Portable oxygen concentrators are state-of-the-art medical oxygen units designed for mobility, reliability, and ease of use. Anyone who has been prescribed supplemental oxygen by their doctor is a good candidate for these units because they enable you to maintain your freedom and independence while ensuring your oxygen needs are always met. In the video above, we unbox one of the most popular portable oxygen concentrators on the market — the Inogen One G5.

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Inogen is one of the top manufacturers in the industry, consistently putting out reliable and affordable devices like the Inogen One G3 and the Inogen One G4. Their latest portable oxygen concentrator, the Inogen One G5, introduces some new features and improves upon several aspects of its predecessors such as battery life, oxygen output, and weight. Continue reading below to learn more about what the Inogen One G5 has to offer.

Outstanding Oxygen Output

Millions of people around the world rely on medical oxygen to keep themselves safe and healthy. The problem is that traditional oxygen therapy devices like oxygen tanks are extremely bulky and difficult to maneuver, meaning you need to sacrifice a significant amount of your freedom just to use one. However, the experts over at Inogen were able to craft an oxygen device that’s compact, lightweight, and offers up to 6 oxygen pulse flow settings that you can easily adjust on the fly depending on your needs.

The Inogen One G5 offers more flow settings than any other pulse dose concentrator on the market. What this means for you is that you’ll have more versatility than ever before. For example, if you’re exercising and your blood oxygen levels drop, you’ll be able to increase your oxygen flow to accommodate this change. What’s more, the Inogen One G5 has something called Intelligent Delivery Technology® built into it which closely tracks changes in your breathing and adjusts the oxygen delivery accordingly. You can even use your G5 unit while you’re sleeping!

Ease of Use

These days, technology is progressing at the speed of light and it can feel like a full-time job trying to keep up with everything. So, it’s understandable if you are discouraged by the idea of learning yet another electronic device. However, you might be astonished to find out just how easy the Inogen One G5 is to use. Watch the video above to see how quick and painless it is to unbox the Inogen One G5 and start using it.

On the user interface, you’ll notice that there are only five buttons: one for turning the device on or off; two for adjusting the flow setting up or down; one for notifications; and one for volume. That’s it! There’s no need to spend hours reading through the user manual just to get started. If you want, you can even give one of our respiratory specialists here at LPT Medical a call and we’ll walk you through the basics of your device and answer any questions you may have.

Long-Lasting Battery

Unlike oxygen tanks which need to be refilled daily or weekly, you’ll simply need to charge the battery to keep your Inogen One G5 running. Since the G5 is an electronic device, you can recharge it using any wall or car outlet. There are two different battery options including the 8-cell battery and the 16-cell battery. The 8-cell comes standard with every G5 unit, but you can always upgrade to the 16-cell if you think you’ll need more battery life.

The G5 utilizes powerful lithium-ion batteries like the ones found in modern cell phones and laptops. The smaller 8-cell battery will provide you with up to 5 hours of operating time on a pulse dose setting of 2 while the 16-cell will provide 10 hours of use. If you want to carry more than one battery at a time, you can use an accessory called the external battery charger to charge two batteries at once. This is ideal for people who are on the go or travel frequently.

Approved by the FAA

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) oversees safety regulations for commercial flights within the United States. Normally, the FAA does not allow oxygen devices on aircraft because they can be a hazard to passengers. However, the Inogen One G5 is so safe that it has FAA approval for in-flight use. This means that you can finally start traveling across the country or world again to visit friends and family or take a well-deserved vacation. But before you do so, you need to have at least one and a half times the duration of your flight in battery life, and you need to contact your airline at least 48 hours in advance. This will afford you enough time to complete any paperwork that they may require.

Advantages of the Inogen One G5

• It’s compact and weighs under 5 pounds
• It’s reliable and can be used 24/7
• It offers 6 pulse flow settings
• It closely monitors your breathing for optimal oxygen delivery
• It’s approved by the FAA
• It’s easy to use, clean, and maintain
  
  

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  Weight	4.7 Pounds
  Dimensions	8.15" H x 7.19" L x 3.26" W
  Flow Settings	Pulse Settings 1-6
  Sound Level	37 dBA @ Setting 2
  Expected Battery Life	Up to 10 hours

The clear and simple answer is that there is currently no cure for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). That being said, there is evidence that shows early diagnosis, combined with disease management programs, can reduce the impact of COPD and slow the disease from progressing into a more severe state.

If you are struggling with accomplishing activities you used to do with ease by becoming short of breath, experiencing chest tightness or low energy, or getting frequent respiratory infections, being diagnosed with COPD can be a blessing in disguise.

In the United States 12.7 million adults are estimated to have COPD, but close to 30 million are living with impaired lung function, suggesting that many more people have COPD but aren’t being diagnosed.

This means that about half of the people with COPD are missing out on valuable treatments that will slow the progression of their disease and improve their over-all quality of life.

This is why it is so important to check with your doctor and get tested if you are experiencing:

• A nagging cough
• Decreased ability to exercise
• Shortness of breath
• Frequent respiratory infections

New research displays that many doctors may miss the early signs of COPD in up to 85 percent of cases.

That being said, there are multiple ways to be tested for COPD, and you might suggest to your doctor that you would like to be tested for COPD just to be sure that you do, or do not have it.

A spirometry test will test your Lung function and measure the amount of air you can inhale and exhale, and will determine whether your lungs deliver enough oxygen to your blood.

A chest X-ray can show whether or not you have emphysema, which is one of the main causes of COPD. An X-ray can also rule out other lung problems or heart failure.

A CT scan of your lungs can help detect emphysema and lung cancer. It is the test administrated to determine if you would benefit from surgery for COPD. 

An arterial blood gas analysis measures how well your lungs bring oxygen into your blood and remove carbon dioxide.

Basic steps toward slowing disease progression

After getting one or multiple tests, and once you realize why you are experiencing symptoms, there are multiple ways to improve your quality of life, slow disease progression, reduce mortality and keep you out of hospital.

There are many people just like you, who have been diagnosed with COPD who found that after they knew the reason behind their breathing complications they were able to adjust their lifestyles, and actually changed their lives in a positive way!

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In order to change your COPD diagnosis from a "death sentence" into a blessing to start anew, here are the basic steps you must take in order to slow the progression of your COPD.

