Breathe Easy AZ

The 2010 Arizona Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Surveillance Report found that COPD is the 3rd  leading cause of death in Arizona. The report also identified that 80-90% of COPD cases could be attriubuted to cigarette smoking.  Click here to download the full report.

Diet is always a hot topic at COPD conferences and in support groups, but until now there’s never been a resource available to provide valuable information on how to eat healthy.

Elizabeth Page, Respiratory Wellness Coordinator at Yavapai Regional Medical Center, created Save Your Breath: A Guide to Eating Well for People with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease to provide a much-needed resource for those suffering from COPD.

“Save Your Breath provides recipes that encourage a reduction in the amount of processed foods, sodium and sugar,” Elizabeth said in a recent telephone call. “We use traditional recipes, but modify them by lowering the amount of sodium.” (Read more)

The COPD Collaborative Program wrapped up the 2009-2010 year with its highest attended quarterly meeting of the year in Yuma. The purpose of the quarterly meetings is to continue to introduce the program statewide, and is typically attended by patients, caregivers, physicians and health care professionals.

The meeting was highlighted by a year-end recap and a keynote presentation on COPD delivered by Dr. Marvin Lesser. (Read more)

More rallies, volunteers and cutting-edge programs made this year one to remember for Breathe Easy Arizona.

A major accomplishment in 2009/2010 was the creation of an active advisory board that has provided valuable leadership to our coalition. The new advisory board was instrumental in the creation of several new working groups (including: legislative issues, advocacy and membership process) at our annual meeting in January. (Read more)