Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Deficiency

Have you heard of Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency? It is a genetic condition caused by a lack of the protective protein, Alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) that is made by the liver. If you are asking what this has to do with COPD, that is a good question. AAT acts to protect the lungs from damage and without it, certain enzymes in the lungs end up causing destruction of lung tissue that eventually leads to emphysema. For more information about AAT deficiency and what you can do about it, visit my latest article on About.com:

What is Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Deficiency Emphysema?

Treatment of COPD

That COPD is an irreversible lung disease, speaks loudly for the importance of treament in slowing down the progression of the disease and improving quality of life.
While many medications are available to treat COPD, no drug has demonstrated effectiveness in halting the progression of the disease. Rather, the goal of drug therapy at this time is to maintain control of symptoms and prevent COPD exacerbation.

For more information about COPD treatment, stop by http://www.copd.about.com/ and read one of my most popular articles:

There is Hope: Treatment for COPD.

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COPD and Exercise: Walking Your Way Toward a Healthier You

If you have COPD, your exercise tolerance is probably not what it used to be. In fact, you may find yourself short of breath just walking across the room. Low impact exercises, such as walking can help the body utilize oxygen more efficiently which awesome news for those with COPD!


Discover more about the health benefits of walking, and how it can help people with COPD lead a better life in my latest article on About.com:

Exercise and COPD: Walking Towards a Healthier You

How Flu Shots Can Help Prevent COPD Exacerbation

Have you gotten your annual flu shot this year? If so, that is great news, especially if you have COPD. Did you know that getting a flu shot each year can help you to prevent a worsening of your COPD symptoms, better known as a COPD exacerbation? Find out more about flu shots and how those with COPD should be among the first in line to receive them by reading my latest article on About.com:

Flu Shots Help Prevent COPD Exacerbation

Share Your Quit Smoking Success Story

As the COPD guide for About.com, I am currently looking to interview several individuals who have successfully quit smoking for at least 2 years or more. The goal is to post the best interview on my website at www.copd.about.com.

If you have a great success story to tell about quitting, please email me at copd.guide@about.com and I will send you the list of interview questions. Only your first name will be posted with the story on the site. May the best quit smoking story win!

Kick the Habit For Good: Quit Smoking Resources from Your COPD Guide at About.com

Pictured to the right is what your lungs look like if you are a smoker! If that is not enough to make you quit immediately, as your most excellent COPD guide for About.com, I have devoted an entire section of my website to quitting smoking. Learn more about quitting smoking from tips to help you quit to the health hazards of secondhand smoke by visiting Quitting Smoking or my site's homepage to discover everything you ever wanted to know about COPD but were afraid to ask at http://www.copd.about.com/.

Health Hazards of Secondhand Smoke

If you have ever needed a reason to quit smoking, the health effects of secondhand smoke on the people that you love may just give you one. Secondhand smoke is filled with toxic chemicals, such as benzene, formaldahyde (yes, the stuff they embalm people with), and carbon monoxide, to name a few. To read more about the hazards of secondhand smoke, visit my latest article on About.com:

The Health Hazards of Secondhand Smoke

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