How to use Spiriva

Happy Friday!!

I would like to interrupt my BLOG concerning Exercise & Breathing, and share with you an error that I made this morning while taking my meds.... which scared the life out of me!

While getting ready to use my Spiriva inhaler, I mistakenly swallowed my Spiriva capsule instead of putting it into the inhaler. Well of course I panicked! I immediately called my pharmacy but they had NO information on that type of situation. The pharmacist did however advise me to call Poison Control. They told me I would be okay and that people do it quite a bit. Also that it would be okay for me to use my inhaler this afternoon. I decided to forgo using my inhaler today. I imagine if I had swallowed more than one capsule than it could have been dangerous.

Sometimes we may be in a hurry or just not thinking and do not take the time to check the meds we are about to take. Just a warning..... always be aware of which medication you are taking, the correct dosage you are to take and the correct time you are to take this medication.

To learn more about Spiriva, check out the sites below:

http://www.spiriva.com/

http://www.spiriva.com/hcp/HcpController.jpf


Have a great weekend..... take your meds... CORRECTLY and "Breathe with Ease"

1 2 3... Inhale ... 1 2 3 4 Exhale
Sandy

Exercise Programs

Learning breathing control can improve your lung efficiency and this will help you to feel better. But to achieve the full rehabilitation benefits, it is important that you also rehabilitate your cardiac and peripheral muscle function. There is only one way to do this and that is by a progressive exercise program.

Many pulmo rehab programs have a large emphasis on exercise, with formal classes of exercise training using equipment such as bicycle ergometers, treadmills, structured walking or stair climbing supervised by experts. These programs have documented considerable patient rehab benefits. This is an excellent way to effectively begin your rehab program.

Unfortunately there are some major snags with these formal exercise programs. First: they may not be available to your or may be inconvenient for you to attend. Second: ideally, exercise should be done every day for efficient rehab and many programs meet only two or three times during the working week and very rarely on weekends. Third: most formal programs are limited to only two or three months by insurance payments, and long term follow up is not paid for by most insurance plans. And last but not least.... formal exercise is frequently boring and unpleasant. The exercise training required will produce dyspnea and we all know this is not a pleasant experience. These problems are compounded especially if you are doing exercises that you do not enjoy or if you are exercising at home and are no longer in a supportive rehab environment to encourage you. Sadly enough for these reasons most patients stop exercising within a year or so. This is very unfortunate because what you had initially gained by exercise, you will now gradually lose. "If you don't use it, you will lose it".

In my next BLOG I will tell you about the alternatives to formal exercise programs and for long term follow-up exercise.

I hope you will join me. And please, add any comments or questions that you may have for me.
In the meantime....

Breathe Well and always remember

1 2 3... Inhale... 1 2 3 4 Exhale

Your friend,
Sandy

"Shortness of Breath", Increased Activity & Exercise

Welcome back to "My Little Corner Of The World"! It's been awhile since I have posted, but I hope you all have been taking care of yourselves and breathing well.
This will be the first post in a so-called "mini series" on the topic of "Shortness of Breath" & Exercise. In our first "episode" you will have limited activity and breathing abilities, but as we reach the end of our "mini series" you will have learned a new way to breathe and will be on your way to an exercise training program.

The shortness of breath that comes with COPD typically limits a persons ability to be active. Understandably, you would think that becoming involved in an exercise program would be out of the question.
You probably have realized a gradual reduction in the activities you enjoy that involve any type of physical effort. And even if your COPD is only moderately severe you probably have noticed a redution in your "Quality of Life in Daily Living". I'm sure you have attributed this decline to your dyspnea, which is correct. But, this decline in your exertin ability is much more complicated.

Next is what I call, a "vicious circle". Exertion requires muscular effort, and muscular effort requires a steady supply of Oxygen, which is an essential metabolic source of energy. And muscular effort also produces waste products of metabolism, which is Carbon Dioxide ("CO2") which the lungs must dispose of. Are you still with me?... Okay... The lungs are critically important in taking in Oxygen and getting rid of waste Carbon Dioxide. Your breathing impairment will certainly limit your Oxygen delivery and CO2 excretion.
However, Oxygen and CO2 are carried to and from the muscles by your blood, now if your heart muscle becomes deconditioned by inactivity or diseae and can't pump blood efficiently, this may be a significant factor to your limited exertion capabilities.

Then there are peripheral muscles, the external muscles, mainly the legs and arms and whether or not they are efficiently receiving Oxygen and producing their required energy. Unfortunately, perfectly normal muscles, can become deconditioned by inactivity and become inefficient at the cellular level in producing the required oxygen for activity. Severely deconditioned muscles are very inefficient in processing this important oxygen metabolic energy, and muscle deconditioning is frequently a serious limitation to activity for the person with COPD. These deconditioned muscles require more Oxygen and give up more CO2 for a given work load, which brings on an even greater burden to the lung and heart components of this overall complex system.

The person with COPD progressively limits their activity because of exertin related dyspnea. As a result of this decreased activity, the heart then becomes deconditioned, and becomes a less efficient pump that has to work harder to achieve the same task level. Fortunately cardiac funtion limitation is usually not a major problem. But improving cardiac performance with an exercise program will provide some help to your overall exercise capabilities.

Peripheral muscle, the muscles of the arms and legs... deconditioning is a major culprit leading to severe weakness in COPD. Do you remember the "vicious circle"I spoke about earlier?... where inactivity leads to deconditioning and deconditioning leads to muscular weakness and inefficiency, which in turn now requires more effort by the heart and lungs for the same level of muscular effort.

Well, I think that is a very good start in explaining to COPD patients that activity and exercise beginning in slow moderation will condition not only your muscles in your arms and legs, but will keep your heart from working overtime due to the lack of oxygen from your diseased lungs.

Until next time,
Breathe well my friends...
1 2 3... Inhale ... 1 2 3 4... Exhale,
Sandy