One of the most important aspects and the easiest habit it form, is staying healthy in aspects of your life like diet, and weight. You can begin to research the correct food that you need to supplement you breathing issues and lung deterioration. You would be surprised how a healthy gut can influence your mood and your energy levels!

Make sure that all of you vaccinations are up-to-date and that you always get the fly vaccine every year in order to to protect yourself from influenza and pneumonia. These sickness can induce flare-ups, meaning more sever symptoms and extreme trouble breathing, which will inevitably lead to more hospitalization in the future. 

It is also important that you understand and are always learning about COPD education. You should know all of the steps you must take in the case of an emergency, you should know how and when to take you medication, and you should know your treatment plan through and through.

Most important steps towards slowing COPD progression 

The following steps are more challenging and require more planning and effort, however this section about slowing your COPD disease progression is the most vital. 

Quitting smoking is the utmost important action you must take to reduce the rate at which your lungs are deteriorating. If you have COPD and continue to smoke year will be taken off of your life expectancy. However, if you are a life-long smoker, and quit smoking after being diagnosed with COPD, the rate at which your COPD progresses into more severe stages will decline. 

For some folks, exercise has never been a high priority. But if you have COPD, it is crucial for your health and longevity, that you start taking steps towards a more active lifestyle.

This does not mean you should start training for a marathon, instead try walking around your house more often, then try climbing the stairs multiple times a day, and before you know it your tolerance for exercising more regularly will begin to grow.

You will be able to walk or hike and get outside (if it is not allergy season), you can begin pulmonary rehabilitation classes, and adding breathing exercise into your daily routine.  

This last step is critical for people who need extra oxygen, and need to begin on supplemental oxygen therapy.  so that you can breathe easier and you can stay more active. Even if you don’t need oxygen therapy now, you may need it later if your COPD does progress into a more severe stage.

There are a few options you have when it comes to choosing the method in which you receive supplemental oxygen. The overwhelming consensuses is that portable oxygen concentrators (POC) are the most innovative and hassle-free pieces of equipment for oxygen therapy available. 

POCs are lightweight ranging from 4-8 pounds depending on the model. They are battery powered, and depending on the flow setting and battery module capacity can last up to 16 hours.

POC are also safe, and do not create an oxygen rich environment like an oxygen tank does, this means you can safely travel by plane, car, boat with ease. The POC brings in surrounding air, purifies and concentrates the air into medical grade oxygen.

COPD is very serious chronic illness and should not be taken lightly

COPD is a very serious respiratory disease, and because it cannot be cured yet, it is crucial to take all of the suggestions within this article and apply it to your lifestyle everyday if you can.

If you are diagnosis with any stage of COPD, you need to set up a strict treatment plan where so that you are able to successfully slow down the disease progression, and minimize lung deterioration. 

By following all of theses disease management tesuniqes, you will be able to continue living a rather normal if not more active lifestyle than before your diagnosis. 

If you struggle with physical activity, one of the best ways to help you get into the habit of exercising is with the help of a portable oxygen concentrators. An Inogen brand portable oxygen concentrator, Caire Freestyle Comfort portable oxygen concentrator, or the Respironics SimplyGo Portable Oxygen Concentrator will help you to exercise with less shortness of breath, travel freely and independently, and never have to worry about up-keeping costs associated with refilling any oxygen canisters. 

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If you are not at the stage where you need supplemental oxygen therapy, be sure to take all of these steps to avoid progressing to that stage of COPD later in life. 

If you have COPD, the first sign that something was not right was likely feeling shortness of breath, to the point that you wanted to see your doctor about it. It also could have been that incessant cough throughout the day and night.

It's easy to blame a cough on allergies or a common cold, but if it persists and becomes a regular thing, you should see your doctor to discuss the possibility of having COPD or another lung ailment. The sooner you find out if it is COPD causing your symptoms the sooner you will be able to treat the chronic illness, thereby slowing down the progression of your COPD.

The first thing that you need to understand is that coughing may seem like a symptom you want to relieve, but in the case of COPD, it actually serves a function.

Continue reading to understand how COPD and coughing are related, what you can do to ease a cough, and when to seek medical attention.

How are COPD and Coughing Related

If you have COPD you probably experience a persistent cough. This symptom is related to a condition of COPD called chronic bronchitis, which means that your airways are constantly irritated. This irritation is often caused by smoking or second-hand smoke, but it can also be caused by other irritants and biological factors, such as pollution or genetics.

The irritation in your airways causes two problems that prevent enough air from passing through to the lungs:

• The lining of your airways become swollen
• There is too much mucus produced by your lungs

People with chronic bronchitis can have a persistent cough because it is important to regularly clear their swollen airways of this excess mucus, which can sometimes be difficult and require extra attention and treatments, of which, we will discuss in more detail in the What you can do to ease a cough associated with COPD section of this article.

So, coughing caused by COPD is often productive and it is a natural function of your body that plays an important role in your breathing system. Coughing helps to move extra mucus out from your lungs. Coughing is also a reaction that can help remove certain irritants you may inhale into your lungs, like dust, pollution, and other common allergens.

When your cough produces mucus, which is also called sputum or phlegm, that means your body is working correctly to clear the excess mucus up through your swollen airways and into your throat and out of your mouth.

It is normal for the mucus to be clear or white, yellow, or green in color but if the mucus is very mucky, it may be a sign of a respiratory infection. We will go over this in more detail in the When you should see a doctor section

What you can do to ease a cough associated with COPD

To determine whether or not your cough needs to be treated with medication or other remedies, depends on the type of cough you are experiencing and whether or not your cough is actually helping to clear your lungs and airways.

You should consult with your doctor to determine the type of cough you are experiencing and how to deal with it going forward.

As we discussed in the section above, airway clearing coughs serves a meaningful purpose by clearing out mucus from your airways. In this case, it is best for you to continue coughing in order to avoid mucus building up in your lungs.

That being said, there are certain medications you can take as well as techniques you can learn how to perform in order to couch more effectively.

COPD and coughing medications

If your cough is due to very thick mucus, first you should try to drink more fluids. This can help make your mucus thinner and easier to clear. If this does not work well enough, then there are medicines called “expectorants” that can help make the mucus easier to cough up.

If your coughing becomes painful or difficult to control. In those cases, your doctor might recommend cough suppressants that keeps your body from coughing. These suppressants might also be used for coughs that do not produce mucus, like a dry smoker’s cough.

