In this day and age, it’s harder than ever to navigate America’s convoluted health care system. At times it can feel like it’s impossible to find an answer to the simplest of questions. And other times, it can even feel like our own doctors, caretakers, or medical equipment providers are working against us instead of for us. What’s more, as we age, we face higher health insurance costs with fewer and fewer options for saving money along the way.

It’s not all grim, though! If you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis (CF), or any other respiratory illness that requires you to undergo oxygen therapy, there are many resources out there to help you answer your most burning questions. Most notably, our respiratory specialists here at LPT Medical are here to answer all your questions concerning oxygen delivery equipment and oxygen therapy in general.

Feel free to get in touch with us either by phone or email and ask us anything you need. Remember, there is no “silly” or “bad” question when it comes to your health. Chances are if you’re wondering something, there are other people in your situation who are wondering the same thing. In the meantime, continue reading to discover the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about oxygen concentrators.

What is an Oxygen Concentrator?

An oxygen concentrator is a type of oxygen administration device used to treat a variety of respiratory ailments including COPD and cystic fibrosis. Oxygen concentrators are similar to oxygen tanks in that they deliver medical grade oxygen which is inspired via a nasal cannula or oxygen mask. Concentrators were introduced around the 1970s and portable versions became more widely available in the early 2000s.

COPD effects more than just your lungs and how well you can breath. It also influences your mental state causing irrational behavior or mood swings, and can even lead to depression and anxiety.

People with COPD can sometimes be irritable and come off as cranky. If you struggle with mood swings and other mental health issues that seem to be related to your COPD, this article is for you.

According to a review, “Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) — A Review,” about 50 percent of people living with COPD exhibit symptoms of anxiety and depression. Another recent study in the USA reported that less than a third of COPD patients with major depression received the appropriate treatment.

Evidence suggests that people with COPD are very susceptible to depression, stress, and anxiety due to a number of reasons, one being that their life as they knew it, is over in some ways, but also a vicious cycle of COPD symptoms impacting mobility, independence, and other qualities of life. These anxious and/or depressed feelings can make it very hard for you to care for yourself and adhere to your treatment regime.

Introduction

Mental health in general is a delicate thing, something as normal as aging can initiate depression and anxiety in folks who have never had these mental illnesses before. This is something called environmental or situational depression, where outside factors influence the way someone reacts and feels emotionally. Clinical depression is a biological imbalance of chemicals in a person’s mind that makes them react and feel a certain way.

The fact is, everyone feels sadness because everyone goes through sad experiences. It is a natural human emotion. On the other hand, clinical depression is a serious condition that can have a profound impact on a person’s everyday life, and oftentimes for no reason at all.

Situational depression is known medically as “adjustment disorder with depressed mood.” In many cases it will resolve over time, and therapy sessions may be recommended in order to ease the recovery process.

As you read this article, it is important to categorize your own emotions based on this criteria in order to understand and get the best help for yourself. If you need help deciphering your symptoms from being clinical compared to situational depression, speak with your doctor or a mental health professional who is qualified to diagnose these illnesses.

You can also visit this source about the differences between situational depression versus clinical depression:

Click here

We want to preface this article by saying that we are not a mental health organization, nor do we specialize in any kind of therapy, however we work with oxygen users who are in some of the most severe stages of their pulmonary disease and we try to help them in the one way we are qualified to help: Providing the best, most reliable, and affordable oxygen equipment on the market along with educational resources. If you are interested in learning about any of our portable oxygen equipment, after reading this article you can reach us at 1-800-946-1201, or simply leave a comment on the blog so we can reach out to you! 

We have developed this article for our readers who may need to seek outside help for their mental health conditions, and we hope this article can help you find the resources in order to do so.

How does mental health impact people with COPD

There is a lot of research about the ways in which COPD patients suffer from depression and anxiety. In a study by The National Center for Biotechnology Information a study was conducted about COPD patients and how anxiety and depression can contribute greatly to COPD-related death, notably by reducing quality of life and lack of adhering to treatment.

Depression can inhibit a person’s ability to care for themselves, and when you have COPD it is so important to maintain a healthy exercise regimen, take all of your medications, and adhere to your oxygen therapy needs. If you are depressed you are less inclined to take the necessary measures in order to protect yourself from this chronic illness that will inevitably get worse over time, and even take your life.

Quality of life is an attainable goal for you even if you have COPD, but mental health and depression can get in the way of those goals. On top of that, depression and anxiety can be challenging to identify and furthermore treat because those symptoms often overlap with COPD symptoms.

