The Basics
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Here you’ll find basic information on a variety of lung diseases. We know everybody learns in different ways and that’s why we’ve provided material you can print out and take to your doctor, links to an abundance of information, images, videos, and audio recordings to enhance your learning.

Check back with us often! We're always adding new resources. Visit our Articles, Stories and Links pages, as well.

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Join us in Chicago at the COPD Community Workshop, June 14, 2013!

Home Oxygen User Survey

The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) is conducting a survey about oxygen services in the home. If you use oxygen in the home, please take a few minutes to complete this survey. The results of the survey will be published on the AARC’s web site. Questions can be directed to Nick Macmillan, RRT, FAARC (nick.macmillan@yahoo.com). Thanks for your help!

In case you or someone you know does not have computer or Internet access, you may download the survey, print it, and mail it to the address on the form.

Videos

• Basic lung anatomy

• Breathing Techniques—These videos are for information purposes only. Watch the video, then discuss the techniques with your doctor or respiratory health professional before trying them on your own.
  - Diaphragmatic breathing demonstration
  - Harmonica Playing – Dana’s story
  - Pursed Lips breathing demonstration, methods for dealing with panic and anxiety
  

• Bronchoscopy

• COPD Overview

• Diaphragm – how it works – mechanics of ventilation

• Getting the Flu - Information About Influenza
  
  
• How Do the Lungs Work?
  
  
• How Do Bronchodilators Work?

• How You Catch a Cold

• Human lungs on a ventilator
  

• Mechanics of ventilation – the diaphragm and how it works

• More COPD Videos
  See "COPD Videos" then click on “View Videos”
  - What is COPD?
  - Signs of COPD (includes the difference between COPD and Asthma)
  - Preventing COPD
  - Treating COPD

• Oxygen transport – How blood cells help carry oxygen

• Pulmonary Rehab - part I
  Pulmonary Rehab - part II

• Ventilation of healthy lungs and smoker's lungs

• What Is Abestosis?
  

Ask the Doctor

• Dr. Francis Adams – General questions and answers

• NEW! — Your Top 14 Oxygen Questions Answered by Lung Experts

• Dr. Robert Sandhaus – Alternative Treatments for pulmonary disease

• Much more to come!
  

Audio

• 60-Second Check-up
  60-second audio lessons on different aspects of lung health

Glossary

• Pulmonary glossary
  

Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency

• Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
  
  
• The Relationship between Alpha-1 and COPD (PDF)

• Alpha-1 Education Day, Ann Arbor, Michigan-Resource Guide (PDF)

Alternative Treatments

• Alternative Treatments... Q&A with Dr. Robert Sandhaus

Asbestosis

• What Is Abestosis? Video

• Asbestos Claim

Asthma

• Asthma
  
  
• Take the Asthma Control Test
  
  
• Asthma Resources

Black Lung Disease

• Black Lung
  
  
• http://www.mesotheliomanews.com/
  
  
• http://www.mesotheliomanews.com/medical/mesothelioma-and-asbestos/
  

Breathing Techniques

• Breathing Techniques
  
  
• Breathing Techniques Extra COPD

• Breathing Techniques—These videos are for information purposes only. Watch the video, then discuss the techniques with your doctor or respiratory health professional before trying them on your own.
  - Diaphragmatic breathing demonstration
  - Harmonica Playing – Dana’s story
  - Pursed Lips breathing demonstration, methods for dealing with panic and anxiety
  

COPD

• COPD Stay Well Action Plan
  
  
• COPD Statistics
  
  
• Big Fat Reference Guide for COPD patients
  Information and access to resources to help you learn to live with COPD: information about talking to your doctor, making sense of medications, ideas for healthy eating and living, and much more. This resource is provided by the COPD Foundation and is free of charge.
  
