When we’re younger, we often take for granted our ability to get around with ease. Whether it’s a trip to the grocery store once a week or a month-long trip across the country, there are very few physical limitations setting us back. But as we get older, tasks that used to be second nature to us now become strenuous exercise. This is further complicated by the fact that older adults are more likely to suffer from chronic conditions like osteoarthritis, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), all of which are debilitating.

According to Healthline, COPD is most commonly diagnosed in people over 40 years of age. However, the age groups that are most affected by COPD are women between the ages of 65 and 74 and men between the ages of 75 and 84. This is when people tend to struggle the most with mobility because the effects of aging begin to mix with the later stages of the disease. But despite the struggles these patients face, it is possible to regain a significant portion of the mobility that they lost.

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While every case of COPD is different, treatment is usually focused on pulmonary rehabilitation, which is essentially an exercise routine that’s focused on lung strength and education; a refined diet with an emphasis on protein and healthy fats; and finally, supplemental oxygen therapy which is designed to reduce the physical burden on the lungs and maintain blood oxygen levels which leads to improved systemic health.

If you’ve gone ahead and purchased a Caire FreeStyle Comfort, one of the lightest and most powerful portable oxygen concentrators on the market, you’re likely looking to enjoy your newfound freedom by taking a trip of some kind. Since the FreeStyle Comfort is approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), you’ll be able to fly anywhere in the country or worldwide with your new concentrator. In this post, we’ll go over 7 must-know tips before you travel with your Caire FreeStyle Comfort.

Speak With Your Doctor

Whether you’re taking a flight or a road trip, you should speak with your doctor before you even begin planning. Your doctor will not only provide you with advice on using your oxygen concentrator away from home but he/she will also make sure you understand all other facets of your treatment plan like your diet, pulmonary rehabilitation, and sleep schedule. Be sure to write down any questions you may have before you go in for a doctor’s visit.

Easily the biggest problem many COPD patients face when traveling is falling back or cheating on their new diet. Since your diet is inextricably linked to your lung health, making poor dietary choices can be devastating. Since most people tend to be “on the go” when they’re on vacation, they usually opt for simple snacks or fast food which are usually high in sodium, sugar, and unhealthy fats instead of protein and healthy fats like your COPD diet entails. This can put you at higher risk for exacerbations while you’re away from home.

Another aspect of your COPD treatment plan that might get neglected while you’re traveling is your exercise routine. It can be difficult to find the time to set aside time for important exercises that can boost your strength and improve endurance so your doctor may set you up with a special routine. On the other hand, if you’re going to be up and moving a lot anyways, your doctor may tell you not to worry about pulmonary rehab while you’re gone.

Lastly, you should consult your doctor for information about using your oxygen concentrator while away from home. He/she may have advice for you on adjusting your flow setting based on whether you’re sitting or walking. This way you can conserve battery life and experience more freedom during your trip.     

Skim Through Your User Manual

There’s no doubt about it, the Caire FreeStyle Comfort is one of the easiest portable oxygen concentrators on the market to use. There are just three buttons on the user interface: two to control the flow setting up or down and one to turn the device on or off. While you’ll likely get the hang of using this concentrator almost immediately, it’s still a good idea to read the user manual in order to understand its more advanced features.

The user manual will help you get better acquainted with the various audio and visual alarms on the device. For example, there is a symbol when your battery life is getting low or if there is some type of malfunction. By learning these symbols, you won’t have to stress about them while you’re on vacation trying to enjoy yourself. Also, take some time to read through the “troubleshooting” section so that you can fix minor errors on your own while you’re away from home.

Another section of the Caire FreeStyle Comfort manual that you should pay special attention to is the one titled “Travel Information.” By reading this, you’ll learn some helpful tips for using your portable oxygen concentrator while on a flight including how to put it into airplane mode.     

Pack Extra Batteries

Despite the Caire FreeStyle Comfort offering the longest battery life of any pulse dose portable oxygen concentrator on the market, it’s still a good idea to bring extra batteries with you when you travel. With an additional small 8-cell battery for the FreeStyle Comfort, you can double the battery life of your device and only add a small amount of weight. You can even upgrade to a large 16-cell battery and you’ll still be carrying less weight than most portable oxygen concentrators out there.

Another great advantage of these batteries is that they don’t take up very much space. You can easily fit several of them in your backpack or purse while still having room for other personal belongings like your keys or wallet. This is in stark contrast to oxygen tanks which take up significantly more space, not to mention the fact that they’re awkwardly shaped making it difficult to fit them in storage.

Other Accessories to Pack 

Aside from extra batteries, there are a lot of other accessories out there for the Caire FreeStyle Comfort that you should consider taking on a trip. First and foremost, you need the AC charging cable. This accessory comes with every FreeStyle Comfort package and allows you to charge your device with any electrical wall outlet. If you’re traveling to another country, be sure to get an adapter to ensure you are able to charge your POC wherever you go.

Secondly, you will need a DC charging cable. This is similar to an AC charging cable but it allows you to charge your Caire FreeStyle Comfort in any car cigarette outlet. Most people don’t realize this, but you’re actually able to use your POC while it’s charging in the car. So, if you’re taking a long road trip you’ll always have a full battery. If you want to get out and stretch your legs or do some sightseeing, you’ll have peace of mind that you have a full battery to work with. 

Last but certainly not least, you’re going to want to purchase and bring an external battery charger with you. Normally, you need to have a battery attached to your concentrator in order to charge it, but the external battery charger allows you to charge the battery when it’s not attached. In other words, you’ll be able to charge two batteries at the same time. This is perfect for people who are on-the-go a lot and don’t have much downtime. 

For example, if you’re going back to the hotel for an hour or two, the external battery charger will let you charge your batteries much more quickly allowing you have more freedom once you leave. You can also charge two batteries overnight without having to wake up and swap out the batteries on your concentrator.

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Learn About CAIREview™ Telehealth Technology

One of the most unique features of the Caire FreeStyle Comfort is its telehealth technology. Telehealth is a practice that’s progressing very quickly in this day and age. Essentially, it means health care professionals providing patients with services over long distances by taking advantage of video communication and other technologies. The Caire FreeStyle Comfort has its own built-in telehealth technology called CAIREview. 

CAIREview is an advanced and cost-effective tracking solution that will help you better understand how you’re using oxygen and how you can improve your treatment. This information can also be shared remotely with your provider who can help you make changes to your routine. What’s more, you can rest assured that this is all done over a secure network that doesn’t share any personal information unrelated to your oxygen usage. To get started, you’ll simply need to install the CAIREview application and connect it wirelessly to your POC. 

Decide How You Will Carry Your Device

The way you carry your oxygen device can make a huge difference when it comes to your ability to get around while you’re on vacation. For example, oxygen tanks are so heavy and bulky that the only way to carry them is with a rolling cart. This is not ideal because it can make it very difficult to get up a flight of stairs or move through crowded areas without bumping into people.

If you have a Caire FreeStyle Comfort, however, you will have many different options for how you transport it. Most people choose to use the custom carrying case that comes with the device because it can easily be swung over your shoulder and kept close to your side. The FreeStyle Comfort has an ergonomic curve design to keep it from sliding back and forth as you walk and you’ll have easy access to all the controls on the top of the device.

Another carrying option available to you is the FreeStyle Comfort backpack. With the backpack, you’ll have plenty of extra room to carry things like your keys, wallet, water bottle, or any other supplies you need for traveling. Some people find it more comfortable to carry their POC on their back because it spreads the weight between their shoulders, preventing back pain or soreness. However, it will always come down to your personal preference and what you’re trying to accomplish.  

One final way you can carry your oxygen device is with a mobility aid like a wheelchair or rolling walker. Mobility aids are best for older COPD patients who are struggling to get around on their own. If you use a wheelchair, you can hang the concentrator over the back of the chair. Just be sure that there is no slack in the oxygen tubing so it doesn’t get caught on a wheel. Most walkers or “rollators” as they’re often called have a seat that can be used to rest your concentrator on as you walk.

