If your doctor has referred you for a Pulmonary Rehab program, I have one word for you: GO! For me, the six-week drill is nearly always the same: 6 patients arrive on the first day, with absolutely no clue what they signed up for. Fast forward to 6 weeks later, they are stronger, happier, excited…
Asthma is considered to be an inflammatory disease, with many different triggers that can start the spiral of not being able to breathe. However, many of my recommendations for Asthma patients also hold true for my COPD and ILD patients. There are several teas out there, Yogi Tea’s Breathe Deep and Traditional Medicinals’ Breathe Easy…
Walk into any store these days, and there are miles of aisles full of vitamins, supplements, teas, herbs, and more that claim to help with every breathing issue there is. I am wary of each and every one of them, largely due to possible interactions with other drugs you may be taking. For people with…
This past week, I gave my Advance Directives talk to my group. I try to give it on a Friday, so that my patients can think it over and bring questions on Monday. Over the years, I have had many patients call me and ask when I am giving that talk again so they can…
I have job security. Big-time. How can I be so sure of this? Because medical marijuana is legal in California, other states are soon to follow. As of this writing, 22 states have legalized marijuana, meaning one can have a certain amount on their person and grow a certain number of plants. All one has…
I see it everywhere. Young kids and young adults thinking that electronic cigarettes, or “e-cigs”, are a better choice than tobacco smoke. I also see older folks trying to quit smoking, so they vape instead. Nicotine is still nicotine. Addictive and poisonous. What’s really in that liquid anyway? One of the hot topics at this…
When you or your child have episodes of breathlessness that seem to come out of nowhere, it’s normal to want to try everything you can get your hands on to be able to breathe and not feel that way again. But what really works and what is hype? If you do a search for ‘asthma…
I tell my patients on oxygen (and those who are supposed to be on o2 but refuse) to always protect your heart. When your oxygen levels dip too low, it is your heart that works harder to supply the vital organs and the muscles with what little oxygen is left in your bloodstream. Your heart…
If you will be joining my COPD Success program, I will ask you to get a pulse oximeter. If you have never had a 6 minute walk test, or don’t have a regular doctor, it is very important to know your baseline. There are many people who should be on supplemental oxygen, but are not….
Pulse oximeters are very useful for telling us when you don’t have enough oxygen in the blood. Some people desaturate with exercise. Some people desaturate when they sleep. One of the things we measure in Pulmonary Rehab is saturation at rest, with exercise, and then recovery (how long it takes for your heart rate and…