Identifying depression, anxiety, and developing an appropriate treatment strategy is critical to reduce the number of times you have to go to the hospital to seek medical treatment and overall improve your quality of life.

Why do people with COPD struggle with mental health

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from your lungs. The symptoms include trouble breathing, excessive coughing, abnormal mucus production and wheezing. It is most commonly caused by long-term exposure to irritating gases or pollution, examples include cigarette smoke.

Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the two most common conditions that contribute to COPD. These two conditions are likely to occur together. Every individual's symptoms vary in severity. COPD is a chronic illness meaning there is no cure, and it gets worse over time.

Simply the concept of having COPD can be considered depressing, especially for people who have grown up to be very active or were capable of physical activities in their youth and now they cannot do the things they love. Becoming short of breath after accomplishing a simple task can leave you feeling helpless or dependent on others.

Symptoms of anxiety and depression include:

• Fatigue
• Loss of interest
• Persistent sadness or anxiousness 
• Inability to work, sleep, study, eat, or enjoy once-pleasurable activities

For people living with COPD depressive and anxious symptoms can have profound effects. Social isolation can cause anxiety and depression and on top of that the immobility that you might have already experienced as a result of breathlessness and lack of energy can be overwhelming to deal with. These cycles will impact your life in a very negative way.

Nevertheless, treatment is available and has been proven to increase the physical and mental state of COPD patients. These treatments include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Pharmacological treatments
• Self management
• Pulmonary rehabilitation relaxation therapy
• Eating healthy and good gut health

How to take better care of you mental health

Similarly to exercising in order to strengthen your lungs and increase your physical abilities, it is important for COPD patients to also take care of their mental and emotional health. This means adjusting and learning how to deal with depression and anxiety when it arises but also recognizing triggers before it's super obvious.

Seeking care for depression and communicating with your caregiver are two basic tactics you can try in order to help manage your mental state of mind. We will talk about more complex and effective ways for dealing with anxiety and depression in the sections below. Read on.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

One of the most beneficial and most underutilized treatments for COPD along with depression and anxiety, is pulmonary rehabilitation. Pulmonary rehab has been shown in multiple studies to improve the depression and anxiety associated with COPD, and it can do more for those symptoms than any kind of medication in many cases.

A pulmonary rehab course is a general program that helps to improve your lifestyle and wellbeing as you are living with chronic lung conditions.

In a pulmonary rehabilitation course you will learn how to use exercise training in conjunction with medical therapy, nutritional counseling, COPD education, and psychological counseling and/or group support.

Pulmonary rehabilitation courses will provide you with a supervised exercise program that you can do inside and outside of the facility, two to three days a week, for up to three hours per day. Just having a place to go and things to do can be very meaningful and enjoyable. And on top of that you will start working towards goals which can also help with depression and anxiety.

While you are at pulmonary rehab you are often monitored by a respiratory therapist, a physical therapist and an occupational therapist. You may also be involved in some group therapy and exercise classes. This way you will learn about your condition and talk to others about the emotional and psychological challenges  all while getting physically stronger and more capable.

This is a space where other people are experiencing the same or in some cases worse symptoms than you are, and it is a great way to not feel alone in your diagnosis.

For more information on pulmonary rehabilitation and to find a program near you, visit the American Association or Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Pulmonary rehabilitation benefits are available through most major insurance companies.

Also you can find a document here that explains how to do exercises, COPD education, and how you can get into a pulmonary rehabilitation program.

Pharmacological treatments

A new study suggests certain antidepressants may increase the risk of death in people with COPD by 20 percent. These drugs have side effects that are very dangerous for people with COPD to experience such as, sleepiness, vomiting, and can negatively effect the immune system cells. All of these side effects can increase the likelihood of infections, breathing issues, and other unfavorable events, especially in patients with COPD because it can lead to an exacerbation and hospitalization.

The medical world is quick to resort to a pharmaceutical treatment instead of looking into lifestyle changes, including pulmonary rehabilitation and generating a support network. Given the risks of antidepressants for COPD patients, COPD advocates say that it’s worth considering alternative approaches to pharmaceutical treatment.

Personalized behavioral therapy

The main psychological intervention for mental illness and COPD is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT is increasingly recommended in the management of people living with COPD and it can include pulmonary rehabilitation programs, which we discuss in the sections above and notably reduces anxiety and depressive symptoms. CBT also requires an upfront investment in hospitals with pulmonary patients in order to train nurses and hospital staff being capable of fulfilling the needs of patients with COPD—both physically and psychological.

Research has found that CBT was most effective in reducing anxiety symptoms in COPD patients and has a significant impact on their quality of life as well as their ability to keep physically active and can also improve survival in the long-term.

