Following are a few comments – in part – I had written in
response to an article in the Kitsap Sun. that will help explain
the importance of early detection Spirometry testing.
You be the judge – are the following comments still valid today,
as I believe they are? Sharon
Posted by familien1 on November 9, 2008 at 4:53 p.m. (……
The Washington State Department of Health lists the following
diseases of interest to them.
Chronic Disease (Section Overview)
Coronary Heart Disease
Stroke
Asthma
Female Breast Cancer
Invasive Cervical Cancer
Colorectal Cancer
Lung Cancer
Melanoma of the Skin
Diabetes
Note that COPD, the 4th leading cause of death in the U.S., 5th
leading killer in the world, is not on the list.
Cancer is of interest to the Department of Health KNOWING COPD
KILLS more people per year than Lung Cancer and Breast Cancer
combined –main cause – smoking.
Cancer caused by smoking is important to public health – COPD is
not.
Asthma kills an estimated 5000 people a year in the United
States…
www.pulmonologychannel.com/asthma/index.shtml
COPD claims about 120000 deaths a year in the US.
www.medscape.com/viewarticle/553196
Why is Asthma important while COPD killing 115,000 more people a
year is not important to the Washington State Department of
Health?
Diabetes is the 5th leading cause of death in the US, right
behind COPD.
Why does public health care more about Diabetes patients than
COPD patients?
…
“…OMG, I swear if I hear one more word about COPD from Sharon
O’Hara I am going to scream.”
…until you people start caring and 120,000 people a year stop
dying of COPD from … callous indifference, I will continue talking
about COPD.
http://uwnews.org/article.asp?article…
Washington State Department of Health
101 Israel Rd SE, PO Box 47890
Olympia, WA 98504-7890
http://www.doh.wa.gov/HWS/CD2007.shtm
In 2005, the Washington Asthma Initiative adopted the Washington
State Asthma Plan, 17 a
The Health of Washington State, 2007 updated: 12/07/2007
Washington State Department of Health
(Spirometry) Early detection of COPD might alter its course and
progress. ¦ Avoiding tobacco smoke, home and workplace air
pollutants, and respiratory infections are key to preventing the
initial development of COPD.
Most primary doctors have failed to provide Spirometry testing
for early detection of COPD…
COPDers, caregivers, friends and family – fight for your right
to live! Fight for research! Fight for early detection and
Spirometry testing!
Posted by familien1 on November 9, 2008 at 7:41 p.m. (Suggest
removal)
(A blogger made the following comment and I responded to
it.)
“There is currently no effective way to make COPD go away once
it occurs, unlike other diseases.”
NO disease could ‘go away’ without the research and studies to
bring them under control.
Early detection (Spirometry) can slow down or stop the disease
from progressing.
COPD is slow developing.
…
Oddly enough while the majority of COPDers were smokers, only about
20% smokers get COPD.
NO senior with or without disease would put their own life ahead
of a child’s life. NONE. Would your own parents or
grandparents?
Why it is okay …that older smoking caused Cancer patients
deserve treatment and research while older COPD patients do
not?
What are the odds that COPD is usually diagnosed later in life
because doctors refuse to give patients a Spirometry test for early
detection?
Latest studies show COPD is being diagnosed in younger
people.
…Spirometry testing doesn’t matter to those older folks already
diagnosed with COPD — they care about Spirometry testing because
they don’t want their children and grandchildren – nor your
children to get what they have.
Early detection could make the difference.
…
Environment plays a part in getting COPD – remember the
firefighters at 9-11?
… Let the taxpayers pay for something worth lives…early
detection Spirometry testing.
Sharon O’Hara
…LETTERS/Bremerton%20Sun%20Comments/HEALTH/Health%20District%20to%20Cut%20Staff,%20Programs%20%20%20Top%20Stories%20%20%20Kitsap%20Sun.htm
