Learning the Signs That Lead to COPD

DEAR DR. ROACH: What signs and/or symptoms do you need for a doctor to determine whether you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)? -- R.K.

ANSWER: The diagnosis of COPD is suspected in people who are at risk for the disease and note one of two cardinal symptoms: cough or dyspnea. (A “symptom” is what a patient identifies by history, while a “sign” is noted on a physical exam. A cough can be both a symptom and a sign.) Dyspnea is usually described as shortness of breath, a sensation that a person can’t get enough air, like they have just run very fast. Some people with COPD may have very subtle symptoms.

Smoking is the biggest risk factor for COPD, but there are other causes, including other chemical exposures (industrial exposures and home cooking fires are less common now, but are historically important causes of COPD); scarring lung disease; and a genetic cause, a condition called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.

The diagnosis is confirmed most often by tests of lung function, which are breathing tests to look at the physiology of the lung and its ability to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide. Sometimes the diagnosis can be supported by an X-ray or CT scan, but pulmonary function testing is the best way to determine the severity of COPD.

We do have ways of slowing down lung decline in COPD, one way being smoking cessation for current smokers, but some of the medications we use also help reduce ongoing damage.

DEAR DR. ROACH: Please help! Is it true that Trulicity may cause serious side effects, including thyroid tumors and cancer, as well as pancreatitis? -- J.R.

ANSWER: Dulaglutide (Trulicity), like semaglutide (Ozembic) and liraglutide (Victoza), are in a class of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists, which have several actions, such as increasing insulin release by the pancreas in response to meals. Initial studies on laboratory rats did show an increase in an unusual type of thyroid cancer, but studies have not yet shown an increased rate in humans. Still, people at an increased risk for this type of thyroid cancer (having a family history of medullary thyroid cancer or of multiple endocrine neoplasia, type 2A or 2B) are not recommended to take this medication. Similarly, there are reports of pancreatitis in people taking this medication, but it isn’t clear whether the medicine is responsible for the pancreatitis. It’s unwise to use this class of medication in people with a history of pancreatitis.

***

Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual questions, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu.

© 2023 North America Synd., Inc. All Rights Reserved

The Genesee Valley Church of Christ offers for FREE the following:

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New King James Bible

Eight Lesson Bible Correspondence Course

DVD “Searching for Truth” with Workbook

Searching for Truth Workbook alone (has same info as DVD)

Where do we go when we die? DVD

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No one will come to your home unless you request a Home Bible Study. If you would like to attend our services, we are located at 7351 Rt. 256, Scottsburg, NY. We meet in the Sparta Community Center. Bible Study at 9am, Worship Service following at 9:45am. We would love to see you! 10:00AM.

How To Keep Grilled Foods Warm

Use the warming feature on the stove. Many stoves come with warming settings that keep foods warm without cooking them. While this requires cooks to go indoors, it can help keep grilled foods warm while the rest of the meal continues cooking over the open flame.

Magic Maze

Types Of Knots

Twelve 15” x 15”x 2” CEMENT BLOCKS. 585-200-2009

One sheet 4’ x 8’ DRYWALL. Two 8’ STUDS. Victor. (585) 738-4734

FULL SIZE MATTRESS, BOX SPRING, FRAME and HEADBOARD. All in very good condition. Also, some FULL SIZE BEDDING. Lakeville. 585-649-8706

Two YAMAHA ORGANS and two PLAYER PIANOS. 585-789-7663 (text only) or 585-323-1762 (leave message)

WEBER GENESIS GAS GRILL with side burner. Great condition. Comes with a cover. Pick up in Geneseo. 585-261-3462

20+ EGG CARTONS and five large 30oz EMPTY COFFEE CANS. Brockport. 585-637-7505

CHRISTIAN TRACTS, BOOKS and BIBLES and a 25 volume ENCYCLOPEDIA SET 585-436-8158

ARRIS MODEM, compatible with Spectrum Cable. 315-398-4015

DIAMOND PAINTING KIT. You complete. Pick up, Batavia. Text only. 845-309-9373

INDOOR SMOKELESS GRILL Used twice. Pick up, Batavia. Text only. 845-309-9373

NATURAL GAS ALARM, 3” wide x 5” long. Battery powered. petert100@gmail.com

BANANA BOXES and other boxes. All in good condition. Must pick up, Phelps. 315-548-8372

MOTOROLA CABLE MODEM w/Wi-Fi. Spectrum compatible and new in the box. 1900 MBPS Wi-Fi. petert100@gmail.com

