The Lung Health Champion

In this episode of The Lung Health Champion, Arnelle Konde speaks with pulmonologist and critical care physician Dr. Mike Wells and physician associate Brian Bizik about alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, an underdiagnosed genetic condition that can affect the lungs and liver. They discuss why routine testing remains a challenge, available testing approaches, and the importance of helping individuals advocate for answers. The conversation also covers comprehensive management, augmentation therapy, family screening, long-term monitoring, and the role of peer and community support. Dr. Wells and Brian also examine emerging research, including gene-modifying therapies, and emphasize why making alpha-1 testing a routine part of COPD care can help identify more people who may benefit from additional evaluation and support.Key Points From This Episode[00:00:00] Highlights & Show Intro[00:01:53] Establishing the Diagnosis[00:06:51] AATD Testing Options[00:11:28] Developing a Comprehensive Management Plan[00:15:03] The Importance of Peer Support Services[00:16:27] Managing the Alpha-1 Patient with COPD[00:22:42] Long-Term Monitoring and Family Impact[00:27:14] Upcoming Developments in Alpha-1 Care[00:29:44] Final TakeawaysLinksThis episode is proudly supported by Grifols. Find out more here.The Lung Health Champion Podcast is brought to you by the COPD Foundation. Learn more at https://www.copdfoundation.org.  Sign up for COPD Foundation's Newsletter:https://copdf.co/PRAXISLearn more about our guests:Brian Bizik on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allergy/ Dr. Mike Wells: https://scholars.uab.edu/665-james-wells Learn more about Alpha-1: https://copdf.co/genetic-copd Order free Alpha-1 testing kits: https://copdf.co/Test-Alpha-1-podcast The receipt of this free testing service does not create any expectation or obligation on your part to purchase or use any product or service offered by any manufacturer. Production and editing by The Podcast Consultant:https://thepodcastconsultant.com The podcast is provided by the COPD Foundation as an educational resource only and should not be considered as offering medical advice. This information should not be used as a substitute for a physician's professional judgment in providing advice, diagnosis, or treatment for any medical or health condition. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment before undertaking a new health care regimen. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast.

In this episode of the Lung Health Champion, host Arnelle Konde speaks with respiratory therapist Audrey Chavez and Emily Brown from the Patient Advocate Foundation about Medicare coverage and preparing for 2027 open enrollment. They discuss why people living with COPD and other chronic lung conditions should review more than monthly premiums, including medication formularies, provider networks, respiratory equipment, pulmonary rehabilitation, and out-of-pocket costs. Audrey and Emily also explain common barriers to respiratory care, what to do when coverage is denied, the Medicare appeals process, and where to turn for help when coverage questions become overwhelming.Key Points From This Episode[00:00:00] Highlights & Show intro[00:01:40] Overview of Medicare Enrollment[00:06:02] Enrolling for Coverage in 2027[00:08:15] Common Insurance Barriers[00:13:57] What To Do If It Isn’t Covered[00:17:25] Where To Go With Medicare Questions[00:22:36] Final TakeawaysLinksThe Lung Health Champion Podcast is brought to you by the COPD Foundation. Learn more at https://www.copdfoundation.org. Sign up for COPD Foundation's Newsletter:https://copdf.co/facesCheck out these resources to help you learn more about coverage:Patient Advocate Foundation Medicare Resource Center: https://www.patientadvocate.org/medicare/Open Enrollment: What You Need to Know: https://www.panfoundation.org/open-enrollment-what-you-need-to-know/Patient Advocate Foundation Education Resource Library: https://education.patientadvocate.org/Check out these resources for help affording your treatments:Medicare’s Extra Help Program: https://www.medicare.gov/publications/12203-medicares-extra-help-program.pdf State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) Homepage: http://www.shiphelp.org/  Production and editing by The Podcast Consultant:https://thepodcastconsultant.com The podcast is provided by the COPD Foundation as an educational resource only and should not be considered as offering medical advice. This information should not be used as a substitute for a physician's professional judgment in providing advice, diagnosis, or treatment for any medical or health condition. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment before undertaking a new health care regimen. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast.

In this episode of Lung Health Champion, host Tralisa Willis speaks with Dr. Joao de Andrade, Dr. Sanjay Sethi, and Susan Jacobs about long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) and its place in respiratory research and clinical practice. The panel examines why much of the evidence supporting LTOT is decades old, where important research gaps remain, and how inconsistent prescribing, limited reassessment, equipment burdens, and access to high-flow oxygen can affect care. They also discuss the need for better education, improved delivery technology, clearer measures of benefit, national data collection, and an individualized approach that aligns oxygen therapy with each person’s goals and needs.Key Points From This EpisodeWhy LTOT receives less scientific attention than newer therapiesResearch gaps beyond chronic resting hypoxemiaTreating oxygen as a prescribed drug rather than supportive equipmentDifferences between qualifying for oxygen and benefiting from itThe need for consistent definitions and assessment of hypoxemiaThe importance of reassessing oxygen after hospitalizationHow early follow-up can identify equipment and adherence problemsThe role of nurses, respiratory therapists, and other clinical team membersGaps in clinician education about oxygen devices and delivery methodsMatching oxygen equipment to individual needs and daily activitiesThe burden, stigma, and mobility challenges associated with oxygen equipmentLimitations of current portable and high-flow oxygen optionsThe reduced availability of liquid oxygenWhy delivery systems can influence research outcomes and adherenceThe need for better measures of oxygen therapy benefitOpportunities for biomarkers, registries, and pragmatic researchUsing electronic medical records and emerging technology to support researchThe potential for auto-titrating and improved oxygen delivery systemsSetting expectations before beginning oxygen therapyAligning treatment decisions with individual goals and quality of lifeLinksDr. Joao de Andrade on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/joao-de-andrade-379530153/ Learn more about Dr. Joao de Andrade:https://medicine.vumc.org/department-directory/Joao-de-Andrade Learn more about Sanjay Sethi:https://medicine.buffalo.edu/faculty/profile.html?ubit=ssethi COPD Foundation:https://www.copdfoundation.org Production and editing by The Podcast Consultant:https://thepodcastconsultant.comSign up for COPD Foundation's Newsletter:https://www.copdfoundation.org/About-Us/Who-We-Are/Contact-Us.aspx#enewsletterThe podcast is provided by the COPD Foundation as an educational resource only and should not be considered as offering medical advice. This information should not be used as a substitute for a physician's professional judgment in providing advice, diagnosis, or treatment for any medical or health condition. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment before undertaking a new health care regimen. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast.