If you have COPD, coughing can also cause a “bronchospasm” or “spasm.” This happens when your muscles around your airways suddenly tense up causing your airways to become very narrow, This makes it even hard to breathe. To reduce coughing that causes spasms, healthcare providers might prescribe special types of inhaled medications called “bronchodilators” or inhaled steroids.

If you are not interested in getting on medication for you coughing, there are also three airways clearing techniques you can do to clear your lungs

Airway clearing techniques for COPD

One of the most effective ways to clear your airways is to use the effective, or controlled, cough technique. This cough comes from deep within your lungs and has just enough force to loosen and carry mucus through your airways without causing them to narrow or collapse. By utilizing the controlled coughing practice, you will save energy and therefore, oxygen.

• Controlled coughing: A type of cough that comes from deep in your lungs. It loosens mucus and moves it though your airways
• Postural drainage: You lie down in different positions to help drain mucus from your lungs
• Chest percussion: You lightly tap your chest and back. The tapping loosens the mucus in your lungs

To cough effectively:

1. Sit on a chair or on the edge of your bed, with both feet on the floor. Lean slightly forward. Relax
2. Fold your arms across your abdomen and breathe in slowly through your nose. (The power of the cough comes from moving air.)
3. To exhale: lean forward, pressing your arms against your abdomen. Cough 2-3* times through a slightly open mouth. Coughs should be short and sharp. The first cough loosens the mucus and moves it through the airways. The second and third cough enables you to cough the mucus up and out.
4. Breathe in again by "sniffing" slowly and gently through your nose. This gentle breath helps prevent mucus from moving back down your airways
5. Rest
6. Perform again if needed

Here is a link to postural drainage and chest percussion treatment and how to perform these mucus clearing techniques.

Natural home remedies for helping reduce COPD induced coughing

Eucalyptus oil

Eucalyptus oil contains a natural compound called eucalyptol. Eucalyptol may have the following benefits for people with COPD and may ease uncomfortable coughing symptoms:

1. antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties
2. opens up the airways in the lungs
3. reduces mucus production
4. helps clear mucus from the lungs
5. prevents flare-ups in moderate to severe COPD

One way you can use eucalyptus oil is by adding 12 drops of eucalyptus oil to 150 milliliters of boiling water and inhaling up to three times per day.

This will not work for everyone, and if you experience any side effect of the oil, stop using it immediately.

Quit Smoking to reduce dry coughing

Smoking is the leading cause of COPD in the United States and is responsible for around 90 percent of COPD-related deaths.

Tobacco smoke is known to irritate your airways and your lungs. Smoke causes inflammation and obstruction within your airways causing them to narrow, and making it very difficult for air to pass in and out.

If you smoke, the most important step to reduce COPD related symptoms and slowing down the progression of your COPD is to stop smoking. Quitting will put an end to “smoker’s cough,” the dry, hacking cough common among people who smoke.

A deep, productive cough that clears the airways of mucus may replace this dry cough also benefiting you and your breathing.

When you should seek medical attention

Call your doctor within 24 hours if you notice:

• You’re out of breath or coughing more than usual
• Being out of breath affects your daily routine
• You’re coughing up more gunk that normal
• The mucus you are coughing up is dark yellow, dark green, or rust-colored
• You have a fever over 101 F
• You feel dizzy or lightheaded

If you begin to experience any of these symptoms it could mean that you have a respiratory infection or your COPD is getting worse.

Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you’re still out of breath after using the medicines your doctor has prescribed for your COPD.

Other symptoms associated with COPD 

One of the other many symptoms of COPD we mentioned very briefly in this article was shortness of breath. When you have COPD your lungs are no longer able to process oxygen like they once did. This is partly due to the irritation in your airways that also causes coughing. 

Both chronic bronchitis and emphysema can cause shortness of breath. This symptom is also called “breathlessness” or “dyspnea".

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If you airways are swollen and filled with mucus, not only does this initiated a coughing reaction, but it also inhibits oxygen from flowing through your lungs and into your blood stream and organs. 

Not only is this feeling extremely uncomfortable, it is also life threatening, and if it goes untreated for a long period of time, you will inevitably be taking years off of your life.

Here are positive changes you can make to improve breathing with COPD:

Learn pursed-lip breathing This is a breathing exercise designed for people with COPD: Purse your lips and blow as much air out as you can before taking a deep breath in through your pursed lips again. Then slow down your breath so that you’re using as much of your lungs as you can. This technique slows your breathing rate and helps to keep your airways open which can also help to reduced coughing episodes.

Drink plenty of water because water helps thin out mucus so you can clear it better. Some people with COPD have conditions that could be made worse by extra fluid, however some people with COPD may be very dehydrated.Speak with your doctor to find out how much water you can safely drink. 

Get informed and continue learning about COPD and how your lungs function. This can help you better understand and manage your condition. Pulmonary rehabilitation programs often offer this type of education.

Exercising regularly can make a big difference in your breathing capabilities and COPD symptoms. A lot of people with COPD get more and more out of breath as their disease progresses, but it’s not due of their lung function — it's because they’re not conditioning enough. Most doctors recommend walking for people with COPD since it’s moderate in intensity and easily accessible.

Know and avoid your triggers. If you have COPD and allergies, take steps to avoid anything you’re allergic to. This may mean putting dust covers on your pillows and mattress or keeping your pets out of the bedroom. High-efficiency particulate air filters can remove dust and other irritants from the air in your home. You may also consider a humidifier if dry air triggers your symptoms.

Get your rest Many people with COPD have an underlying sleep disorder, like sleep apnea, that makes it difficult to get good sleep. When you sleep better, you’ll feel better and breathe better, so if you are not able to fall asleep, or have trouble staying asleep, speak with your doctor to understand the root of this issue so you can solve it. 

Stay on a healthy diet full of nutrient-dense foods is needed with COPD to maintain strength and fight off infections. Eating healthy can help you lose weight and breathe easier. If you’re underweight, ask your doctor about the best foods to eat and if nutritional supplements are right for you.

Take your medication COPD medications can help manage symptoms, including shortness of breath so be sure you’re taking the right medications and get evaluated to make sure your lung function is as good as it can be

If you have severely low oxygen levels this is called hypoxemia, your doctor will likely prescribe you medical-grade oxygen, for home oxygen therapy. Long-term oxygen therapy has many benefits if it is used correctly and It can even help you live longer.

