The internet is a big place, filled with several places to get the latest news about the things you are interested in. That’s why the Lung Institute is starting a new series where we share trending lung disease news stories, in addition to stories about stem cell therapy and general lung health.
COPD Patients may be too Frail for Exercise Rehab
A new study funds that one in four people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) prescribed exercise rehabilitation were frail when they started. King’s College London and Royal Bromptom & Harefield NHLS Foundation Trust conducted the study involving 816 patients with stable COPD, average age of 70, and looked at if frailty affected the completion of their exercise treatment. They found that a little over a quarter of the patients in the study were frail, which doubled the odds of them not completing the eight-week study.
Researchers found that despite their frailty, those who completed the exercise program scored consistently better in breathing and exercise tests than non-frail participants.
For more on this story, go to Science Daily’s post.
Retired Coal Miner with Black Lung Disease Fighting to Save Younger Workers
Mike “Flip” Wilson, a 62-year old retired mine worker from Kentucky has been giving his old bosses at the mine headaches. Wilson, who now suffers from black lung disease, still returns to his old mine, Parkway Mine, to act as a miners’ representative. As a miners’ rep, Wilson is allowed to accompany federal officials inspecting the mine’s safety.
Many miners are unaware of their right to have a Miners’ rep, and Wilson does this pro bono, for the satisfaction of knowing he’s helping to protect the health of his former coworkers.
To read more, check out the Huffington Post.
Former Australian Olympian Brings Awareness to Lung Disease
To former Olympian Cathy Freeman, Australia is in denial about lung disease. Freeman, 43, has become a spokesperson for the Lung Foundation in Australia in the hope of raising awareness of lung disease. According to the Lung Foundation, one in four Australians – about 7 million people – have some a chronic respiratory disease.
Freeman, who won a gold medal in the 400-meter sprint during the 2000 Summer Olympic Games, was diagnosed with chronic asthma in 2007 but didn’t come to terms with it until last year. Now she hopes to change Australian’s perception of lung disease and change the conversation.
To read more about Freeman’s story, check out the Daily Mail.
Study Finds Vaping Teens More Likely to Smoke Regular Cigarettes
A recent study finds that older teenagers who try electronic cigarettes are six times more likely to try regular cigarettes. University of Southern California researchers conducted the survey involving 300 high school students.
In 2014 about half the students said they’d tried or smoked e-cigarettes, also known as e-cigs or vaping. In the follow-up a year later, about 40 percent of those who tried e-cigs had also tried regular cigarettes.
To read more about this story, check out the full story on Fox News.
Keep checking-in with us for the latest lung disease news. If you or someone you know has a chronic lung disease, remember there is hope. Here at the Lung Institute, we specialize in stem cell therapy treatments for those with lung disease such as COPD, pulmonary fibrosis and interstitial lung disease. For more information about the Lung Institute or stem cell therapy, please contact one of our patient coordinators or call (800) 729-3065 today.
The post This Week in Lung Disease: Exercise Rehab, Black Lung, Olympian Speaks Out and Teen Vaping appeared first on Lung Institute.