Preventive Care for Pulmonary Involvement

This page was written by Shelley Ensz, and medically edited by Dolores Vázquez-Abad, M.D. See Disclaimer.

How the Lungs Work
Diet and Nutrition
Flu & Pneumonia Shots

Travel
Avoid Smoke/Quit Smoking
Nasal Gels

How the Lungs Work

How Our Lungs Work. Oxygen, the fuel all the cells and organs of our body need to function, is extracted there from the air we inhale and infused into the bloodstream, to be distributed to other organs and tissues. With each exhalation, we dispose of the carbon dioxide that is the by-product of our bodily processes. American Lung Association.

Diet and Nutrition

Love Handles Put The Squeeze On Lungs. A new study has found that a high waist circumference is strongly associated with decreased lung function independent of smoking history, sex, body mass index (BMI) and other complicating factors. Medical News Today. 03/07/09.

Nutrition and the Lungs. People suffering from chronic lung disease may find a low carb, higher fat diet can make a big difference in their life. However, please be aware that calories are needed from each group and no group should be removed from your diet completely. Lungs Online.

Low Dietary Nutrient Intakes and Respiratory Health in Adolescents. Adolescents with the lowest dietary intakes of antioxidant and antiinflammatory micronutrients had lower pulmonary function and increased respiratory symptoms, especially among smokers, suggesting that adequate dietary intake may promote respiratory health and lessen the effects of oxidative stress. Chest. 2007; 132:238-245. (Also see: Scleroderma and Diet)

Flu and Pneumonia Shots

Preventive care for scleroderma patients with pulmonary fibrosis includes flu and pneumonia shots. One pneumonia shot is good for at least ten years, but flu shots need to be repeated each autumn.

However, it is generally not advisable for Scleroderma patients who also have lupus to get flu shots. Due to such considerations, all Scleroderma patients should check with their rheumatologists to see whether or not flu shots are advisable for them.

Making pneumo shot a rule rather than an exception. The individual and community protection that pneumococcal vaccine could provide are cost savings to everyone involved when both direct and indirect costs are considered. Philippine Daily Inquirer. 08/15/08.

Pneumococcal Vaccination (Pneumonia Vaccination). Pneumococcal vaccination is a method of preventing a specific type of lung infection (pneumonia) that is caused by Pneumococcus bacterium. There are more than 80 different types of pneumococcus bacteria-23 of these are covered in the current vaccination. MedicineNet.com.

Influenza vaccine response impaired by anti-TNF treatment. Anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha treatment modestly impairs the antibody response to influenza vaccination, but allows most patients to achieve a protective titer. The Job Cure (Reuters) 05/21/08. (Also see: DMARDS and Vaccinations)

Travel

Safe For Passengers With Lung Disease To Travel By Air. While the study confirmed that most airlines can accommodate passengers requiring supplemental oxygen, there was substantial variation in air policies and cost for passengers with lung disease who wish to travel while using supplemental oxygen. Medical News Today, 2009.

Avoid Smoke

It is extremely important for Scleroderma patients to avoid smoke and to quit smoking due to the risk of Pulmonary Fibrosis. Smoking worsens Scleroderma circulation problems, which can lead to more rapid disease progression and increases the risk of amputations. Avoid inhaling smoke from such sources as fireplaces and barbecues.

Deterioration of lung function is associated with presence of IgM rheumatoid factor (RF) and smoking in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). The presence of IgM RF in smoking SSc patients is associated with deteriorating lung function. Berit Broholm. (SpringerLink) Clinical Rheumatology. 06/05/08. (Also see: Pulmonary Involvement).

Tobacco smoking and autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Smoking affects both the course and the outcome of rheumatic diseases. (PubMed) Nat Clin Pract Rheumatol. 2007 Dec;3(12):707-15. (Also see: Raynaud's)

Some Smokers Have Genetic Predisposition To Develop COPD, Research Shows. The genetic variant studied seemed harmless on its own, but when someone has this variant, there is more of an adverse effect of smoking on lung function. Therefore, in combination with smoking, this genetic variant represents a risk factor for COPD. ScienceDaily. Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. 07/13/07.

Risk factors for lung cancer in patients with scleroderma: A nested case-control study. Patients with scleroderma who smoke are 7 times more likely to develop lung cancer than non- smokers. PubMed. Ann Rheum Dis. 2006 Sep 19. (Also see: Scleroderma and Cancer)

Smoking Cessation Support. Includes quit smoking action plan. American Lung Association.

SmokeNoMore Support Program Online free support group for learning how to live a smoke-free life. Requires daily contact with the 90-day program. COPD Support, Inc.

Smoking Cessation. About.com

Nasal Gels

Never use Vaseline to moisturize the inside of your nose. Its an oil-based product and may be inhaled into your lungs and thus cause problems. Always use a water-based moisturizing product, such as Ayr Saline Nasal Gel.