Low oxygen symptoms of hypoxemia vary depending upon how severe your COPD is, and how severely it affects you. If you experience any of the symptoms listed below, contact your doctors as soon as possible. If you experience more than one of the following symptoms at one time, seek medical attention immediately:

• Confusion
• A sense of euphoria
• Restlessness
• Headache
• Shortness of breath
• Rapid breathing
• Dizziness, lightheadedness and/or fainting spells
• Lack of coordination
• Rapid heart rate
• Elevated blood pressure
• Visual disturbances
• A bluish tint to the lips, earlobes, and/or nail beds (cyanosis)

Hypoxemia is the main reason that people with COPD and other lung diseases are prescribed supplemental oxygen. There are a few forms of home oxygen therapy: You can opt for liquid oxygen tanks, gas cylinder tanks, or the most popular, convenient, and cheapest option a portable oxygen concentrator.

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If you are a good candidate for long-term oxygen therapy, this is a blessing in disguise. While it might seem as if you lung function is declining, once you are able to utilize oxygen, your quality of life will improve drastically. When you have adjusted to the oxygen therapy, you will begin to slow the progression of you COPD as well! 

Once you find the right POC for you, your bones and muscles will feel stronger and energized, you will have improved exercise tolerance, your mood and stamina will boost,  your quality of sleep may improve, and so much more. 

If you feel like you have experienced any of the symptoms of hypoxemia, and are curious how to find the best portable oxygen concentrator to fit you oxygen requirements, fill out the blue box to the right, it is our official guide to portable oxygen concentrators. 

Cough with a Purpose

Remember, COPD-related lung damage can’t be reversed, but it can be controlled if treated properly.

Now that you understand that your cough can in fact be beneficial for your health and in treating COPD, we hope that you can use the information in this article to cough effectively and efficiently. These coughing techniques, mixed with medication and other home remedies should reduce the dry uncomfortable smokers cough, and help you to cough with a purpose.

Even though this can be a pain, always feel free to excuse yourself during social gatherings, and other outings to clear mucus from your lungs and airways. This will allow you to go longer without coughing and spend more quality time with the ones you love while enjoying the things you like to do.

The more you practice these coughing techniques the more efficient you will become at clearing your airways, and therefore breathing!

If you have any questions please leave a comment on this blog below, and always feel free to share our blog with your friends and family. By explaining how beneficial your cough is for managing your COPD, they will better understand and be willing to help and encourage coughing rather than trying to help you avoid it.

When you inhale and exhale, the air in your lungs and airways may create turbulence called respiratory sounds — also known as “lung sounds” or “breath sounds.” You may know these sounds as “coughing” and “wheezing” but there’s actually a lot more to these sounds than you might initially realize. Breathing sounds are not only used to help diagnose lung conditions like COPD, asthma, and pneumonia but they can be used to assist medical professionals in directing and prescribing medication for these lung diseases. 

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In the following sections, we’re going to talk about four different types of respiratory sounds, what causes them, how they’re diagnosed, and how they’re treated. After reading, you’ll have a better understanding of the signs your lungs are giving you and what their implications are for your overall health and well-being. And as always, if you have an experience that you would like to share or you have any questions about what you read here, be sure to leave them in the comment section below.

What is the Significance of Respiratory Sounds?

When you visit the doctor with a list of symptoms, your doctor will use any and all tools in his/her toolbox in order to diagnose your condition. For example, your doctor may put you through a series of sleep studies if you report problems getting to sleep, staying asleep, or experiencing restful sleep. A sleep study can reveal exactly when the sleep disruptions are occurring and your doctor will be able to see what your brain activity is like when you sleep. By understanding the root cause of your sleeping problems, your doctor can provide you with treatment options that are tailored just for you.

One of the first methods your doctor will use when diagnosing a condition related to the heart or lungs is called auscultation. During auscultation, medical professionals use a device called a stethoscope in order to listen to the internal sounds of the body including the heart, lungs, and gastrointestinal system.

While auscultation is not the end all be all method for diagnosing lung conditions, it can help medical professionals rule out certain diseases without resorting to more invasive diagnostic methods. Some respiratory sounds like coughing and wheezing can be heard without a medical instrument but using a stethoscope, doctors can identify more subtle sounds that could not be heard otherwise.

Let’s take a look at the different types of lung sounds.

Normal Respiratory Sounds

Normal respiratory sounds are an indication that your respiratory system is healthy and functioning properly. But if you report having respiratory symptoms like chest pain, breathlessness, or chest tightness, your doctor will be able to perform a number of other tests to diagnose them.

CT scans, spirometry tests, pulse oximetry, and the six-minute walk test are just a few of the tests that can be used to diagnose lung disease. 

Vesicular

The term “vesicular” is slightly misleading because “vesicle” refers to the alveoli (small air sacs in the lungs) which are responsible for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the lungs and bloodstream.

However, the alveoli are not what makes the vesicular sounds. These sounds are soft, rustling, or blowing sounds heard throughout all of the lung fields. They’re heard throughout the duration of inspiration and continuously through one-third of expiration. Vesicular sounds are an indication that you’re able to fully inhale and exhale without obstruction.

Bronchovesicular

Bronchovesicular sounds are muffled but high pitch sounds where the expiratory and inspiratory phase is equal in duration. These sounds are heard over the first and second intercostal spaces (between the ribs) and the interscapular area (shoulder blade).

Bronchial

With bronchial sounds, the expiratory sounds are higher in pitch and intensity. The inspiratory sounds are lower-pitched, hollow, tubular sounds. Bronchial sounds are heard throughout the manubrium (the broad upper part of the sternum).

Tracheal

In tracheal sounds, the expiratory and inspiratory phases are equal in duration. The sound is loud, high-pitched, and heard directly over the trachea, the upper part of your respiratory system.

Abnormal Respiratory Sounds

Rales (Crackles)

Rales, or “crackles” as they’re more commonly called, are the result of fluid buildup in the airways (secretions). Rales are either exudate meaning they’re caused by a lung infection like pneumonia or they are transudate meaning they’re caused by congestive heart failure.

These noises can be heard when the patient inhales because the small airways pop open after collapsing during inhalation. There are three different types of crackles: fine, medium, and coarse.