Contact Your Airline Ahead of Time

While the FreeStyle Comfort is approved for all commercial airlines in the United States, you’ll still need to contact your airline of choice 48 hours before your flight. This is because they may have paperwork that you need to fill out about your respiratory condition or your oxygen usage before you can fly. Once you actually arrive at the airport you should also check in with the receptionist at your gate to make sure they’re aware of your oxygen usage. This is just to make sure that there isn’t any confusion or holdups before you have to get on the plane.

Another policy many airlines have is that you need to have 150% of the duration of the trip in battery life. Delays and malfunctions are not uncommon in the airline industry so they simply want to make sure you’re covered in the event that there is a delay. Make sure that you charge some extra batteries the night before you leave and have them in your carry-on bags ready to go. 

Conclusion

Supplemental oxygen therapy is one of the most important aspects of a COPD treatment plan. As such, it’s important to be very well prepared before you travel with an oxygen concentrator. This means knowing when to use oxygen, what flow setting to use, as well as following all other aspects of your COPD treatment such as your diet, exercise routine, and sleep schedule.

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Fortunately, travel is made a lot easier with a powerful pulse dose portable oxygen concentrator like the Caire FreeStyle Comfort. This POC weighs in at just 5 pounds with the single battery and only 6 pounds with the double battery, it offers up to 16 hours of battery life on a flow setting of 1, and it has a maximum oxygen output of 1,050 ml/min or a flow setting of 5. These are the best specs of any oxygen concentrator on the market, so it’s no wonder that so many people have bought one.

While the Caire FreeStyle Comfort is the best POC for the greatest number of people, we here at LPT Medical understand that everyone has different needs. If you have higher oxygen demands than what the FreeStyle Comfort is able to provide, we are here to help you find exactly what you need. We offer a wide range of continuous flow portable oxygen concentrators such as the Respironics SimplyGo or the Oxlife Independence, as while as a host of stationary oxygen concentrators including the Respironics EverFlo Q and the Inogen at Home.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us by phone or email.

Whether you have a friend or a loved one with COPD or you have COPD yourself, you can likely attest to the fact that this disease can cause significant problems with mobility. The top causes of mobility issues in COPD patients include poor pulmonary function, leg swelling (peripheral edema), and loss of muscle mass (muscle atrophy). Combined with the effects of aging and other chronic conditions like osteoarthritis, COPD patients can experience a lot of difficulties getting around in their day-to-day life.

Aside from supplemental oxygen therapy, a healthy diet, and pulmonary rehabilitation, another thing that can help you get around are mobility aids. A mobility aid is a device that’s used to help older people and people with chronic conditions walk more easily. They’re often designed to improve balance, reduce physical load, and in COPD patients, they can even help to prevent exacerbations and flare-ups. There is a huge variety of mobility aids and you’re not just limited to choosing one or the other.

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In the following sections, we’ll help you better understand the mobility options available to you as well as some other helpful information that will help you maintain your mobility as a COPD patient. As always, if you have any questions, please be sure to address them in the comment section or consult your doctor for more specific information pertaining to your disease and treatment plan.

Why Are Mobility Aids Important for COPD Patients?

According to an article published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information, balance deficit is a common issue among COPD patients. COPD is a progressive disease meaning it becomes worse over time. And as symptoms like breathlessness, chronic fatigue, and chest pain progress, so do issues related to balance and mobility. Believe it or not, studies have shown that COPD is one of the chronic illnesses with the highest rate of falls next to osteoarthritis.

Several months ago, we wrote an article discussing a common complication of COPD called peripheral edema. In short, this is a condition where your legs or feet begin to swell due to a buildup of fluid. One of the root causes of this condition is pulmonary hypertension or high blood pressure in the lungs. High blood pressure in the lungs puts more strain on the heart and prevents oxygen-rich blood from circulating to organs like the liver and kidneys. Since these organs are responsible for removing fluids from the body, swelling of the feet or legs are usually a sign of this happening.

While peripheral edema is a complex condition, it’s one of the issues contributing to the high risk of falls in COPD patients. As the disease progresses, COPD patients don’t just have to deal with increased respiratory symptoms, they have to deal with complications that can result from their disease. Someone with peripheral edema may not even realize they have it because it often comes on slowly and doesn’t cause any pain.

Another issue contributing to the high rate of falls in COPD patients is muscle atrophy. In other words, as COPD progresses, patients tend to lose muscle mass from a variety of issues like a changed diet and reduced physical activity. Similar to peripheral edema, a patient may not realize that they are losing muscle mass until they experience a fall. This is why pulmonary rehabilitation is such an important part of any COPD treatment plan. 

One final problem that can contribute to the fall rate in COPD is an exacerbation. An exacerbation is an event where respiratory symptoms suddenly worsen. According to COPD.com, the most common cause of exacerbation is a bacterial infection, but air pollution is another common cause. COPD exacerbations can lead to problems walking, balance issues, chest pain, headaches, and confusion, all of which can increase your risk of falls. 

While mobility aids are not a replacement for your treatment plan, they play a crucial role in preventing falls, especially in people with late-stage COPD where the disease is the least predictable. Mobility aids don’t need to be prescribed by your doctor so it’s up to you and your loved ones to determine whether you need one or not. Continue reading to learn about some of the mobility options available to COPD patients.

Canes

Walking canes are the oldest type of mobility aid and they’re also one of the simplest. Most walking canes are made of wood or a light metal material meaning they’re easy to carry despite your level of physical impairment. Canes are also widely accessible, and you can buy them just about anywhere, or you could even make your own if you have time. Walking canes are great for taking weight off your joints and providing you with a little extra stability as you walk.

The key to improving your mobility with a cane is to get one that’s the appropriate size. While there is no hard and fast rule as to how you should choose a cane, it should be long enough that you aren’t bending over and straining your back in order to use it and it should be short enough that you can actually lean on it. For most people, this will be somewhere around their hip bone. Luckily, most modern canes are adjustable, so you’ll probably be safe buying one online rather than shopping around for one.

One thing to consider if you want to use a cane is how you will carry your supplemental oxygen device. If you have an oxygen tank and you wheel it behind you using a rolling cart, a walking cane might not be the best option for you because you won’t have any hands free to catch yourself if you fall. A cane is a better option if you carry your oxygen device on your back because it will help you keep a good posture as you walk.   

Walkers

Walkers are another mobility option available to COPD patients. There are several different types including traditional walkers, two-wheel walkers, and four-wheel walkers. Traditional walkers tend to be a poor choice for most COPD patients because they need to be picked up as you walk which can be strenuous on your shoulders, arms, and back. Two-wheel walkers provide a little more mobility by allowing you to push the walker rather than lift it. However, for most people, four-wheel walkers, or “rollators” as they’re often called, will be the best option. 

Modern rollators are more advanced than other types of walkers because they offer four swivel wheels that afford you more control. They also offer a braking system that’s controlled by two levers on the handlebars on either side of the device. They also provide a padded platform in the middle that you can either sit on or rest your oxygen device, purse, or handbag on as you walk. Some rollators even have a basket in front for added storage.

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It’s a good idea to speak with a mobility aid expert if you want to get a rollator. Since these devices are so popular, there are many different versions and brands available to choose from. What’s more, it’s easier to use one if you’ve been shown how to do so by someone who’s experienced with them. You’ll also need to have one fitted unless you can find one that’s adjustable.

Wheelchairs

When you think of a mobility aid, chances are, wheelchairs are the first thing that comes to mind. They’re commonly used by people who are permanently disabled, but how do they fare when it comes to someone with limited mobility? The answer ultimately depends on your individual circumstances. COPD patients with poor upper body strength may find it difficult to get around in a manual wheelchair, but if you have a caretaker or loved one who can push you around it shouldn’t be a problem. 

Another option for you are motorized wheelchairs or “power wheelchairs” as they’re often called. The benefit of investing in a power wheelchair is that you will have the same mobility as a manual wheelchair, but you won’t have to push it with your arms. Power wheelchairs have a joystick that you use to move in any direction. They’re not overly complicated to operate but they can be difficult to transport and you’ll need to keep it charged if you want to stay out of the house for extended periods of time.

Scooters

Mobility scooters are similar to power wheelchairs but they differ in terms of their design. Unlike power wheelchairs which use a joystick, scooters are controlled with handlebars similar to a bike. Scooters can either have three or four wheels depending on what your preferences are. They also have baskets on the front that you can use to store things like your portable oxygen concentrator, a purse, or other personal belongings. Since there are so many options available when it comes to mobility scooters, it’s important to speak with an expert who can align you with the exact product you’re looking for. 

Stairlifts

Stairlifts are a mobility aid that many people have never heard of, but they’re incredibly useful. Essentially, a stairlift is a chair that moves up and down a rail that’s installed on a flight of stairs in your home. The chair has a built-in motor that can be controlled with a joystick on the handlebars. This allows you to navigate the stairs in your home without the risk of experiencing a dangerous fall. The one downside to stairlifts is that they can be very expensive and many people can’t justify spending the money to have one installed in their home. 

Surprisingly, stairlifts are extremely versatile and can be installed on most staircases regardless of their size or shape. What’s more, if you like to get outside, there are specially designed stairlifts that can be installed on outdoor staircases. They can be installed in several hours so you won’t have to wait days or weeks to start using them.

Will Medicare Pay for a Mobility Aid?

Whenever it comes to medical equipment, questions about health insurance and Medicare are sure to follow. And while it would be nice if Medicare paid for medical expenses like you’d expect them to, it’s never that simple. More often than not, they will cut corners providing you coverage for mobility aids and find any way they can to offer you the bare minimum rather than what you deserve.

In short, Medicare will provide some compensation for manual or power wheelchairs and scooters. Mobility devices like these are covered under Medicare Part B and it is classified as durable medical equipment (DME) the same as oxygen tanks and portable oxygen concentrators. But it’s important to note that not all devices are covered. Medicare has a list of devices that are covered, and some of them require prior authorization. So, it’s best to consult with both the mobility aid supplier and a Medicare representative before you make any decisions. 

Another thing to note is that Medicare has a long list of prerequisites that you need to meet in order to qualify for compensation. First and foremost, the doctor that has prescribed you with COPD and the mobility aid supply company needs to be enrolled in Medicare. Additionally, you’ll need a written order from your doctor stating that you have a medical need for a mobility aid. For a full list of requirements, refer to the wheelchair and scooter benefit page of Medicare Part B.

Get a Handicap Parking Permit

Once you have your mobility aid of choice, you may want to consider getting a handicap parking permit. This permit will allow you to park in any handicap spot in the country making it much easier for you to get around. This is especially useful for people who are using electric scooters or power wheelchairs because you won’t have room to unload it in a standard parking spot.

In order to get a handicap parking permit, you’ll need to apply at your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Every state has different policies but you’ll likely have to provide a doctor’s note which outlines your lung condition and symptoms. You’re more likely to get approved if you can prove that you use an electric scooter or power wheelchair as opposed to a cane or walker so it’s best to put time into finding a mobility aid first.

Last but not least, if you’re given the option between a handicap sticker that goes on your car or a placard that you hang on the mirror, always go with the placard. This is because you can transfer these to any car that you’re in whether it belongs to a family member or friend. Be aware that it is illegal for them to use the placard without you actually being present and most states require you to be recertified for your handicap permit every couple of years.  

Conclusion

Making the decision to use a mobility aid is an important step for many COPD patients. People with chronic respiratory conditions are at a higher risk of experiencing falls than the general public, but mobility aids will help to support your balance whether you’re inside or outside the home. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Everyone has their own needs and preferences so you should consider all options available to you.

Canes and walkers are a good place to start because they’re affordable and they’re easy to carry. However, you may want to consider a more long-term solution like a mobility scooter or power wheelchair. These devices are generally safe and easy to use, and they will make it easy to carry around your oxygen devices such as your oxygen tank, liquid oxygen tank, or portable oxygen concentrator.

Lastly, you should check with your health insurance to see if your mobility device is covered. This could save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars. You can also file for disability and receive a handicap parking permit which will afford you more convenience and freedom whenever you leave the house. In the meantime, if you’re looking for a lightweight and easy-to-use portable oxygen concentrators such as the Caire FreeStyle Comfort or the Inogen One G5, don’t hesitate to reach out to your respiratory specialists here at LPT Medical.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an umbrella term used to define two different types of lung disease: chronic bronchitis and emphysema. The former is a condition that impairs the bronchioles, the airway tubes that lead into the lungs. The latter affects the tiny air sacs in the lungs called the alveoli. These are responsible for the transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from the bloodstream. Both chronic bronchitis and emphysema are called “obstructive” diseases because they make it more difficult for the patient to expel air from the lungs, thus leading to a buildup of CO2 in the blood.

When a patient is diagnosed with COPD, they’re typically prescribed a standardized treatment plan including but not limited to supplemental oxygen therapy, a specialized diet, pulmonary rehabilitation, and breathing exercises. These are all clinically proven techniques that will help to prevent breathlessness, chest pain, and improve long-term prognosis. While most COPD patients adhere to these well-researched practices, some people look for additional “home remedies” to treat their disease. These are usually referred to as “alternative therapies.”

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Here at LPT Medical, we don’t advise using any type of alternative therapy unless it’s explicitly approved by your doctor or pulmonologist. Some alternative therapies and medications are touted as “cure-alls” or “cheap alternatives” to standardized medications, but more often than not, they don’t live up to their hype and they can even result in further damage to your lungs. In this post, we’re going to tell you all about the alternative therapy called halotherapy, or more commonly known as salt therapy. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section below and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

What is Halotherapy and How is it Used?

The term “halotherapy” comes from the Greek word “halos” meaning “salt.” In other words, it’s the use of salt as a therapy for a variety of different ailments. The idea of using salt as a type of therapy is believed to have originated in Europe several hundred years ago. Miners, who are known to contract deadly lung diseases (pneumoconiosis) like black lung and silicosis due to their exposure to mineral dust, did not experience the same effects when they worked in salt mines. Rather, salt mine workers appeared to thrive and experience great lung and skin health.

It wasn’t until 1826 that the first salt therapy facility was opened by a Polish physician named Feliks Boczkowski. At this treatment facility, he offered salt baths from naturally occurring underground brine. After World War II, Dr. K.H. Spannahel created a systemic approach to the climatological conditions of salt caves and attempted to confirm their medical effectiveness. Together, these two physicians helped to lay the foundation of modern speleotherapy (salt cave therapy).

Nowadays, there are many different types of salt therapy used to treat a variety of different conditions. Below are just a few:

Wet Salt Therapy

This therapy got its name because it involves the use of salt combined with water vapor. Wet salt therapy is one of the most common types of salt therapy and it’s also one of the easiest and most accessible for most people. It includes things like salt scrubs, salt baths, salt nebulizers, and saline solutions. 

Dry Salt Therapy

This is a type of salt therapy that is completely void of moisture or humidity. This is considered the most “traditional” type of salt therapy and it includes salt caves, salt grottos, salt rooms, and salt chambers. Dry salt therapy is said to have many benefits for the body including improved breathing and softer skin.

Speleotherapy

“Speleo” is derived from the Greek word spḗlaion meaning caves. Speleotherapy is a type of salt therapy that involves going into naturally occurring caves below the earth’s surface. It’s believed that the natural climate and environment of these caves is great for treating respiratory diseases like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Active Salt Rooms

This type of salt room uses a halogenerator. This is a device that crushes pure sodium chloride into a fine powder that can be dispersed as an aerosol into the room. This is done in a confined room where the amount of salt in the air can be closely monitored by a specialist. The climate and humidity of these rooms are also closely monitored. 

Passive Salt Rooms

This is similar to active salt rooms but there is no halogenerator that puts out salt particles in the air. Rather, a passive salt room simply has blocks of various types of salt including Himalayan, Mediterranean, Caribbean, or Rock salt, and they’re designed to mimic the effects of being in an actual naturally occurring salt cave. Many people claim that having large quantities of salt like this in a confined space creates positive energy frequencies and a clean-air environment. This is also a major selling point for products like salt lamps which are very popular nowadays.

Can COPD Patients Benefit from Salt Therapy?

Now that you know a little bit about what salt therapy is, you’re probably wondering if there are any proven benefits for COPD patients. Unfortunately, there isn’t a simple “yes” or “no” answer to this. Despite being around for hundreds of years, there isn’t a significant amount of research done on the topic, and many health experts have conflicting opinions about how it should be used, or if it should even be used at all.

The reason salt therapy is associated with COPD in the first place is because of its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Hundreds of years ago, before the invention of refrigerators, salt was used to preserve meat. This worked because salt draws the moisture out and prevents harmful bacteria from forming. Proponents of salt therapy believe this can also benefit the respiratory system of COPD and asthma patients by killing harmful bacteria that could lead to infection. 

Proponents of salt therapy also claim that salt can reduce inflammation in the lungs and airways, loosen excess mucus, and reduce immune system oversensitivity, all of which are symptoms of COPD. However, most of these claims have very little evidence backing them up and many studies have even shown that salt therapy can actually exacerbate the issues above rather than help to cure them.

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), inhaling concentrated salts (hypertonic saline) or any crystalloid solution containing more than 0.9% saline is proven to make asthma and COPD worse by irritating the airways, increasing mucus production, and causing a cough. As such, it’s important to understand the concentration of salt in the therapy you’re receiving.  

Another important thing to note is that the popularity of salt therapy does not affirm its efficacy. Just turning on your TV or browsing the internet, you’re likely to see advertisements for salt therapy caves, salt lamps, and salt inhalers, and you likely hear claims that they can cure chronic illness, but this doesn’t make them true. Since salt therapy is not classified as an FDA approved medication, it’s also not regulated the way that your traditional COPD medication is. 

That doesn’t make them completely immune to responsibility, however. With the advent of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), salt therapy companies have been under close watch by the FDA when it comes to the claims they make about their products. Some salt therapy companies have made wild claims about their products curing or treating COVID-19 when there is little or no evidence to suggest this is the case. If you’d like to learn more about how these types of products are regulated, read through our post about dietary supplements.

Last but certainly not least, there’s a problem with a placebo effect concerning salt therapy. A lot of the research on salt therapy has been inconclusive because it’s based on anecdotal evidence. In other words, many patients are reporting that salt therapy is beneficial to their health, but there is little evidence to suggest there was a physical change to their disease. Rather they have an expectation that something will change, so that’s what they believe. This is a great selling point for many salt therapy companies because, generally speaking, people trust the opinion of others.

Should COPD Patients Use Salt Therapy?

The most important thing to remember when it comes to alternative therapies or home remedies is to always consult your doctor first. Your doctor may have additional insight into why you should or should not be using salt therapy and he/she will help you weigh the risks. You should also do research on the specific salt cave that you want to visit. While some of these places are sanitized regularly, others are teeming with bacteria which could increase your risk of respiratory infection.

It’s also important to weigh the risks of different types of salt therapy. For example, salt therapy caves or chambers are designed to have a very high saline concentration, so it’s more likely this type of therapy could exacerbate your symptoms. Conversely, simply having a salt lamp around your home is unlikely to result in a high concentration of salt in the air, so you can assume that they’re safe to use. Just don’t expect there to be any significant benefits for managing your disease.

What Should COPD Patients be Doing Instead of Salt Therapy?

While it may be tempting to join in on a fad like salt therapy, the best way to treat your COPD symptoms is with traditional methods that have been researched for hundreds of years and backed by thousands of different studies. Let’s take a look at each of these treatment options.

An Improved Diet

Your lungs play an extremely important role in a process called cellular respiration. This is a set of metabolic reactions in the cells of your body that convert chemical energy into adenosine triphosphate (ATP). In other words, the oxygen that your lungs take in is directly linked to the breakdown of nutrients in your body and it’s absolutely necessary for your body to produce energy that it can use. One of the most important things to note as a COPD patient is that certain foods create more waste products (carbon dioxide) than others do which can make breathing even more difficult.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Regular exercise is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Whether you’re young, old, sick, or healthy, exercising improves blood flow, heart strength, and reduces your risk of life-threatening conditions like heart disease and diabetes. Pulmonary rehabilitation is a type of exercise that’s specifically designed for people with COPD and other chronic respiratory diseases because it’s focused on strengthening the lungs, reducing breathlessness, managing weight, and preventing exacerbations. Learn more about how pulmonary rehab works in this post.

Supplemental Oxygen Therapy

Another standard treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is supplemental oxygen therapy. Since COPD patients have less efficient lungs than the general population, oxygen therapy is designed to supply them with a higher concentration of oxygen. In turn, this will alleviate difficulty breathing, ensure blood oxygen levels remain stable and help to prevent exacerbations and other complications. Many people are intimidated by oxygen therapy because they believe it will prevent them from getting around and living life on their own terms.

Fortunately, this is not necessarily the case. While older outdated oxygen devices like oxygen tanks and liquid oxygen tanks can be bulky and difficult to maneuver, they’ve since been replaced by lightweight portable oxygen concentrators. Unlike oxygen tanks, concentrators are battery-powered machines that never need to be refilled by an oxygen company. They’re also fully approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), so you’ll never have to worry about being restricted in where you can travel. For more information on portable oxygen concentrators, be sure to reach out to our respiratory specialists here at LPT Medical.

Smoking Cessation

Smoking cessation can be one of the greatest challenges for many COPD patients. Some people have smoked for decades, so being faced with a COPD diagnosis and the task of quitting immediately, it can be somewhat overwhelming. However, it’s also the single most important thing you can do to alleviate your symptoms and ensure the best long-term prognosis of your disease. Several months ago, we wrote a three-part guide on smoking cessation and recovery so be sure to check it out if you’re interested.

Inhaled Therapy

It’s important not to confuse “oxygen therapy” and “inhaled therapy.” Oxygen therapy is meant to increase blood oxygen levels whereas inhaled therapy is meant to administer COPD medication via a mist called “aerosol.” By inhaling medication rather than taking it orally, you’ll experience greater benefits and you’ll experience the effects almost immediately. Inhaled therapy is usually administered through either an inhaler or a nebulizer device.

Conclusion

While salt therapy (halotherapy) is a trendy topic these days, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s an effective treatment option for COPD. Although salt therapy has been around for hundreds of years, it’s surprisingly understudied and there is very little empirical evidence to go off of. With that being said, salt therapy has been found to be rather safe as long as you’re not exposed to it in high quantities.

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Regardless of what you’re trying to change with your COPD treatment plan, you should always consult your doctor first. He/she may want to take a look at your medical history before determining if it’s safe for you to use salt therapy, or may completely advise against it if there’s a chance it could make your symptoms even worse. You should also take time to plan your day ensuring that you’re focusing on things that you know will improve your symptoms.

Nowadays, life is all about choices. We get to choose where we shop, eat, work, and much more. For the most part, this is a positive thing because it allows us the freedom to create a life that’s suited to our wants and needs. Oxygen patients, for example, can benefit from many decades of improvement in oxygen device technology and they have a wider array of options available to them than ever before including oxygen tanks, liquid oxygen tanks, stationary oxygen concentrators, and portable oxygen concentrators.

Unfortunately, there are downsides to having so many options as well. The more choices that you have, the more research you will need to do to ensure that you’re choosing the right oxygen device for you. Additionally, the more features that are added to oxygen devices, the easier it is to fall victim to scams and false advertising. This is why it’s recommended that you speak with a respiratory specialist after you’ve taken some time to look around for yourself and see what’s out there.

Here at LPT Medical, we understand the need for oxygen patients to choose the oxygen machine that’s right for them. But we also acknowledge that it can be difficult to find exactly what you’re looking for in a market that’s full of jargon and other confusing terminology. If you’d like to speak with someone who will help you understand your options but not pressure you into making an immediate choice, get in touch with our respiratory specialists today.

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In the meantime, we’re going to take a look at the benefits of the Inogen One G5, one of our most popular portable oxygen concentrators. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comment section and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. 