If stress changes how you breathe, it's real. In this episode, we explain how stress affects breathing and how it relates to living with COPD. We also share practical tips you can use to manage your breathing before you feel breathless. In this episode of the Lung Health Champion, host Arnelle Konde speaks with pulmonologist Dr. Trisha Parekh and Lisa Hall, a person living with COPD, about the connection between stress and breathing. Lisa describes how stress can cause chest tightness, faster speech, coughing, fatigue, and difficulty exhaling. Dr. Parekh explains the body’s fight-or-flight response, the cycle between rapid breathing and trapped air, and the links between psychological health, symptom burden, and COPD flare-ups. They also discuss social isolation, sleep, pulmonary rehabilitation, breathing techniques, meditation, mental health support, and creating an “action chair” with essential supplies.Key Points From This Episode[00:00:00] Highlights & Show intro[00:01:50] How Stress Impacts The Lungs & Breathing[00:05:35] Dr. Parekh explains the fight-or-flight response[00:08:41] How Stress and Anxiety May Increase Symptom Burden[00:11:35] How to Check for Stress and Anxiety for Patients[00:12:22] How Social Barriers can Affect COPD Health[00:14:07] Social Isolation and Loneliness Living with COPD[00:15:13] Everyday Stressors that Can Affect Breathing[00:17:58] Anxiety or Stress-Induced Breathlessness vs. Exacerbation[00:19:40] Stress Management[00:23:14] Dr. Parekh Explains & Demonstrates Diaphragmatic and Pursed-lip breathing[00:26:45] Mental Health Care in COPD Management[00:28:09] Lisa discusses advocating for a sleep study. [00:29:34] Final TakeawaysLinksCOPD Foundation:https://www.copdfoundation.org Learn more about breathing techniques for times of stress: https://www.copdfoundation.org/Learn-More/I-am-New-to-COPD/Breathing-Techniques.aspx Guides for Better Living: https://www.copdfoundation.org/Learn-More/Educational-Materials-Resources/Downloads.aspx#guides Production and editing by The Podcast Consultant:https://thepodcastconsultant.com Sign up for COPD Foundation's Newsletter:https://www.copdfoundation.org/About-Us/Who-We-Are/Contact-Us.aspx#enewsletterThe podcast is provided by the COPD Foundation as an educational resource only and should not be considered as offering medical advice. This information should not be used as a substitute for a physician's professional judgment in providing advice, diagnosis, or treatment for any medical or health condition. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment before undertaking a new health care regimen. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast.

When it comes to COPD, the right treatment starts with the right diagnosis—hear why spirometry and alpha-1 screening should be part of the conversation before care decisions are made.In this episode of the Lung Health Champion, host Tralisa Willis speaks with Dr. Charlie Strange and Corinne Young, MSN, FNP-C, FCCP, about screening for COPD, interpreting pulmonary function tests, and identifying alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. They explain why symptoms, age, and smoking history alone are not enough to confirm COPD and emphasize spirometry as the foundation of an accurate diagnosis. The discussion also covers occupational and family history, full pulmonary function testing, blood tests, alpha-1 genotyping, test interpretation, and family screening. The guests encourage health care professionals to confirm the diagnosis before selecting treatment and to use screening results as the beginning of appropriate follow-up. Key Points From This Episode[00:00:00] Highlights & Show Intro[00:02:25] Assessing Patient Need[00:17:02] Interpretation of Results[00:36:03] Final TakeawaysLinksThis episode is proudly supported by Grifols. Find out more here.COPD Foundation:https://www.copdfoundation.org Dr. Strange on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charliestrange/ Corrine Young on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corinne-young-2bb8a824/ Production and editing by The Podcast Consultant:https://thepodcastconsultant.comSign up for COPD Foundation's Newsletter:https://www.copdfoundation.org/About-Us/Who-We-Are/Contact-Us.aspx#enewsletterOrder free Alpha-1 testing kits:https://www.alphaid.com/en/hcp/order-free-alphaid-screening-test-kits?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=podcasts&utm_content=pod_2 The receipt of this free testing service does not create any expectation or obligation on your part to purchase or use any product or service offered by any manufacturer.The podcast is provided by the COPD Foundation as an educational resource only and should not be considered as offering medical advice. This information should not be used as a substitute for a physician's professional judgment in providing advice, diagnosis, or treatment for any medical or health condition. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment before undertaking a new health care regimen. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast