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hronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease in your lungs that damages both your airways and the lung tissue, all of this damage makes it very difficult to breathe and causes other significant side effects that will impact your wellbeing. If you have COPD, you may have obstructive bronchiolitis, emphysema, or a combination of the two conditions.

After being diagnosed with COPD, you will likely be exposed to several different kinds of medicines to help control your symptoms. These medications can help improve your quality of life, but it will not cure COPD. In fact, there is no cure for COPD, therefore, in this article will explain the different types of medicines used for COPD and how you can get the most out of these medications. For more information on COPD, see our LPT medical resource center 

All of the COPD medications and treatments can end up being very confusing to a COPD patient, so we took the time to break it down. In this article you will find: 

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• Managing your COPD medication 
• COPD Medication
• Inhalers
• Tablets 
• Steroids
• Antibiotics 
• Side effects of COPD medications
• Reducing side effects of COPD medication 
• COPD treatments 
• Pulmonary rehabilitation 
• Oxygen therapy 
• Side effects of COPD treatments 
• Reducing side effects from COPD treatments

 Managing all of your COPD medication

Before we get into specific COPD mediation, we thought it would be helpful to give you some tips on how to manage your COPD medication to the best of your ability. Simply dealing with a chronic illness is hard enough, so we compiled some ways you can take control of your medication.

The first and most important step in managing your COPD medication, is to develop a good system and then to make that system into your daily routine. Because your life and your condition is unique to you, your system should be individualized to meet your needs, but we have created an outline you can follow when developing your system, so make changes as you see fit.

1. You can start by taking your medications in conjunction with your other daily routines or habits. For example, keep your morning and evening medications near your toothbrush. Then, when you brush your teeth in the morning and evening, you also take your medications.
   
2. If you take pills several times throughout the day you can avoid forgetting to take your medication by using a watch or a phone with an alarm. Set the alarm for each of your scheduled medication times.
   
3. If you do not already have a pillbox with different days of the week you can get one of those. There are also pillboxes with each day of the week and and even different times during the day. With this method, you can plan out a week's worth of medication at the beginning of every week as a part of your Sunday or Monday routine. You will also know when or if you miss any doses.
   
4. Sometimes it can be challenging to organize your pillbox so ask for help - from a family member, caregiver or friend, even someone in your doctor's office.
   
5. You can also keep track of your medication everyday by writing in a journal. This can help you decipher which medications you are taking are giving you bad side effects. Having a journal also help you to remember when you took your medication so you don't miss any doses.
   
6. Always have a backup medication on trips away from home and other adventures. This way you have a full day's worth of medication should something come up.
   
7. If you continue to experience unpleasant side effects from your medication, write it down and try to decipher which medication is effecting you adversely. Your doctor may try to change the dose, and if that doesn't relieve your side effects they may change your medication.
   
8. If you are unsure how to take your inhaled medication, you can have your health care provider watch you take your inhaled medication to make sure you are doing it correctly. Ask for any pointers that might improve your technique so your medication can actually help you.
   
9. Bring you medications with you on your carry-on bag when you are traveling. Be sure to keep a copy of the prescriptions for your medications also.
   
10. If you are traveling with oxygen click here, to learn more about oxygen therapy and travel. 

If you're still having a hard time managing your medications, ask your doctor for more suggestions, and involve the people in your life who love and care for you.

Inhalers

If COPD is affecting your breathing, you'll usually be given an inhaler. Inside of your inhalers are Bronchodilators, this is the medication that you breathe in making it easier to breathe by relaxing and widening your airways.

There are different kinds of bronchodilators, and they will all affect you differently. The different types of bronchodilators depend on three things:

1. Chemical make-up
2. How fast it works
3. How long it lasts

There are short-acting, long-acting, also known as beta agonists and anticholinergics medications, and then there are steroid inhalers. All of which are used for different purposes.

Short-acting bronchodilators

Short-acting Bronchodilators open up your airways fast; they are also known as "quick-acting," "reliever," or "rescue" medications. These medications will relax the muscles that surround your airways, allowing the tubes in your lungs to open up quickly, making it easier to breathe in the case of a COPD exacerbation, or if you are exercising and need to open your airways fast for a short amount of time. 

Overall, short-acting inhalers work quickly and are used for the short term management of exacerbated COPD symptoms or episodes so you can get relief from breathlessness fast. 

You should only use short-acting bronchodilators up to a maximum of 4 times a day, but this is different for everyone. You and your doctor should discuss in detail when and why you should choose your short-acting inhaler over another medication in different scenarios. 

Here some examples of short-acting bronchodilators:

• Albuterol
• Metaproterenol
• Levalbuterol 
• Pirbuterol 

You may have some side effects depending on the type of short-acting bronchodilator that you use, and how it affects you.

Side Effects of Short-Acting Inhalers

There can be some side effects after taking a short-acting inhaler. 

Albuterol is one type of short-acting bronchodilator. It provides relief from an asthma attack or COPD exacerbation and it is usually taken in one of four ways: Albuterol can be taken as:

1.) An inhaler

2.) A nebulizer

3.) A pill

4). A liquid.

Side effects of albuterol include the following:

• Nervousness
• Shakiness
• Headache
• throat or nasal irritation
• Muscle aches.

 More-serious — though less common — side effects include:

•  A rapid heart rate 
•  Feelings of fluttering or a pounding heart (palpitations)

Some people may find that dealing with these side effects of albuterol to be intolerable, in which case you can talk to your doctor about the following options:

1. Changing delivery method
2. Side effects are less likely if you use an inhaler instead of taking a pill or liquid
3. If you use a nebulizer to inhale the drug, you may lessen symptoms if you can switch to a metered dose inhaler
4. If you already use a metered dose inhaler, symptoms may be reduced if you use a spacer or chamber device, which is attached to the inhaler.
5. Taking one puff of albuterol, rather than two puffs, will provide good relief of symptoms with fewer side effects.
6. Switching to a different prescription drug that may have fewer side effects for you

Over-all, the severity of side effects depends on how much of the drug you take. Short-acting bronchodilators are intended to treat exacerbated symptoms, therefore  it is not intended for long-term disease management. This means that if you are taking frequent doses you will likely experience more severe side-effects, and you and your doctor should discuss your overall treatment plan to reduce exacerbation symptoms.

Long-acting Bronchodilator 

If you experience symptoms consistently throughout the day, you will likely be prescribed a long-acting bronchodilator inhaler. These medications will provide you with extended control over your symptoms. 

This is a similar medication to short-acting bronchodilators, but the difference is that each dose lasts for at least 12 hours, and will only need to be used once or twice a day and it will take longer to initiate. The purpose of long-acting bronchodilators is to keep your airways open for long periods of time.

There are 2 types of long-acting bronchodilator inhaler:

1. beta-2 agonist inhalers – Example: salmeterol, formoterol and indacaterol
2. antimuscarinic inhalers – Example:  tiotropium, glycopyronium and aclidinium

If you start to experience harsh side effects from your medication, you should speak with your doctor about your prescription because you might be getting too much medication with every dose or you might need a different bronchodilator to help with your symptom management. 

