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A Dedication to Resourceful Living: A group approach to focus on what matters to the members of our community whose lives are impacted by chronic lung disease.

Breath Matters Virginia Lung Support Group

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Archived Information

Archived Meeting info 2018

Archived Meeting info 2017

Archived Meeting info 2016

Archived Meeting info 2014



PAST MEETING: NOV 14, 2014

Topic: LUNG TRANSPLANTS: What UNOS is doing to Find Your Perfect Organ

Lisa Schaffner speaks at the Nov 2014 Breath Matters meeting at Chippenham Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia. She speaks on the topic of UNOS and its efforts to match life-saving organs between deceased donors and those on the national organ donation waiting list maintained by UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing). UNOS works with important organs such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, pancreas, liver and intestines.

In particular, Lisa Schaffner speaks on lung transplants, how lungs are donated, how they are matched to people in need, and the pitfalls and difficulties of providing successful organ transplantation.

Recorded live at the November 2014 meeting of Breath Matters in Richmond Virginia at the Chippenham Medical Center, Kraus Auditorium.

VIDEO PART 1 - PART 2 - PART 3 - PART 4 - PART 5 - PART 6

November 2014

November meeting

 


FDA approves Boehringer's Ofev (nintedanib) for the treatment of IPF and Intermune’s Esbiret (pirfenidone)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Ofev (nintedanib) for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a condition in which the lungs become progressively scarred over time. As a result, patients with IPF experience shortness of breath, cough, and have difficulty participating in everyday physical activities. Current treatments for IPF include oxygen therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation, and lung transplant.

“Today’s Ofev approval expands the available treatment options for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a serious, chronic condition,” said Mary H. Parks, M.D., deputy director of the Office of Drug Evaluation II in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Providing health care professionals and patients with additional treatment options helps enable appropriate care decisions based on a patient’s need.”

The FDA granted Ofev fast track, priority review, orphan product, and breakthrough designations. Ofev is being approved ahead of the product’s prescription drug user fee goal date of Jan. 2, 2015, the date the agency was scheduled to complete the review of the drug application.

The October 15, 2014 Press release from the FDA


PAST MEETING: OCT 13, 2014

The presentation by Dr. Lori Sweeney was informative and covered many issues related to the thyroid and the effects on blood pressure. Also discussed was how gender effects lung disease, the effects of estrogen on lung ailments, and related problems with diabetes, obesity, blood vessel remodeling and vitamin D deficiency. Much more was brought up during her questions and answers.

VIDEO PART 1 - PART 2 - PART 3 - PART 4

Lori Sweeney - Breathmatters Meeting - 2

Lori Sweeney - Breathmatters Meeting - 3

Lori Sweeney - Breathmatters Meeting - 4

Lori Sweeney - Breathmatters Meeting - 5

Lori Sweeney - Breathmatters Meeting - 6

 


Researchers hope to create artificial lung to buy time for implant patients

"NIH-funded researchers are working to develop wearable “respiratory assist devices” that could do the lungs’ two jobs — supplying oxygen and getting rid of carbon dioxide — without tethering patients to a bulky bedside machine. It has been challenging.

“The lung is an amazing organ for gas exchange. It’s not so easy to develop a mechanical device that can essentially replace the function of a lung,” said bioengineer William Federspiel of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, who helped invent a bedside device called the Hemolung and is working on next-step devices.

Donated lungs are in such short supply that only 1,923 transplants were performed last year, just 80 of them repeats, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing."

Full article at the Richmond Times Dispatch

PAST MEETING: SEO 8, 2014

(Nurse Pract.) & Attendee, Pulmonology Department, MCV Hospital, Richmond, VA

TOPIC: "THE NEW COPD MEDS"

Janet Pinson NP - Meeting Breathmatters Sept 2014 1

The September 8, 2014 meeting was very well attended, we had a packed room to hear NP Janet Pinson.

Janet Pinson, NP, MCV Hospital Richmond Virginia Video taped at the Sept 2014 Breathmatters suport group meeting for lung disease sufferers at the Bosher Auditorium in Chippenham Medical Center, Richmond Virginia.

Discussed were the keys to Pulmonary Rehab Success, and the importance of exercise, in particular arm exercise.

Discussed were the new inhalers, such as:
  1. Combinent Respimat
  2. Tudorza Pressair
  3. Breo Ellipta
  4. Anora Ellipta
  5. Arcapta Neohaler
  6. Striverdi Respimat
  7. Spiriva Respimat

Janet Pinson NP - Meeting Breathmatters Sept 2014 2

Janet Pinson NP - Meeting Breathmatters Sept 2014 3

Janet Pinson NP - Meeting Breathmatters Sept 2014 4

Janet Pinson NP - Meeting Breathmatters Sept 2014 5


Debbie LeidheiserJuly 2014 Meeting

Debbie Leidheiser spoke

Senior Advocate, Chesterfield County Virginia

TOPIC: Seeing Through the FOG of Senior Resources

The July 2014 meeting was held at Bosher Auditorium with a good crowd for a day that had intense July heat in the Richmond area. Ms. Leidheiser talked about the explosive growth of people aged 50 and older in the Richmond metro area, and how this growth is expected to increase as more people come to live in the Richmond area. Described in the presentation are the many programs and resources available for seniors.

The Richmond Virginia metro area is considered a highly desirable place for retirement and the infrastructure to support this population has increased considerably. Ms. Leidheiser describes the many tools available for better living for seniors in our area.

Read more about the July 2014 Meeting

SEE THE ONLINE VIDEO RECORDING OF THE JULY 2014 MEETING


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