Spring Clean for Better BreathingWhen the weather turns warmer, it’s time to throw open the windows and clean out winter’s dust and grime. But spring cleaning can be a challenge for people with COPD, so it’s important to take steps to breathe better while brushing out the cobwebs.

OutlookH E A LT H , W E L L N E S S , P R E V E N T I O N

Spring 2014

Staying Healthy. Living Well.

While you’re dusting, mopping and vacuuming during your annual “big clean,” it’s easy

to overlook other items that need atten-tion. Here are some commonly missed areas that need an occasional deep clean:

• Cleaning equipment: Don’t forget to wipe down your vacuum cleaner and empty the bag or bin frequently.

• Trash bins: Clean up the dirt, food and debris that can find their way outside trashcans. Also wipe down the walls and floor where you keep them.

• Dishwasher: Use some baking soda and vinegar in your dishwasher to give it a fresh start.

• Clothes washer: Run the washer empty on the hottest setting with two cups of vinegar or lemon juice to remove stains and grime build-up.

• Clothes dryer: Use the hose extension on your vacuum to remove lint build-up around the hose behind your dryer. If the front or top panel of your dryer can be removed with a screwdriver, vacuum around the drum and lint tray as well.

Don’t Overlook These Spring Cleaning Steps

Breathing Easy

Choosing Cleaning Products. Avoid using cleaners with strong scents and chemi-cals. While they’re effective cleaners, they can irritate your lungs. Look for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Design for the Envir-onment logo when you’re choosing cleaning products. Or make your own simple solution using just baking soda, vinegar and lemon juice. Remember to open win-dows when possible and use exhaust fans to properly ventilate your home.

Don’t Forget Pests. Believe it or not, cockroaches and dust mites are potential asthma and allergy triggers. Make regular house cleaning part of your routine to keep pests at bay. Consider using dust-resistant pillow and mattress covers to discourage dust mites from nesting in your bedding.

Spring Clean the Smart Way. Try breaking up your spring cleaning over the course of several days or weekends to save your energy and your lungs. A dust mask can help keep allergens out of your airways while you work. And if you make plans to have cleaners come in to do your carpets, oven or walls, spend those hours somewhere else while they are cleaning.

2 Breathing Easy Outlook | Spring 2014

Oxygen therapy is a life-saving treatment for many people with severe breathing problems, and it can even help you sleep better. But breathlessness itself isn’t a reli-able indicator of whether or not you need oxygen. Sometimes, your breathing may be normal but you aren’t getting enough oxygen. Other times, you may be out of breath but are getting plenty of oxygen. So how do you know if it’s the right treat-ment for you?

See the health care provider taking care of your COPD. They will check the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in your blood with an arterial blood gas (ABG) test. Blood will be drawn from an artery and tested. If your oxygen level is low, your health care provider may write a prescription for oxygen therapy.

How often you take oxygen can vary. Some patients with COPD only need oxygen when they’re exercis-ing. Oxygen therapy can be helpful during sleeping or eating. But if oxygen is below a critical level when you’re at rest, you may need oxygen therapy close to 24 hours each day.

Good Question( )

While oxygen is safe to use, there are some safety precautions you

should take when using it at home. The gas itself isn’t flammable, but some materials burn more easily when extra oxygen is in the sur-rounding air.

Follow these tips to be safe when using oxygen:• Don’tsmokewhileusingoxygen

and insist that others take their smoking outside.

• Avoidopenflamesandusecaution around sources of heat.

TheAmericanLungAssociationrecommends keeping at least 5 feet between stoves and heaters and the oxygen.

• Avoidlotionsandcreamsthatcontain petroleum and use water-based products instead.

• Storeoxygencylindersinan upright, secure location and in a cart or device approved for storage.

• Alwaysturnoffthevalveswhenoxygen isn’t being used.

• Readandfollowthesafety instruction on your oxygen supply.

Stay Safe While Using Oxygen

Do I Need Oxygen Therapy?

A CLOSER LOOK

ALLIM

AGES:THINKS

TOCK

.COM

Flu vaccine Pneumonia vaccine� Spirometry—breathing test to check how your

lungs function

Be sure to talk with your health care provider about these topics: WritinganActionPlan Gettinganutritionalassessment Reviewingyourexerciseroutine Taking part in a pulmonary education program Quitting smoking

For people with COPD, it’s important to make sure the following tests and vaccines are kept current:

GoodHealth GUIDELINES

The information in this publication is not intended to be a substitute for medical care or advice providedbyahealthcareprovider.Alwaysconsultyourproviderforappropriateexaminations,treatmentandcarerecommendations.Ifyouhaveanyquestionsaboutthisinformation,youshould call your provider. Specific treatments and therapies may not be covered by your health plan.Forquestionsaboutyourbenefits,pleaseconsultyourhealthplan.Anyreferenceinthismaterialtootherorganizationsorcompanies,includingtheirInternetsites,isnotanendorse-ment or warranty of the services, information or products provided by those organizations or companies.Allmodelsareusedforillustrativepurposesonly. ©2014Healthways,Inc.