Long-acting Bronchodilators side effects 

Bronchodilators can have side effects such as:

• Nervous or shaky feeling
• Higher heart rate or palpitations
• Upset stomach
• Trouble sleeping
• Muscle aches or cramps

More serious side effects include:

• blurry vision
• rapid or irregular heart rate
• an allergic reaction with rash or swelling

Steroid inhalers

After some time with a long-acting inhaler, if you start to notice that you are still becoming breathless or if you are having frequent COPD flare-ups (exacerbations), your doctor may suggest including a steroid inhaler as part of your treatment.

You can use an inhaler or a nebulizer to deliver steroids directly into your lungs. Oral steroids are less effective for people whose symptoms are stable. A nebulizer turns the medicine into a fine aerosol mist pumps the mist through a flexible tube and into a mask that you wear across your nose and mouth

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Inhaled steroids tend to be used as maintenance medications to keep symptoms under control for the long term. They also are normally prescribed as part of a combination inhaler that also includes a long-acting medicine.

Some inhaled steroids are more concentrated and powerful so that they can help control more advanced COPD symptoms. Milder forms of COPD may be controlled by weaker doses.

Inhaled steroids aren’t meant for fast relief from a COPD flare-up. In these instances, an inhaled drug called a bronchodilator can help relieve coughing and help you catch your breath.

Side effects of Inhaled Steroids

The possible side effects of inhaled steroids include:

• Sore throat
• Cough
• Infections in your mouth.

You could also experience an increased risk of pneumonia with the long-term use of inhaled steroids. To reduce this risk of oral infection, rinse your mouth and gargle with water after you use the inhaler.

Tablets

It is possible that your symptoms cannot be controlled with your inhalers alone, so your doctor may recommend taking tablets or capsules as well.

Theophylline tablets

Theophylline is another form of a bronchodilator, it works by reducing the swelling in your airways and relaxing the muscles.

These Theophylline tablets or capsules are usually taken twice daily. To reduce your chances of experiencing side effects from tablets, you may also need to have regular blood tests during treatment to check the level of medicine in your blood.

Possible side effects of COPD tablets 

Side effects you may experience from this COPD medication are as follows: 

• Feeling and being sick
• Headaches
• Difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
• Pounding, fluttering or irregular heartbeats (palpitations)
• Sometimes a similar medicine called aminophylline is also used.

Mucolytics

If you experience a bad chesty cough and lots of thick phlegm, your doctor may recommend taking a mucolytic medicine called carbocisteine.

Mucolytic medicine will thin out the phlegm in your throat making it easier to cough up and remove from your airways, subsequently making it easier to breathe.

Steroid Tablets

If you have particularly bad flare-ups often, you may be prescribed a short course of steroid tablets to reduce the inflammation in your airways and help bring your symptoms back down to manageable levels. Your doctor may give you a supply of steroid tablets to keep at home to take as soon as you experience a bad flare-up.

After this, you will be monitored closely for side effects of the medication and if you need a stronger set of steroids to manage your bad flare-ups, you can be tested for that. 

Long-term use of steroid tablets can cause troublesome side effects, so you want to be sure you only take these tablets when necessary for no longer than they are prescribed to you. 

Side effects of steroid tablets 

If you do take these steroid tablets for a extended amount of time you may start to experience side effects such as: 

• weight gain
• mood swings
• weakened bones (osteoporosis)

Antibiotics

There are times when your doctor may prescribe a short course of antibiotics if you start to experience symptoms of chest infection, such as:

• Becoming more breathless
• Coughing more
• Changes in the color (such as becoming brown, green or yellow) and/or consistency of your phlegm (such as becoming thicker)

If you are prone to chest infections, you may need to have antibiotics on hand for when you do. 

Once you are capable of recognizing an infection in your respiratory system, you may be given a course of antibiotics to keep at home and take as soon as you experience symptoms of an infection.

Overview 

Depending on your health and your COPD, different variations of the medications listed in this article may be a part of you COPD treatment regimen. If you have another disease such as heart disease along with COPD there are other medications not mentioned that you will likely start taking daily.

Dealing with COPD is challenging on its own, and when you also have to be weary of medications and its side effects, there are even more challenges to face. 

We recommend keeping a health journal so that you can keep track of how the medications you take makes you feel, this will also help you stay on track of your medication so you can be sure that you are doing it all correctly. 

If you do not like journaling, try to find another organizational method that will help you stay on track with taking your correct medications at the correct times. 

If something is making you feel unwell and the side effects are very noticeable, let your doctor know so they can either adjust the amount of medication you are taking, or switch you to a new medication that might give you less side effects. 

Sometimes COPD medication can be a trial and error type of process, so be patient and stay optimistic that your medication will eventually help you to live a healthier lifestyle. 

That being said, medication alone cannot treat your COPD, there are other very important lifestyle changes you should make in order to best treat your COPD. This includes eating a healthy diet, exercise regularly, taking pulmonary rehab, and utilizing oxygen therapy if you need it. 

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.

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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 Caire Freestyle Comfort 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.

Portable Oxygen Concentrator Costs

Our portable oxygen concentrators costs range anywhere from $999 - $3,000 depending on the unit you are interested in. We also offer refurbished units so if you are on a tight budget we are still happy to work with you to get a reliable oxygen device. Be sure to call us to find out of our current specials that we update throughout the year on select devices!

COPD is Also Common in Women

At one time, tobacco was predominantly used by men and so COPD was subsequently much more common in men than women. Nowadays, there are more deaths resulting from COPD in women than in men. There are four reasons why this shift happened.

1. In the late 1960s, a large influx of women started smoking as a result of tobacco and advertising companies heavily targeting women.

2. Also, women are more vulnerable than men to lung damage from cigarette smoke and other pollutants because their lungs are smaller.

3. Estrogen has been noted to also play a role in worsening lung disease.

4. Lastly, because COPD has always been thought of as a “man’s disease” Women are often misdiagnosed. Many doctors do not think to check for COPD in women and miss the proper signs and therefore women go undiagnosed and untreated much more often..

Learn more about all things COPD in women

COPD is a Leading Cause of Death

COPD is the third leading cause of death in the United States, about 140,000 American die from COPD each year.

The total deaths from COPD are projected to increase unless urgent action is taken to reduce the underlying risk factors, especially tobacco use. 

Underlying risk factors of COPD that need to be mitigated to reduce COPD deaths include:

• Exposure to tobacco smoke
• Occupational exposure to dusts and chemicals
• Exposure to fumes from burning fuel
• In some cases genetics

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Overview

If you think you could possibly have COPD, or if you have recently been diagnosed with COPD we hope that you found this guide into the basics and secrets of COPD useful in some way.

If you learned anything about yourself and your condition, please leave a comment below or share with someone that might learn something too!

There is so much more information about COPD that you will learn through the process of living with COPD, and you can find more resources about oxygen therapy and COPD related article by clicking here. 

If you have COPD or another disease that is causing low blood oxygen levels supplemental oxygen therapy can be a life saver, quite literally. If done correctly you can add years to your life simply by adhering to your oxygen prescription. Beyond taking your oxygen as prescribed, you can start to eat healthier, stop smoking, and start exercising all of which are habits that will contribute to a healthy and long life with a respiratory illness.

