An international team of researchers has published a new framework, dubbed the Rome proposal, for defining and classifying exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). “The ‘Rome Proposal’ represents an important milestone for better understanding and treating a very important and troubling component of COPD progression and, the prospect…

Regular, low-dose oral morphine led to significant health improvements in adults with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who regularly experienced shortness of breath, according to results of a Phase 4 clinical trial. Treatment with morphine did not cause lung-related…

New official guidelines have been published by the American Thoracic Society (ATS) for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Among the new recommendations, the combination of long-acting beta two agonists (LABA) and long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA) is recommended over either therapy alone to treat people with COPD…

People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are among the most vulnerable to COVID-19 infections, being even more likely to develop severe disease or to be admitted to intensive care units (ICU) than those with diseases like high blood pressure or diabetes, an analysis of several…

Inhaling vaporized cannabis does not improve breathlessness or exercise endurance in patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a small Canadian study. The study reporting the findings, “Effect of vaporized cannabis on exertional breathlessness and exercise endurance in advanced COPD: A randomized controlled…

A group of researchers found that tai chi, an ancient martial art and form of exercise, could offer a low-cost, easily accessible alternative to pulmonary rehabilitation for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). After 12 weeks of practicing tai chi for five hours per week, participants saw benefits that…

Researchers at Ege University in Turkey recently showed that non-invasive ventilation (NIV) and supplemental oxygen can offer clinical benefits to patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during exercise training. The results were presented at the American College of Chest Physicians Annual Meeting (CHEST 2015), held Oct. 24–28…

Results from a recent study published in the CHEST Journal showed that yoga is a cost-effective form of rehabilitation that is as effective as standard progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) programs for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). According to the study, yoga programs can be adopted as…