This is somewhat out of your control as a COPD patient because the hospital is responsible for investing in upfront costs that includes training nurses and finding resources to implement cognitive behavioral therapy for their patients.

It is believed that the implementation of personalized strategies to address your unique psychopathological traits is essential, but this requires a lot of work by your healthcare team and willingness and dedication of their institution as well. 

Self Management

Self management is a great way for you to address your mental health complications rather than depending on cognitive behavior therapy programs that might be outside of your means. Interventions have been shown to improve patients’ quality of life and reduce the number of emergency scenarios..

Self-management interventions vary in content, delivery, and intensity, which can make it difficult to determine what parts of these interventions are most effective. It is best for you to do what works for you and leave the rest.

Here are a few stages of self-management:

1. Noting what your normal symptoms feel like, and addressing any changes throughout the day or night
2. Being capable of determining when you are having more severe symptoms versus when you are having a serious exacerbation.
3. writing down and understanding which COPD symptoms initiate your moods
4. Setting up a rescue pack
5. Accepting your condition
6. Adjusting to a new normal
7. Slowing down the progression of your disease through diet, exercise, and oxygen therapy

Self managing your condition means monitoring your symptoms when stable and to take appropriate action when symptoms worsen. You can also be prescribed a rescue pack for when you are at risk of an exacerbation, this can ease you anxiety about having an exacerbation because you will feel more prepare and confident handling emergency situations.

Many illnesses, such as COPD, require an internal acceptance of the condition. You will have to come to terms with the likely course of the disease, as well as possible complications, and a different lifestyle.

As a result of breathlessness and other COPD symptoms, it is common to get complacent, and avoid exercise as an outcome of this complacency. This is reasonable in the beginning, but can be very harmful for your physical well-being in the long term, also causing unnecessary mental difficulties to develop.

Eating a well balanced diet

Eating healthy goes for anyone who struggles with mental health problems, not just people with COPD. Human gut health is closely related to our chemical receptors in our brains, the relationship is so strong that one influences the other directly, which is where the saying, “Go with your gut” came from.

There are strong links between digestion and your mood, digestion and your health, and even digestion and the way you think. This is because inside your gut is another “brain” like system, called the enteric nervous system (ENS).

The ENS is composed of more than 100 million nerve cells lining your gastrointestinal tract from esophagus to rectum. This system controls every part of your digestion: Swallowing, releasing enzymes that break down food, controls blood flow that helps with nutrient absorption, and elimination. Amazingly, while you ENS is digesting, it is also communicating with your brain.

It is known now that your ENS may trigger big emotional shifts, whereas before researchers thought it was only the other way around thinking that anxiety and depression contributed to gastrointestinal problems. Recent studies show that irritation in the gastrointestinal system may send signals to the central nervous system (your brain) that trigger mood changes and even depressive and anxious feelings.

So how does gut health relate to what is happening inside your lungs, and can the nature of COPD influence the health of your gut? In fact, your lungs and gut are closely related, studies have shown that there is a clear link between inflammatory intestinal conditions and inflammatory lung problems.

Many people with COPD also suffer from conditions that may be rooted in or contribute to poor gut health.

The conditions listed below are often experience in conjunction with COPD and will also impact your gut health:

Obesity

Diabetes

Mood disorders

Inflammatory and autoimmune diseases

Besides eating a well-balanced diet, there is not a lot else you can do in order to improve your gut health besides the potential capabilities of probiotics.

Probiotics

Probiotics are “good bacteria” that is supposed to increase the amount of infectious fighting bacteria that already lives inside your gut. These microbes fight infections and do a lot to contribute to the balance and well-being in your digestive tract. Therefore, probiotics are living microbes that you can take as a supplement or eating probiotic rich foods, in hopes that it will add to the healthy bacteria in your gut and fight off the unhealthy bacteria.

Probiotics are one of the mainstream media treatments for improving gut health. Research suggests that even more research needs to be done in order to prove any significant correlation between probiotics and how strong its contribution to a healthier gut. However, if you have COPD, and if your doctor agrees, taking probiotics can certainly help to maintain a healthier gut.

A healthier gut is going to contribute to less mood swings and hopefully help with depressive and anxious feelings as well.

Overview

Overall, COPD will inevitably affect your mood in more ways than one, and for most people with COPD they will also experience subsequent depression and/or anxiety due to their respiratory disease.

There are a number of reasons as to why you may experience depression or anxiety throughout your diagnosis. For many people feeling short of breath can lead to an anxiety attack and it is notoriously a symptom of an anxiety attack to have trouble breathing, a vicious cycle.