In this article we are focusing on supplemental oxygen as a treatment for COPD.

Research shows that oxygen is the only drug that can prolong life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In fact, oxygen not only prolongs life, it improves the quality of life and has numerous health benefits for people with chronic low oxygen levels due to a variety of diseases.

Despite all of the research suggesting oxygen can make your life living with COPD more comfortable and enjoyable, some people still struggle with oxygen therapy and claim it is uncomfortable, it is limiting, and weighs them down. We wrote this article for those people who feel they are not living out the benefits oxygen therapy has to offer.

Many people live happy joyful lives traveling, exploring new relationships, trying new and exciting things, all while managing and treating their COPD. People who can live with such an invasive and chronic illness still have their hardships, but they are also committed to their treatment plan for COPD daily which makes living with this disease more manageable.

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In this article we are going to explain the do’s and don’ts of oxygen therapy so that you can start managing your COPD to the best of your ability, and finally start reaping the benefits oxygen therapy has to offer.

What is oxygen therapy?

The overarching goal for your oxygen therapy is to ensure that you maintain adequate blood oxygen levels under all conditions, all day and all night. The duration of oxygen you need and the flow setting you should use for your oxygen delivery is determined by your doctor.

They will test you while you are resting and during activities. If your blood oxygen levels are calculated to be lower than the normal range at rest, continuous oxygen delivery, meaning for 24-hours a day, is the single most important treatment, above eating healthy and exercising, that can prolong your life.

By getting you blood oxygen levels back to a normal level while you sleep, exercise, and do daily activities, your body will not have to suffer through the negative consequences of intermittent or chronic low blood oxygen levels that COPD poses.

There are three main forms of home oxygen therapy. You can take it in gas form via an oxygen cylinder (the old-fashioned bullet-shaped metal tanks), in liquid form via a barrel-shaped metal tank that converts the liquid to gas upon release, or via a portable oxygen concentrator which extracts oxygen from your environmental air and compresses it into medical-grade oxygen.

Your doctor will work with you to decide what your oxygen needs are and your oxygen supply company will work with you and your doctor to find the best device to fit your needs. They will write you a prescription for the exact flow rate (liters per minute), frequency, and delivery system that is the best fit for you.

Do's and Don'ts

Don’t take more or less of your oxygen unless directed otherwise by your doctor

Oxygen is not just a gas making up a part of the air we breathe, it is a medicine. Supplemental oxygen is prescribed by your doctor, and just like other medications, it should only be taken under your doctor’s direction.

Oxygen saturation is usually considered to be normal if it is above 90% for a healthy individual living at sea level, however your doctor should be able to determine what the normal level of oxygen saturation is dependent upon your condition and individual characteristics. Typically, if your oxygen saturation is below 88% without oxygen, you will likely be prescribed supplemental long term oxygen therapy (LTOT).

When you are prescribed oxygen, your doctor will measure your blood oxygen levels while you are at rest, while you exercise, and while you sleep or rest. Some people will require supplemental oxygen continuously; others only require it intermittently or only during the night.

The specific frequency and duration you need supplemental oxygen during the day and night is dependent upon your pulmonary function tests (PFTs) that are performed by your doctor. In individuals with COPD, hypoxia in the lungs means oxygen levels become extremely low, and if you do not take your oxygen when you are supposed to, or you leave it at a low setting that does not match your prescription, your lungs and furthermore your organs will not get enough oxygen. This will cause damage and injury throughout your body.

It is also possible for oxygen users to use too much oxygen, causing a condition called oxygen toxicity. This is seen in deep sea divers, premature babies, and patients with COPD who inaccurately utilize their oxygen supply when there is high exposure to high concentrations of oxygen. You should carefully monitor yourself for signs and symptoms of oxygen toxicity throughout your treatment, especially when you first start oxygen therapy.

Signs of too much oxygen and symptoms of oxygen toxicity include:

• Headache
• Hiccups
• Shivering
• tingling in the limbs
• Vision
• hearing changes
• Fatigue
• Hyperventilation

If you continue to abuse your oxygen supply, and the high exposure to oxygen continues, vertigo and nausea will occur, followed by behavioral changes (irritability, anxiety, confusion), clumsiness and eventually convulsions.

Even though it is possible to get too much oxygen from your oxygen concentrator it is unlikely when you use your oxygen concentrator as it has been directed and prescribed to you.

This is hugely why all oxygen supply companies will require a prescription from your doctor, and why your doctor should choose your oxygen prescription based on valid results from your pulmonary tests. Your doctor will prescribe the lowest possible concentration to you that will still provide therapeutic benefits, in order to avoid symptoms of too much oxygen but also make sure your blood oxygen levels get back to normal.

Do be sure to have an oxygen device that can cover your needs should they increase over-time

If you have COPD, and you see your doctor regularly, one of the tests they will look for is determining the severity of your COPD and how it has progressed since they last saw you.

Because CODP is a chronic illness, there is no cure, and it also progresses over time, meaning you may not need supplemental oxygen now, but one day you might. And if you have an oxygen prescription now, that might change in the future should the prescription no longer fulfill your body’s oxygen requirements and it will need to be increased.

This is why it is important when you are in the market for an oxygen device, specifically while you shop for a portable oxygen concentrator that the machine is capable of increasing its oxygen output beyond your oxygen requirements at the time. If you have a reliable sales person and you are purchasing the device from an licensed distributor of medical equipment, this will be one of the main priorities both you and the company's representative should be looking into: the device's flow rates and its capabilities to fulfill you oxygen requirements and beyond.

You may also need to increase your oxygen prescription in the case of an emergency or if you are experiencing a mild to severe COPD exacerbation where your symptoms are escalated. Your doctor will inform you of when and why you should increase your oxygen output in these scenarios and you should feel confident in doing so. If you do not, you should speak with your doctor or other healthcare specialists that you work with closely to ensure you know this protocol.

As we mentioned above, taking too much oxygen or not getting enough, are both harmful practices that will impose harmful side effects on your body.

Do not smoke

Everyone is going to tell you to quit smoking if you have COPD. While it is too late to reverse your disease, it is not too late to stop it from progressing into a more severe state, and the single most important thing to do is to quit smoking or quit being around smoke.

It is also important to quit smoking if you use supplemental oxygen for a few reasons. The first being that it is unsafe for you and the people in your home and vicinity. Especially if you use oxygen cylinders or liquid tanks, because these methods of oxygen delivery create an oxygen-rich environment. Oxygen is a flammable gas, and a cigarette or a lighter near a flammable gas is just bad news all together.

You should make sure to notify your fire department that you are an oxygen user, and let them know the method of oxygen delivery you use. Confirm that you have a fire extinguisher inside your home, and functioning smoke alarms, all of which are precautionary measures should a fire ever occur.

This is also a great place to note that you should stay at least 10 feet away from open flames, such as a fireplace, gas heater or stove, candles, etc.

Do ask a lot of questions

COPD is confusing! And there is no one right answer for everyone! So ask questions until you are comfortable and confident in all of your endeavors including home oxygen therapy.

Ask your doctor questions about your treatments, medications, and prescriptions. Ask them where you can get involved with a pulmonary rehabilitation course. Ask them to go over your action plan for a COPD exacerbation, and then ask them again. If you have a disease like COPD, you must be in the know at all times, and feel fully confident of what is going on inside your body so you know what to look out for when something changes.

