Life and Breath: Preventing, Treating and Reversing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease [Hardcover]

Neil Schachter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 8, 2003

The fourth leading cause of death in the United States, COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, affects an estimated 35 million Americans. Yet only half are aware that they are seriously ill. Life and Breath, by Dr. Neil Schachter, is the first book that alerts people to their risks for COPD and explains the steps they need to take to prevent the development of this debilitating and often fatal lung disease.

Life and Breath begins witha quick quiz to rate your risk for COPD. It explains the steps of a complete pulmonary work-up and teaches you about the painless, inexpensive six-second test that can save your life.

We all know that diet, exercise, and environmental changes can reduce the risk of heart disease and some types of cancer. Now, for the first time, Life and Breath provides the medical and lifestyle steps that can prevent, treat, and sometimes reverse the signs and symptoms of chronic lung disease. Dr. Schachter discusses the role of antioxidants in treating asthma and chronic bronchitis, explains why indoor exercise is better if you have irritable airways, and provides a supportive, simple, and successful plan to quit smoking.

Life and Breath takes you on a tour of your own home, pointing out sources of irritants and allergens that can cause pulmonary problems. Dr. Schachter explains how to improve indoor air quality to protect your lungs at any age, on the job, in your home, and on the road.

If you are one of the 15 million Americans with asthma, or one of the 94 million current or former smokers in this country, Life and Breath is the one book you need to stay alive and well.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Schachter's late father was a WWII refugee from Vienna who landed in the South Bronx and began a practice that inspired Schachter fils to enter the family profession; he now holds multiple titles in pulmonary and respiratory care at New York's Mount Sinai Medical Center, has published more than 400 research papers and five monographs, and is the former president of the American Lung Association. If any further evidence were needed of his menschdom, 25 percent of all earnings from this preventative how-to will be donated to the American Lung Association of the City of New York. Schachter shows COPD (the disease in the subtitle) to encompass various forms of chronic bronchitis (sometimes in the form of smoker's cough), asthma and emphysema, and notes that many potential victims of the disease-which affects 35 million Americans and is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S.-are between 45 and 64. He carefully lays out environmental hazards (from particulate matter to gas stoves), warning signs, testing options, treatments and preventatives, including changes in diet and exercise. He argues against smoking, of course, and offers tips on how to quit. The book is brisk but sympathetic-one section about asthma, a disease that many argue has links to stress, is titled: "It's Not All In Your Head"-and should help even the most doctor-phobic seek proper care.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Inside Flap

The fourth leading cause of death in the United States, COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, affects an estimated 35 million Americans. Yet only half are aware that they are seriously ill. Life and Breath, by Dr. Neil Schachter, is the first book that alerts people to their risks for COPD and explains the steps they need to take to prevent the development of this debilitating and often fatal lung disease.

Life and Breath begins witha quick quiz to rate your risk for COPD. It explains the steps of a complete pulmonary work-up and teaches you about the painless, inexpensive six-second test that can save your life.

We all know that diet, exercise, and environmental changes can reduce the risk of heart disease and some types of cancer. Now, for the first time, Life and Breath provides the medical and lifestyle steps that can prevent, treat, and sometimes reverse the signs and symptoms of chronic lung disease. Dr. Schachter discusses the role of antioxidants in treating asthma and chronic bronchitis, explains why indoor exercise is better if you have irritable airways, and provides a supportive, simple, and successful plan to quit smoking.

Life and Breath takes you on a tour of your own home, pointing out sources of irritants and allergens that can cause pulmonary problems. Dr. Schachter explains how to improve indoor air quality to protect your lungs at any age, on the job, in your home, and on the road.

If you are one of the 15 million Americans with asthma, or one of the 94 million current or former smokers in this country, Life and Breath is the one book you need to stay alive and well.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Broadway; 1 edition (April 8, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0767912888
• ISBN-13: 978-0767912884
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #412,661 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #53 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Disorders & Diseases > Respiratory

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth the read...., September 20, 2003

By 

Linda Eisenhart (Clearwater, Florida USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Life and Breath: Preventing, Treating and Reversing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (Hardcover)

I first saw Dr. Schacter being interviewed on the Today Show in April while I was home recouperating from my third round of pneumonia in about 15 years. I ordered the book immediately and read it within a day of receiving it.

The information contained in the book was extremely helpful in educating me about how serious a chronic cough can be and how important it is to get appropriate treatment for anything that is related to your lungs on a timely basis. My sister is a severe asthmatic and I ordered a copy for her and sent it to her in California.

Following my bout of pneumonia, I have learned that I have a pulmonary nodule and again found the information in the book helpful as I have begun to navigate the ramifications of that health issue. When I was first diagnosed, I also emailed Dr. Schacter some questions and he responded to me personally which was certainly "above and beyond."

I highly recommend this book to anyone anyone with any pulmonary issues.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eminently readable, very interesting, July 24, 2003

By 

Thomas J. McNulty (Eden Prairie, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Life and Breath: Preventing, Treating and Reversing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (Hardcover)

I happened to open Dr. Schachter's book randomly and began reading about the complications of cigarette smoking. As an ex-smoker (I quit after a "warning" heart attack several years ago and still dread the thought of lung cancer) I found the information both revealing and riveting. I read much more of "Life and Breath" and discovered a great deal of information that really hit home for myself and several people in my life - primarily the links between one's diet and home environment with asthma, heart disease, hypertension and some cancers. The book also surprised me with some common symptoms a person could easily dismiss as "nothing to worry about" but which could be clear signs of a totally unexpected lung disease. Most impressive was the doctor's writing style. It is delightfully engaging and very clear, presenting medical information as a skilled storyteller would. This was a pleasant surprise and greatly enhanced my enjoyment of "Life and Breath". I'm a mystery fan and this is a book I never expected to read. But once I got going, "Life and Breath" was as interesting as a good forensic whodunit.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Life and Breath, March 3, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Life and Breath: Preventing, Treating and Reversing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (Hardcover)

Finally, a book to help patients suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The families of people suffering from COPD will have a better understanding of the disease after reading this book.

At the present time, COPD is not curable. However, by reading Life and Breath, it will help those suffering from COPD live longer, happier and healthier lives. The book will teach us how to better control COPD.

One is taught and is given a better understanding of the complete chest workup. Eating habits are gone over extensively, and we learn that by changing our diet we can breath easier and more normally.

Pulmonary protection and physical work outs will allow us to breath easier and realize it is never too late to give up bad habits. Treatment strategies for both asthma and COPD are outlined in the book and are extremely important.

I recommend this bood to doctors, COPD patients and their families.

Daniel J. Colona, NY