• Fine crackles often occur during early inspiration and are fainter in volume.
• Medium crackles are more high pitched and they may indicate an interstitial process such as congestive heart failure or pulmonary fibrosis.
• Coarse crackles last longer than fine or medium crackles and they tend to be louder and lower-pitched. They are most often a sign of excessive fluid on the lungs caused by pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, or pulmonary edema.
  
  

Wheezes

Wheezing is a sound that results from air being forced through a partially collapsed airway. When the same volume of air is being pushed through a smaller area, the velocity of the air increases which creates the sound.

Wheezing noises are often very high-pitched and continuous. Your doctor will be able to determine how many airways are obstructed based on whether the sound is monophonic (one sound) or polyphonic (multiple sounds). Expiratory phase wheezing may be connected to bronchiolar disease whereas inspiratory phase wheezing may be connected to tracheal stenosis.

Rhonchi

Rhonchi are similar to wheezing sounds but they are low-pitch and occur more frequently when the patient is exhaling. They can be an indication that the bronchial tubes or “bronchioles” are thickening due to the overproduction of mucus. Bronchioles are the tubes that lead from the trachea down to each lung. Rhonchi may be a sign of bronchitis or COPD.

Pleural Friction Rub

There’s a thin membrane that coats the outside of the lungs and the inside of the chest cavity called the pleura. The pleura secretes a lubricant that allows the chest wall to expand and contract freely. However, if the pleura becomes inflamed or damaged in some way, they will create a rough, scratchy sound that your doctor can pick up with a stethoscope.

This is called a pleural friction rub, or simply pleural rub. Pleurisy, pneumonia, and lung tumors are the most common causes of pleural rub.

Hamman’s Sign

Hamman’s sign (also called mediastinal crunch) is a crunching sound that occurs when there is air trapped in the mediastinum (the space between your lungs). The crunchy, scratchy noise that it causes is in sync with your heartbeat because the movement of your heart is what produces the noise.

In some cases, Hamman’s sign may mean you have a collapsed lung (pneumothorax) especially if it occurs in conjunction with shortness of breath and chest pain. However, it can also be caused by cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, or COPD.

How Are Respiratory Sounds Treated?

The way that respiratory sounds are treated depends entirely on what type of sound is being produced and what is causing them. This is why auscultation alone is usually not sufficient enough to diagnose a lung condition.

If you don’t have a history of respiratory issues, your doctor might perform further tests in order to determine if a chronic condition is the cause of the respiratory sounds. If you have a chronic disease like COPD, however, your doctor might ask you to increase your medication dosage.

In COPD patients, the most common cause of breath sounds is mucus and phlegm that get lodged in the airways when you breathe. Clearing this mucus will not only help you breathe better but can also prevent conditions like bronchiectasis.

This is when you experience recurring lung infections due to bacteria that remain in the lungs for too long. Since lung infections are the most common cause of COPD exacerbation, it’s very important that you and your doctor deal with this problem as soon as it arises.

Medication

If your inability to clear the mucus is due to narrowed airways, your doctor may prescribe you something called a bronchodilator. These drugs open up the airways and prevent the “wheezing” noise whenever you try to cough.

Bronchodilators are almost always administered through either an inhaler or a nebulizer because this allows the medication to reach the affected area more quickly in the event of an emergency. 

Controlled Coughing

Another method your doctor may recommend for dealing with blocked airways is breathing exercises or controlled coughing exercises. A normal cough is often erratic and solely focused on expelling as much air as possible.

On the other hand, controlled coughing is more focused on using air more effectively. There are several benefits of this. Firstly, it helps prevent breathlessness, fatigue, or something more serious like a hernia. Secondly, controlled coughing helps prevent the airways from closing which prevents mucus and phlegm from escaping. For more information on this, please read through our post titled “How to Cough Correctly with COPD.”

Smoking Cessation

Whether you’ve been smoking for a few days, a few months, or your whole life, there’s no better time to quit than now. Smoking is the number one cause of preventable illness in the world and there’s also a good chance that it’s causing the respiratory sounds that you’ve been experiencing too.

Smoking damages microscopic organelles in your airways called “cilia.” They are responsible for clearing mucus and phlegm out of the lungs and airways in order to prevent breathing obstruction and infection. In other words, the wheezing or crackling noise you hear when breathing could be caused directly by cigarette smoking. 

When Should You Visit a Doctor?

You should visit a doctor any time that you experience unusual symptoms. While COPD is already associated with shortness of breath, if you notice your breathlessness becoming more severe or you notice wheezing or crackling noises in your chest, you should contact your doctor immediately. You can never be “too careful” when it comes to your respiratory health.

As aforementioned, if mucus or phlegm remains in the airways for too long without being cleared, this leaves you at risk of experiencing a lung infection, the number one cause of COPD exacerbation and hospitalization.

Conclusion

Respiratory sounds alone are usually not a cause for concern. Chances are, you’ve had the common cold before and know what it’s like to cough, wheeze, or experience difficulty breathing. However, if these symptoms become more persistent and last more than a few days, you should visit your doctor. By listening to your lungs, your doctor will have a better idea of what’s causing your symptoms and what further tests are needed in order to diagnose you with a respiratory condition.

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If you’ve been prescribed oxygen by your doctor either for temporary or long-term use, don’t hesitate to reach out to our respiratory specialists here at LPT Medical. We offer state-of-the-art portable oxygen concentrators which are much smaller, lighter, and more reliable than compressed or liquid oxygen tanks. We feature all of the top-rated brands including, but not limited to Caire Inc., Inogen, and Respironics. Simply tell us what your wants and needs are and we will provide you with a list of options that we believe will suit your circumstances. 

Chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) are diseases within your airways and other parts of your lungs. Some of the most common CRDs are chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, occupational lung diseases, and pulmonary hypertension. In this particular article we are focusing on COPD, but a lot of the information can be related to other CRDs.

There are a lot of basics your doctor will tell you about COPD once you are diagnosed, but as with anything in life, there are some things that cannot be explained, and instead you learn from experience.

Once you are diagnosis with COPD, there is no straight path you take, there are left turns and right turns obstacles big and small, all of which you will learn to go through. You will learn how to find ways to live with this disease, and we are here to not only help you live with COPD, but live a high quality life with COPD.