Here is a great resource about communicating with your doctor, and asking the questions you might not even know to ask: COPD Education is Key: 15 Questions you Need to ask your Doctor

When you are shopping for a portable oxygen concentrator, or another form of oxygen therapy, ask your respiratory specialist about the reasons they recommend one portable oxygen concentrator over another.

Why the Caire FreeStyle Comfort fits your friend’s oxygen requirements but you require something more powerful like the Respironics SimplyGo. Ask them questions about traveling with a portable oxygen concentrator compared to oxygen tanks. Ask them how you can charge your portable device’s batteries while you’re at home or in the car.

If you get your oxygen delivered be sure to closely monitor your gauges on your oxygen equipment so you are never running low. Promptly notify your oxygen supplier with plenty of time for them to deliver refills, and upon delivery be sure to ask questions of your oxygen delivery person.

If you're new to oxygen therapy, or are thinking about changing your oxygen method to a more portable system, call us at 1-(800)-946-1201, and we will help you decide on the best portable oxygen concentrator that fits your needs, and also makes your life easier. If you have questions about how much portable oxygen concentrators costs, you will not find the true answer online.

A basic google search will take you to pages that lists these devices anywhere from $2,000 - $3,000, for example the Inogen One G5 is listed on google for almost $3,000. This is because the manufacturers require its distributors to only advertise their devices at set prices, and so the best way to get accurate prices is to call and speak with a respiratory specialist over the phone.

Don’t be careless with storing and transporting your oxygen

If you use an oxygen cylinder or liquid oxygen tanks, you have to store the devices properly. They cannot fall over, and should remain upright and tied into place while being transported.

If you have an oxygen concentrator, you should be careful with the device naturally, but if you are prone to being clumsy or dropping your things, having a durable portable oxygen device should be on your list of priorities.

If you are worried about breaking your portable oxygen device, you might want to consider a device like the SeQual Eclipse 5 which is one of the most, if not the most, popular continuous flow portable oxygen concentrators on the market. That is largely due to its long-standing track record for being durable and reliable as it was intentionally created for the US Military. The hard-bodied shell of the Eclipse 5 is extremely protective. It will keep your concentrator protected from everyday wear and tear, accidental bumps and bruises, and if you have pets or grandkids in the house it will be able to withstand their crazy antics.

The Invacare Platinum Mobile is another durable pulse flow portable oxygen concentrator built for mobility and designed to withstand the trials of everyday life. This concentrator has a rugged design with reinforced bumpers and cushions to protect the unit from daily wear and tear. It contains a foam encapsulated compressor and latch-free doors to absorb shock because sometimes occasional bumps can simply be unavoidable, it is even water resistant!

Don’t run low on oxygen

As we have mentioned in this article, it is critical for you to take your oxygen as prescribed, so running lower on your oxygen supply or running low on the batteries, is not a good practice.

If you use an oxygen canister, or oxygen tanks, always put an order in for your delivery service to have them refilled before you run out.

If you have a portable oxygen concentrator, be sure to keep your device charged, and try to avoid letting the battery die in order to preserve the overall battery life. You can also notify your local utility company and let them know that you have an oxygen concentrator in use, so that you will be given priority during power outages. You may also want to consider buying a backup generator in the event of power outages, so you are still bale to charge your breathing device's batteries.

Do’s and don’ts for using liquid oxygen

Here are some additional factors you should know while using liquid oxygen:

DON'T tip the device or lean it, make sure it is stable and upright at all times, or the liquid can leak out

DO keep the tank at least 5 feet away from space heaters, electric or gas heaters, steam pipes, furnaces, and radiators

Do’s and don’ts for using oxygen concentrators

Here are a few more tips for using an oxygen concentrator:

DON’T ever use an extension cord to plug in your concentrator and do not plug anything else into the same outlet while you are charging your device

DO keep the unit about 6 inches away from the wall curtains or anything else that might obstruct the filter and prevent air circulation around it; this will also help avoid heat build up

DON'T cover the unit with anything like blankets or towels; this will also help avoid heat build up

If you would like more tips and tricks for making supplemental oxygen therapy more enjoyable overall click here to read How to Make Supplemental Oxygen More Comfortable

Overview

Oxygen therapy can be of great benefit to you and you loved ones. It can give you the energy and strength you need to start doing the things you love to do again. With certain oxygen device like portable oxygen concentrators , you can travel by plane, and easily carry with you to run errands or exercise.

All oxygen therapy methods share a similar goal, and that is to get your blood oxygen levels back to a normal rate. If you need your therapy to do even more for you in order to be satisfied, you should talk to you doctor about the possibilities of switching to a portable oxygen concentrator, so you can start getting more than just the essentials from your tanks or canisters.

Until then, we hope that you have found some useful information that you can bring home with you to make the most out of your oxygen therapy and start living the life you want to, whether thats being more active, having more energy, or coping with your COPD more effectively.

Medical terminology can be very challenging to understand sometimes. Even with the abundance of resources we have nowadays in order to research and understand these terms, there are always certain things that will be lost in translation. The oxygen industry, for example, is rife with terms that many people don’t entirely understand. This can lead to a lot of confusion when it comes to discussing them with your friends, family, or doctor. 

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In this post, we’ll take a look at some of the most commonly misused respiratory terms including but not limited to respirators, ventilators, and oxygen concentrators. Whether you’re someone with a respiratory condition like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma, or you’re just interested in this topic, you should find this guide useful. If you have any questions about what you read, be sure to leave them in the comment section so that we can help clarify.

What is a Respirator?

A respirator is a type of mask that covers the user’s nose and mouth. They’re designed to reduce the wearer’s risk of inhaling hazardous substances that could damage the lungs and body in general. All respirators must be certified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

Respirators are used in both medical and industrial settings. In a medical setting, respirators are used by healthcare professionals to filter infectious diseases out of the air that they breathe. Since we first discovered coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), you’ve likely heard the term “N95 masks” thrown around. This refers to a type of respirator that’s specifically designed to filter out viruses. N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFR) remove 95% of very small particles (0.3 microns).

Industrial respirators, on the other hand, are designed to protect the wearer against harmful airborne particles found in an industrial setting. Airborne particles are divided into three different groups: small, medium, and large. Small particles are less than 1 micron in diameter, medium particles are between 1 and 100 microns in diameter, and large particles are greater than 100 microns in diameter.  

Generally speaking, respirators are used by healthcare workers and industrial workers. Many national and local laws require these people to use NIOSH-certified masks while they’re on the job in order to prevent the spread of infectious disease and to prevent long-term lung damage. Most people need to be trained on how to use respirators correctly because there can’t be any air leaks. What’s more, respirators may be hazardous for people with chronic respiratory conditions like COPD or asthma.

Respirators should not be confused with surgical masks. A surgical mask is a very loose-fitting piece of cloth that’s only designed to filter out very large particles. Surgical masks are worn by the general public to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 as well as other infectious diseases, but they are not an all-in-one solution. If preventing the spread of disease is your goal, you will still need to follow all of the guidelines outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO) like maintaining 6 feet of distance from the nearest person and staying home if you feel sick.

