Page 13 - Stuart Exposure - April '23

Stuart Exposure, Page 13

ClevelaNd CliNiC marTiN healTh News

Four Myths About COPD condition who never smoked. vaccines to prevent serious illness. Taking care of yourself in
According to the National these ways, plus taking your medications, can sometimes help
Breathing comes to us naturally and (usually) pretty easily. Institutes of Health, 42 percent offset the complications of COPD.
However, if you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, of COPD sufferers are former Your doctor will help tailor medications to your needs.
better known as COPD, you have trouble doing what connects smokers, 34 percent are current Medications include inhalers that open your airways or
us to life – you can’t easily breathe. smokers and the rest – which reduce airway inflammation, supplemental oxygen, and
The disease can affect your airways, air sacs or both. It’s make up 24 percent — never alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1AT) infusions if you have an inherited
the third leading cause of death in the United States, according lit a cigarette. deficiency. PDE4 enzyme inhibitors can reduce inflammation
to the American Lung Association – affecting more than 11 Myth 2: There’s No in some patients, too.
million Americans and another estimated 24 million who go Treatment For COPD Myth 3: If You Have COPD, It’s Too Late To Quit Smoking
undiagnosed. Fact: There is a lot that can Fact: It’s never too late to quit smoking.
If you were recently diagnosed with COPD, your mind may be done for COPD patients. While the lung damage that characterizes COPD is
be spinning with questions. Cleveland Clinic Florida sheds COPD is treatable, and if cumulative, there’s still a lot of benefit to quitting because it will
light on four common myths about COPD and why it’s often you have symptoms, there are Fatima Pozuelo, M.D., slow the progression of the disease. And if you quit smoking
misunderstood: many options to help you feel Pulmonary Medicine early enough, near-normal lung function may return.
Myth 1: Only Smokers Get COPD better. Myth 4: Exercise Is Too Hard If You Have COPD
Fact: While COPD is often associated with smoking, and It’s important to quit smoking, eat a healthy diet, get plenty Fact: If you find that shortness of breath makes it too
rightly so, there are a substantial number of people with this of exercise and keep up on your influenza and pneumonia difficult to be physically active, there are further steps you can
take.
Talk to your doctor if they recommend pulmonary
EXPLORE LUXURY SENIOR LIVING IN STUART rehabilitation, where specialized respiratory therapists teach
breathing techniques, exercises and proper nutrition to make
living with COPD easier. Moderate exercise will not hurt your
lungs; in fact, it can lessen COPD symptoms, strengthen your
heart and reduce stress.
Not Sure If You Might Have COPD?
Be aware of any symptoms. The first signs of COPD may
include a hacking cough with phlegm, shortness of breath,
wheezing when you breathe or tightness in your chest.
If you notice any of these symptoms, see your doctor for
a spirometry test, a simple outpatient procedure that assesses
your lung function by measuring how much air you’re able to
breathe in and out.
Call (844) 630-4968 to schedule an appointment, or visit
ClevelandClinicFlorida.org/Lung to learn more.
Treasure

Coast Outdoors

FEC Stuart Railroad Bridge

May Hinder Many Anglers

By Jim Weix
Although the cobia run is
on, and the grouper season
opens on May 1, it is a
100-year-old rusted hunk
of a bridge that is drawing
ELEVATE better suited to be sunk and
the most attention. Perhaps
used as an artificial reef, a
start-up railroad company is
YOUR LIVING planning on running high-
speed passenger trains over
it. There are rumors that several taverns have a pool going
on where participants pick the date of the first high-speed
derailment in Stuart.
This start-up passenger train service, now known as
“Brightline,” plans to transport people from Miami to Orlando
at speeds up to 110 mph. This will involve the trains passing

Whether it’s fine dining in our signature eateries, through Stuart about 33 times per day. Although not fully in
service yet, 88 people have died since Brightline began in
exceptional events, or personalized care July 2017.
In an attempt to make this old trestle safer, Brightline
you’re seeking, our luxury senior living community will be making repairs and upgrades. To accomplish this,
the trestle will need to be in a closed position. During those
times, only vessels with a vertical height of fewer than 6 feet
allows you to thrive at every level. will be able to get under it. Even then, depending upon the
work being done, you may or may not want to go under it.
This is the most recent planned schedule of when the
This is HarborChase. Come celebrate with us. bridge is allowed to be closed:
1. April 16 through April 28, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily
2. May 1, from 6 a.m. until 6 a.m., May 22
3. May 22 through May 29, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily
However, to help with boat traffic, the bridge will remain
open and in the up position from:
1. April 16 through April 28 from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. and 7
p.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
2. May 22 through May 29, from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. and 7
p.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
Explore Editor’s note: Jim Weix is an avid hunter, angler,
Luxury Senior STUART conservationist, as well as an outdoor writer. Jim is
Living at 772 264 4846 included in the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s Hall of
Fame for helping restore thousands of acres of wetlands.
HarborChase Jim is a broker associate with The Keyes Company. He
can be reached at (772) 341-2941 or by email: jimweix@
jimweix.com.