It’s Incredibly Easy to Use

If you’ve been a cell phone user for the past couple of decades, you’ve likely begun to notice a trend: they get progressively more complicated as time goes on. And while this might be a good thing for some people, if you’re like most people, you just want to be able to make calls or send a text message without using a bunch of unnecessary features. Many people believe that purchasing an oxygen concentrator will be a similar experience, but this is not the case when it comes to the Inogen One G5.

Inogen has been manufacturing portable oxygen concentrators since the early 2000s meaning they were one of the first companies in the business. And despite adding more features each generation, their POCs have actually gotten easier to use instead of more difficult. In other words, you don’t have to worry about bending over backward to learn how to use the G5. It will likely come naturally and you’ll feel comfortable operating it an hour or two after receiving it in the mail.

One of the reasons the G5 is so simple to operate is because it only has five physical buttons that you need to know how to use. One to turn the device on or off, two for adjusting the flow setting up or down, one to adjust the alarm settings, and one to adjust the volume settings. That’s it! There’s no need to spend hours on the phone with customer support trying to figure out how to operate your new device. The G5 also comes with a very thorough user manual that outlines all the symbols that may appear on the user interface display and what they mean. We recommend folding up your user manual and keeping it with you whenever you leave the house so that you can refer to it if you need to.

Another aspect of the Inogen One G5 that’s easy to use is the battery system. Unlike other portable oxygen concentrators which require you to open the device up in order to replace the batteries, the G5 batteries simply pop off the bottom of the unit and can be replaced in a matter of seconds. This is ideal for people who are on the go and don’t have time to tamper with their POC.

One other aspect of the Inogen G5 that makes it easy to use is the Intelligent Delivery Technology®. This built-in technology isn’t mentioned very often but it’s quite possibly the most important feature of the device. Essentially, what this does is automatically adjust your oxygen flow based on your breathing rate. In other words, you’ll be able to do things like walk, exercise, and even sleep without having to constantly change your oxygen flow setting.

It’s One of the Lightest POCs

One way or another, most people tend to lose muscle function as they get older. It’s a natural part of aging, and COPD patients are especially susceptible because of something called muscle atrophy, or “muscle wasting.” While you can combat this by exercising more often and maintaining a well-balanced diet, you might still need to find a lightweight POC like the Inogen One G5.

Although the Inogen One G5 is not the lightest portable oxygen concentrator on the market, it’s light enough for the vast majority of oxygen patients even people with late-stage COPD. The G5 weighs just 4.7 pounds, making it the third lightest POC ever manufactured behind the AirSep Focus and the Inogen One G4. It’s also lighter than its main competitor, the Caire FreeStyle Comfort.

Whether you struggle with mobility issues or not, the Inogen One G5 makes it easier to get around while still having access to medical-grade oxygen. This is something that simply wasn’t possible in the past with heavy and bulky oxygen tanks. The problem with these devices is that the weight of the unit directly correlates to the amount of oxygen that you have access to. In other words, if you wanted enough oxygen to make it through the day, you’d need to carry or wheel around an extremely cumbersome oxygen tank.

Unfortunately, with the turn of the century, things didn’t improve much. While there were portable oxygen concentrators available in the early 2000s, they were still very heavy and didn’t provide a decent enough battery life to justify getting one. We’re living in a revolutionary time for portable oxygen concentrators because lightweight machines like the G5 and the Caire FreeStyle Comfort are breaking barriers for COPD patients.

It Has the Highest Oxygen Output of any Pulse Dose Unit

One of the nicest things about owning a portable oxygen concentrator is how easy it is to adjust your flow settings. If you’re going out for a walk or to a pulmonary rehabilitation course, you might need to go up a flow setting or two in order to keep your blood oxygen levels stable. However, you can’t do this if you own a portable oxygen concentrator that doesn’t go up to a high flow setting.

The Inogen One G5 uses something called pulse dose technology. Unlike older concentrators which use continuous flow, pulse dose closely monitors your breathing rate and delivers oxygen only when you’re inhaling. Overall, this makes the device much more energy-efficient, affording you the freedom to stay out of the house longer. The Inogen One G5 has 6 pulse flow settings which equates to a maximum oxygen output of 1,260 milliliters per minute (ml/min) of oxygen.

The majority of oxygen patients only need to use a flow setting of 2 or 3, so the Inogen One G5 offers plenty of flexibility to move up if you’re exercising or your respiratory disease progresses. Be sure to maintain open lines of communication with your doctor and let him/her know if you’re feeling breathless and want to increase the amount of medical oxygen you’re receiving.

It Uses Powerful Lithium-Ion Batteries

The only thing making it possible to have portable devices like cellphones, laptops, and even portable oxygen concentrators is the advancement of lithium-ion batteries. These are some of the most powerful and reliable types of batteries out there and the experts at Inogen have crafted one that will afford you a significant amount of freedom with the Inogen One G5 portable oxygen concentrator.

The single battery which comes with the standard G5 package can run for up to 6.5 hours on a flow setting of one. The double battery which is sold separately can run for an astounding 13 hours on a flow setting of one. While this may sound too good to be true, it’s simply a testament to how much time and money Inogen has put into refining their products and ensuring that they offer the best possible value for your money.

There are countless reasons it’s important to have a portable oxygen concentrator with long-lasting batteries. First and foremost, it allows you to have ample oxygen supply whenever you leave the home. Even if you’re leaving the home for a few hours, it’s nice knowing that you have a safety net in case there is an emergency and you are gone longer than expected. If you are going on a flight, most airlines will require that you have at least 1.5 times the duration of the flight in battery life.

It Has a Low Sound Output

One of the things that people are most worried about when looking for a portable oxygen concentrator is that they will be noisy and cause a distraction for themselves and the people around them. And while this is certainly a valid concern, this will not be a problem if you purchase an Imogen One G5 because it only puts out 37 decibels (dBA) of sound on a setting of 2. This is equivalent to a quiet conversation or a slight background humming noise that won’t disrupt your day or anyone else’s.

The benefit of having a quiet portable oxygen concentrator is that you can take it just about anywhere without feeling anxious or worried. Most people report being able to take their Inogen One G5 to church services, libraries, or other quiet places without causing a disruption. Before you do so, however, be sure to read the user manual to figure out how to turn off the audible alarms. 

It Can Be Used 24 Hours a Day

Believe it or not, many COPD patients need to be on oxygen 24 hours a day. And if this is you, it means that you need an oxygen concentrator that’s capable of running around the clock without failing. Fortunately, the G5 was designed for just this. The intelligent delivery technology in the G5 will adjust your oxygen supply all night long to make sure you aren’t getting too much or too little oxygen.

The one downside to using the G5 while sleeping is that it is not compatible with CPAP and BiPAP machines used to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This is a sleep disorder that causes your airways to close up as you sleep causing disruptions and putting you at a higher risk for several serious conditions like heart attack, stroke, and irregular heartbeats. The PAP machines open the airways as you sleep making it easier to breathe. And in certain cases, this disease can overlap with COPD meaning you’ll need to use supplemental oxygen simultaneously.

Backed by a Reputable Brand

One final benefit of the Inogen One G5 is that it’s backed by a reputable brand. Inogen has been in the oxygen industry since the early 2000s and people tend to wait in anticipation of their next product because they know they will be reliable and powerful devices. The Inogen One G5 is their latest generation of portable oxygen concentrator and it’s also their best. While the G5 has a very low failure rate compared to other POCs on the market, you can still rest easy knowing that you have a 3-year manufacturer warranty with the purchase of a new G5.

Another way Inogen supports the G5 is with a mobile application called the Inogen Connect. This connects to your device via Bluetooth and enables you to check your battery life, monitor column life status, perform column resets, and access your user manual all without ever touching your POC. This is perfect for people who are on the go often and don’t want to keep checking their device. Simply check the app on your phone and you’ll have all the information you need in one convenient place. Inogen will likely implement similar features into future concentrators because it’s been well-received by oxygen users.  

Conclusion

Choosing an oxygen concentrator can seem like an insurmountable challenge at times. Whether you’re in the market for a stationary unit, continuous flow, or pulse dose, you should take some time to understand your options before committing to anything. This post provided you with just a few of the many reasons to invest in an Inogen One G5 over other units on the market. For full details on the specs and benefits of the G5, be sure to visit our product page. 

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If you found this post helpful, feel free to bookmark our blog page. We update our site regularly with informational posts that aim to help COPD patients better manage their disease and live long and fulfilling lives. And whether you’re a current customer of ours or you just want more information on medical oxygen devices, please reach out to us either by phone or email.

In this article we are talking about what it means to build new habits, break old ones, and create healthy routines. We will talk about how you can do this successfully, and why it is important for everyone that wants to live a healthy and long life, that cultivating healthy habits is the best way to do it! 

The initial steps towards building a healthy routine and good habits can cause a lot of resistance, this is because humans are creatures of habit, therefore any kind of change even if it is good change, is often met with resistance. Resistance starts out as a small hesitation to grow or change, and then you become overwhelmed with it all to the point where you can’t commit to building a healthy routine anymore. 

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If you have Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) building a health routine includes, taking you medication, accomplishing your oxygen therapy, exercising, eating well, among many other things. 

COPD is a progressive and chronic lung disease, and it is treatable. COPD causes breathlessness, either due to inflammation in the airways, excess mucus production, or both. People with COPD are treating their condition to avoid exacerbations, improve quality of life, and of course to reduce the chance of death. 

Ironically, COPD is often a result of a lifetime of unhealthy habits, like smoking cigarettes, In fact, the primary cause of COPD is exposure to tobacco smoke. So quitting life threatening habits is one of the steps we will discuss in this article.

In this article we will talk about the steps towards building healthy habits, and if you have COPD, how you can use these techniques to create a routine that helps you maintain your COPD treatment on a daily basis.

The first step to building healthy habits is to “Make it Easy”.

Make it Easy 

Successfully implementing lasting changes into your life is hard, period. So, our first pieces of advice is to make it easy. Make the change so small and so easy that you have to do it!

The first step in creating healthy habits that stick, is to make the initial changes very simple. This way, there is no excuse not to do it!

There are two ways you can change, you can work towards quitting a nasty habit or getting in the routine of creating a healthy habit.

For instance, if you want to start exercising more, consider doing a minimal amount of exercise per day, this way you can’t excuse the action one day by saying you’re too tired. This goes back to minimizing the amount of resistance. The amount of exercise you set yourself up to accomplish everyday will be relative to your health, so whatever is doable for you whether that is walking to get the mail, or walking 1.5 miles, make it a point to do it everyday. 

If you are working towards cutting something bad out of your life, such as eating fried foods, give yourself as easy alternative. Fried foods can cause bloating and discomfort by pushing on your diaphragm, making it difficult and uncomfortable to breathe. Excessively eating fried food can cause you to gain weight which increases pressure on your lungs. If you eat a lot of fried food, working to eat less fried foods can be a habit that you break. 

Make this easy by giving yourself a tasty alternative, that fulfills the craving but isn't as bad for you. For instance, 100 grams of fried and battered chicken breast contains 13.2 g of fat, and  over-roasted chicken breast only contains 0.39 g of fat. 

Breaking habits along with building healthy ones takes time, start making simple changes to train yourself, and this will help you make bigger changes in the future once you are ready.

The next step to building healthy habits or breaking bad ones, is using incremental steps rather than all at once. 

Take Multiple Steps to Reach Your Goals

This is a hugely important step to take when breaking down those sticky habits and in some cases curing addiction. Smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable death worldwide and is responsible for more than 480,000 deaths per year in the United States, which goes to show how quitting smoking is not easy. 

if you normally smoke one pack a day, it would be unlikely that within one day you will quit smoking entirely. Nicotine is the most common addiction in the United States, a study by the CDC back in 2015 suggested that while about 70 percent of current adult smokers in the United States wanted to quit, about 55 percent had attempted to do so , but only 7 percent were successful in quitting.

Do not let the statistics deter you from trying! Simply start by quitting a little bit day by day and using supplementary hand and mouth fixation tools. Eventually, you can make a step towards going one full day without a cigarette, and subsequently a few days in a row. 

There are thousands of quitting techniques circling the internet, and getting advice from you doctor can help you find a technique that works for you. If you fail the first time, try something else, and just take it one step at a time.

This brings us to the next step, and that is celebrating small victories. 

Small Wins and The Snowball Effect

Celebrating the small victories in your journey to create new habits implements self trust into your life. Self trust is saying you are going to do one thing, and having the courage, strength, and honestly to stand by your words with your actions. 

Self trust is an important aspect of building healthy habits, and breaking down bad ones. Using healthy routine building tools can help you build a solid foundation of self trust.

To celebrate your small wins you reward good behavior, this generates a snowball effect that can start rolling in a positive direction. The goal is to build a small habit initially, it can be easy at the beginning and by using incremental steps over the course of time, you will succeed. In doing so, you will gain the confidence in yourself and your ability to follow through. 

Underwhelm yourself, do not overwhelm yourself. Feeling overwhelmed initiates a stress repose, making it even more challenging to do anything. You can build on the underwhelming feeling, and encourage yourself that more positive change can be done little by little. 

Living with COPD is challenging enough, but standing by and not doing anything is worse than challenging yourself to break bad habits and build healthy ones. 

As we mentioned above, changing your habits doesn't have to be hard, and in fact, it should be easy when you are first starting to make a change.This means creating an attainable plan of action that is easy to accomplish successfully. From there, you can start taking incremental steps towards a larger goal, this takes time and patience, but it is the best way to stay committed to a goal. Lastly, celebrate the small wins, and encourage yourself to continue doing better.

Health Habits for People With COPD 

So now that you know where to start, comes the hard part. Deciding what it is you need in your life, or don’t need, that will improve your livelihood. We drafted a few of the habits that are great for people with any respiratory disease including COPD, you can also discuss with your doctor and decide together what it is you should work towards. 

Eating more protein rich foods: 

Protein is essential to daily living whether you have a respiratory disease or not. Protein gives you energy, something respiratory patients desperately need in order to get through the day.  Protein helps build and repair muscle, tissues, and every cell in your body.  It can also strengthen your immune system, making you less susceptible to sickness and infection.

Here are some tips for getting protein into you meals more often:

• Try to eat 5-6 small meals daily. In each meal make sure that you have protein. You can try these small meal idea to get started: 
  • Peanut butter and crackers
  • Handful of nuts or trail mix
  • Apple with string cheese
  • Greek yogurt with berries
  • Sandwich with hummus and vegetables
  • Baked potato with cottage cheese
  • Hard boiled egg with whole grain toast
  • Bean burrito
    
• Try making a smoothie with protein powder, fruit, and milk, and you can even add peanut or almond butter for an extra serving of protein
  • Choose whey, pea, or bean protein for best quality.
  • Look at the ingredient list to make sure protein is the main ingredient.
  • Avoid protein powders that have herbs or other foreign or unrecognizable ingredients.
    
• Try to plan your meals and snacks in advance. This will help if you tend to forget to eat or avoid eating because you do not have a strong appetite.
• Before bed, have a protein-rich bedtime snack to make sure you meet your daily protein needs
  
• To increase the protein intake of foods you eat regularly, you can add dry milk powder into milk, oatmeal, overnight oats, or yogurt

Exercise 3-4 Times Per Week 

This is a habit that is often met with a lot of resistance, and it is something you should work your way up to before going all in. 

If you have COPD and do not exercise regularly, starting to exercise will be a challenge. This is when you have to force yourself to do easy exercise that you can accomplish, rather than setting the bar too high. 

If you start exercising too much all at once, you will not feel good, and it can tire you out to the point where you end up quitting entirely. 

Depending on your current physical activity, you and your doctor or respiratory therapist can set up an exercise program that will start off slow and steady and gradually gets more intense, until you are at a healthy place, which for people with COPD is often 20 - 30 minutes. 

Here is a great resource for exercise options for respiratory patients: Improving Your Exercise Tolerance and Quality of Life with COPD.

Get a Portable Oxygen Device

It is normal for oxygen therapy to start interfering with the quality of your life, and while it is important to cover all of your oxygen therapy needs, you cannot let your oxygen therapy control the quality of your life.