Many people also struggle with depression because of their immobility, and not having the correct oxygen equipment to move around freely and independently.

Exercise and social gatherings are two important aspects of a person’s mental health, and if your oxygen device is not portable or too heavy to maneuver, you would benefit from investing in a portable oxygen concentrator so you are capable of more activity.

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a great way for you to get involved with a community of people who are in similar situations to share and express feelings. It also offers you an educational program where you can learn about your disease, and understand exactly what is happening inside your lungs and body. Not only are you socializing and learning about COPD, you also learn how to do exercises that you can also do at home in order to stay fit or get in healthier shape.

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Even though antidepressants may seem like the most obvious answer to combat depression and even anxiety, the side effects can be very damaging for people who have COPD. COPD advocates would argue that doctors are too quick to resort to pharmaceuticals before they offer lifestyle advice, recommend a cognitive therapist, or seek a pulmonary rehabilitation course.

Actually writing down your COPD symptoms and your feelings everyday and addressing the changes you recognize is a form of self management, and this can be a very helpful tool in managing depression, anxiety, or regular mood swings. By noting your moods that correlate with COPD symptoms you will be able to recognize what aspects of COPD make you emotional. By noting all of your triggers you can be more likely to avoid such irritants, and actually develop a plan to react more effectively and more positively. Acceptance is another important step in self-managing, which will come with time and effort. Don’t give up and remember you're not alone!

Eating healthy is a crucial part of maintaining a healthy gut, and your gut health is directly related to your mood. Meaning bad gut health can influence mood swings and depressive and anxious feelings. Eating healthy is one of the easiest yet effective ways to combat mental health issues, and while it might not be the cure to your depression or anxiety it will certainly contribute in a positive way!

Like COPD, depression and anxiety affects everyone differently, you will have different experiences than others, it boils down to taking what contributes positively to your life and leaving out what does not work. This might mean trying a few methods before you start feeling any better, but never giving up.

COPD is not curable but it is treatable, and the mental side effects that come along with COPD can also be man

Is spending the upfront cash on a high-quality oxygen machine really worth It? How do you know you're making the best choice? 

Read this blog to learn about all of the ways having a portable oxygen concentrator can impact you life. In this post, you will also learn which oxygen devices help you pursue your goals, while others may hold you back! 

Oxygen and medical equipment for people with chronic conditions like COPD, lung failure, or cystic fibrosis is an essential part of daily life. 

Some patients need oxygen 24/7, while others only need it while they sleep or just when they exercise.

No matter the case, getting the appropriate amount of oxygen is a crucial part of treatment that can add years to your life. Chronic lung conditions are also known as progressive disease, meaning they get worse over time.

The general decline in health or function will get worse faster if the condition goes untreated. Once the condition goes untreated, there are more risks of infection that could cause other issues not only in the respiratory system, but the circulatory system, bones, and muscles as well.

Treating your condition with a treatment plan set by you and your healthcare team is the only way you can avoid hospitalization, because there is no cure for chronic conditions, so once the damage is done, all you can do is try to keep it from getting worse. 

To learn more about COPD and life expectancy you can read the article linked in blue. 

What is Supplemental Oxygen Therapy 

Once your disease progresses to a certain degree of severity, supplementary oxygen therapy becomes a crucial part of your treatment, and it is not “optional”.  Your blood oxygen levels are so low that your body cannot function properly anymore, and without the therapy other parts of your system will break down and health issues will occur much more frequently. 

Supplementary oxygen therapy is one of the principal treatments your doctor will recommend and prescribe to you once your blood oxygen levels reach hypoxic levels. 

That's right…

You will need a doctor’s prescription in order to buy an oxygen device from a licensed distributor. Of course, there are knock off portable oxygen concentrators that are advertised to help people who have a hard time breathing, but these devices do not work and buying a cheap oxygen device will only cost you more money in the long run. Not to mention it will do no good in treating your condition, so it is also a waste of valuable time you could be spending saving your life! 

Most oxygen users have the choice of which oxygen method they prefer to use…

You will most likely be able to choose between a portable oxygen concentrator, a liquid oxygen tank, or a gas oxygen tank.

Here is Why Portable Oxygen Concentrators Make the Most Sense Financially

There are pros and cons that come with each method, however, a portable oxygen concentrator is a far better choice for people who are looking to travel, maintain an active lifestyle, and are looking to save some money.

Save money on a portable oxygen concentrator?? There's no way! 

