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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2015)
6 B SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, AUGUST 1, 2015 TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH What is COPD? DEAR DR. ROACH: Please help me to understand what COPD means. — S. ANSWER: “COPD” stands for “chronic obstructive pulmonary dis- ease.” “Chronic” means that it is long- lasting, and “obstructive” means the air- flow in and out of the lungs is decreased. The three subtypes of COPD are chronic bronchitis, emphysema and chronic obstructive asthma. These con- ditions usually are progressive. COPD is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. Chronic bronchitis is a chronic pro- ductive cough (specifically, lasting three months or more in two successive years). Smoking is far and away the leading cause of chronic bronchitis in the developed world, but home cooking fires are the cause in developing nations. “Emphysema” means the destruction of the walls of the airways, causing abnormal, permanently enlarged air spaces. Smoking is again the leading SALOME’S STARS ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Avoid adding to the tension around you. Even a well-meant reaction against something you perceive as unfair could be misunderstood. Let things calm down, and then talk about it. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) It’s a good time for romance for unat- tached Bovines, and a good time for reinforcing the bonds between part- ners. Children’s needs are important during the latter part of the week. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) A compliment from a surprising source sends you wafting way up into the clouds, where — sorry to say — your view of what’s going on is obscured. Come on down and face some reality. CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Even cause of emphysema, but a genetic con- dition, alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency, can bring about both emphysema and liver disease. People with this uncom- mon disorder sometimes mistakenly are assumed to be smokers. Asthma is a common condition that is highly variable from person to per- son. Most people have reversible obstruction to the airway with exacerba- tions of asthma, but some people have a degree of obstruction all the time, and they are considered to have COPD. COPD typically causes cough and shortness of breath, especially with activity. COPD often has exacerbations, which may be associated with infec- tions, that cause worsening of symp- toms, frequently requiring treatment, including hospitalization. Treatment for COPD is to remove any known cause (usually smoking, even secondhand smoke). Medicines to reduce inflamma- tion (especially inhaled steroids) often are used, as are medicines to relax the muscles inside airways to relieve obstruction. In severe cases, oxygen is necessary. Lung surgery or transplanta- tion is rarely used. The booklet on COPD explains both emphysema and chronic bronchitis in detail. Readers can obtain a copy by writing: Dr. Roach — No. 601W, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Canada with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. DEAR DR. ROACH: I have Parkinson’s disease. Although my med- ication is still working, it’s not as effec- tive as it was. I have heard that this is the time to consider stem-cell treatment. Can you tell me if this is a good idea? — S.A. ANSWER: Parkinson’s disease is caused by the loss of neurons (nerve calls) in a portion of the brain called the substantia nigra. Stem cells are early, unspecialized cells, capable of differen- tiating into any kind of cell. The theory with stem-cell treatment is that the stem cells will go into the affected part of the brain and take on the role of the dam- aged or destroyed cells. Some early work has been promising. In my view, the technology is not yet ready for widespread clinical use. I don’t recommend it. There are many new medications for Parkinson’s dis- ease, and I have recommended non- pharmacologic therapy, including exer- cise, several times. I strongly recom- mend evaluation by an expert, prefer- ably a neurologist experienced in Parkinson’s disease. A reader recently wrote to tell me that treatment of his vitamin D deficien- cy greatly relieved his Parkinson’s symptoms. a family-loving person like you some- times can feel you’re at the end of the line with contentious kinfolk. But things can work out. Remember that it’s better to talk than walk. LEO (July 23 to August 22) A job- related move might hold more positive surprises than you’d expected. Go into it with confidence, and look for all the advantages it offers. Then decide what you’ll do with what you find. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Driving yourself too hard to get something done on a deadline you set up can backfire. Ease into a more real- istic finish date, and add more breaks to your work schedule. LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Your sense of humor can brighten any dark period, and your laughter can dispel those gray clouds swirling around you. The weekend presents a surprising but welcome change. SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Be careful about the words you use, especially in touchy situations. The old Chinese saying that the spoken word is silver, but the unspoken gold could well apply here. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Some facts could emerge to shed light on unresolved past problems. What you learn also might help explain why a once-warm relationship suddenly cooled down. CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Don’t let your pride get in the way of checking into what could be a great new opportunity. Get the facts first, and worry about procedure and protocol later. AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) A health problem in the family might have other relatives assuming that, as before, you’ll take over the health-care duties. Surprise them and insist they share in the care- taking. PISCES (February 19 to March 20) A series of changes can be unsettling, but in the long run, it can pay off with new perspectives on what you plan to do. Keep your mind open to the possi- bilities that might well lie ahead. Siuslaw N ews ! AD IT DAY E R TO www. the siuslawnews.com E -E DITION • S PORTS • T OP S TORIES • O BITUARIES • W EATHER • F ORUMS • B LOGS