
COPD is a serious lung disease that affects as many as 24 million Americans and is commonly called other names like emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Symptoms of COPD include: constant cough (“smokers cough”), shortness of breath, excess mucus production, wheezing and not being able to take a deep breath.
NHLBI
January Breathing Matters video here (2-hour WMV)
Response from Joe Walsh, panelist at the January Breathing Matters – Living Well With Lung Disease: My presentation was not only a personal road that I have traveled, but one that many others do also. I needed to let people know that there are resources to help them all.
When painting a house you start at the top. We know that a doctor is there to treat a specific illness and not necessarily the mental state after the prognosis. Sure, the doctor can prescribe a pill for this or to make you laugh, but we still cry on the inside.
If the physician of healing is really doing his/her job, he/she will offer avenues that individuals can take on their own, to assist in the healing/dealing. Working your way down the ladder, each person must be willing to speak up. Nurses, RTs and receptionists must be willing and have the knowledge about groups that are available for assistance.
I've had several people email me that they almost didn't come to the meeting (Breathing Matters) or listen online simply because they were under the impression that it was solely for those involved with COPD. I explained that breathing is a fact of everyone's life and all need to attend. Remember when I said "there are resources to all who seek information"? With gatherings like last Friday’s, I know I was able to pick up further information, and I'm sure others did as well. No monetary value can be placed on these types of meetings, but in relation to attitudes, it can be a discerning factor on how a person will continue to live life.