Yup, in the long run you will actually save money by purchasing a portable oxygen concentrators from LPT Medical rather than spending the cash on refilling you tanks fro the rest of your life. 

Once you own a portable oxygen concentrator like the ARYA Artivto Max you have an unlimited amount of oxygen. Simply recharge the device, and you're set to breathe all day long!

Portable Oxygen Concentrators Work Just as Well as Tanks, If Not Better!

So, how does your portable oxygen concentrator administer oxygen? 

Your portable oxygen concentrator comes with either a 8 cell or 16 cell rechargeable lithium ion battery, and depending on the device you have it will last anywhere from 2 hours - 16 hours! The battery is what powers the device to extract air from the surrounding environment and the filter inside the device cleans the air of particles and purifies the oxygen you breathe in through the tubing into medical grade oxygen. 

Portable oxygen concentrators are sleek and compact, compared to a cumbersome oxygen tank.

Most of the pulse flow oxygen devices are no larger than a regular sizer handbag, and they all come with a custom carrying that makes everyday chorus and traveling around with your oxygen a breeze. 

Get the Oxygen you Need in Order to Take Care of Other Parts of your Life 

The other factor you must consider while handling a chronic lung disease is that supplemental oxygen won’t cure anything, it will simply give you the oxygen you need that will support other parts of your life. This means that oxygen will help you get on track with your exercise routine, mental health, and sleep. 

So you will need to treat the disease in other ways in order to minimize the risk of experiencing exacerbated symptoms. And besides things like taking your medications and bronchodilators, oxygen will give you the tools to exercise and sleep better, which will in-turn improve your mood and help with breathing related depression and anxiety.

Say No To Cumbersome Outdated Oxygen Tanks 

That being said, having the right oxygen equipment makes a big difference when it comes to the user's experience and overall livelihood.

Tanks and canisters take away basic human freedoms and leave the oxygen patients at the will of their oxygen delivery service company, they are tied down to the enormous reservoirs while at home, and the canisters only last so long while on the go. 

Also, don’t even think about traveling far… oxygen tanks and canisters are not allowed on any aircraft.

Traveling by car with an oxygen tank or the small canisters is always risky, not only because it's flammable, but also because the tank could run out and if you don't bring extra oxygen you will have to pay a pretty penny to get your oxygen refilled outside of your area. 

What are your Portable Oxygen Concentrators Options 

There are several brands of concentrators that are reliable and built with integrity, these brands include:

1. Inogen Oxygen

2. Respironics 

3. Oxlife (O2 Concepts)   

4. Inova Labs

Brands like Inogen specialize in pulse flow devices and they recently put out a device that is remarkable because of its small size and weight yet its ability to give off oxygen at a rate sufficient for almost any oxygen user that needs pulse flow operation, and we are talking about the Inogen One G5.

The One G5 has long lasting battery life and it only weighs 4.7 pounds, meaning you can carry this device with you either in its custom shoulder bag, or in the One G5 backpack. 

If you don't require a pulse flow operation that is higher than 4 or 5, you could use the Caire Freestyle Comfort or the Inogen One G3, and have a device that is lightweight and last for hours on one charge!

If you need continuous flow you can still use a battery powered portable oxygen concentrator! These devices will be heavier and larger than pulse flow devices because they require more power, but they are still very easy to move and travel with.  

The Respironic Simply Go is the lightest weight continuous flow portable oxygen concentrator on the market, and it weighs 10 pounds!

It is equipped with a battery that is rated to last up to 6 hours of battery life on a pulse flow setting of 2 and up to 1.8 Hours of battery life continuous flow setting of 2! 

If you are interested in the Respironics SimplyGoyou will also get: 

• 1x Battery
• AC Power Supply
• DC Power Supply
• Custom Carrying Case

We are offering a new product: the ARYA Portable Oxygen Concentrator. We’re excited to offer this new pulse flow unit because it affords oxygen patients another great option when it comes to customizing their oxygen therapy experience. 

But as you likely know, we try to avoid pushing out older products if there are still people out there who benefit from them. So, even with this new release, you’ll be happy to know that you will still have access to all your favorite oxygen concentrator brands like AirSep, O2 Concepts, Respironics, and more.

However, as usual, we want to provide you with all the resources you need to make an educated decision about your oxygen usage. There are hundreds of oxygen delivery machines out there, but many of them are either obsolete or they don’t provide patients with the benefits they want and need. It would be way too overwhelming to talk about every oxygen concentrator in one post, so we decided to break them up and compare two concentrators side-by-side.

In this post, we’re going to compare the new ARYA and the Inogen One G5. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment with your phone number or email address so we can reach out to you.

