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Coach Brandon - Community Manager

Coach Brandon - Community Manager

โ„ February Check-In: Small Tips That Can Make Winter a Little Easier โ„

February can be a tricky month. Cold air, dry indoor heat, shorter days, and winter fatigue can all pile up -- especially when youโ€™re living with COPD or caring for someone who is.

A few gentle reminders that may help this time of year:

๐Ÿซ Cold air care: If you head outside, covering your nose and mouth with a scarf or mask can help warm the air before it reaches your lungs.

๐Ÿ’ง Stay hydrated: Dry winter air can thicken mucus. Sipping fluids throughout the day (warm drinks count!) can help keep things moving.

๐Ÿ  Indoor air matters: If you have one, a humidifier can help ease dryness -- just be sure itโ€™s cleaned regularly.

๐Ÿง˜ Any movement counts: Whether itโ€™s light stretching, seated exercises, or a slow walk around the house, gentle movement can support breathing and energy.

โค Caregivers, check in on yourself too: Even a few quiet minutes to rest, breathe, or reset can make a difference. You matter in this equation.

How is February treating you so far? Anything thatโ€™s helping you get through these winter days? Weโ€™d love to hear whatโ€™s working for you. ๐Ÿ’ฌ๐Ÿ’™

17 hours ago

baileymccrary

baileymccrary

Hi everyone! Yesterday, Congress advanced and the president signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026. This funding package includes several big "wins" for the lung health community!:

- COPD Foundation priority report language accompanying the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget
- Overall budget increase for the NIH
- Two-year extension of Medicare coverage for virtual pulmonary rehabilitation
- Restrictions on "forward funding" to provide more research funding
- Limits on indirect payment caps for research

Our lung health community's tireless dedication and advocacy helped make these "wins" possible! Thank you for your support of these policy priorities throughout 2025. Everyone should be very proud of their hard work that contributed to better policies for the lung health community.

Thank you to everyone for your passion and commitment for better lung health policies. We are incredibly proud of our community and look forward to more policy "wins" in 2026!

2 days ago

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

DebbieB.-Connecticut State CaptainHappy Saturday, friends! Keep warm, stay hydrated, and keep those positive vibes flowing! Have a terrific day! 

5 hours ago

HIcopd - Hawaii State Captain

HIcopd - Hawaii State Captainanswered the question treatment drugs

So far, I havenโ€™t added anything more to my Trelegy + biologic. Iโ€™m happy the biologic helps me not get exacerbations. Thatโ€™s all that we were worried about for me. Sone folks find using Ohtuvayre helps really reduce their breathlessness.
GAnne also answered the question GAnne also answered the question

8 hours ago

HIcopd - Hawaii State Captain

HIcopd - Hawaii State CaptainSending all of you, my online friends, a lovely tulip bouquet for a joyous weekend!

9 hours ago

Ken Benson-California Lung Health Advocate and State Captain

Ken Benson-California Lung Health Advocate and State CaptainCOPD soldiers serving on the Veteran Engagement Committee after a hard day's work.

22 hours ago

Ken Benson-California Lung Health Advocate and State Captain

Ken Benson-California Lung Health Advocate and State Captain

AstraZeneca is significantly reducing the cost of its common respiratory inhalers, driven by pressure from the White House and lawmakers to lower prices. These price caps aim to assist uninsured or high-copay patients.  The price cuts affect major, commonly used inhalers for COPD and asthma, including Bevespi Aerosphere, Breztri Aerosphere, and Symbicort.

22 hours ago

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captaincommented onEating Well: From Debbie Bโ€™s Kitchen to Yours

๐ŸŸงCHICKEN CHEDDAR BITES๐ŸŸงThis makes a tasty snack for Superbowl Sunday! ๐Ÿˆ 1 pound ground chicken1 tbsp. Italian seasoning 1/2 tsp. salt1/4 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, divided Preheat the oven to 350...

1 day ago

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

Happy Fluffy Friday, friends! 
Is this Friar Tuck? Nope! ๐Ÿ˜ This is little Luke Rossi, stopping by to wish everyone an awesome day! ๐Ÿคฉ

1 day ago

GAnne

GAnneanswered the question Has anyone else experience a 4cm Bulla in right lung being caused by COPD/Emphysema?

Johnson I have what they call bullous emphysema. Never been told how big they were but I do know the cover the good lung. I just keep my faith and trust God to carry me e everyday. My dr told me as long as I take care of myself, eat tight, excetize fo my …
das23 also answered the question das23 also answered the question

1 day ago

Buster55

Buster55

Hi all,
 I am newly diagnosed with emphysema.. Well sort of.  I had a lung CT in February of 2024 that evidentially showed moderate to severe emphysema. I am still trying to wrap my head around why my doctor did not tell me. Anyway... as I'm sure most of your were at first... I am very concerned. Information on the net is all over the place and even AI gives different answers to the same questions.  I am now 70 years old and have been a gym rat since I was 15. But, I also smoked for over 20 years and worked in the petroleum industry for 30 years where I was exposed daily to high concentrations of petrochemical vapor.. My pulse ox fluctuates between 92 and 97 and do have fatigue in the afternoons. But getting this news feels like an imminent death sentence. Even a simple question of how long can I live with this condition gets a variety of answers... I quit smoking, am in the gym 5 days a week and changed to a Mediterranean Diet but still having trouble getting the diagnosis out of my head. Any suggestions are appreciated.

1 day ago

Johnson

Johnsonasked the question: Has anyone else experience a 4cm Bulla in right lung being caused by COPD/Emphysema?

I went to ER today for chest and back pain from my right lung. They said i have a 4cm Bulla in right lung being caused COPD/Emphysema.