If your oxygen tanks are heavy and bulky, it is harder to exercise.

If you have an oxygen tank you cannot travel with it on airplanes.

You might have difficulty carrying a large oxygen unit on errands and end up spending a lot of time at home. 

There are a number of aspects that oxygen therapy has held oxygen patients back from doing, and this does not have to be your reality. 

Switching to a lightweight, portable oxygen concentrator unit can make it easier to move around, exercise, travel, and so much more. Activities like going to restaurants, running errands, and even traveling can become a lot more convenient with the help of a lightweight battery powered portable oxygen concentrator. 

Education is a very important aspect of buying a portable oxygen concentrator, understanding your condition as well as the device will set you up to succeed throughout your oxygen therapy treatment. 

Portable oxygen concentrators costs range in prices, depending on if you need a pulse flow device like the Caire Freestyle Comfort, or a continuous flow device like the Respironics SImplyGo. Prices also depend on the batteries each device is equipped with, its weight, and the technological capabilities. 

The best way to learn about your options is to speak over the phone with a respiratory specialist, they can converser with your doctor's office to find out exactly what your oxygen intake is, and from there find the perfect device for you.

Learn Breathing Techniques

Practice implementing breathing techniques into your daily life, it is a great way to control your COPD symptoms. 

Pursed-lip breathing can open up your lungs, allowing you to take in more air. The purpose is to strengthen your lungs so you can enjoy more activities without breathlessness.

Follow these simple steps:

1. Position your lips as if you’re about to whistle
2. Breathe in slowly through your nose and count to two or three 
3. Breathe out through pursed lips and count to four or five
4. Repeat this technique up to five times to control your breathing
5. Do this multiple times per day if you have time

You can also discuss with your doctor about  the possibility of attending a pulmonary rehabilitation course in your area. This type of rehab teaches you different ways to breathe, and better manage your other symptoms.

Learn Coughing Techniques 

Coughing is a common symptom of COPD, however it actually has a useful purpose, if done so correctly. 

Oftentimes, your cough can be caused by excess mucus that is trapped in your airways, coughing is the natural reaction your body initiates to clear the mucus. If you work on purposefully coughing correctly to clear your airways, you will experience less involuntary coughing throughout the day a night.

You can work on these techniques in the morning and night, as well as before and after you eat. Hopefully, the more you do it in the beginning, the more productive it becomes. 

It is also important to take the necessary steps to prepare for clearing your airways, such as drinking plenty of water which will thin out the mucus, and do not eat food that promotes mucus production, such as having too much dairy in one meal.  

Huffing, otherwise known as huff coughing, is a coughing technique that helps move mucus from your lungs and it is similar to exhaling onto a window to steam it up.

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Huffing is not as forceful as a cough, but it can work better and be less tiring.

The Huff Coughing Technique:

1. Tilt your chin tilted slightly up and mouth open 
2. Take a slow deep breath to partially fill your lungs
3. Hold breath for two or three seconds
4. Exhale forcefully, but slowly, in a continuous exhalation to move mucus from the smaller to the larger airways
5. Repeat this maneuver two more times
6. Follow with one strong cough to clear mucus from the larger airways
7. Do a cycle of four to five huff coughs as part of your airway clearance

Accomplishing these huffing techniques enables air to get behind the mucus and separates it from the walls of your lungs so it can be coughed out.

There are a lot of other coughing techniques that can be found in this article: How to Cough Correctly with COPD

Overview 

Building healthy habits start with a mind set. You can make positive changes in your life that will greatly impact your ability to do more things, and feel physically and mentally better. 

Make the initial changes easy, this way your actions cannot be met with resistance, and accomplishing small goals will lead to your capacity to accomplish large goals. 

Develop steps for yourself, when changing a habit or creating a new habit, take incremental steps to get to your desired results. 

Lastly, cultivate a sense of achievement, even in your small endeavors. This creates self trust, that will reinforce your ability to change for the better. 

If you have COPD, changing your habits may be an essential treatment that your doctor tells you is going to help you live longer, and healthier. Your chronic lung disease will not disappear, but you can take control of it. 

We hope that you can use the tactics laid out in this article to make healthy lifestyle changes in all aspects of your life. 

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common lung diseases in the world. It’s estimated that about 16.4 million people in the United States alone have COPD and millions more are either undiagnosed or at high risk of contracting it. Despite this fact, many people are woefully unaware of what causes this disease and how it should best be managed.

In short, COPD is an umbrella term that denotes two conditions: chronic bronchitis and emphysema. While the symptoms and pathogenesis of these two diseases are slightly different, they are both primarily caused by cigarette smoking. However, in rare instances, someone who has never smoked can contract COPD through something called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AAT deficiency).

One of the symptoms of COPD that’s particularly vicious is something called an exacerbation. This is similar to an asthma attack in that it causes respiratory symptoms such as breathlessness, chest pain, and sputum production to suddenly become worse, oftentimes requiring you to seek immediate medical attention. In this post, we will help you better understand COPD flare-ups and exacerbations, as well as how to avoid being hospitalized as a result. 

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to leave them in the comment section so we can address them.

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What’s the Difference Between a Flare-Up and an Exacerbation?

Generally speaking, the terms “COPD flare-up” and “COPD exacerbation” are used interchangeably. They both refer to respiratory symptoms becoming worse due to environmental causes, infections, or any number of other things. However, when it comes to discussing these symptoms, it’s important to be precise not only about what’s causing them but how severe they are as well.

A mild COPD exacerbation is one that could lead to increased discomfort but is unlikely to cause any serious long-term consequences. These can typically be treated with short-acting bronchodilators (SABD) or “rescue inhalers” which work to quickly open up the airways allowing you to breathe better. Moderate COPD exacerbations should be supplemented with oral corticosteroids which suppress inflammation and antibiotics which can help fight inflammation.

The final type of exacerbation is a severe exacerbation, sometimes called an “acute” exacerbation. This type of exacerbation requires immediate medical attention and can even be life-threatening if it’s not treated appropriately. Ideally, the best way to prepare for this type of exacerbation is to have an action plan and ensure you always have someone on hand to either take you to the hospital or call an ambulance. 

Why it’s so Important to Avoid Hospitalization With COPD

According to the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, COPD is responsible for $72 billion a year in direct healthcare expenditures. The majority of these costs come from hospital visits which range from 4.5 to 8.8 days on average. Around two-thirds of all COPD hospitalizations are due to COPD exacerbations, and the majority of COPD exacerbations are caused by infections — specifically viral infections. 

The primary reason it’s important to avoid hospitalization for COPD is because of the risks for your health. According to another study by the aforementioned medical journal, after testing over 2 million patients, the 1-year readmission rate was 64.2% and the 1-year mortality rate was 26.2% both of which were significantly higher than rates among the general COPD population. Readmission and mortality rates are also much higher among patients who were hospitalized with severe exacerbation of COPD.

The second most important reason to avoid hospitalization due to COPD is cost. Frequent or long-term admissions can pose a significant financial burden on people with COPD which can also lead to stress, anxiety, and even depression. In our last post, we highlighted some key ways that you can avoid unnecessary financial costs due to COPD so check it out if you’re interested in learning more.

Have a Plan to Deal With Exacerbations

First and foremost, if you want to avoid hospitalization due to COPD exacerbation, you need to have a plan of action before an emergency occurs. An action plan is a sort of written outline that you will follow in order to accomplish a certain goal. This way, if you notice your COPD symptoms starting to worsen, you can refer to your sheet instead of worrying about making difficult decisions at the moment.

In order to prepare your COPD action plan, you should first consult your doctor. He/she will likely already have a template that you can fill out to make this process a little easier. On this action plan, you will need to create an “action” for every symptom you experience. For example, if the symptom is a gradual decrease in your blood oxygen levels, you might make a note to increase your oxygen flow setting or contact your doctor. If you experience sudden shortness of breath, you might make a note to use your rescue inhaler.

