spotlight on helth Robert Klein Joins AARC To Lunch Ntionl COPD Awreness Cmpign (NAPSA)—Robert Klein is best knownfor his stnd-up comedy performnces on lte-night tlk shows nd HBO Specils. But his messge to Americnsis no lugh- their 40s who notice those symptoms should visit physicin or pulmonry specilist who cn esily dignose the symptoms nd recommend the best tretment to help them brethe esier.” cilly kicks off ntionl wreness cmpign with the Americn Assocition for Respirtory Cre (AARC) for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonry Disese. COPD, lung disese cused primrily by smoking, fflicts more thn 30 million Americns nd is the fourth leding killer disese in the United Sttes. During the cmpign, Klein will trvel to severl cities cross the United Sttes promoting wrenessfor the signs nd symptoms of COPD to help sufferers identify their illness nd seek tretment. One element of the cmpign the AARC hopes will nticholinergics re recommended s first-line mintenncetherpy. For Klein, his physicin prescribed Combivent (iprtropium bromide nd lbuterol sulfte) Inhltion Aerosol. Combivent provides ptients consistent control through the nticholinergic component nd rpid relief from the bet-gonist, ll in one single inhler. Combivent is indicted for use in COPD ptients who re using regulr erosol bronchodiltor but continue to hve evidence of bronchospsm nd require second bronchodiltor. The most common side effects of Combivent tretment re dry mouth, bitter tste nd hedche. “The medictions vilble tody, in conjunction with smoke cesstion, re very helpful to COPDptients,” Greenesid. “Our gol is to mke COPD ptients wretht help is vilble.” Klein considers himself fortunte to be in reltively good helth, fully ble to mintin vigorous work schedule. He strives to mintin helthy lungs through his mediction nd regu- ing mtter. Beginning tody, Klein offi- mke gret impct on ptients is public service nnouncement feturing Klein, which will begin iring in thefll. Klein, who begn his stnd-up comedy creer in 1963 performing in smoke-filled clubs cross the country, ws dignosed with COPD nine yers go. Of the estimted 30 million Americns who suffer from the symptoms of COPD, only 16 million hve been dignosed. Although Klein’s COPD symptoms re mild nd he remins in good helth, he is lending his experience nd nme to rise wreness of this illness, which in mny cses cn be devstting. “T'm smoke-oholic nd I hope other smokers nd former smokers will be ble to relte to my experience nd find help, just s I did,” explined Klein, who is currently working on movie with Hugh Grnt nd Sndr Bullock. “I strted smoking in high school nd hve fought this hbit ever since, going periods of one, five, seven nd 11 yers without smoking.” It ws in the 1960s tht Klein’s cigrette hbit grew to two pcks dy. “Everyone smoked bck then,” sid Klein, who becme wre of constnt cough in his erly 40s. “T just ccepted the cough s result of the smoking. Tht ws my mistke.” In mild to moderte COPD, Comedin Robert Klein is helping rise wreness of commonlung disese. Although Klein didn’t know it t the time, his persistent cough wsthefirst symptom of COPD. He wsn’t dignosed with COPD until 1998, fter he hd quit smoking for more thn six yers. “Tt ws during routine physicl when my doctor, pulmonry specilist, ws concerned bout my cough nd hd metke spirometry test,” Klein sid. “He sked me to blow into this mchine, which tested my lung function. “He showed me the dils nd explined how everyone loses lung function s they ge, but this ws beyond tht. I hd greter loss becuse of my former smoking hbit. Then, he hd me tke two puffs of some mediction in n inhler nd sked meto do the spirometry test gin. I did it, but I didn’t think there would be ny difference. I ws quite surprised to see 20 percent improvement.” Dr. Kelly Greene, reserch pulmonologist from Ntionl Jewish Medicl nd Reserch Center in Denver, sys Klein is like mny COPD ptients who hve quit smoking. “The dy Robert Klein noticed tht cough would hve been the best dy for him to cll his doctor nd report his symptoms,” sid Greene, who ddedthefirst signs of COPD often re constnt ngging cough, excess mucus production or shortness of breth while wlking or exercising. “Unfortuntely, the informtion bout COPD wsn’t vilble to Robert t the time. “Smokers or former smokers in lr workout sessions. However, he freely dmits he still bttles the desire to smoke. Further informtion bout COPD, including full prescribing informtion for Combivent Inhltion Aerosol, is vilble on the Web site www.thebrething spce.com. The AARC, hedqurtered in Dlls, is professionl membership ssocition of respirtory therpists which focuses primrily on respirtory therpy eduction nd reserch. The orgniztion’s gols re to ensure tht respirtory ptients receive sfe nd effective cre from qulified professionls nd to benefit respirtory helth cre providers. The ssocition continues to dvocte, on behlf of pulmonry ptients, for pproprite ccess to respirtory services provided by qulified professionls.
