Kathleen W

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a leading cause of death worldwide, and is becoming increasingly common as the population ages. It is now the third leading cause of death in the United States.  Understanding the problem is critical to determining the best therapy for treating the disease.  COPD consists of a group of lung diseases that block airflow, making it difficult for a person to breathe. The two main conditions associated with COPD are emphysema and bronchitis.

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Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) performing airway clearance (AC) daily to remove secretions are faced with a broad array of devices and techniques to aid in this process and little to guide them in making an informed choice. Two of the most common approaches are chest percussion and use of high frequency chest wall compression (HFCWP) vests.  Until recently, there has been very little evidence to indicate that one technique is superior to the other.  However, recent research conducted at the Stanford University Cystic Fibrosis Center in Palo Alto, California (http://cfcenter.stanford.edu) offers significant insights.

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Occupational lung disease is a term used for a wide range of diseases caused by repeated exposure to harmful particles, gases, vapors or chemicals. The term occupational lung disease covers a number of conditions that affect different parts of the lungs. Occupational lung diseases include occupational asthma that affects the airways, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that refers to narrowing of the airways, occupational alveolitis that involves the air sacs of the lungs, occupational lung cancer, and occupational conditions affecting the lining of the lungs.

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