Another important thing to know about your COPD action plan is that it should not be private information. You should make it a priority to go over your plan with friends and family, especially if they spend a lot of time with you. This way, if you are in a situation where you are unable to act out your action plan, they will be able to help. In this post, we discuss how you can prepare for medical emergencies and hospital visits with COPD, so check it out if you want to know more. 

Change Up Your Diet

Diet can be a very difficult topic to discuss in this day and age. Most people have access to more types of food than ever before and there is a near endless list of diets that people swear by. As a result, it can feel like an insurmountable task trying to find something that keeps you happy and healthy. The good news, however, is that many years of research have been dedicated to COPD diets, so you shouldn’t have to do much scrambling to make sense of it all.

Generally speaking, COPD patients should maintain a diet that’s high in protein, fiber, and fat, but low in carbohydrates. The reason for this is that the metabolism of carbs produces the highest amount of carbon dioxide in the body while the metabolism of fat produces the least. Adequate protein ensures your respiratory muscles stay strong and efficient, and fiber helps to control blood glucose levels and reduce cholesterol in the blood.

Another reason to keep your diet healthy, natural foods rather than processed ones is because weight management is vital to COPD management. Most often, people tend to become underweight after contracting COPD due to a loss of appetite or other factors. Sometimes, people experience a loss of appetite because consuming food is more physically exerting than it was previously, and bloating can contribute to breathing difficulties. COPD patients who are underweight may find that they lack the energy or endurance to make it through the day.

On the other hand, being overweight with COPD can contribute to breathing problems as well. While it is less common for a COPD patient to become overweight than underweight, the problems associated with it can be just as severe. Simply put, having a higher body mass index (BMI) can be obstructive to your breathing by putting more strain on your lungs when you inhale. However, some studies have found mixed results when it comes to being overweight/obese with COPD.  

Be Consistent With Your Exercise Routine

Consistency is unbelievably important when it comes to treating COPD and preventing exacerbations. For example, your diet is much more likely to benefit you if you keep up with your goals week in and week out. But if you do well one week then cheat the next, you’re going to put yourself at a much higher risk of COPD complications like exacerbations. This works pretty much the same way when it comes to your exercise routine.

Oftentimes, exercise specialists will talk about getting into a “routine.” In other words, you do the same exercise each day for an allotted period of time. By doing so, it will be much easier to track your progress and catch yourself when you fall back on your plan. This works well for most people who want to commit to an exercise routine, but it’s especially useful for COPD patients who benefit more from consistent moderate exercise rather than high-intensity exercise.

Avoid Getting Sick

Lung infection is both the number one cause of severe COPD exacerbation and the number one cause of hospitalization due to COPD. With that being said, staying healthy and avoiding infection (especially lung infections) is vital. One of the best things you can do right now to avoid getting sick is to quit smoking or avoid second-hand smoke if you live around smokers.

It’s been known for quite some time that smoking reduces the immune response in the body and also makes the smoker more likely to have exaggerated responses to viral infections. During influenza outbreaks and with the current situation we face involving COVID-19, smokers have a much lower survival rate when compared to the general population. Not to mention that smoking and second-hand smoke can trigger COPD exacerbations even if an infection isn’t present.

Another thing you can do to avoid getting sick is to be more conscious of your daily habits. For example, do you wash your hands frequently throughout the day? Do you take care to avoid places that are unclean or unsanitary? Do you stay away from people who exhibit symptoms of the cold or the flu? Do you clean surfaces in your home like door handles, coffee pot handles, or faucet handles? Are you following all the precautions recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) in order to prevent contracting the novel coronavirus? 

Last but certainly not least, you should be getting the doctor-recommended eight hours of sleep each night in order to avoid getting sick. According to WebMD, sleep deprivation suppresses the immune system and puts you at a higher risk of contracting colds, the flu, and other ailments. This is an especially difficult topic for many COPD patients because respiratory symptoms can make it difficult to maintain a healthy sleep schedule. In this post, we take a look at some actionable tips to improve your sleep if you have COPD.

Avoid Environmental Triggers

It can be a scary world out there for anyone who values their lung health. From wildfire smoke to car exhaust and pollen, it’s easy to feel like no place is safe. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) even reports that indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air. Fortunately, it’s not all grim news for COPD patients who want to avoid exacerbation triggers. Just by following a few simple steps, you’ll be well on your way to avoiding the most common triggers.

Despite summer ending last week, we are still in the midst of wildfire season. As a result, COPD patients need to be aware of when they go outside, especially when it concerns exercising outdoors. Air quality index (AQI) is the measurement we use to determine how safe outdoor air is to breathe. Each day before you go outside, be sure to check AirNow.gov for the AQI in your area. If the AQI is above 100, this is a sign that the air quality is too poor for people with lung diseases like COPD, asthma, or pulmonary fibrosis.

Another thing you should be wary of is seasonal allergies. Contrary to popular belief, allergies are a reality during all times of the year as opposed to only being active during certain seasons. In September and October, allergens like ragweed are typically at their peak. According to WebMD, if you get allergies in the spring, you are about 75% likely to have reactions to ragweed. So, if you’re outside this trying to enjoy the fall colors and cool weather this year, just be aware that allergies are still a reality.

The final airborne COPD exacerbation triggers we’d like to talk about are the ones found in your home. Like we mentioned earlier, indoor air can potentially be more dangerous than outdoor air. This is because the air in your home is extremely concentrated, so if you track things in like dust, allergens, or smoke, it will likely start to build up in one area of your home unless you take the time to clean regularly. While it may not seem that important, taking the time to vacuum, dust, and wipe down surfaces every day can go a long way to preventing COPD exacerbations. What’s more, it will help you get your daily exercise.     

Use a Reliable Portable Oxygen Machine

Last but certainly not least, having a reliable portable oxygen device that you can take anywhere will put you in the best position to avoid COPD exacerbations and hospitalization. For the vast majority of COPD patients, supplemental oxygen therapy is a medical necessity. Not only does it stabilize your lung condition, but it also ensures your blood oxygen levels are normal, which in turn saturates every organ in your body with the oxygen it needs to function properly.

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For the foreseeable future, portable oxygen concentrators are your best bet for reliable portable oxygen. Unlike oxygen tanks or liquid oxygen tanks, portable oxygen concentrators are electronic devices. So, instead of having to go out of your way constantly to have your tanks refilled by an oxygen specialist, you simply need to carry batteries with you. Fortunately, these batteries are lightweight and don’t take up very much space in your backpack or handbag.

Currently, the best portable oxygen concentrator on the market is the Caire FreeStyle Comfort. It weighs in at only 5 pounds and it offers 5 different flow settings that you can adjust on the fly as needed. One of the unique features of the FreeStyle Comfort is its ergonomic design which keeps the device comfortably at your side rather than jostling around as some other concentrators do. 

Another portable oxygen concentrator we’d like to recommend is the Inogen One G5. While this POC came out last year, it’s still very relevant and a great choice for anyone who needs a reliable 24/7 medical oxygen supply. The Inogen One G5 has one more pulse flow setting than the FreeStyle Comfort and it weighs slightly less at just 4.7 pounds. Inogen is one of the top brands in the medical oxygen industry and they take pride in customer satisfaction.

In rare instances, your doctor may require you to use a continuous flow concentrator. If this is the case, we recommend the Respironics SimplyGo portable oxygen concentrator. This unit is twice as heavy as the Caire FreeStyle Comfort, but since it puts out a continuous flow of oxygen, it can be used with your CPAP or BiPAP machine if you have sleep apnea or another related sleeping disorder. If you’re looking for affordable portable oxygen concentrators, don’t hesitate to visit our online oxygen store.

Conclusion  

Unfortunately, exacerbations and flare-ups are a reality for COPD patients. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t take steps to reduce your risk of experiencing hospitalization due to an exacerbation. Above all, following your treatment plan as closely as possible and preventing sickness like the cold or flu will be your best bet if you want to avoid hospital visits. 

If you would like to learn more about managing chronic respiratory conditions such as COPD, stay tuned to our blog. We aim to equip our readers with the knowledge they need to combat breathlessness, chest pain, and fatigue in their daily lives, as well as learning how to cope with the mental aspects of chronic disease like anxiety and depression. Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions or concerns.