Spring 2014 | Breathing Easy Outlook 3

“Overlap syndrome”—having both COPD and sleep apnea—can be deadly. Sleep apnea, a condition that causes pauses in breathing or shallow breaths during sleep, and COPD together can result in very low blood oxygen levels. That can mean higher rates of other diseases and even death.

But a study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine says that continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) can save lives. CPAP is a common treatment for sleep apnea. The machine uses a motor to blow air through a tube connected to a mask that fits over the nose and mouth. Straps keep the mask in place while you’re wearing it. The mild air pressure

from CPAP helps keep the airways open and can minimize snoring, improve sleep quality, reduce daytime sleepiness and even decrease or prevent high blood pressure.

Researchers from Brown University found that people with overlap syndrome who were treated with CPAP had a lower risk of death than those who were not treated. From 2007 to 2010, the researchers monitored outpatients with COPD, sleep apnea or both as well as how compliant they were using the treatment. The risk of death was lower in people who were prescribed CPAP and actually used it on a consistent basis while sleeping.

Exercise has a lot of benefits for people with COPD: improved symp-toms, more energy, better sleep, stronger bones and muscles, and lower blood pressure, among others.

Since long sessions of continuous exercise can be difficult for someone with COPD, it may help to try interval traininginstead.Infact,researchhasshown interval training to be just as effectiveaslonger,intenseexerciseatimproving fitness, shortness of breath, mental health and more.Intervaltraininginvolvesalternat-

ing short bursts of higher intensity activity with sessions of lower inten-sityexercise.Aworkoutsessionwithintervals may last an hour or more and can include alternating 30 seconds of

higher-intensity exercise, possibly on a stationary bicycle or treadmill, with 30 seconds of slower-paced exercise like light pedaling, lifting hand weights or walking.

This type of exercise can be easier to maintain and keep shortness of breath at bay. Plus, having those short breaks during the workout may encourage those with COPD to exercise more often.

Shrimp and Pesto Pasta( )

Preparation time: 35 minutesServing size: 6 servings, 1½ cups each

CPAP Can Save Lives

INTERVAL TRAINING WITHCOPD

Ingredients8 ounces whole-wheat fettuccine1 pound asparagus½ cup sliced jarred, roasted red peppers¼ cup prepared pesto2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil1 pound raw shrimp1 cup dry white wineFreshly ground pepper

Instructions1.Bringalargepotofwatertoaboil.Addfettuccine and cook for 3 minutes less thanthepackagedirectionsspecify.Addasparagus and continue cooking until the pasta and asparagus are just tender, about 3minutesmore.Reserving¼cupofthecooking water, drain the fettuccine and asparagus and return to the pot. Stir in peppers and pesto. Cover to keep warm.2. Heatoilinalargeskilletovermediumheat.Addshrimpandcook,stirringocca-sionally,untilpink,about3minutes.Addwine, increase heat to high and continue cooking until the shrimp are curled and the wineisreduced,about3minutes.Addtheshrimp and the reserved cooking water to the pasta; toss to coat. Season with pepper and serve immediately.

NutritionPer Serving: 307 calories; 33 g carbohy-drates; 21 g protein; 6 g fiber; 8 g fat (2 g saturated, 4 g monounsaturated); 115 mg cholesterol; 284 mg sodium; 327 mg potassium *Nutrition Bonus:Iron(20%dailyvalue),Folate&Magnesium(16%dv),Calcium&VitaminA(15%dv)Diabetic Exchange: 2 starch, 1 vegetable, 2 lean meat

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs. Recipe from EatingWell.com. © Eating Well, Inc. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.

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Healthorwellnessorpreventioninformation HW

Spring 2014Staying Healthy. Living Well.

About 90 percent of people in the United States make a habit of washing their raw chicken and other poultry such as turkey before cooking it, even though the USDA says not to wash it. Why? Tradition says it helps wash off bacteria. However, when you wash raw

poultry it can spread the bacteria to your sink, counters and your clothes, doing more harm than good. Plus, the water isn’t hot enough to kill bacteria. The bacteria will be killed during the cooking process as long as you cook thoroughly to a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. So save some time and protect yourself from bacteria by skipping a step in the kitchen and transfer raw poultry directly into the cooking pan. Then, clean up any splashes, and wash hands with soap and warm water. It’s also a good idea to wash dish rags often and place sponges in the top rack of the dishwasher.

Skip Washing the Chicken! BACTERIA

WILL BE KILLED DURING THE

COOKING PROCESS AS LONG

AS YOU COOK THOROUGHLY TO A

MINIMUM INTER-NAL TEMPERATURE

OF 165 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.