What is a Ventilator?

Ventilators have an entirely different function than respirators. A ventilator is a machine that helps patients with the mechanical act of breathing. It helps push breathable air into the lungs and removes carbon dioxide-rich air from the lungs. Ventilators are typically used in hospitals and they’re designed to help patients who have severely impaired lungs or diaphragmatic muscles and are unable to breathe on their own. They’re also used in patients who have suffered brain trauma. 

There are two different types of ventilation: non-invasive ventilation and invasive ventilation. Non-invasive ventilation can be done at home via a special machine and face mask, however invasive ventilation requires a medical professional. During invasive ventilation, a tube will be inserted into the airways either via the mouth or a surgical incision in the neck. There are two different methods used to administer ventilation to a patient: positive-pressure ventilation and negative-pressure ventilation.

Positive pressure ventilation was invented in the 1950s and it’s considered the standard, however, negative-pressure ventilation is rarely used today. CPAP, BiPAP, and APAP are all types of non-invasive ventilation that can be done at home. 

What is an Oxygen Concentrator?

Simply put, an oxygen concentrator is an electronic device that supplies patients with medical-grade oxygen. Unlike ventilators, an oxygen concentrator does not force air into the lungs. It simply releases oxygen that can be inhaled by the user. Oxygen concentrators are used to treat a variety of conditions, but chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis (CF) are among the most common.

Oxygen concentrators work by taking in ambient air and removing nitrogen dioxide, argon, and other impurities. It then concentrates the oxygen and outputs it through a nasal cannula that’s attached to the patient’s face. There are two different methods of delivery for oxygen concentrators: continuous flow and pulse flow. The former is a constant stream of oxygen and the latter is the delivery of oxygen in puffs called “boluses” only when the user inhales.

Since oxygen therapy is often prescribed for 14 hours or more every day, most patients prefer to have a portable option so that they can get out of the house. Fortunately, there are portable oxygen concentrators available, and they’re very lightweight and reliable. The Caire FreeStyle Comfort, for example, is one of the lightest and most powerful portable oxygen concentrators ever produced. It weighs just 5 pounds, provides up to 16 hours of battery life on one charge, and has a maximum oxygen output of 1,050 milliliters per minute (ml/min) of medical-grade oxygen.

The FreeStyle Comfort isn’t the only outstanding POC on the market, however. Another popular pulse dose unit is the Inogen One G5. This machine weighs in at just 4.7 pounds with a maximum oxygen output of 1,260 ml/min of medical-grade oxygen, and 13 hours of battery life on one charge. For its weight, the G5 puts out more oxygen than any other POC ever produced and its battery life is nothing to joke about either. Inogen also has a long history of customer satisfaction.

The last POC we need to mention is the Respironics SmplyGo. This one differs from the last two in that it’s a continuous flow portable oxygen concentrator. In fact, it’s the lightest continuous flow POC ever produced. If your doctor prescribes you continuous flow oxygen, this will likely be your best option because it’s only 10 pounds which is significantly lighter than any other option on the market. There are many things to look for in an oxygen concentrator, so be sure to check out this guide before making your decision.

What are Nebulizers and Inhalers?

Nebulizers and inhalers are respiratory devices used to administer medication to the lungs. If you have a chronic respiratory ailment like COPD or pulmonary fibrosis, sometimes it is more effective to administer medication directly to the lungs, rather than taking an oral tablet which will need to go through the bloodstream. Nebulizers and inhalers are similar, but they’re used in different scenarios.

A nebulizer is a tabletop machine that takes liquid medication and turns it into a fine mist called “aerosol.” This aerosol is then inhaled through a mouthpiece. An inhaler does the same thing, but it’s much smaller and lighter so you can take it anywhere. The problem with inhalers, however, is that they require you to precisely time your inhalation in order for them to be effective. Nebulizers allow you to inhale the medication at your own pace.

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Most people with COPD, asthma, or pulmonary fibrosis will use some combination of nebulizer and inhaler therapy. You’ll likely use your nebulizer for long-term treatment and your inhaler can be used while you’re out of the house as a “rescue Inhaler.” In other words, you’ll use fast-acting bronchodilators that open your airways in the event that you experience an exacerbation.

What are CPAP, BiPAP, and APAP Machines?

CPAP, BiPAP, and APAP are all different types of positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy. They’re used exclusively by people with sleep disorders, especially obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This is when the muscles in the throat relax during sleep causing breathing to stop momentarily. Complications of sleep apnea include cardiovascular problems, daytime fatigue, eye problems, and more.

Essentially, positive airways pressure is designed to keep the airways open during sleep and prevent any disruptions. If a patient has both a chronic lung disease and obstructive sleep apnea, a continuous flow oxygen concentrator can be bled into the PAP therapy device to ensure they are able to maintain their blood oxygen levels. There are three different types of PAP therapy machines, so it’s important to understand how they differ.

Much like a continuous flow oxygen concentrator, constant positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines put out a consistent stream of high-pressure air. For many OSA patients, CPAP machines will work just fine because you simply need to turn the device on before you sleep and it will run all night. However, the problem with CPAP therapy is that the same air is being applied when you’re exhaling. If this causes difficulty exhaling, it could lead to a buildup of CO2 in your system. 

BiPAP machines are an alternative to CPAPs which have two different pressure settings: one for inhalation and one for exhalation. This will afford you more comfort as you exhale and reduce the risk of you retaining CO2 as you exhale. An auto-adjustable positive airway pressure device (APAP) takes this one step further with an array of pressure settings to account for fluctuations in your sleep patterns. These are the most advanced type of PAP therapy device, but they’re also the most expensive. Be sure to consult with your doctor to determine which one is best for you.

Conclusion

While all of the above medical devices are concerned with respiratory health, they all have very different functions. Respirators filter out harmful particles, ventilators help patients with the mechanical act of breathing, oxygen concentrators supply medical-grade oxygen, and PAP machines prevent the airways from collapsing during sleep.

Whether you’re someone with COPD, asthma, sleep apnea, or any number of other conditions that affect the respiratory system, it’s important to be clear about the differences between the devices above. If you have any questions about what you read here, don’t hesitate to leave them in the comment section below.

If you’ve just been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you’re probably just beginning to learn about some of the common symptoms associated with this disease. Most people — whether they’re early stage, late stage, or anywhere in between — will experience breathing difficulties, chest pain, and a chronic cough. And as it progresses, COPD patients are more likely to experience complications like hypertension, recurring respiratory infections, and heart problems.

Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to identify the root cause of COPD symptoms. For example, you might wake up one day feeling more chest pain or stiffness than usual. This could be caused by many things such as changes in environmental factors, your diet, exercise routine, or medication. If you experience an unusual or recurring symptom, be sure to take note of it and address it with your doctor during your next appointment.

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One fairly common symptom of COPD you should know about is bronchospasms. This occurs when your airways narrow, leading to difficulty breathing, chest pain, and coughing. If you’d like to learn more about bronchospasms, read on to discover what causes them, how they can affect your respiratory health, and much more. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to leave them in the comment section below or reach out to us.

What are Bronchospasms?

