“It’s for patients who want to take action and who are interested in advocacy,” Dean E. Schraufnagel, MD, editor of Breathing, says. “It gives patients ammunition to contact their legislators and tell them that COPD is an important problem. Thiis gives them fuel.”
Breathing was produced by the American Thoracic Society (ATS), and covers the prevalence and burden of lung disease, pulmonary, critical care and sleep disorders, the benefits research has brought, and remaining challenges.
This book was supported by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), and is a definitive resource that will give in-depth information as well as well-documented sources for further reading.
Schraufnagel, immediate-past president of the ATS and professor of medicine and pathology at the University of Illinois at Chicago, says that in addition to patients, Breathing is also aimed toward family, friends, and healthcare professionals.
“This book really tells us where we are in the conquest of these diseases, to inform people on the good work that research has been doing, and what we’ve been accomplishing,” he says.
Each chapter includes a patient perspective that describes the realities of living with pulmonary disease, and also includes the most-up-to-date information on each disease. The information provided will help patients knowledgeably communicate with healthcare professionals.
Family members can utilize the case studies, as they demonstrate how often the disease is missed or misdiagnosed. Other testimonies expelify how patients can live a healthy, normal life when porperly treated.
"The tone of the book is that there are diseases we can do something about,” Schraufnagel says. “We’re looking for a cure.”
The book serves as a tool to educate healthcare providers, policymakers, and the general public about the significant burden of respiratory diseases. It stresses importance of promoting research, education, and training.
The online version is available for free on the ATS web site at www.thoracic.org/education/ breathing-inamerica. Schraufnagel encourages individuals to go online and leave comments after reading the book.
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