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Nearly 16 million U.S. adults have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) which prevents airflow to the lungs, causing breathing problems. There’s no cure for the condition, but to provide relief from symptoms a variety of treatments exist, including regular physical activity and specific, targeted breathing techniques.

Enter the University of Texas Medical Branch’s Harmonicas for Health support group for those diagnosed with COPD. Spearheaded by UTMB nurse practitioner Sarah Lindsay, the collective, which meets monthly, is comprised of UTMB patients who are currently battling the chronic disease.

Members gather in person, along with Lindsay and others from the care team to discuss a relevant patient education topic, such as tips related to COPD management, nutrition and more, and then they transition to a harmonica lesson.

“We have about nine members so far,” said Lindsay, who originally got the idea for the group from the COPD Foundation, which is a nonprofit U.S. organization that has a mission to help people with COPD live longer and healthier lives. “I adapted the foundation’s program to meet the needs of our community here. So far, there’s twelve months of topics planned out with ideas for guest speakers along the way.”

Designated as a Joint Commission Center of Excellence for COPD since 2015, UTMB is equipped to effectively diagnose and manage COPD for patients.

But why harmonicas, one might wonder? The act of playing the instrument employs a lot of the same techniques and practices physicians like Dr. Alexander Duarte, professor in the UTMB Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine within the Department of Internal Medicine, encourage and recommend COPD patients to use to improve their symptoms.

“Harmonica playing is a way of performing pursed lip breathing and this technique allows people to breathe through their nose and exhale through puckered lips that provides symptomatic relief,” he said. “It improves lung capacity, strengthens breathing muscles and provides a respite for breathlessness.”

Response to the program thus far has been positive with members singing, or rather playing, their praises and appreciation.

“We are learning so much in the support group and are having a great time in the process,” said Vicky Baldwin, who attends the meetings along with her husband David Baldwin who suffers from COPD. “Who would have ever known that playing the harmonica, a small, simple, hand-held instrument, could provide such great therapy for your lungs?”

Currently, meetings only take place in person, and to date they have been held in the Randall Room in the Rosenberg Library in Galveston. However, Lindsay is exploring a virtual option as well.

“This support group is a place to learn and understand their condition deeper as well as reduce loneliness and connect to other people with the same condition,” said Lindsay. “We laugh a lot too!”

Learn more about UTMB Health Pulmonary Critical Care and Sleep Medicine  

UTMB Health Bariatrics patient Felicity Cunningham joined UTMB Bariatrics surgeon Dr. Sarah Samreen and Houston Moms host Meagan Clanahan to share her experience receiving bariatric surgery at UTMB Health. She's lost half her body weight since having the surgery and said the mental load that's been lifted has been the best part of the process.

During the 2024 Galveston Women’s Conference, Dr. Kimberly Gushanas, a licensed clinical psychologist with the University of Texas Medical Branch, shared insights on the ways nature can impact one’s wellbeing. 

While she acknowledged the already well-known benefits such as improved sleep, attention, cardiovascular and eye health, among other physiological benefits experienced from time outside, she took time to explore the ways emotional, existential and spiritual health are impacted.

“We know that in general, the more you get out in nature, the more you experience better moods and less stress,” she said. “You are even at lower risk for psychiatric disorders like depression, anxiety, substance misuse, and even Schizophrenia. Research has even shown that the more time you spend with nature, the more cooperative, generous, and empathetic you are.”

But to feel these effects, what does one have to do in nature, exactly?

Well, experiments have found that the following activities can prove beneficial:

• Being in green spaces such as meadows, forests or grasslands or by blue spaces such as bodies of water
• Experiencing the vastness of open horizons and skies
• Finding variety and biodiversity in the outdoors
• Getting ten minutes of sunlight in your eyes each morning and afternoon/evening
• Spending at least two hours a week in nature Touching the soil around you with your bare hands and feet

“Simply looking at the color green can help,” said Gushanas, who reiterated that looking at actual green plants will reap the most benefits than witnessing the color green on something else.

She also went on to add that while there are minimums set for the time of certain exposures in the outdoors, there’s no maximum and actually the longer or more frequent you’re outside the better the benefits will be.

“Anecdotally, the practice of grounding, which is the act of touching the earth with your feet or bottom, appear helpful as well, but the science has yet to validate those experiences,” said Gushanas.

Acknowledging that it’s hard to prescribe any sort of specific dosage for spending time in the natural world, Gushanas urged audience members to not overthink the act, but instead encouraged them to simply slow down and keep it simple. Start with what’s already in front of them on a regular basis and just linger a bit longer.

“Explore the world around you, allow your brain the space and time to connect with nature,” she said. “In the process, you’ll likely reconnect with yourself.”

Regardless of the season or sport, injuries are bound to happen to student-athletes as they play and practice. To help parents, athletes and teams better know how to react during these situations, Dr. Stacy Leung, a primary care sports medicine physician, took time to chat with our partners at Houston Moms and covered a variety of questions, including:

• When should you head to the ER vs Urgent Care vs Family Doctor/Primary Care Provider?
• How can the trainers/team support staff help?
  • what conversations should you have with them?
• What conversations should you have with your primary care doctor if you are playing sports?
• What about concussions? What are the warning signs/symptoms?
• What is the path to get back on the field if surgery is warranted?

According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind only lung cancer. About 1 out of every 41 men will die of it.

These statistics are why members of the UTMB Health Urology team are so passionate about spreading information about the sometimes-silent disease.

"When they are aware of the disease, men are more likely to seek help from physicians and have conversations about it,” says Dr. Laith Alzweri, surgeon and associate professor within the Department of Surgery’s Urology Division. 

Dr. Stephen Williams, a clinical leader and professor within the departments of Surgery and Radiology, wants patients to know that if they do end up with a positive diagnosis for prostate cancer, there’s lots of options for next steps, but it’s key to have a care team you can trust to guide you throughout the process.

Dr. Stephen Williams on prostate treatment options

The American Academy of Pediatric and Adolescent Psychiatry notes that's it's important to limit screen time for children to no more than two to three hours a day, on most days, although sometimes expanding to three to four hours is OK, especially if it's less frequently, like only on the weekends.

However, most school age children average anywhere from four to six hours a day and that's too much.

In addition to monitoring the time they're on devices, it's important to also monitor what kinds of content they are consuming. It's common for predators to try to engage with children through advertisements and other virtual means, so stay vigilant always.

When possible, try to have scree-free quality family time, like when eating meals together. This will help foster a stronger family dynamic. Additionally, to help ensure everyone has a good, restful night's sleep, try to put all devices away 20 to 30 minutes before bedtime, especially on school nights.

For more information on health and wellness measures--including care options -- visit the UTMB Health Pediatric Primary Care page.

Lesley Nairn on monitoring screen time

Lesley Nairn is a certified family nurse practitioner who has two children of her own.

UTMB Health Pediatric and Adult Primary Care, Angleton clinic

UTMB Health Pediatric and Adult Primary Care, Lake Jackson clinic