Living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can feel like a constant struggle – a life that may be disrupted by debilitating flare-ups and fear of hospitalization. 

Impacting more than 14 million adults, COPD is a progressive disease that damages the lungs and airways making it difficult to breathe. And sadly, it’s a leading cause of death in the U.S.

Here’s the frustrating truth: even with daily maintenance inhalers, nearly half of patients still have dangerous symptom flare-ups, also known as exacerbations. These flare-ups aren’t just inconvenient, they can lead to more frequent and severe flare-ups, and a high risk of hospital admission. Just one flare-up increases the likelihood of recurrent flare-ups and related hospital admissions. Why are these flare-ups so persistent?

Evolving science has shown a critical piece of the puzzle: eosinophilic inflammation. This type of inflammation (swelling) in the lungs can be a driver of COPD symptoms, especially for those who experience frequent flare-ups.

What to know: Including a blood eosinophil test in routine screenings, combined with a doctor’s evaluation and diagnostic tools, can help identify if eosinophilic inflammation is making COPD worse. By understanding an underlying cause of flare-ups, a doctor can develop a targeted treatment plan to manage COPD and potentially reduce the frequency of exacerbations.

Alexis Smith, DO, Pulmonary Disease will discuss the challenges facing those living with COPD to help manage COPD and try to break the cycle of flare-ups.

Interview courtesy: GSK

#COPD #chronicobstructivepulmonarydisease #AlexSmith #GSK

The post SCIENCE SHEDS LIGHT ON THE CHALLENGES OF WORSENING SYMPTOMS FOR MANY appeared first on Good News!.

JOINING US NOW DURING NATIONAL RSV AWARENESS MONTH, ARE JENNIFER DEGL – MOTHER AND PASSIONATE ADVOCATE – AND DR. MITCHELL GOLDSTEIN OF LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL TO EXPLAIN WHAT EVERY PARENT SHOULD KNOW ABOUT RSV.

Mitchell Goldstein, MD, FAAP

Dr. Mitchell Goldstein is Medical Director Emeritus and Fellowship Coordinator of the Neonatal ICU in the Family Birth & Newborn Center. He completed his undergraduate and medical school in the University of Miami’s six-year Honors Medical Program on the Dean’s List and Phi Beta Kappa. He completed his Pediatrics residency at UCLA and Neonatology fellowship at UC Irvine. He is on the editorial board of the Journal of Perinatology. He is past president of the Perinatal Advisory Council: Leadership, Advocacy & Consultation (PAC-LAC), is the editor of PAC-LAC’s Guidelines of Care, and is PAC-LAC’s CME Research Chairman. He is past president of the National Perinatal Association. He is on the board of the American Academy of Pediatrics Perinatal Section. He is an Associate Professor in Pediatrics at Loma Linda University Medical Center. He is Board Certified in both Pediatrics and Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He is fluent in Spanish.

Jennifer Degl Bio

Jennifer Degl is a high school science teacher and mother of four children. Jennifer’s youngest child, Joy, was born at 23 weeks, weighing only 1 lb. and 4 oz. Following her birth, Jennifer authored the book titled, From Hope to Joy: A Memoir of a Mother’s Determination and Her Micro Preemie’s Struggle to Beat the Odds. Jennifer and her husband, John, currently live in Mahopac, NY.

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