NEW ORLEANS (Ivanhoe Newswire) --It’s the third leading cause of death in the United States—and it literally takes a person’s breath away. We're talking about chronic pulmonary disease or COPD. Some of the most effective treatments may not come in a pill or a bottle. We’ll show you a natural approach to breathing easier.

Tackling stairs, Kay Ferguson starts her day with a ten minute trek. She's toting around a 28 pound oxygen tank, and that’s just the beginning of her day. The pandas at the San Diego Zoo give Ferguson the motivation to stay healthy.

“Bears keep me coming to work every day, Ferguson told Ivanhoe.

After 15 years as a narrator at the panda exhibit—she had to take a break when her COPD took over.

“At first I didn’t want to survive,” Ferguson said.

Although Ferguson gave up smoking 25 years ago, the 30 years she did light up caught up with her. She became housebound until she found rehab could get her back to her bears.

“She was really motivated,” Trina Limberg, a respiratory therapist at UC San Diego told Ivanhoe.

In UCSD’s pulmonary rehab, patients focus on exercise and weight training—the key is to find out what motivates each person.

“When you do that, people feel better able to do life,” Trina Limberg said.

Therapists help the patients do more—and be more aware of their body while doing it.

“People don’t think taking a shower is exercise, but if you have a lung disease and limited air flow, it’s exercise,” Limberg said.

Also, what you put into your body can make a difference. New research finds 100 milligrams of ginseng a day for three months improved a patient’s ability to exercise. Vitamins C, D and E help reduce inflammation. Kali Mur eases wet coughs. Japanese researchers have found Omega-3 fatty acids decreased inflammation in the airway and helped more than 64 percent of patients breathe easier.

Exercising, eating right and incorporating oxygen into her daily routine got Ferguson back on track. It’s the work with her pandas that will keep her moving for many years to come.

“I love my job!” Ferguson said.

Eating more than 60 grams of soy, in foods such as tofu and bean sprouts also decreases breathing attacks. Patients with COPD also have a higher rate of depression. St. John's Wort has been proven to help elevate their mood. Smoking is the most common cause of the disorder.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Trina Limberg
Pulmonary Rehab Program Director
UCSD Medical Center
(619) 543-7333
timberg@ucsd.edu