  
• COPD

• COPD and Intimacy
  - Communicating with your partner
  - Body changes with age
  - Exercise and sexual activity
  - Less strenuous positions for intercourse
  - Importance of being together

• COPD Caregiver Info Lines
  

• COPD Information Line
  

• COPD Life Skills Tutorial
  - Your life with COPD
  - Experiencing Loss
  - The “Mark” of Oxygen
  - Accepting Help
  - COPD and your family
  - Medication effects list
  
  
• So You Have COPD...Now What?

• Take the WebMD Lung Health Check
  
  
• Ten Things You Can Do If You Have COPD
  
  
• 10 Terms You Need to Know
  10 very simple terms everyone should know

Doctors

• Finding the Right Physician for You
  
  
• 10 Tips on Talking to Your Doc

Eating Right with COPD – Nutritional Guidelines for People with COPD

• Nutritional Guidelines for People with COPD
  
  
• Controlling your Salt Intake

Exercise

• Basic Exercise Tips
  
  
• Choosing a Treadmill
  
  
• Exercise and Pulmonary Rehabilitation
  

First Steps

• First Steps to Better Breathing with Chronic Lung Disease

Flu

• Protecting Yourself from the Flu

General Lung Health

• American College of Chest Physicians - Patient Education Guides
  

Heart

• Your Heart and Salt

• Five Common Heart Myths and What You Need to Know
  By Millie Bruce

Intimacy and COPD

• Being Close: COPD and Intimacy

Legislation

• Legislation Updates
  

Living Will / Advance Directives

• Advance Directives

Lung Function Testing (see Spirometry)

Lung Volume Reduction Surgery

• Basic info, one person's experience, and x-rays

Medications

• How Do Bronchodilators Work? video

Mesothelioma

• Mesothelioma

• In the Shadow of 9/11

New Therapies

• Bypass Stent - Ease Trial

• Bypass Stent - Ease Trial (video)

• IBV Valve - Umbrella (video)

• IBV Valve - Umbrella Trial

• Muscle Strength (video)

• Stent (video)

Nutrition for COPD – Nutritional Guidelines for People with COPD

• Nutritional Guidelines for People with COPD
  
  
• Controlling your Salt Intake

Oxygen

Home Oxygen User Survey

The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) is conducting a survey about oxygen services in the home. If you use oxygen in the home, please take a few minutes to complete this survey. The results of the survey will be published on the AARC’s web site. Questions can be directed to Nick Macmillan, RRT, FAARC (nick.macmillan@yahoo.com). Thanks for your help!

In case you or someone you know does not have computer or Internet access, you may download the survey, print it, and mail it to the address on the form.

http://www.aarc.org/headlines/12/09/oxygen_survey.pdf

• Your 14 Most Common Questions About Oxygen and Answers from Lung Experts

• Portable Oxygen Concentrator Update – Scroll down for the article and a two-page chart comparing portable oxygen concentrators.

Pulmonary Fibrosis

• Pulmonary Fibrosis / Interstitial Lung Disease

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

• Exercise and Pulmonary Rehabilitation

• Exercise as a treatment for COPD and other chronic lung disease?
  If these people can do it, so can you! If your lung disease is severe, you can still improve through pulmonary rehab. If your lung disease is mild to moderate, going to pulmonary rehab now will help you live a healthier and fuller life.
  Pulmonary Rehab - part I
  Pulmonary Rehab - part II

Quack Therapy

• 10 Ways to Avoid Being Quacked

Quit Smoking

• “No Butts About It!” Quit Smoking!

Sexuality and COPD

• COPD and Intimacy

Spirometry

• Understanding your numbers
  Clear and simple explanations about pulmonary function testing and general interpretation of results. Our thanks to COPDCanada for sharing this with Breathing Better Living Well.
  
  
• Simple Spirometry by Helen Sorenson, MA RRT CPFT FAARC

Support Groups

• Find a Support Group
  
  
• Starting and Running a Pulmonary Support Group
  
  
• Pulmonary Fibrosis Support Group

Surgery for Emphysema

• LVRS – Lung Volume Reduction Surgery (link coming soon)

Travel

• Breathin’ Easy Travel Tips and Articles