If you have ever wanted to participate in a COPD clinical trial, but were a bit reluctant to search for one, I will try to point you in the right direction as I focus on COPD research and resources for the month of January.

COPD clinical trials can offer a glimmer of hope to patients which may otherwise not be there. New COPD medications, treatments or surgeries can improve quality of life and even prolong your survival.

To get an idea of how clinical trials already influence your daily life, think about your current medication regimen. I doubt that the bronchodilator that you took this morning to help you breathe better throughout the day, would exist at all without the hard work and research that was done during a clinical trial.

Here is a short list of places to find ongoing and upcoming COPD clinical trials:

• ClinicalTrials.gov--A comprehensive, online database of clinical trials, which is updated frequently and provides a wealth of information about each trial's purpose, eligibility criteria, location and contact information.
• CenterWatch.com--A global source of news and related information about clinical trials for patients and healthcare professionals. You can even receive notification via email when new clinical trials are posted.
• Clinical Connection--Love their mantra: "Tomorrow's Cures are in Clinical Trials Today!" The site includes a large database of trials for COPD, as well as trial notification and a message board for online participants.

This should get you started and remember, if you are aware of any clinical trials for COPD, please share them in the COPD forum:

Participation in a Clinical Trial: Share About Current Studies

As always, I welcome any comments.

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Now that Christmas is over and we are into a New Year, I have decided to beef up my research and resources section for the site. Why? Because research is such an important aspect of COPD and resources are vital to help those with COPD cope.

So, to enlighten you about good things to come, for the entire month of January, my articles and blog posts will be devoted specifically to these two topics. Feel free to leave a comment to let me know what type of research you are interested in learning about this month. And, if you are looking for a particular type of support group, maybe I can point you in the right direction. Last but not least, if you know of a great support group or website that you want to share with others, please go to the forum under the following thread and post it there:

COPD Support Groups

If you were looking for another reason to quit smoking for the New Year, knowing about the dangers of "third-hand smoke" to infants and children may just push you over the edge and into a smoke-free lifestyle once and for all.

Researchers at Harvard Medical School have recently coined a new term related to the dangers of tobacco smoke. The phenomenon known as "third-hand smoke" refers to the toxic, particulate matter that is left behind even after a cigarette is extinguished. This can mean on your hair, clothing, furniture or even in your car. Although many people smoke outside their home, or only in their homes when children are not around, the dangers of toxic exposure to carcinogens (cancer causing chemicals) from cigarettes still exist. Infants and small children are especially susceptible to these toxins because they can touch, crawl upon, or put their mouths on, contaminated surfaces, including you.

Most of us have been well-educated about the dangers of secondhand smoke and many smokers take measures to protect their loved ones from it. But secondhand smoke differs from third-hand smoke in that exposure from secondhand smoke occurs only while someone is smoking. But research has found that the dangers from cigarette toxins exist far beyond the point of active smoking. Toxic particulate matter from cigarette smoke is deposited in layers on all surfaces in the home, in loose household dust, and as research confirms as "volatile toxic compounds that off gas into the air over days, weeks, and months". The third-hand smoke phenomenon was the basis for the Harvard study which examined attitudes regarding the third-hand smoke concept and the development of home smoking bans.

The toxic effects of low levels of tobacco smoke have been proven. In fact, according to the National Toxicology Program, "these 250 poisonous gases, chemicals, and metals include hydrogen cyanide (used in chemical weapons), carbon monoxide (found in car exhaust), butane (used in lighter fluid), ammonia (used in household cleaners), toluene (found in paint thinners), arsenic (used in pesticides), lead (formerly found in paint), chromium (used to make steel), cadmium (used to make batteries), and polonium-210 (highly radioactive carcinogen). Eleven of these compounds are group 1 carcinogens (most carcinogenic designation). For some of these compounds, such as radioactive polonium-210, the cumulative dose is especially concerning, leading health professionals to call for immediate disclosure and warnings about exposure".

So, what can you do to protect your loved ones, especially your children and grandchildren, from the dangers of third-hand smoke? The best way is, of course, complete abstinence from cigarettes. Enforcing strict, no-smoking policies in the home may help to a certain degree, but toxins still remain on clothing. If you continue to smoke, the best thing to do is to smoke outside of your home (and not in your car), and, before coming in contact with infants or children, be sure to wash your hands and change your clothes. As inconvenient as this may sound, it is the best way to protect your loves ones from toxic chemicals, short of quitting smoking.

Read more about this interesting research study in the Journal of Pediatrics:

Beliefs About the Health Effects of "Third-hand" Smoke and Home Smoking Bans

Learn more about the health risks of secondhand smoke:

The Health Risks of Secondhand Smoke

How to Protect Yourself from Secondhand Smoke When Traveling

Learn some helpful quit smoking tips:

10 Tips to Help you Quit Smoking

Still not convinced to quit, read some personal quit smoking success stories from readers:

The Nicotine Patch: Lauren's Story

Cold Turkey: Jen's Story

Chantix: Jessica's Story

Need more support, visit About.com's Smoking Cessation Guide Site.

Join the forum discussion to learn how readers quit for good:

Share Your Personal Quit Smoking Success Stories

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For those of you with COPD who are staying in this New Year's Day, you may want to indulge yourself with this fun, holiday snowball fight game. It enables you to throw snowballs at some of the most talked about celebrities, including Madonna and the Olson Twins. Doris Lin, About.com's Guide to Animal Rights, posted the link on her blog, and I just had to share it with you. Have fun, and Happy New Year!

Holiday Snowball Fight Game

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