Columns

I recently read an article on my newsfeed that said Arnold Schwarzenegger, bodybuilder, actor, and onetime California governor, had a four-word mantra: “Stay busy. Be useful.” I thought this was a wonderful guide for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). As I pursue the idea of…

I have a few tips, tricks, and gadgets that help me live a good life with my chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). They come during my morning and evening routines, which help us do what’s important for our health. They can become habits that spur us to remember…

While watching coverage of a landslide on my news feed, I was reminded of a time when I had a close brush with one. A carpool I was in just missed it, but the carpool of friends behind us wasn’t so lucky. We were concerned they’d be killed in the…

Growing up in rural central West Virginia, I can remember the doctor coming to the house with his black bag full of medicine and instruments. Now I have two providers that I consult with over Zoom, and I wonder if this is the new “home visit.” For those of us…

Maybe it’s just me, but it seems that coordinating my healthcare is getting harder. It’s important for those of us with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to coordinate medications and other treatments so that we get optimum results. When I was diagnosed with COPD, all but one of…

Now that I have treatment for my depression and inability to sleep, I look a little differently than I used to at the occasions when I feel fatigued. I think it’s important for those of us with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to understand what type of fatigue we…

For several years now, a doe has hidden her fawns in the middle flower bed in my front lawn. I gain so much pleasure watching her deposit her children for me to babysit each day as she goes about finding food. There’s also a calming effect in watching the little…

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with the sleep aid and antidepressant trazodone. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. I’ve struggled for two years to find my optimal times to go to sleep and wake…

When I was suffering from depression, I couldn’t do my housework the way that I wanted. Now that I’m better, I’m enjoying doing things like pulling weeds and other chores. These activities are also a good way to remain active with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). I didn’t appreciate…

I was born a preemie weighing in at 4 pounds, and during my first six years of life, I was plagued with numerous ear infections. I now have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). I wondered if my premature birth and the health challenges of my first six years influenced…