ARYA Portable Oxygen Concentrator Overview

ARYA is the top oxygen concentrator manufacturer in the world. 

The ARYA portable Oxygen Concentrator is currently the leading pulse flow portable oxygen concentrator offered by the company. Despite only being on the market for just over a year, the ARYA has already made a name for itself by offering impeccable oxygen output, a lightweight design, and several unique features that aren’t offered by any other portable oxygen concentrator.

Inogen One G5 Overview

Inogen is — without a doubt — one of the most trusted and recognizable names in oxygen therapy. Inogen makes more portable oxygen concentrators than most companies out there, but they never lack when it comes to quality either. In fact, most oxygen patients and oxygen retailers eagerly await the release of new Inogen products, because they know they will break boundaries in terms of battery life, weight, and oxygen output.

The Inogen One G5 was released in the summer of 2019 and it’s the latest POC produced by the company. With outstanding battery life and lightweight design, it’s our pick for one of the best portable oxygen concentrators of 2020. Accompanying the release of the G5 were a whole host of accessories that allow you to customize your experience to your liking. 

Maximum Oxygen Output

Maximum oxygen output is the total amount of oxygen a concentrator can put out in a given period of time. Many people who are new to oxygen therapy are confused by this because not all oxygen concentrators are measured the same. Continuous flow concentrators like the Respironics SimplyGo are measured in liters per minute (LPM) while pulse flow concentrators like the G5 and ARYA are measured in milliliters per minute (ml/min). The higher pulse flow setting you use, the more oxygen it will put out with each “bolus.”

Both the G5 and the ARYA have a high oxygen output for their class. The G5 has a maximum output of 1,260 ml/min with flow settings 1 through 6 and the ARYA has a total output of 1,050 ml/min with flow settings 1 through 5. Compared to other pulse flow concentrators, both these units provide a high oxygen output that’s more than enough oxygen for the majority of oxygen users.

Weight

The main reason for purchasing a pulse flow POC over a continuous flow POC is weight. While continuous flow POCs can be taken pretty much anywhere, they’re typically too heavy to carry on your shoulder or back. Instead, you’ll have to use a carrying cart which can be a huge pain. Pulse flow units, on the other hand, are light enough that you can use a shoulder strap or even carry it in your hands.

There isn’t a huge difference between the weight of the G5 and the weight of the ARYA. With the smaller 8-cell battery, the G5 weighs about 4.7 pounds and the ARYA weighs about 5 pounds. Side-by-side you probably won’t notice a difference between the two, however, if you have back pain the Inogen One G5 may be the way to go. Either way, lightweight portable oxygen concentrators are the standard, so don’t settle for anything less!

Battery Life

When you look back at the past decade of portable oxygen concentrators, it’s pretty amazing to see how far batteries have come. Several years ago, POC batteries would only afford you a couple of hours of freedom before you had to go home and recharge them. In many cases, it was better to use an oxygen tank because, even if they were bulkier, they enabled you to be out of the house for longer.

However, in this day and age, POC batteries have far exceeded our expectations. With the G5 double battery, you can run your device for 13 hours on a setting of 1 and a ARYA with the 16-cell battery can run for an impressive 16 hours without charging. This is more than enough battery life to be able to stay out all-day while living life on your own terms.

For most oxygen users, battery life is a top priority when choosing an oxygen concentrator. If you have a long-lasting battery, you’ll be able to see more and do more. For example, if you want to take a trip around the world, you don’t want to have to constantly stop what you’re doing to go back to your hotel in order to charge your portable oxygen concentrator. Even people with more severe COPD want longer-lasting batteries, which both the G5 and ARYA can offer.

Design

The ARYA and Inogen One G5 are both very well-designed portable oxygen machines. They have a solid outer shell which will help protect the internal components from damage and they’re compact enough that you can hold them at your side comfortably. The G5 was more based on the Inogen One G4’s look while the ARYA has a design similar to the Inogen One G3. Either way, it’s simply a matter of preference as to which one you like more.

One unique feature about the ARYA is its ergonomic shape. The expert oxygen manufacturers at ARYA noticed that there was no POC on the market with a shape that matched the natural curve of your body. So, with the ARYA, they added a slight curve to the device. When you’re walking around enjoying your day, your concentrator won’t be sliding around and causing a disturbance.

Another design feature you can find on both these concentrators is the easy-to-use interface. Rather than having a control panel with tons of buttons, the G5 and ARYA opt for a minimalist design. On the ARYA, there are only three buttons: two for the flow setting controls and one for the power. On the G5, there are five buttons. They control the oxygen flow setting, power, and visual and audio notifications.