1 day ago

Jazzybean

JazzybeanGood morning, a little late but, here it is. Outside my window. Each morning the fox walks by from a nearby den to look for breakfast. The tracks you see is the path he walks through the snow. Some mornings he stops for a second, seemingly looks at me watching him, others he has come and gone by the time I get up. 

1 day ago

baileymccrary

baileymccrary

Hi all! Are you on Medicaid? Have you noticed any cost savings for your prescription COPD medications in the past month or so? If so, please reach out to me at bmccrary@copdfoundation.org! Thank you! ๐Ÿ˜€

1 day ago

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captaincommented onEating Well: From Debbie Bโ€™s Kitchen to Yours

๐Ÿ†—๏ธVITAMIN C PACKED SMOOTHIE๐Ÿ†—๏ธ1 cup frozen strawberries 1 medium banana, broken into chunks and frozen1 medium orange, peeled, seeded, and separated into segments 1 cup unsweetened almond milk Place all ingredients in a blender. Blend on high...

2 days ago

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

DebbieB.-Connecticut State CaptainThis peacock is announcing something important! 
The announcement is: Have a wonderful, easy breathing day, friends! 
๐Ÿ˜€๐Ÿฆš๐Ÿ˜„๐Ÿฆš

2 days ago

GAnne

GAnneanswered the question Am I cleaning the oxygen concentrator cups with the tubes wrong?

Thank you Karen
Karen Deitemeyer - Florida State Captain also answered the question Karen Deitemeyer - Florida State Captain also answered the question

2 days ago

GAnne

GAnneasked the question: Am I cleaning the oxygen concentrator cups with the tubes wrong?

I soak the oxygen concentrator cups with the tubes in vinegar and water when Iโ€™m done I rinse it out. Iโ€™ll wash them and rinse and I still have water spots after I hang them up to try. What am I doing wrong? How do you do it? Thank you G-Ann

2 days ago

Coach Brandon - Community Manager

Coach Brandon - Community ManagerItโ€™s VMCoTWW and hello, new month! ๐Ÿ‘‹
Punxsutawney Phil says winterโ€™s not done yetโ€ฆ but we might beg to differ. ๐Ÿ˜‰
Share a view that brings a little brightnessโ€”sunshine, scenery, or a moment that gives you hope. Letโ€™s fill the feed with views that lift us up! ๐ŸŒค๏ธ๐Ÿ’™

2 days ago

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

DebbieB.-Connecticut State CaptainHappy Wednesday, friends! It's always nice to accomplish things, especially when you are helping others. 
Remember, one good turn deserves another!
Have a pleasant, easy breathing day! ๐Ÿ˜Š

3 days ago

HIcopd - Hawaii State Captain

HIcopd - Hawaii State Captainanswered the question alternate forms of treatment

I agree that working closely with our medical team can save us from missteps that are costly financially and also in terms of our health. Thereโ€™s a lot of good and bad info. Our providers help us by letting us know which info is best for OUR …
Caroline West Virginia State Captaindas23 also answered the question Caroline West Virginia State Captainand 1 other also answered the question

3 days ago

HIcopd - Hawaii State Captain

HIcopd - Hawaii State Captain

Lovely and hopeful article, Caroline West Virginia State Captainโ€‹ .
https://copdnewstoday.com/columns/after-trifecta-illness-im-breathing-again-without-thinking/

3 days ago

Sirjohn

Sirjohn

Doing Ok today.. 

3 days ago

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captaincommented onEating Well: From Debbie Bโ€™s Kitchen to Yours

โšซ๏ธ๐ŸŒฝBEAN AND CORN SALSAโšซ๏ธ๐ŸŒฝHere's another healthy Superbowl Sunday snack! Choose a bag of healthy tortilla chips to use as dippers, and you're good to go! ๐Ÿ˜‹One 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed and drainedOne 11-ounce can corn, rinsed and...

3 days ago

Coach Brandon - Community Manager

Coach Brandon - Community Manager

๐ŸŽต If today had a theme song, what would it be?

Some days feel peppy and upbeat, and other days are a little more acoustic and mellowโ€”it often depends on where your energy lands and how your breathing feels. Whether today is about getting after the day or simply taking steady breaths, any pace counts.

Is there a song that energizes youโ€”or one that fits your mood today? ๐ŸŽถ

3 days ago

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captaincommented onEating Well: From Debbie Bโ€™s Kitchen to Yours

๐ŸŸฅZESTY BEET DIP๐ŸŸฅA unique and healthy dip that would be perfect to serve on Superbowl Sunday! ๐Ÿˆ 5 small beets, cooked and cooled1/3 cup walnuts, toasted1/4 cup white horseradish, drained well1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt 1 tbsp. lemon...

4 days ago

Laurak

Laurak

I am doing well!

4 days ago

DebbieB.-Connecticut State Captain

DebbieB.-Connecticut State CaptainHappy Tuesday! The word of the day is "SMILE" ! Your happiness will reflect and spread to everyone! 
Keep a smile on your face and you'll always be in the right place! 
Here's a BIG smile for you, friends! ๐Ÿ˜ƒ

4 days ago

don eck

don eckasked the question: alternate forms of treatment

I have read that herbal remedies are of great help with inflamation/scarring. Also that low level red light therapy is of great help. Is anyone using either of these? Which? How satisfied are you with it? thankyou for your help

4 days ago

Medical Advice

It is not our intention to serve as a substitute for medical advice and any content posted should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. We make every effort to support our members, our medical professionals cannot and will not provide a diagnosis or suggest a specific medication; those decisions should be left to your personal medical team. While we encourage individuals to share their personal experiences with COPD, please consult a physician before making changes to your own COPD management plan.