Rickie Daniels suspects COVID-19 has left a lot of people with long-term breathing problems.
For those struggling to figure out how to live in this new worldâwith shortness of breath or the possibility of being tethered to an oxygen tankâshe and others in her group can offer some tips.
Sheâs the leader of the Pulmonary Pals Support Group or PALS, a community of people living with lung disease or transplanted lungs. Many have COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, as a result of smoking, but cigarettes havenât been the only cause of their health problems.
Daniels, 77, did smoke for 50 yearsâand could kick herself for starting so youngâbut she also suffered lung damage from mold exposure. Sheâs learned a lot about oxygen units that can be carried in backpacks so people can still enjoy activities like riding horses, which she did when she was first diagnosed.