Additional Features

Despite being very easy to use, these portable oxygen concentrators are some of the most feature-heavy on the market. The greatest part of all is that you’ll never be forced into using anything that you don’t want to use.

One of the additional features of the Inogen One G5 is a mobile application called the Inogen Connect. This was implemented with the release of the G4 and it was brought back due to popular demand. Essentially, it allows you to connect your POC to your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth. Once that’s done, you’ll be able to view up-to-date information about your device like its battery life, column status, and oxygen purity status. You can even view your G5 user manual and troubleshooting information.

An additional feature on the ARYA is the ARYAView™ Telehealth Technology. This is similar to the Inogen Connect in that it shows you critical information about the status of your portable oxygen concentrator, however, it has some additional features that makes the ARAY one of the most advanced POCs ever created.

“Telehealth technology” is a rather new term in the medical field, but it refers to the use of technology to connect patients and clinicians over long distances. ARYAView™ connects to your POC just like the Inogen Connect, but in addition to providing information about your device, it’s securely connected directly to your oxygen supplier allowing them to remotely monitor and troubleshoot your device on command.

While telehealth technology still has a long way to come in terms of accessibility, it shows how far portable oxygen concentrators have come and where they could potentially go in the future. If you’re curious about testing this out, it may be a great reason to choose the ARYA over the Inogen One G5. Just remember that these are additional features, so if you don’t want to fuss with them then you don’t have to!

The Best Candidate for the ARYA Portable Oxygen Concentrator

Although ARYA may not be the most recognizable brand by the average consumer, the impact they’ve had on oxygen therapy and oxygen delivery is undeniable. They proudly provide military-grade oxygen supplies for the armed forces and they gladly offer the same quality products for oxygen patients back home. TheARYA Portable Oxygen Concentrator is just the latest pulse flow portable oxygen concentrator in their line of impeccable oxygen machines.

TheARYA excels in most aspects offering a high oxygen output, lightweight design, and the innovative ARYAView™ telehealth technology which allows you to get real-time troubleshooting assistance on the fly. The ARYA is recommended to anyone who needs 1,050 ml/min or less of oxygen and anyone who wants to live life on their own terms without being held back by a bulky oxygen device.  

The Best Candidate for the Inogen One G5

Ever since its inception in the early 2000s, Inogen has been dead set on making oxygen more accessible and easy to use for oxygen patients all around the world. With each product release, they’ve accomplished this with flying colors. In fact, Inogen concentrators are so advanced that oxygen patients continue to use older generations of their concentrators many years after their release.

Since its release last summer, the Inogen One G5 has often been labeled “the best oxygen concentrator” due to having the highest oxygen output of any pulse flow concentrator, in addition to maintaining many of the other features patients love in their POC such as a lightweight design and long-lasting battery life. We recommend the Inogen One G5 to anyone who requires 1,260 ml/min of oxygen or less (flow setting of 6 or less).

Conclusion

There are many great portable oxygen concentrators for sale, but the ARYA and Inogen One G5 are just two of the latest and greatest. Whether you’ve just started your search for a POC or you’ve already narrowed down your choices, don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our respiratory specialists to seal the deal. We’ll make sure you’re getting the oxygen machine that you want and need and we can answer any questions that you may have.

If you have COPD, then you know that all kinds of unexpected things can affect your symptoms and make them worse. Even minor respiratory irritants, like fragrances, air pollution, and dry air, can make it more difficult to breathe.

That's why, when the seasons shift, it's important to understand how the change might affect your COPD. This is particularly true when moving from the mild fall season into harsh winter conditions.

As the cold weather sets in, you should be aware of all the potential COPD hazards that winter weather brings. Then, you will be better prepared to manage your symptoms and deal with the challenges when they come.

In this guide, we're going to walk you through all of the most common challenges COPD patients face during the winter time. We'll warn you about winter respiratory irritants, weather hazards, and other seasonal conditions that could make your symptoms worse.

We'll also show you what you can do to prepare for these problems and minimize their impact on your lungs. That way, instead of spending the winter months struggling to manage your disease, you can use the tips and tricks in this guide to overcome winter challenges and breathe much better this season.

Things You Should Know and Prepare for This Winter if You Have COPD

Extra Difficulty Breathing Winter Air

You might have noticed on your own that breathing cold, winter air can make it more difficult to breathe. This can happen to healthy adults but it is particularly problematic for people with COPD.

That's because winter air is usually far from the optimum temperature and humidity that your lungs and airways prefer. Cold, dry air is much harsher to breathe than warmer, humid air, and it can irritate your lungs and constrict your airways as you breathe.