TABLE MAT 80” x 60” x 20”. WOOD QUEEN BED FRAME w/headboard. New COMMODE w/Roho Cushion. Pick up, Naples. Kalind5592@gmail.com

Used NORDIC TRACK. Good condition. jwalnes@yahoo.com

Possibly a pig or other animal farm could use 200+ CANS OF EXPIRED FOOD 585-356-4315

MEDICAL SUPPLIES – bandages, saline solution, wound cleaner, body soap and lotions. 585-362-6906

MAPLE FIREWOOD in chunks on ground. Need chainsaw to cut to transport. Leave message. 585-237-5803

ESQUIRE MAGAZINES 2008-2010. Good condition. 585-671-2598

1950s EZ SPIN WASHER. Poor condition. Good for collectors or scrap metal. You must remove from basement. Picture available. 585-671-2598

20-inch 2003 ENVISION TV. Good for gaming systems. Comes with plastic gaming center. 585-671-2598

4 qty rounded LANDSCAPING EDGING, brick. 2’ long by 3’ high pieces. Penfield: 585-820-9245

POOL TABLE w/ balls, but no cue sticks. Particle Board. Warped, but good for kids to learn on. You remove from basement. msmalter2@gmail.com

OneTouch Blood GLUCOSE METER. sscott01@rochester.rr.com

FLAT BLACK SHEETS and BLACK CURTAINS. ejohn2908@frontiernet.net

TELESCOPE for stargazer. Leave voicemail. Speak slowly. 585-752-1562

Large/sturdy/wood burning PIT FIREPLACE. To burn lots of firewood. 585-752-1562

STURDY SHELVING. 585-424-0732

Large print KING JAMES BIBLE in good condition. 585-649-8706

BUTTONS, medium to large for wheelchair bags & lap blankets for nursing home residents. 585-584-3734

Looking for a 1983 AVON CENTRAL SCHOOL YEARBOOK jrranch5764@gmail.com

CAROUSEL PROJECTOR for slides in good working condition. 585-347-4283

DAVIS VANTAGE PRO2 model 6312 or VANTAGE VUE model 6351/6510

DISPLAY CONSOLE for a Davis weather station ISS. junkmail1360@yahoo.com

DAVIS WEATHER STATION DATA-LOGGER model 6510USB or 6555IP to fit the display console. junkmail1360@yahoo.com

Granddaughters want to learn to can. Need any size CANNING JARS. Also, BABY CLOTHES and TOYS for great-grandchild. dobstarczyk@hotmail.com

PATIO BARSTOOL CHAIRS in good condition. Please text. 585-749-2432

Single mom of two kids in need of WORKING WASHING MACHINE penguinprincess73577@gmail.com

Small used SPINET PIANO in good condition for senior citizen in Dansville. 585-443-9974

VCR in good working condition. Wonder.ful.of.bread@theplate.com

GREENHOUSE and SUPPLIES needed for small startup. Any size and condition. VINTAGE ELECTRONICS, RECORDS, and TOOLS. greg3151@ymail.com

Looking for TRAILER for a 4-wheeler to help a retired veteran be able to hunt this season. 585-337-8580

MAGAZINES, particularly food-centered, for collages. angela.m.kennelly@opwdd.ny.gov

5’ METAL FENCE STAKES. Text me. 585-260-3506

STOCKADE FENCING. Will remove. 585-358-6850

CROQUET SET, solid wood. Good/playable condition. Manufactured between 1950s - 1990s. Call/Text 585-764-9769

Lots of STYROFOAM EGG CARTONS needed for kids’ art camp. Webster/Penfield area. cmstudio@rochester.rr.com or 585-217-3397

LIONEL O-SCALE TRAINS, Locomotives, Rolling: stock, accessories, scenery, etc. For hobby and eventual layout. Got Bench-work? I will take it! 315-694-6197

Looking for a UTILITY TRAILER. Please call/text with pictures. 585-447-0201

TONNEAU COVER for 6.5’ bed. Call/text 585-447-0201 with info.

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HOW PARENTS CAN SIMPLIFY STUDENTS’ TRANSITION TO COLLEGE LIFE

Emphasize time management. Today’s high schoolers are busier than ever before, so many may already be prepared for the juggling act that is college life. But college students have more free time than their high school counterparts, so parents can emphasize the importance of managing that free time wisely as opposed to spending it lounging on the couch or napping.