Across the rural West, an awareness of the health impacts of poor air quality – and how to minimize those impacts – is growing.
Read MoreFacing Unique Challenges, Rural Communities Find Unique Solutions to Protect Against Wildfire Smoke Exposure
Topics: Chronic respiratory conditions
Pulmonary Rehabilitation: Benefiting Rural Individuals, Benefiting Rural Population Health
On the list of leading causes of death, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, impacts millions of rural Americans and their quality of life. Though limited treatments are available for COPD, research indicates that pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) provides major benefits, yet is currently under-prescribed and facing challenges from COVID-19 and from reimbursement policies. Researchers discuss the potential that tele-PR might bring to rural areas, and rural healthcare leaders highlight the benefits of their PR programs for service areas.
Read MoreStill Stealing Rural America’s Breath: An Update on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is a condition that continues to steal rural America’s breath. Researchers, philanthropists, and healthcare professionals talk about new rural research efforts and the impact of COVID-19 on COPD. Also discussed is the importance of pulmonary rehabilitation, an impactful treatment long known to improve quality of life and now backed by new research proving it decreases death rates in select patients.
Read MoreThe Alcoholic Beverage: An Elixir, and Yet a Poison?
In addition to information from federal agencies, a Missouri cardiologist reviews the science behind what often seems to be mixed messages concerning alcohol use and its impact on health and well-being
Read MoreDiagnosing the Rural COPD Patient: Ask About Symptoms, Use Spirometry
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute calculates that 3.5 million rural Americans have COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It’s also estimated that hundreds of thousands of rural Americans have the condition and don’t know it. Though it is a condition without a cure, it is a condition with hope. The COPD Foundation’s Chief Science Officer and a State Captain share how asking questions and doing spirometry can help diagnose the condition.
Read MoreOffice-Based Spirometry: Key to Diagnosing Rural COPD Patients
Chronic obstructive lung disease, or COPD, is a disease with a stronghold in rural America: almost double the prevalence and double the mortality rates compared to large urban areas. Though it is a condition with no cure, it’s a condition that has treatments — and hope — making proper diagnosis by spirometry imperative.
Read MoreRural Patients with Chronic Disease: A Nonprofit Organization and a Health Department Leverage Federal Funding to Provide Health Education and Care Coordination
An Alabama nonprofit organization and a North Carolina rural health district share how they leverage public funding for quality improvement and rural network development activities that provide unique patient education opportunities for chronic disease prevention and self-management.
Read MoreUnderstanding the Many Roles of COPD Foundation State Captains: Q&A with John Linnell
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has higher prevalence and death rates in rural than urban populations. John Linnell, a rural COPD Foundation State Captain, talks about the disease and how he and other Captains can be partners in efforts to impact this disease.
Read MoreNew Mexico Mobile Screening Program for Miners Brings Care to the Patients
Miners in rural New Mexico may forego care when they have to drive a long distance to see a primary care provider or specialist. The New Mexico Mobile Screening Program for Miners travels to 12 locations in the state to bring needed care to patients.
Read MorePulmonary Health in Rural America: Cause and Impact of Work-Related Lung Diseases
What’s in the air in the rural workplace? From grain dust to rock dust to hospital cleaning chemicals, all these particles have potential to cause chronic lung diseases. But, there are keys to prevention.
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