Bronchospasms (also called bronchial spasms) result when your airways constrict making it difficult to breathe. As the name suggests, bronchospasms affect the bronchial tubes or the “bronchioles” in the lungs. These tubes are responsible for the transfer of air to and from the lungs. However, when they begin to constrict they don’t allow air to be transferred properly, often causing wheezing and chest pain. The bronchioles contain what’s called “involuntary” smooth muscle fibers. This means that you can’t consciously control these muscle functions similar to how you can’t control when your heart pumps blood.

Your ability to take oxygen-rich air into your lungs and expel carbon dioxide-rich air is imperative for your overall health and well-being. Oxygen that enters the lungs is transferred to the blood through the alveoli, tiny air sacs that scatter the lungs. From there, your blood vessels carry oxygen to every organ in your body. Oxygen is an essential resource for every organ and tissue because it breaks down food so that your body can use it as energy. When tissues or organs don’t have the oxygen they need to function properly, it is called hypoxia.

Not only do bronchospasms block air from coming into the lungs, but they can also block air from going out. This is equally problematic because your lungs need to be able to replace carbon dioxide-rich air with oxygen-rich air, otherwise carbon dioxide will begin to build up in the blood. Too much carbon dioxide in the blood is called hypercapnia and it can result in many of the same symptoms as a lack of oxygen like shortness of breath, fatigue, and dizziness.

Bronchospasms primarily occur in patients with chronic bronchitis or asthma. Chronic bronchitis is one of two chronic respiratory diseases under the umbrella term “COPD.” The other being emphysema which affects the alveoli in the lungs. While chronic bronchitis and asthma share many symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness, they have different causes. Chronic bronchitis is primarily caused by cigarette smoking and asthma is mostly hereditary. Bronchospasms can also be induced by anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction) or exercise.

What Causes Bronchospasms?

There are many different causes of bronchospasms so it will be challenging to narrow down what’s causing your symptoms without speaking with your doctor. There may be one specific thing that’s causing your bronchospasms or there could be multiple things involved. Let’s take a look at some of the potential causes of these symptoms.

Air Pollution

Pollutants are one of the most common and avoidable causes of bronchospasms. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are six criteria of air pollutants including particle pollution, sulfur oxides, ground-level ozone, nitrogen oxides, lead, and carbon monoxide. All of these types of pollution can lead to respiratory exacerbations including bronchospasms, chest pain, coughing, and wheezing.

The best way to avoid hazardous air pollution is by checking the air quality in your area before you go outdoors. AirNow.gov is an excellent resource for asthma and COPD patients who want to be more conscious about the quality of air they’re breathing. Simply type in your area code or city and you will be provided with a forecast of the air quality in your area. It will specify the types of pollutants that are currently present so you can plan your day accordingly. 

Air quality index (AQI) is the unit of measurement for air quality. It runs from 0 to 500 with 0 being the best air quality and 500 being the worst. Generally speaking, COPD and asthma patients should not go outside if the AQI is above 100.

Airborne Allergens

An allergen is a type of antigen that causes a severe immune response to something that would normally be harmless. Allergens can be airborne such as pollen or mold, or they can be food-based such as nuts, shellfish, or soy. If you have COPD or asthma, avoiding these triggers is imperative if you want to avoid bronchospasms and other potentially life-threatening symptoms.

There are many sites that can keep you up to date on the active allergens in your area, but Pollen.com is probably one of the most accurate and easy to use. Just like AirNow.gov, you simply have to type in your area code and you’ll have access to current information about the allergens that you should be concerned about. This is a great resource if you want to figure out what allergens affect you the most and how to avoid them.

Infections

COPD and asthma patients can have what’s called a disruption to the epithelial lining which makes them more likely to contract infections like the flu or COVID-19. Essentially, many of the immune cells in the throat and lungs become compromised due to chronic inflammation. Over time, the body loses its ability to fight off bacteria or viruses that enter the body.

Bronchiectasis is another condition that can lead to infections in COPD patients. While bronchiectasis is not caused by COPD, it is more common among COPD patients, especially in later stages of the disease. Bronchiectasis causes mucus and bacteria to build up in the lungs and prevents it from clearing properly meaning you’ll experience frequent and recurring lung infections.

Lastly, cigarette smoking will put you at a greater risk of contracting a lung infection. While many COPD patients are able to quick smoking after receiving a diagnosis, as many as 38 percent of COPD patients continue smoking. Smoking suppresses the immune system making you more likely to get sick and even causing infections to be more severe and longer-lasting. Immediate smoking cessation will help you prevent lung infection and stay healthy.

Medication

The use of certain medications can result in drug-induced bronchospasms. A few of them in particular, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are very well-known and widely used. For example, ibuprofen and aspirin are both NSAIDs.These drugs are used as painkillers to treat things like headaches, toothaches, and soreness. However, for some people with asthma, they can cause bronchospasms.

According to Healthline, NSAIDs inhibit a protein called cyclooxygenase and many asthma patients are sensitive to these effects. One possible reason for this is due to the overproduction of leukotrienes. These are chemicals that are released into the bronchial tubes and cause the bronchial muscles to constrict and spasm. To be safe, it’s best to consult with your doctor before using any type of medication, even if it is an over-the-counter medication.

How are Bronchospasms Diagnosed?

Your doctor may use a number of different methods to diagnose you with bronchospasms depending on your medical history and whether or not you’ve already been diagnosed with asthma or COPD. He/she will likely start by using a stethoscope to listen for any irregularities in your breathing. And if any are detected, you may be administered one of the following tests to determine if you have bronchospasms.

Spirometry

During a spirometry test, you will be blowing into a device called a spirometer. There are two different readings that your doctor will derive from this: forced vital capacity (FVC) which is the total amount of air you can exhale and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) which is the total volume of air you can push out of your lungs in one second.

Pulse Oximetry

If you have COPD and you’re on oxygen, you likely already know what a pulse oximeter is. It’s a small device that attaches to your finger and reads your blood oxygen level. Your doctor may use one of these devices to see if your bronchospasms are reducing the amount of oxygen that is making it into your blood.

Arterial Blood Gas Analysis

Arterial blood gas tests are similar to pulse oximetry but they are more invasive by requiring you to draw blood. They also provide your doctor with a lot more information about your blood composition which can assist in diagnosing bronchospasms and other respiratory problems.

Eucapnic Voluntary Hyperventilation (EVH) Test

This is a type of test that attempts to simulate the effects of prolonged exercise. In other words, it allows your doctor to understand how your lungs and airways react when you are at a point of physical exertion. This test can take between 60 and 90 minutes to complete but it can be convenient in diagnosing bronchial spasms.

How Are Bronchospasms Treated?

Bronchospasms can be treated with a combination of home remedies and treatment methods prescribed by your doctor. Below are just a few of the ways your doctor may treat these respiratory symptoms.

Short-Acting Bronchodilators

Short-acting bronchodilators are used in asthma and COPD patients to provide quick relief from respiratory symptoms. They work by opening up the airways when you’re faced with severe breathing problems, chest pain, or coughing. Short-acting bronchodilators are taken with either an inhaler or a nebulizer so that the medication reaches the lungs faster.

