Certain foods have been known to cause a worsening of COPD symptoms in some people. Some foods even increase the risk of hospitalization related to COPD exacerbation. Take a look at the following for some suggestions on which foods you should limit or shy away from completely, if you want to avoid these problems:

Foods to Avoid if You Have COPD 

Obstructive versus restrictive lung diseases -- how do clinicians tell the difference between the two? The following article explains this in greater detail, and provides you with an overview of what's really important when interpreting your spirometry test:

Obstructive versus Restrictive Lung Diseases

Please read the article and leave a comment as to how it helped -- or didn't help you -- better understand your test results.

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COPD has been described as a disease of accelerated aging. A recent article published in the International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease suggests that geroprotectors may help prevent the premature aging of the lung that's associated with  COPD. But, what are geroprotectors and how do they work?

Geroprotectors, such as melatonin, metformin, rapamune and resveratrol, are believed to be anti-oxidant or anti-aging molecule regulators, meaning they work to fight against the aging process.  Recent studies suggest that accelerated aging plays a major role in COPD and that geroprotectors may actually stop the progression of COPD.

Although further investigation is needed to test this theory, authors of the article conclude that geroprotectors should not be used to extend lifespan in COPD, but to prevent premature aging of the lung that is caused by exposure to environmental airway irritants which act as oxidants once inhaled.

Where can you find geroprotectors? Before attempting to purchase any of these substances,  check out the following and then talk more with your doctor:

• Melatonin -- A popular hormonal supplement found in many health food stores. Best known for regulating sleep, but has many other important uses and benefits, as well.

• Metformin -- A medication used by diabetics to help control high blood sugar. Also used off-label for weight loss, polycystic ovary syndrome, gestational diabetes and HIV lipodystrophy syndrome.  Available by prescription, only.

• Rapamune -- Used to suppress immune response in organ transplant. Associated with many adverse side effects. Has been found to increases life-span of mice and may play a future role in treating cancer, tuberous sclerosis complex, progeria, HIV and polycystic kidney disease. Available by prescription, only.

• Resveratrol -- Chemical found in the skin of red grapes and, in red wine. Studies suggest that substance offsets negative effects of high-calorie diet in mice, thus extending their lifespan. But, before rushing out to your nearest wine haven, take into consideration  the following: For these experiments, mice were given extremely large dosages, in fact, according to an article in the New York Times, a human being would have to consume 35 to 100 bottles a day to get an equivalent dose. Scientists are looking at ways to concentrate the dosage of resveratrol so it is more appropriate for human consumption.

_Source:

_{Kazuhiro, Ito, et. al. Geroprotectors as a novel, therapeutic strategy for COPD, an accellerating aging disease. International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. 2012:7 641-645.}

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For those of you who have not yet signed up for my COPD E-course, I have recently updated all of the lessons to include more of my recent articles.

The COPD E-course is a free, comprehensive guide designed to help you improve your COPD health literacy. This is especially important because low health literacy in COPD is associated with poor outcomes, including more frequent hospitalizations for COPD-related causes.

The course is composed of 6 weekly lessons that take you through the basics of COPD, including risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and daily living. It also covers exercise and nutrition, two important aspects of COPD treatment that are frequently overlooked.

One of the biggest changes that I made to the course was removing the entire lesson about quitting smoking. Why did I do this? Because the section doesn't apply to those who have never smoked and still got the disease. Instead, I restructured the entire lesson, focusing on avoidance of ALL airway irritants, not just tobacco smoke.

To sign up for the course in one easy step, go to:

• 6 Weeks to Understanding COPD

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