Club supports ‘better breathing’

[Guest guest]

Club supports `better breathing'

New group to hold first meeting

Fort Dodge Messenger - Fort Dodge,IA*

By SANDY MICKELSON, Messenger staff writer

POSTED: November 14, 2007

http://www.messengernews.net/page/content.detail/id/501050.html?

nav=5010

Breathing isn't always automatic.

For some people, breathing is the hardest job they do all day. Or

ever.

For that reason, the pulmonary rehabilitation department at Trinity

Regional Medical Center has started a support group for patients who

suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Caregivers also

attend.

Called the Better Breathers Club, the hour-long session brought

about 20 people to the hospital to hear Mindy Newkirk, a registered

nurse at Lincare, an oxygen supply company in Fort Dodge.

``Living well with COPD means to control it, and you guys can

control it,'' she said. ``If you have a bad day, don't beat yourself

up over it. Some days are worse than others.''

Newkirk's first suggestion was to drink plenty of water, unless

restricted by a doctor.

``Water is the best expectorant for you,'' she said. ``Sugars in

sweet drinks produce carbon dioxide in the lungs, which is harder to

get rid of.''

More small meals a day is better for someone with COPD, she added,

because there is more room in the airways for the lungs to work.

High contents of sugar or caffeine make it difficult to breathe.

``Water keeps things moving through the lungs,'' she said. ``Mucous

is thick and sticky in the lungs, and that's breeding grounds for

infections.''

Breathing exercises are important, day in and day out, Newkirk

said. ``It's important to get rid of the stale air.''

It's also important, she said, to set goals — ``small goals you know

you can attain.''

A process called pursed-lip breathing not only helps people relax,

it helps them get more oxygen into their lungs and prevents

shortness of breath, Newkirk said. To do pursed-lip breathing,

inhale slowly through the nose and count to two in your head. Then

pucker the lips as if whistling and exhale while counting to four or

more, always exhaling longer than inhaling. This allows lungs to

empty more effectively.

For the young at heart, there are bubbles.

``Blowing bubbles doesn't seem so boring,'' Newkirk said. ``If

you're struggling, go slow. This is like baby steps. Don't overdo

it.''

The Better Breathers Club will meet six times a year, with the next

meeting set for 1 p.m. Jan. 8 at the Trinity Regional Medical Center.

``You're struggling day in and day out,'' Newkirk said. ``Who's

sharing it with you? That's why we have this group.''

Fort Dodge resident Joe Underwood said he has trouble when he feels

anxious about something. That anxiety leads to shortness of breath,

which leads to more anxiety.

Burkholder responded. ``The first thing I think of is pursed-

lip breathing,'' he said. ``And I tell myself just to slow down.''

Burkholder said the help he gets at the pulmonary rehab department

is excellent. ``I don't know how bad you feel when you walk in

here, " he said, " but you always feel better when you walk out.''

Underwood, who suffers with COPD, asthma and aspergilus, a fungal

infection in the lungs from mold spores, said the new support

group ``is wonderful. It could be an advantage to all of us. I've

been wishing someone would start one.''

Contact Sandy Mickelson at (515) 573-2141 or

smickelson@...

Fact Box

Steps to help manage COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a term to describe two

diseases, emphysema and chronic bronchitis with airflow obstruction.

Patients may experience either or both of these conditions.

Important steps to better living with COPD:

• Quit smoking. It is the best move to improve your life with COPD.

• Get flu and pneumonia shots. Many people with COPD become very ill

every year during flu season.

• Understand your COPD medicines. Help your doctor develop a

medicine treatment that works for you. Always carry a current list

of medications with you.

• Exercise and get good nutrition. COPD makes the heart and lungs

work harder to carry oxygen to all parts of the body. Because of

this, you should control your weight to reduce strain.

• Conserve your energy and control stress. Feeling stressed can make

breathlessness much worse. Find what helps you relax.

• Control your breathing. Pursed-lip breathing allows your lungs to

empty more effectively.

• Use oxygen therapy. Eventually, many people with COPD will need

supplemental oxygen.

• Manage acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis. This is a flare-

up of symptoms or a bad attack, usually caused by an infection in

the lungs.