Long-Acting Bronchodilators

If your bronchospasms are less severe, your doctor may prescribe you long-acting bronchodilators. These medications will take much longer to start working but they will also provide a much longer period of relief. Long-acting bronchodilators are typically administered orally.

Corticosteroids

If your bronchospasms were induced by an allergic reaction, your doctor may advise corticosteroids. These types of steroids will reduce inflammation in the airways and suppress the immune system which could be causing them to constrict. He/she may use any combination of the above treatment options to help you cure your bronchospasms.

What Can Be Done to Prevent Bronchospasms?

Since bronchospasms put you at a higher risk of experiencing severe complications from COPD, it’s important to do what you can to prevent them. For most people, preventing bronchospasms simply means following the treatment plan that your doctor has already created for you. If you believe that you aren’t doing enough to prevent them, consult with your doctor for more information.

Oxygen Therapy

Supplemental oxygen therapy is one of the foundational treatments for COPD and it can also help you prevent bronchospasms. The goal of oxygen therapy is to maintain a healthy blood oxygen level in your body when your lungs aren’t able to do so on their own. For some patients, this could mean using oxygen intermittently, but for others, it could mean using oxygen 24/7. Your doctor will help you decide what’s best for you.

We recommend using a portable oxygen concentrator such as the Caire FreeStyle Comfort or the Inogen One G5 because these units are lightweight and allow you to take your oxygen supply anywhere in the world with ease. They’re also extremely reliable, so you don’t have to worry about losing access to your oxygen when you need it the most.

Exercising Safely

Exercise is a fundamental aspect of any COPD treatment routine. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is used to increase the strength and efficiency of the lungs while helping COPD patients maintain their weight and promote healthy circulation. However, if you exercise too much or you don’t exercise in a way that’s advised by your doctor, you might experience exercise-induced bronchospasms (EIB).

To avoid exercise-induced bronchospasms, be sure to avoid exercising in the cold. Cold, dry air can cause your mucus to become thick and difficult to clear. Air that’s filled with pollen or other allergens can also irritate your airways causing bronchospasms. Lastly, you should be careful not to overexercise. High-intensity exercise is not typically recommended for treating COPD and it can put you at a higher risk for experiencing exacerbations or other serious complications. Stick to a moderate, but consistent exercise routine.

Diet

Your dietary habits can make the difference between a healthy and unhealthy respiratory system. As aforementioned, consuming food that you’re allergic to can exacerbate your respiratory symptoms and cause bronchospasms. COPD patients tend to retain sodium, so you should avoid food with added salt and drink plenty of water. Being well-hydrated means your mucus will be less viscous and easier to clear from your airways. Foods to avoid include coffee, sugary drinks, fried foods, and milk.  

Another thing to be wary of is dietary supplements. While dietary supplements are often hyped-up through advertising and word of mouth, they have negative side-effects just like over-the-counter and prescription drugs. The problem is that dietary supplements are registered as “food products” through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) so companies can often get away with overexaggerating the benefits of their supplements without discussing the potential side-effects.

Conclusion

Bronchospasms are a common symptom of COPD and asthma, but under certain circumstances, they can also occur in healthy people. Severe allergic reactions, air pollution, and medications can all cause bronchospasms and they can range in severity from moderate to life-threatening. While there are several home remedies that can help alleviate the symptoms of bronchospasms, your best bet will be to speak with your doctor as soon as possible.

In the meantime, your best course of action is to follow your COPD treatment plan. Using supplemental oxygen as prescribed, following a strict diet, and maintaining a healthy and consistent exercise routine will all promote healthy lungs and airways, thus helping you to prevent bronchospasms and other respiratory complications. You should also take the time to check the air quality in your area before going outside so that you can avoid air pollution.

Here at LPT Medical, our goal is to provide as many COPD patients as possible with durable and reliable portable oxygen concentrators. With a portable oxygen concentrator at your side, you’ll have the freedom to go about your daily life without having to worry about not having medical oxygen that meets your respiratory needs. If you need help choosing an oxygen concentrator, please feel free to give us a call at 1-888-416-3855.  

Most people don’t put a lot of thought into the way that they get around. As humans, we learn to walk from a very young age and we use our basic motor skills all the time. So, for most people, it’s difficult to imagine being in a situation where these basic functions are impaired. However, for someone with COPD, problems with mobility, balance, and coordination can be a daily struggle. Healthy, functioning lungs are essential for physical exertion, no matter how little it may be.

A study on pubmed.gov followed COPD patients over the course of six months and found that about one-third of them experienced a fall at some point. The same study also states that COPD is one of the chronic conditions with the highest fall rates, right behind osteoarthritis, a very common degenerative joint disease that’s caused by the wearing down of cartilage on the bones.  

Unfortunately, the high risk of falls in COPD patients is very much an under-discussed topic. That’s why, in this article, we’ll take a look at the main causes of falls and how you can avoid them. 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 Causes Balance Issues in COPD Patients?

COPD balance and coordination issues aren’t limited to one cause. There are many different factors that need to be considered in order to pinpoint and mitigate your risk of experiencing a fall. Comorbidities, age, COPD stage, and environmental factors can all play a role, so it’s important to be open-minded about possible prevention methods.

Low Blood Oxygen Levels

Oxygen is a vital resource for your body. It’s used to break down stored energy that you get from food and convert it into usable energy for every cell in your body. Since COPD patients have impaired lung function due to excessive inflammation, medical oxygen can be used to lessen the load on the lungs and ensure that your blood oxygen levels stay within a normal range. Contrary to what many people believe, there are no “side-effects” of medical oxygen. As long as you’re using it as prescribed, medical oxygen will only benefit you.

When it comes time to buy an oxygen device, you’ll have several options. Oxygen tanks, liquid oxygen tanks, and oxygen concentrators are all popular options. However, portable oxygen concentrators will be the best option for most oxygen patients because they’re lightweight, small, and easy to carry as you go about your day. The Inogen One G5 and Caire FreeStyle Comfort, for example, are two of the most popular options because they have a high oxygen output, and they both weigh under 5 pounds.

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Another great option if you have higher oxygen demands is the Respironics SimplyGo. This is the lightest continuous flow portable oxygen concentrator and it offers up to 2 liters per minute (LPM) of oxygen. The Respironics SimplyGo can either be carried on your shoulder with the adjustable strap, or it can be wheeled behind you using the rolling cart. Be sure to speak with one of our respiratory specialists here at LPT Medical to learn which portable oxygen concentrator is right for you.

Peripheral Edema

"Edema” is a term that refers to swelling, usually due to the buildup of fluid. Peripheral edema occurs when fluid begins to accumulate in an extremity away from the heart such as the hands, feet, or legs. While this condition can happen to anyone, it’s more common among COPD patients and it can be a warning sign of several serious medical conditions including pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs) and cor pulmonale (right-sided heart failure).

Another problem that can be caused by edema is problems with balance and coordination. This condition often develops slowly and without the patient knowing, so you might start losing control of your balance without knowing it as well. Oftentimes, people first notice that there’s a problem when their shoes or clothing don’t fit anymore. In order to avoid this situation, check your legs and feet daily for swelling, redness, or pitting. This is when you press your skin and it leaves an indentation. 

