Useful COPD Links

Canadian Government Sites

                             & National Organizations

• Canadian Respiratory Educators Website

• Respiratory Disease in Canada Life and Breath: Respiratory Disease in Canada - Public Health Agency of Canada as of Jan 2007.

• Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control
  Chronic Respiratory Diseases Facts & Figures -

• Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety(COPD &  Occupational Exposures)
• House of Commons - Standing Comm. On Health - Member Listing & Contact Info
• Access to Therapeutic Products: The Regulatory Process in Canada
• Health Canada - Advisories, Warnings & Recalls
• Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP)
• Canadian Lung Association
• Canadian Thoracic Society
• Alpha-1 Canada
• National Heart Lung & Blood Institute (US)

Medical Dictionaries & Info Sites

• Living Well With COPD - password is COPD

• MedicineNet

• Drugwatch.com

• No Air to Go - Systemic Evaluation of PFT's

• Healthopedia.com

• Medline Plus - Health Info

• WebMD

• The Medical Post

• No Air To Go

• Cleveland Clinic Glossary of Terms

• FamilyDoctor.org

• National Jewish Medical Ctr

• COPD Support Inc

• Cleveland Clinic Health System

• Cystic L - PFT's Explained

• PERF - Pulmonary Education & Research

• COPD Alert

• EFFORTS- Emphysema Foundation for Our Right to Survive

• Chest Medicine On-Line

• CDC's Body Mass Index Calculator

• Rate Your MD (All Countries)

• Breathing Better, Living Well

• Love Your Lungs, Breathe For Life

• How To Read SpO2 (Konica Minolta Sensing, Inc)

Exercise & Strength Training

• CDC - Strength Training for Older Adults

• WebMD - How Do I Exercise for COPD?

• National Inst. for Aging - Strength Training

• Meet Roxlyn Cole

Living & Traveling with Oxygen

• Portable Oxygen - A User's Perspective

• Air Travel with Oxygen - U.S.A

• Sea Puffers - Cruises for COPDer's

• Traveling with Oxygen - Cdn Lung Association

• Airline Oxygen Availability

Sites And/Or Blogs Owned by Members of  COPD Canada Patient Network

•  Living with COPD - Bill Justice

• Canada COPD Awareness - Ellen Hodgson

Clinical Trials Info

National Institute of Health

CenterWatch

Currently there is no "clearing house" or listing applicable to Canada although the links above will occasionally list a few provinces.  Clinical trials and studies are "on-going".  The boards of many hospitals, and more specifically the Respirology Depts of same,  pick and choose which studies or trials they will participate in. 

     Note:  Chances are if there's trials or studies listed re: COPD in any of the  states within the sites above, most times those same studies are being done in Canada as well.

Unfortunately here in Canada you need to be referred by your GP to a Specialist.  However; you can always call your local Respirology Depts (hospitals/clinics)and ask if there's any studies or trials currently going on.  Or you can talk to your GP and see if he/she can contact someone on your behalf.

Why would you do this?  It's simple.  You'll get better care.  An unfortunate truth but a truth nonetheless; particularly if you're not currently under the care of a specialist.

                                                                      Updated December 27th, 2009.