Page 4 - Palm City Spotlight - April '23

Page 4, Palm City Spotlight

CleVelaNd CliNiC MartiN HealtH News

Four Myths About COPD – affecting more than 11 Medications include inhalers that open your airways or
million Americans and reduce airway inflammation, supplemental oxygen, and
Breathing comes to us naturally and (usually) another estimated 24 million alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1AT) infusions if you have an
pretty easily. However, if you have chronic obstructive who go undiagnosed. inherited deficiency. PDE4 enzyme inhibitors can reduce
pulmonary disease, better known as COPD, you have If you were recently inflammation in some patients, too.
trouble doing what connects us to life – you can’t easily diagnosed with COPD, Myth 3: If You Have COPD, It’s Too Late To Quit
breathe. your mind may be spinning Smoking
The disease can affect your airways, air sacs or with questions. Cleveland Fact: It’s never too late to quit smoking.
both. It’s the third leading cause of death in the United Clinic Florida sheds light on While the lung damage that characterizes COPD is
States, according to the American Lung Association four common myths about cumulative, there’s still a lot of benefit to quitting because
COPD and why it’s often it will slow the progression of the disease. And if you quit
misunderstood: smoking early enough, near-normal lung function may return.
Piper’s Landing from page 1 Myth 1: Only Smokers Get Myth 4: Exercise Is Too Hard If You Have COPD
COPD Fatima Pozuelo, M.D., Fact: If you find that shortness of breath makes it too
included a luncheon with a live auction conducted by Fact: While COPD Pulmonary Medicine difficult to be physically active, there are further steps
Mik Panavas, silent auction and a tea cup raffle of over is often associated with you can take.
60 items and a talk by SpaceSafe CEO Teresa Albizu. smoking, and rightly so, there are a substantial number of Talk to your doctor if they recommend pulmonary
The event raised $26,335 which included over $3,000 people with this condition who never smoked. According rehabilitation, where specialized respiratory therapists
from about 50 PLWGA members who paid to buy to the National Institutes of Health, 42 percent of COPD teach breathing techniques, exercises and proper nutrition
welcome bags/purses containing personal hygiene and sufferers are former smokers, 34 percent are current to make living with COPD easier. Moderate exercise
toiletry items to give to domestic violence victims when smokers and the rest – which make up 24 percent — never will not hurt your lungs; in fact, it can lessen COPD
they enter the emergency shelter, many of whom come lit a cigarette. symptoms, strengthen your heart and reduce stress.
with nothing but the clothes they are wearing. This helps Myth 2: There’s No Treatment For COPD Not Sure If You Might Have COPD?
defray the costs of about 50 bags SafeSpace will give to Fact: There is a lot that can be done for COPD patients. Be aware of any symptoms. The first signs of COPD
victims who come to the shelter for safety. COPD is treatable, and if you have symptoms, there may include a hacking cough with phlegm, shortness of
Albizu shared that besides a hotline and emergency are many options to help you feel better. breath, wheezing when you breathe or tightness in your
shelters, SafeSpace also provides a wide range of other It’s important to quit smoking, eat a healthy diet, chest.
services to victims seeking help inside and outside the get plenty of exercise and keep up on your influenza If you notice any of these symptoms, see your doctor
shelter such as, safety planning, mental health counseling and pneumonia vaccines to prevent serious illness. for a spirometry test, a simple outpatient procedure that
for victims and their children, legal assistance, financial Taking care of yourself in these ways, plus taking your assesses your lung function by measuring how much air
literacy training, child protective services, youth violence medications, can sometimes help offset the complications you’re able to breathe in and out.
prevention education, and more – all free of charge. of COPD. Call (844) 630-4968 to schedule an appointment, or
“Federal and state grants cover only about half of the Your doctor will help tailor medications to your needs. visit ClevelandClinicFlorida.org/Lung to learn more.
agency’s expenses,” says Albizu, “so SafeSpace is very
grateful to Piper’s Landing for raising over $26,000 to
help us sustain the programs and services that will help Club News
victims become survivors and transition to a life free from
violence.”
The charity event would not have been successful
without the donations of items for the auctions and raffles Discover When Stuart Was A fifth generation Floridian, Sandra Thurlow came
from PLWGA members and Piper’s Landing staff, as well Potsdam With The Martin to Martin County in 1961. She and her late husband,
as from others in the Martin County community: Diane Tom, devoted decades to researching, collecting and
Anthony’s Permanent Make Up, Frank Bianco/Miracle County Genealogical Society sharing local history. She published books showcasing
Jewelry Exchange, Marjorie Collins Massage Therapist, Sewall’s Point, Stuart, Jensen Beach and Eden with
Cat Kaltenhauser Personal Trainer, Dr. Charles Oliveri/ Ever wonder what the Treasure Coast was like photographs collected from pioneer families and
Spinal Health & Wellness Center, Michelle Radich/Alyce when the first settlers arrived? At the Martin County community leaders. Sandra also published Gilbert’s
& Co., Sailfish Point Golf Club, Lourdes Cortina/Tapas Genealogical Society’s (MCGS) May meeting, Bar House of Refuge with her daughter-in-law, Deanna
by Lourdes, The Gafford and The Lyric Theatre. Sandra Thurlow will provide a glimpse into Stuart’s Thurlow, and co-authored U.S. Life-Saving Service:
Piper’s Landing could not have held this fundraiser earliest years. Presenting “When It was Potsdam: Florida’s East Coast with Timothy Dring. It is Sandra’s
without the help of its many volunteers. They are: Susan Stuart’s German Founders,” she will share images hope that MCGS members will use their expertise to
Ash, Zenta Barger, Nancy Bowden, Michele Bragg, collected from members of the founding Stypmann augment what local historians compiled before the age
Lois Brooks, Sue Chase, Sandra Conley, Micki Dion, and Schroeder families. In 1892, the Stypmann of the Internet.
Pattie Dunn, Sonita Farr, Barbara Flynn, Ann Grace, brothers, Ernest, Otto and Albert, founded Potsdam, Free and open to the public, the meeting will be at
Linda Harlan, Maryann Kiely, Shirley Kohl, Gretchen the settlement that evolved into Stuart, and opened the Blake Library, 2351 S.E. Monterey Road in Stuart,
Kundahl, Deborah Lovequist, Shirley MacDonald, Judy the Potsdam Post Office on the St. Lucie River. A from 1 to 3 p.m., Friday, May 19. To participate via
Papayanakos, Nancy Patterson, Leslie Robinson, Mary year later, their nephew, Curt Schroeder, joined them. Zoom, go to mcgsfl.org/events and register by May
Sabbatelli, Mary Simpson, Ellen South and Helene Young. Although he spoke only German, Curt became the 18.
region’s historian, and his detailed columns published The Martin County Genealogical Society offers
in the 1940s were eventually compiled into a book- a variety of services at the Genealogy Room in the
length feature in the Stuart News. The presentation is Blake Library including an extensive research library,
offered in conjunction with Martin County Historic access to several genealogy websites and assistance
Preservation Month, coordinated each May by the from MCGS volunteers. For more information about
Martin County Historic Preservation Board. membership, activities and services go to mcgsfl.org.

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Piper’s hole sponsorship signs