Copyright © 2001 - 2024 AlphaNet. All rights reserved.
Recognizing changes in signs and symptoms of your lung disease is an important part of managing your illness. People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease due to Alpha-1 (Alpha-1 COPD) often have sudden “flare-ups” of symptoms which are known as exacerbations. These may follow periods when they’re totally symptom-free. There are several definitions of exacerbations that…
Organ transplantation has become an important treatment for certain diseases that cause severe organ damage. In Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, transplantation can be considered in those with end stage lung or liver disease, and very rarely both. A successful lung transplant can give patients a new life — free of emphysema, shortness of breath, and supplemental…
When an Alpha is asked about how their liver is doing, the answer is almost always related to what their last healthcare professional said. Symptoms occur in Alpha-1 liver disease at a stage late in the course of disease progression, so until your liver disease is relatively advanced, you usually won’t be able to assess…
When your mother told you to brush your teeth as a child, little did we know then that she was such a wise woman. Now more research has connected a healthy mouth and a healthy lung. Understanding this connection is important for Alpha-1 patients and others with COPD. Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease,…
Did you know that about half of those with COPD will develop cardiovascular disease in their lifetimes? Both are serious conditions that can cause shortness of breath and difficulty exercising, and can lead to other complications. Read on to find out more about the connection between COPD and heart disease and find ways to learn…
The first visit with your healthcare provider after a diagnosis of Alpha-1-related COPD is an important one. This visit is a first step toward stopping your lung disease from getting worse. Your provider will ask you a lot of questions. You’ll have a physical exam, and you may have tests, too. This way, your provider…
We are pleased to introduce the newly updated, re-launched Alpha-1 Alleles website (www.alpha1alleles.com). This site provides information for patients, healthcare professionals, and the general public about specific variants in the Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (Alpha-1, AATD, SERPINA1) gene. “We are excited to provide this tool to the Alpha-1 community so that everyone can be well informed…
Hello, my name is Tami LaMore. I currently reside in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I was born in Chicago, Illinois and raised in the small town of Winchester, Tennessee. My most difficult and proudest accomplishments in life are being a parent to five wonderful children of my own and two adopted children. At the age of 52,…
Hi, my name is Betsy Scher and I would like to introduce myself as your AlphaNet Coordinator. I am originally from Columbus, Ohio and moved to Chicago in 2004 to pursue a career as a hair stylist. I met my husband in 2009 in the Bucktown area of Chicago and we now reside in Highland…
Hi, my name is Candice Alexander and I would like to introduce myself as your AlphaNet Coordinator. I am originally from Alabama but currently reside in beautiful eastern Tennessee. I am married and have four wonderful children, two boys and two girls. I also have amazing grandchildren whom I adore! I love spending time with…
Panniculitis is an umbrella term for a group of different inflammatory conditions found in the subcutaneous fat of the skin – and a rare result for ZZ individuals and other severely deficient phenotypes. Panniculitis may first appear as raised red spots. But when the spots become deep ulcers in the skin with tissue breakdown it…
Exacerbations are a common occurrence in patients with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. Patients with Alpha-1 classically develop a different pattern of lung disease from those with usual COPD. In Alpha-1-related COPD, exacerbations are often of greater frequency and duration than those in usual COPD. This is related to differences in the intensity of inflammation that occurs…