You will learn along the way, what COPD triggers are the most harmful to you and how to avoid them, you will learn what foods cause bloating in your body, and how to fit exercise into your daily routine.

While your doctor may suggest healthier habits and give you tips for living a healthier lifestyle, you are the one who has to go home and live with COPD, so you will have to determine how to follow your doctor’s advice in the most effective way possible, and this isn’t always black and white.

We designed this resource guide to help you navigate the reality of living with COPD, if something applies to you take it, if not leave it behind. Everyone is different and COPD affects every individual differently so it is important to listen to your body and mind to get the best possible treatment for your COPD.

COPD is commonly Misdiagnosed

One of the most important things to discuss about COPD, is the diagnosis. First of all, in many cases, people who have COPD are not to be diagnosed until the disease has progressed into a more severe state. More than 16.4 million people have been diagnosed with COPD, but millions more may have the disease without even knowing it.

It is increasingly common to miss the warning signs of COPD early on, as the beginning stages can often be chalked up to “getting older”. Therefore, COPD is often not found until the disease is very advanced, when there is something clearly wrong. This is alarming, and serious action should be taken to prevent it because COPD is a progressive disease, meaning it gets worse over time. If you catch COPD warning signs early, the sooner you can start to treat COPD and slow down the deterioration in your lungs.

Some of the symptoms of COPD are similar to the side effects of “getting older.” If you think you have even mild symptoms of COPD, tell your doctor as soon as possible so they can test you.

Here are some early warning signs to look out for:

• Shortness of breath, especially during physical activities
• Wheezing
• Chest tightness
• A chronic cough that may produce mucus in a clear, white, yellow or greenish color
• Frequent respiratory infections
• Lack of energy
• Unintended weight loss (in later stages)
• Swelling in ankles, feet or legs

You should be considered for diagnosis of COPD if you experience symptoms of a chronic cough, sputum production, dyspnea and a history of exposure to risk factors for the disease.

To diagnose your condition, your doctor will look into you medical and family history before they look at your signs and symptoms. You should also bring up any exposure you've had to lung irritants — especially if you smoke cigarettes or are exposed to cigarette smoke a lot smoke. 

Be Careful to Avoid COPD Flare Ups

If you have COPD, you are also likely to experience COPD exacerbations, during which your symptoms become worse than the usual day-to-day symptoms. These episodes can be long-lasting and persist for at least several days, and in some cases you may need to seek medical attention.

There are many triggers of COPD exacerbations, and your trigger may be different than someone else's, but here is a list of some common triggers that you can work to avoid:

• Smoking
• Second-hand smoke
• Air pollutants
• Dust
• Dust mites
• Clean products such as bleach
• Indoor allergens like animal dander
• Outdoor allergens like hay and pollen
• Cold dry outdoor air during winter
• Hot moist steam from showers

If you have COPD it is best for you to avoid these triggers listed above. We wrote a resource guide for people who want to create a COPD safe living space inside their home, you can read it by clicking here.

There is No Cure for Chronic Lung Diseases

CRDs including COPD are not curable, however, various forms of treatment are available. Certain treatments such as supplemental oxygen therapy, can improve shortness of breath and help control symptoms and increase the quality of life for people with the disease. 

COPD gets worse over-time, and without the proper treatment, COPD will cause major health issues, and even lead death. 

COPD is Commonly Cause by Smoking and Air Pollutants

In addition to tobacco smoke, you can also develop COPD by inhaling other risk factors including air pollution, occupational chemicals and dusts, and frequent respiratory infections during childhood.

COPD is Diagnosed by Your Doctor with a Series of Tests

Common COPD tests are as follows:

Lung (pulmonary) function tests

These tests measure the amount of air you can inhale and exhale, and whether your lungs deliver enough oxygen to your blood.

Chest X-ray. A chest X-ray

X-rays can show emphysema, one of the causes of COPD. An X-ray can also exposure or rule out other lung problems or heart failure.

CT scan. A CT scan of your lungs can help detect emphysema and help determine if you might benefit from surgery for COPD. CT scans can also be used to screen for lung cancer.

Arterial blood gas analysis

This is a blood test which measures how efficient your lungs are transferring gases. So this test specifically looks at the oxygen in your blood and the removal of carbon dioxide.

Laboratory tests

Lab tests will not be used to diagnose COPD, however they can be used to find the cause of your symptoms, and rule out other respiratory conditions.

Spirometry

This is a test designed to diagnose chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), so it measures how deeply you can breathe and how fast air can move into and out of your lungs. Low results from a spirometry test can be consistent with COPD, but also may not be specific to COPD because it can be caused by other lung diseases and poor performance during testing.

Because COPD develops slowly, it can be hard to diagnose COPD accurately, which is why it is frequently diagnosed later in life, mostly in people 40 years or older.

You Can Treat COPD

While there is no cure from COPD, or other CRDs, you can treat your disease and ease the symptoms. With the correct treatment, medications, and healthy habits you can even slow down the progression of your COPD.

Oxygen therapy is one of the COPD treatments that can extend your life expectancy.

Eating healthy foods that do not cause bloating will help you feel less short of breath.

Exercising or walking regularly strengthens your airways and lung muscles, which helps you manage COPD symptoms more effectively.

Medications, like short-acting bronchodilator help open your airways to make breathing easier in emergency situations, and during a COPD exacerbation. Medications can make the recovery process easier.

If you Need Supplemental Oxygen your Doctor will Prescribe it to You

Supplemental oxygen therapy is a life saving treatment for respiratory patients with low blood oxygen levels. You can be administered oxygen through a liquid oxygen tank, compressed oxygen gas canisters, or a portable oxygen concentrator (POC). All of these methods feed oxygen to the user through an oxygen nasal tub or face mask.

The biggest difference between each of these methods is the tanks and canisters have a finite amount of oxygen that must be refilled, whereas a POC takes ambient air from its surrounding and purifies it into medical-grade oxygen. POCs also runs off of batteries so it will have to be re-charged.

Oxygen therapy will be prescribed to you by your doctor after undergoing tests that will measure your current oxygen intake and transfer of gases in your lungs. If you have Hypoxemia, meaning you have low blood oxygen levels, your doctor will prescribe you a flow rate and give you recommendations for an oxygen device.

