cholesterol levels
•Heart rate
•Weight
These benefits are healthy changes that may reduce the risk of
chronic disease later in life and therefore create longer life
for humans.
Risks of calorie restriction diets include:
•Reduced bone density
•Loss of muscle mass
•Anemia
•Memory loss
•Dizziness
•Depression

Studies show that getting inadequate amounts of vitamins and
nutrients can lead to serious problems such as heart failure and
death. Studies show that people with the lowest range body mass
index scores have a higher risk of death than do those with
normal scores. The studies do not take into account undiagnosed
cancer or other serious illnesses that may have caused the
weight loss. However, the study results do give us a cause to be
cautious when considering the calorie restriction diets as a
means of prolonging life. They may end up doing just the
opposite for some individuals. There is also very little known
about long-term effects of calorie restriction diets in people
who have a healthy weight.

If you are considering a calorie restricted diet first discuss
it with your doctor. He or she should be able to explore the
possible benefits and risks of a calorie restriction diet for
you in particular. Getting enough vitamins and nutrients can be
difficult when you eat less food, you may also need to consult
with a certified dietary nutritionist. He or she can help you
decide which foods you should eat to provide you with the
nutrition you need.

Calorie restriction diet studies may help researchers understand
the aging process. The studies may also provide necessary clues
for developing new anti-aging drugs. Once researchers study how
calorie restriction diets work on the body their hope is to
create drugs to work in the same way.

It might be just as good an idea to wait to see what kind of
drugs researchers come up with, that is, if you are young enough
to wait for that conclusion. Otherwise, consult with your doctor
first before starting a calorie restriction diet in the hopes of
anti-aging.

Source: Foundation for Health in Aging

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food
and Drug Administration. The information in this article is not
intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All
health concerns should be addressed by a qualified health care
professional.