What? Me? Exercise?
This is what almost every patient with
COPD says to me when I first talk to
them about joining a pulmonary rehabilitation
program. But we want our patients with COPD
to exercise, to move and to get their groove
back. Why? Here are some of the facts.
World-renowned artist and sculptor, Michael
Kalish, says one year ago he was moved when
he learned about COPD and the scope of those
affected. His newfound knowledge, coupled
with his artistic talents, inspired the creation of
what became a year-long project entitled, 24M.
This is the first time I have been involved in a campaign like this. When DRIVE4COPDgave me the statistics, I knew I just had to help,
Kalish says.
In conjunction with COPD7USA, the U.S.
COPD Coalition will be hosting the Second
National COPD Conference on December
2nd and 3rd, also in Crystal City, VA. This
conference will bring together individuals with
COPD, healthcare professionals, government
agencies, and advocacy organizations, assess new
opportunities, reflect upon past successes, and
plan a path forward.
So why should YOU be involved in the
COPD Conferences this year? These dual events
have something to offer to all aspects of the
community:
First, I think that the fact these guidelines
have been prepared at all is good recognition
that COPD is an important problem, Rennard,
Larson Professor of Medicine in the Pulmonary
and Critical Care Medicine Section of the
Department of Internal Medicine at the
University of Nebraska Medical Center, says.
Its for patients who want to take action and
who are interested in advocacy, Dean E.
Schraufnagel, MD, editor of Breathing, says. It
gives patients ammunition to contact their
legislators and tell them that COPD is an
important problem. Thiis gives them fuel.
After a vote, we narrowed down the list to the top five winners.
In August of this year, congress passed The Budget Control Act of 2011 after being
unable to negotiate a deal to manage deficit
reductions while raising the debt ceiling.
The Budget Control Act effectively raised
the debt ceiling and established a Joint Select
Committee on Deficit Reduction, commonly
referred to as the Super Committee. The
Committee has equal representations of
Democrats and Republicans, with six
Representatives and six Senators.