You will then want to get in contact with an oxygen device distributing company, possibly in your local area. For example you can google search something like, Denver, Colorado oxygen supplies, and LPT Medical will pop up, same goes for Boca Raton, Florida oxygen equipment. This is one way to find portable oxygen concentrators for sale near you, but you can also order POCs from around the nation and they can be shipped to you.

If you are going to be using an oxygen tank, it is essential there is an oxygen delivery company near your home, because they will have to come and replace empty tanks with filled tanks weekly.

LPT Medical is a family owned and operated business, and while we do a lot of local oxygen sales in Denver and Boca Raton, we also work with customers nationwide. If you are in the market for a portable oxygen concentrator, call us at 1-800-946-1201 so we can help find you an oxygen device that fits your needs.

Too Much Oxygen Can be Dangerous

The reason it is crucial to go through a licensed oxygen distributor like LPT Medical, is because we make sure to look at your doctor’s prescription before we recommend an oxygen device to you.

We would recommend devices like the ARYA portable oxygen concentrator to an oxygen user with a pulse flow rate of 630 - 840 LPM. On the other hand, if you need a continuous flow of oxygen of about 0.5 - 1.0 LPM you would need a device like the Respironics SimplyGo.

If you started to take oxygen more often than your doctor recommended or upped the dosage, you would start to experience something called oxygen toxicity or oxygen poisoning, and this is very dangerous. The first sign of oxygen toxicity, manifests in your Central Nervous System, and you may start to experience things like:

• Visual changes
• Tunnel vision
• Ringing in the ears
• Nausea
• Twitching (especially of the face)
• Behavioral changes (irritability, anxiety, confusion)
• Dizziness

If you continue to use excessive amounts of oxygen, pulmonary toxicity will begin to occur as a result of too much oxygen in your system. After a certain amount of time with too much oxygen saturation tracheobronchitis or inflammation of the upper airways will start to negatively impact your respiratory system.

There will be a decline in your lung function, alveolar damage, and soon acute respiratory distress syndrome will onset. This could all eventually lead to collapse of your alveoli, also known as atelectasis.

The bottomline is that it is very important to follow your oxygen prescription as an oxygen patient. Other folks at risk of oxygen toxicity are deep sea divers. Be sure to ask your pulmonary doctor and respiratory specialist any questions you have, and clearly communicate your confusion.

Your Oxygen Prescription Will Vary Depending on the Severity of you Your Disease

It is possible that you will have to adjust your oxygen levels while you exercise, compared to while you rest. Some people will need to use oxygen 24/7 and others may only need it while they are exerting themselves physically.

All of this will depend on your condition, so you can’t always ask for advice from others who also have COPD or another oxygen user. Their oxygen dosage may be completely different than yours. The best way to get the most out of your oxygen therapy is to understand you and your condition, your oxygen prescription, and how to use your portable oxygen concentrator or oxygen tanks.

In this fast-paced, busy world that we live in, it can be difficult to find the time or the means to practice mindfulness. From going to work to cooking dinner, dealing with family matters, and spending time with friends, we often don’t take the time to decompress and ensure that our thoughts and feelings are in line with what we’re trying to accomplish.

What’s more, if you have a chronic illness like COPD, the problem of having an overburdened mind is often compounded by physical symptoms like breathlessness, chest pain, and fatigue. Many COPD patients describe feeling “claustrophobic” or “confined” within their own body, leaving them little recourse but to focus on the negatives of their disease rather than the positives.

Ultimately, this mindset is not sustainable, so you’ll need to find some way to set your mind at ease. For many people, meditation is the best way to do this. Meditation is the use of various different techniques designed to train your mind to focus on a particular activity or thought. What results is that you’ll have more control over your mindset pertaining to your disease and its progression. 

In this post, we’ll discuss a variety of different types of meditation and we’ll give you some tips for implementing them into your life as a COPD patient. If you’re looking for further reading, check out our post about 6 Effective Breathing Techniques and Exercises for COPD and Techniques for Coping with COPD and Anxiety.

What is Meditation?

Many people live their whole lives without trying or even considering the use of meditation. It’s often written off as a religious or spiritual practice that’s not useful for most people. And while this is partially true — meditation is used in many religious traditions such as Buddhism — it’s actually more commonly used in a non-religious context.

According to Positive Psychology, meditation is a practice that’s been around for thousands of years, but it was first depicted by wall art paintings in India around 5000 to 3500 BCE. Meditation moved to the west as early as the 1700s, but it wasn’t until the 1900s that it began to be separated from its religious roots.

Today, the beneficial effects of meditation are well-studied and well-documented. The practice has been examined extensively by prestigious institutions and has yielded mostly positive results, especially when it comes to treating depression and anxiety. What’s more, other studies have shown a positive correlation between meditation and easing the pain caused by a chronic illness such as COPD. 

How Does Meditation Affect the Brain?

In this day and age, we have an incredible amount of technology that can be used to examine what goes on in the brain. Technology such as polysomnography has enabled researchers to study what goes on in the brain during sleep and has made it easier for doctors to diagnose conditions like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and insomnia. 

Similar technology has been used to study the brain during physical activity and even meditation. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is one such device that’s used to produce pictures of the anatomy and the physiological processes of the body. It allows researchers to precisely monitor changes in brain wave activity during different activities.

Brain waves are the electrical impulses which oscillate at different frequencies and at different wavelengths. Brain waves are altered depending on the state of consciousness that we’re currently experiencing. For example, if someone is wide awake, they will have different brain wave activity than someone who is in light sleep or deep sleep.    

Researchers have found that people who are anxious or tense they often have more high-frequency beta waves present. This includes people with mental disabilities such as ADD, ADHD, or learning disabilities, but it can also include people with chronic conditions like COPD who might experience a higher degree of anxiety than the general public. 

In many cases, trying to force these feelings out can exacerbate them, leading to a negative feedback loop. However, if you learn to influence brain waves through meditation and neurofeedback training, you can reduce feelings of anxiety. As we come to better understand brain waves and how to influence them, we will likely see more doctors prescribing it as an alternative to anxiety medication which always has some negative side-effects.

Can Meditation Alter the Course of COPD?

Now that you know meditation can be used to treat anxiety and depression caused by COPD, you’re likely wondering whether meditation can help alter the long-term prognosis of your disease. In other words, are there any physical manifestations of the benefits that we see from people who meditate regularly?