Malnutrition

COPD patients are more likely to experience malnutrition than the general public. There are many possible reasons for this, but a loss of appetite, changing food preferences, and problems with digestion are among the most common causes. COPD patients often find themselves in a difficult situation where they’re hungry but aren’t in the mood to eat because it can leave them feeling bloated and exhausted.

One significant concern is something called muscle atrophy (muscle wasting). Many people are under the impression that they’re losing fat, but it’s actually muscle weight that they’re losing. Inevitably, this can lead to problems with balance, coordination, and exercise tolerance. This is why it’s so important for COPD patients to consume enough protein. Today’s Dietician recommends you get at least 20 percent of your calories from protein.

Medication Side-Effects

Every medication has side-effects, including those used to treat COPD. One of the most common inhaled COPD medications, bronchodilators, are used to open up the airways helping you to breathe easier. However, bronchodilators have a number of adverse side-effects including but not limited to trembling, muscle cramps, and nausea, all of which can contribute to balance problems and even result in serious falls.

Just like with oxygen, it’s important to use medication only as it’s prescribed by your doctor. What’s more, you should be cautious about the way you use it. For example, if you’re using a bronchodilator, try sitting down beforehand. This way, if you start feeling dizzy or lightheaded, you won’t run the risk of falling down. Bronchodilators are fast-acting, so if you feel okay after a couple of minutes, you can stand up and go about your business.

Corticosteroids are another popular medication used to treat COPD. These are a type of steroid that is used for the long-term treatment of COPD and asthma, and they help to reduce inflammation and tightening in the airways and lungs. However, corticosteroids used in large doses can contribute to bone deterioration and the development of osteoporosis. This condition not only increases your risk of falls, but it also increases your risk of experiencing bone fractures after falling.  

Sedentary Lifestyle

Living a “sedentary lifestyle” means not getting up and moving around very often. Many people become more sedentary the older they get and developing a chronic condition like COPD can cause someone to become sedentary as well. The problem with this is that it can lead to a lot of health issues, one of which is an increased likelihood of experiencing a fall. This study found that physical activity is associated with better balance and slowing the rate of physical deterioration in older adults.

Environmental Factors

All of the issues above are caused by the symptoms of COPD and COPD treatment. But you also need to consider how your environment is contributing to your risk of falls. Living in a home that is cluttered or not designed to accommodate someone with a chronic respiratory disease can put you at a higher risk of falling.

Since it’s winter, there are also environmental factors related to the weather. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 56 percent of all falls occur outside the home such as in the yard, on the sidewalk, or in a public area. So before you go anywhere, you should consider what obstacles will be presented and how you can navigate them safely without experiencing a fall. 

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What Can Be Done to Prevent Falls With COPD?

Although falls are very common in COPD patients, the good news is that they’re highly preventable. Just a few small adjustments to your lifestyle could make a huge difference but you need to know what’s causing them in the first place. 

Carry a Pulse Oximeter

A pulse oximeter is a small electronic device that slips over your finger and tells you your blood oxygen levels. It is a non-invasive device, meaning you won’t need to draw blood in order to use it. It works by passing light through your finger and calculating your blood oxygen levels based on the amount of light that’s absorbed by oxygenated or deoxygenated blood. Pulse oximeters are lightweight and portable medical devices.

The reason it’s so important to have a pulse oximeter is to be able to check your blood oxygen levels and heart rate, especially when you’re away from home. Just a quick pulse oximeter reading and you’ll know exactly what adjustments you need to make to your oxygen therapy device. Pulse oximeters are usually recommended over arterial blood gas analysis (ABG) because they’re less intrusive and you receive your results almost instantaneously. The quality of the device matters too, so be sure to spend some time looking for a pulse oximeter with good reviews. 

ABG analysis and pulse oximetry also differ in terms of the information they provide. While a pulse oximeter just reads the percentage of hemoglobin in the blood that is saturated with oxygen (SpO2), ABG tests will provide you with a whole host of information including blood alkalinity, the partial pressure of CO2 and oxygen (PaCO2 and PaO2), and much more. This information is useful for other reasons, but it’s not necessary if you’re just trying to maintain your blood oxygen levels.

Carry a Medical Alert System

A medical alert system or personal emergency response system (PERS) is a small device that’s worn around your neck or on your wrist. If you ever experience an emergency like a fall or a COPD exacerbation, simply press the button on the device and a notification will be sent to a 24/7 call center. Once the notification is received they will call 911 and emergency medical personnel will be sent to your home immediately.

Adjust Your Eating Habits

As aforementioned, many COPD patients are underweight. As respiratory symptoms get worse, many people find it difficult to eat a full meal without feeling bloated and tired. One of the best ways to deal with this is to spread your meals throughout the day rather than having one or two bigger meals. This will give your body lots of time to digest rather than having to do it all at once.

Another reason to spread your meals out is that it helps you avoid the temptation to eat unhealthy foods. When you’re feeling hungry and lacking energy, you’re more likely to give in to foods that will provide you with a quick energy boost. These foods are usually high in sugar and other unhealthy ingredients which can exacerbate COPD symptoms and leave you feeling drained.

Get Active

Many people are under the impression that the sole purpose of pulmonary rehabilitation is to improve lung function. And while that may be the most important reason, it’s not the only reason. Even a moderate form of exercise can provide some major benefits as long as it’s done consistently. According to the Mayo Clinic, regular exercise helps prevent a whole host of health problems, including but not limited to high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, depression, and heart disease. 

Another reason for COPD patients to exercise is that it increases their muscle tone, thus increasing their oxygen efficiency. As a COPD patient, you want every muscle in your body to be strong not only to improve balance and posture but to reduce the amount of oxygen required for getting around. Exercise also improves blood circulation which is very important for maintaining your mobility.

Create a Safe Living Space

No matter whether you live alone or with friends or family, making adjustments to your living space can go a long way towards preventing falls. Keeping your home organized and free of debris will give you fewer obstacles to trip over or navigate around as you go about your daily life. Many falls occur in the bathroom, so that might be the best place to start with. Another way to create a safe living space is to install mobility aids such as hand railings, stairlifts, or ramps.  

Address Your Concerns With Your Doctor

Anxiety is associated with an increased risk of falls, so if you have concerns about balance or coordination issues caused by COPD or your COPD treatment plan, you should address them with your doctor immediately. Chances are, the feelings you’re experiencing are perfectly normal and your doctor might be able to make changes to your medication, exercise, or diet plan in order to improve your balance. As the saying goes, there’s no such thing as a “stupid question” especially when your health is concerned. 

Conclusion

Although COPD is a leading morbidity in the United States, many people are not fully aware of what it’s like to live with this disease. Balance and coordination issues are pervasive among COPD patients and they become more prevalent with age and as the disease progresses. The tips outlined above will help you mitigate the risks of falls.

Here at LPT medical, we want you to be educated about your disease so that you can make the best decisions for your long-term health. We carry a wide range of portable oxygen concentrators from popular brands like Caire Inc., Inogen, and Respironics. And we take pride in providing oxygen patients all over the country with reliable lightweight devices that help them get around more easily while limiting the risk of a fall.

If you’re interested in our portable oxygen concentrators for sale, please reach out to us either by phone or by email.