Better Breathing Clubs (BBC)

The BBC helps persons with breathing problems attain a better quality of life through education, fellowship and support. There are several BBC chapters throughout Central Ohio that meet monthly with no membership dues. Persons of all ages with lung health issues are welcome to attend. Please check our schedule below or contact Deloris Howard, BBC coordinator at 614-437-1518

Happy New Year!

Thought of the Month:
“Those who are not looking for happiness are the most likely to find it, because those who are searching forget that the surest way to be happy is to seek happiness for others”.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
American minister and civil rights leader

The Breathing Association and The Better Breathing Club would like to thank The MacIntosh Company for catering the Christmas Luncheon and their donation of gift cards. A special thanks to Deborah Taylor, Director of Development and Jeffrey Sponseller, Community Relations Liaison. Thanks to Cheryl McCormick of Kroger, Kathy Harris at Max and Erma’s and Sarah Morton of Bob Evans for gift cards. Also, thanks to Dasco Home Medical for their donation of home medical equipment.  And a thank you for the entertainment, provided by the Ginger Snaps.

If you have any questions or suggestions about Better Breathing Club activities, please contact Deloris Howard, the BBC Coordinator, at 437- 1518.

COPD – Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Breathing and Physical Activity

Learning to breathe properly is another very important lesson for people with COPD. If you have COPD, you usually work very hard to breathe. However, because you are not breathing properly, your hard work does not make you feel better and you become tired easily.

There are several things you can do to improve your breathing:

• Relax – Being tense makes it harder to breathe. Remember to breathe during activities…we often hold our breath during exertion which then leads to shortness of breath.
• Breathe out through pursed lips, like when whistling. This slows down your breathing and makes each breath do more good for you. Breathe in through your nose…a wonderful filter.
• Lean forward while exercising. This also helps control shortness of breath.
• “Belly breathing” may also help shortness of breath. This is done by allowing yourbelly to stick out while breathing in and then pulling your belly in while breathing out. Remember to purse your lips when breathing out!

Physical Activity

Often people make the mistake of believing that if they can avoid being short of breath, they will protect their lungs and heart.  THIS IS NOT TRUE! Remaining physically active will improve your breathing ability and help you feel better and enjoy life more.
You can exercise even if you have COPD. As we all know, muscles will become weak if we don’t use them. This is true for the muscles of your chest, which are important in breathing, as well. Strengthening these muscles will help decrease shortness of breath.

Adapted from National Lung Health Education Program.  For more information log on to www.nlhep.org

Important Changes coming January 2009:

As you are probably aware there are changes coming in January that will affect your inhaled medications as well as your home oxygen equipment.

You may have already experienced a change in your Albuterol, Xopenex or other inhaler prescriptions.

 In 1989 it was determined that CFC (chlorofluorocarbon) a chemical compound used in the manufacture of MDI’s (metered dose inhalers) contributed to the depletion of the ozone layer. In 2005 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned the manufacture of CFC inhalers affective January 1, 2009. Manufacturers spent much time and effort exploring safer compounds for use in inhalers. MDI’s now will contain HFA (hydrofluoroalkane) an ozone friendly chemical compound. So what will this mean to you?

With the new HFA inhalers you may notice:

• Different taste or smell
• Less force when you inhale…this doesn’t mean you are not getting the medication, it just comes out a little less forceful
• Most need to be primed…that is, a dose or two expelled before the first usage or if it has not been used for a few days
• Many also require cleaning the actuator (chamber and mouthpiece) periodically.
• There are no FDA approved generic albuterol or levalbuterol HFA MDI’s.
• Prices and prescription coverage may vary dependant on which replacement your physician prescribes. If you need to change request a new prescription for the covered replacement.

Remember to read the directions thoroughly if your current medication is replaced. Ask questions of your doctor or pharmacist if you need further information or you feel the new medication is not working well for you. It may take a short while to become comfortable with these changes.

Also, beginning January 1, 2009 Medicare will implement a three year capped rental on home oxygen equipment. As with changes to inhalers, this change has been coming for quite some time.

Previously, Medicare would continue to rent your equipment for an unending period of time. This rental fee also included periodic maintenance of equipment as well as portable units and disposable supplies. Many fear that this change will mean they will no-longer receive needed services and supplies. Fear not…your supplier is required to maintain your equipment for up to five years.

If you have questions or concerns contact your oxygen provider. A few weeks ago I contacted several home equipment providers to find out how these changes would affect their service. Most are uncertain how this will all “shake out”,  but all assured me that they would not stop service or cut off supplies to any of their current patients. Again, I urge you to contact your provider and find out how they will be implementing these changes.

If you have more general questions on these topics, please contact Joyce Johnson RT at The Breathing Association, 437-1521.

The Breathing Association is not rendering personal medical advice via this publication. Please see your physician for medical advice.