Q: I've been feeling unusually tired and dizzy lately. I also have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease iCOPD). Could these symptoms be stemming from my COPD, or are they a sign of something different?
A: You may have anemia. Many people with COPD have this condition, which occurs when the blood has too few red blood cells and can't carry enough oxygen. If you have anemia, you may feel tired and weak or get dizzy and short of breath. Physical activity may seem harder because your tissues lack oxygen.
Talk with your doctor if you are concerned about anemia. Iron pills may help if blood iron levels are low. Your doctor or pharmacist at your local Good Neighbor Pharmacy can help you choose an iron pill.
Q: Because of my COPD, I have a hard time maintaining a healthy weight. Is there anything I can do to prevent weight loss?
A: Try these strategies from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics:
• Eat several smaller meals and snacks a day. If your appetite is small, drink beverages before or after meals. Limit beverages that have empty calories, such as sodas.
• Emphasize nutrient-rich foods — whole grains, milk products, meat, fish, poultry, fruits and vegetables — rather than sweets, soft drinks and chips.
• Add healthy, concentrated calories to dishes. Top soups and chili with grated cheese. Spread whole-grain toast with peanut butter.
Q: I've tried to quit smoking by going cold turkey, but I haven't been successful. What else can I try?
A: First, ask your doctor if medicine or nicotine replacement therapy is right for you. Your Good Neighbor Pharmacy can help you choose a nicotine supplement, such as the patch or gum.
Then try one or more of these strategies:
• Exercise. In one recent study, a single session of exercise reduced the desire to smoke in smokers. Regular physical activity can also help prevent weight gain and reduce the stress associated with quitting.
• Get a new hobby. The mental part of the addiction may be the most difficult to overcome. Changing your routine and developing new interests can help you stop smoking for the long term.
• Phone it in. Telephone counseling doubles the success rate of quitting. You can talk with a trained smoking cessation counselor through the government's quitline, 800-QUIT-NOW, and the American Lung Association's Lung Helpline, 800-LUNGUSA.
Q:What exactly are e-cigarettes? Should I try them to help me quit smoking?
A: E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that provide vaporized nicotine. Your body absorbs the steam in the mouth and lungs. Because the product contains no tobacco, the vapor delivers no tar, carbon monoxide, smoke or odor.
A study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that after using the products for six months, 31 percent of participants were smoke-free. Two-thirds were smoking fewer cigarettes, and close to half said they had quit smoking for at least a while.
E-cigarettes can also help ease nicotine withdrawal while satisfying your behavioral cue of holding a cigarette. Your pharmacist at your Good Neighbor Pharmacy can help you find an e-cigarette or another smoking cessation product — such as nicotine gum, lozenges or the patch — that's a good fit for you.
Looking for more information on COPD?
Visit GoodNeighborPharmacy.com for more information on COPD symptoms, causes and prevention.
Good Neighbor Pharmacy, November 2012
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