Unfortunately, it’s a little more complicated than a simple “yes” or “no” answer. Generally, meditation is accepted as an effective method for treating not only comorbid anxiety from COPD but physical respiratory symptoms as well. This study found that after 12 weeks of yoga training, many COPD patients saw improved lung function, inflammation, and quality of life.

Other studies, however, have cast more doubt on the effectiveness of meditation for COPD patients. This study found that meditation presenting emotionally-triggering skills such as mindful awareness to emotions or dyspnea can actually contribute to anxiety. However, both of these studies were limited by a small sample size.

Possibly one of the most popular forms of meditation for COPD patients is something called “movement meditation.” This practice focuses on being mindful of your body’s movements rather than focusing on the goal of the movement. According to a study found in COPD News Today, COPD patients practicing Tai Chi (a type of movement meditation) five hours per week saw more benefits after 12 weeks than those practicing standard pulmonary rehabilitation.  

While there is limited evidence suggesting that meditation directly improves outcomes for COPD patients, there are plenty of ways that it improves outcomes indirectly. Anxiety is a well-known contributor to the frequency and severity of COPD exacerbations and anxiety can cause sleep disruptions which can lead to fatigue and other factors that make COPD more difficult to cope with. Therefore, treating anxiety with meditation has undeniable benefits when it comes to COPD outcomes.

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What Types of Meditation Are There?

Focused Meditation

Focused meditation is a practice where you concentrate intently on one object, sound, tactile sensation, smell, or taste. This is often used as a sort of stepping stone to classical meditation which requires you to block all thoughts.

Focused meditation is a great place to start because it doesn’t require you to have an instructor and it’s very accessible for most people. By having a focal point of thought, you’ll be able to more easily control your internal dialog and catch yourself whenever your mind starts drifting. Another great thing about focused mediation is that you can start with shorter sessions. Just five minutes a day of focused meditation will get you started on the right foot.  

Movement Meditation

Like the name suggests, movement meditation is a type of meditation you do while you’re physically moving. It’s the perfect exercise for anyone who wants to experience a greater connection between their mind and body, as well as people who have difficulty concentration their thoughts while they are sitting still.

Movement meditation is one of the most popular types of meditation for people with COPD and other respiratory conditions because it helps them eliminate anxiety while mastering their breathing and motor functions. Movement meditation is also a great exercise to complement pulmonary rehabilitation routines because it can build endurance and muscle.

Tai Chi is one of the most practiced forms of movement meditation in the world and it’s especially popular among older adults and seniors who suffer from chronic illness. It originated in ancient China where it was originally intended as a form of fighting. However, over time, Tai Chi was adopted and developed by many different cultures, making it what it is today.

We’ve already written in great detail about Tai Chi and its many benefits for COPD patients, however, we’ll summarize it here for your convenience. Essentially, Tai Chi is a form of low-impact exercise that combines a variety of different poses with fluid and controlled movements. In other words, you won’t be moving your legs and arms around erratically without purpose; you’ll instead be focusing on making every movement meaningful.

Creating this mind-body connection is very important for people with COPD because as your disease progresses, it becomes increasingly difficult to control things like your breathing which are unconscious motor movements in people with healthy lungs. As such, it’s recommended that COPD patients learn Tai Chi as soon as they’re diagnosed because it will take some time to learn how this form of movement mediation works, and its benefits will increase exponentially as time goes on.

Tai Chi also has several undeniable benefits when it comes to mindfulness. One of the reasons anxiety and depression are so common among COPD patients is that they feel a loss of control. Chest pain, fatigue, breathlessness, and exacerbations caused by COPD cannot always be predicted, so Tai Chi affords these people the ability to be in full control of something. Many people swear by this, saying that it has renewed a sense of control and purpose in their life.

There are three different ways to practice Tai Chi: as an individual, in a group setting, or with an instructor. Currently, due to COVID-19, it’s recommended that you practice Tai Chi on your own, however, if you can find a group that takes social distancing measures seriously, this could be an option too. If you’re doing it on your own, this guide will be helpful in getting you started on the right foot.

Yoga can also be considered a type of movement meditation, however, whereas Tai Chi is more focused on the act of moving, yoga is more focused on the various positions. Another difference between the two is that Tai Chi is usually performed in a standing position while yoga is done on the ground. Since yoga requires a lot of strength and agility, it’s not always recommended for people who are physically impaired.

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Mantra Meditation

A “mantra” is a word, syllable, or phrase that’s repeated during meditation. This is very similar to focused meditation in that you’re concentrating on one specific thing, however, mantra mediation differs because there is usually a purpose or a meaning behind the sound that’s being produced. Mantras can also be repeated by the mediator whereas the sounds produced in focused meditation are usually external.

The idea behind mantra meditation is that every sound is a tool for transforming consciousness. So, instead of simply training your mind to concentrate, you’re also altering your state of mind rather than just your thoughts. The type of sound that you produce, its frequency, and volume will all be determined by what state of mind you’re trying to produce. One of the most popular types of mantra meditation is called transcendental meditation.

Mindfulness Meditation

Mindfulness meditation is directed at helping you be more present in the current moment. In other words, whereas focused meditation and mantra meditation are aimed at focusing on one specific sensation, mindfulness mediation is designed to help you better understand the urges and feelings you are currently experiencing.

Another core component of mindfulness meditation is understanding your breathing. Unlike with breathing techniques, there is no special way that you have to breathe. As the name “mindfulness” suggests, you should be focusing on how your breathing is in the current moment, not how you want it to be.

Benefits of Meditation for COPD Patients

Conclusion 

Mindfulness is something that many people struggle with. It’s easy to forget that an overworked mind that’s crowded with thoughts can not make decisions effectively. And living with this burden for months or years on end can be exhausting to say the very least.

There are many different types of meditation, but they’re all aimed at helping you control your thoughts and motor functions, and giving you the skills you need to live in the moment rather than being distracted by thoughts of the past or future.

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As a COPD patient, there is no understating the importance of effective meditation. If you become overwhelmed by negative thoughts about your disease, you may want to take a step back and start incorporating meditation techniques into your daily routine.

While meditation is by no means a replacement for your COPD treatment plan, certain types of meditation like Tai Chi and yoga can be used in tandem with your pulmonary rehabilitation plan and breathing techniques. But as always, be sure to check in with your pulmonologist to learn the best way to do this.