When the humidity is very low, the dry air sucks the moisture out of your airways. This thickens your mucus and irritates the tissue that lines your nose and airways, triggering symptoms like coughing and shortness of breath.

The cold temperature of the air alone can also be a problem, especially when you first go outside after breathing warm indoor air. When you take a breath and suddenly bring frigid air into your lungs, it can trigger bronchospasms, which constrict your airways and make it harder to breathe.

The best way to avoid these problems is to avoid breathing the cold, dry winter air as much as you can. That means staying indoors when weather conditions are bad and using simple techniques to warm up the air that you breathe.

This is easier to do if you check your local weather forecast regularly and plan ahead for upcoming conditions. Pay special attention to the temperature and humidity, and be prepared to take extra measures to manage your symptoms on particularly harsh days.

When you do have to go out in the cold, you can make the air more breathable by covering your nose and mouth with a scarf or a special cold-weather mask (called a CT mask). This will trap heat and moisture from your breath, helping to warm and humidify the harsh outside air so it is more comfortable to breathe.

Here are some tips to help you breathe better in the frigid winter air:

• Avoid going outside during the coldest parts of the day.
• Stay indoors during inclement weather and when the temperature is very cold.
• Don't try to exercise outdoors when the air is too cold or dry.
• Wrap a scarf or cloth around your mouth to breathe easier in cold air (or wear a CT mask). https://lunginstitute.com/blog/ct-masks-for-copd/
• If you use oxygen therapy, use a humidifier bottle to moisturize the air that comes from your oxygen source.
• Practice pursed-lips breathing when you feel short of breath in cold weather.
• Continue taking your maintenance medications exactly as your doctor advises.
• Always bring your rescue inhaler with you whenever you leave your home during the winter, especially during harsh weather.

Danger During Cold and Flu Season

Along with winter comes cold and flu season, that dreaded time of year when contagious respiratory illnesses reach an all time high. This time of year poses a special danger to people with COPD, who are more prone to getting sick.

While a common cold might not seem like a big threat, a minor illness like a cold can turn into something much more serious if you have COPD. Any kind of respiratory illness can trigger severe COPD symptoms and lead to more serious exacerbations.

COPD exacerbations are difficult to treat and, in the worst cases, can cause life-threatening complications. Even minor COPD exacerbations can make you feel very sick and take a major toll on your life, disrupting your ability to exercise, work, and do other normal activities.

COPD exacerbations can also take a very long time to recover from, and in some cases can result in permanent lung damage that makes your symptoms permanently worse. That's why it is so important to practice good hygiene, keep your immune system healthy, and avoid contagious illnesses if you have COPD.

Unfortunately, studies show that people with COPD are more than twice as likely to experience an exacerbation during the winter months. That means you need to take extra special precautions during this season to avoid getting sick.

That means doing what you can to bolster your immune system and keeping your COPD symptoms under control. It also means coming up with strategies to help you avoid germs and germ-heavy environments, especially during peak cold and flu season.

The best way to do this is to keep up-to-date with your vaccinations and be diligent about your personal hygiene. Especially when you're out in public, be cautious about what you touch and avoid transferring germs from your hands to your eyes, nose, and mouth.

Wash your hands often, avoid people who are sick, and be especially cautious in crowded places. If you use oxygen therapy, you should be extra diligent about keeping your medical equipment (like your nasal cannula) clean during the winter.

Here are some additional tips to help you prepare for cold and flu season:

• Get your yearly influenza vaccination.
• Ask your doctor if you need a pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccine.
• Take all of your medications as directed by your doctor and take care not to miss a dose.
• Know the early signs of a COPD exacerbation and what you should do when you notice your symptoms starting to get worse (follow your COPD action plan).
• Practice proper personal hygiene at home and especially in public.
• Wash your hands often and avoid touching your face, especially in public places.
• Avoid attending crowded events during cold and flu season.
• Do your best to stay away from anyone who has a contagious illness, including avoiding houses or events where someone there is sick.
• Quit smoking to reduce your risk of respiratory illnesses and infections.

Extra Fatigue and Worse Symptoms in Cold Weather

Even if you protect your lungs from pollution and dry air this winter, the bitter cold can still bring you down. Cold temperatures alone can have a noticeable effect on COPD symptoms, and this effect can even last for several days.

Studies show that breathing cold air can hurt your lungs and reduce their ability to function by a measurable amount. It causes your airways to constrict and can even damage the tissue lining your airways, making it more difficult to breathe.

However, even just being in the cold air—not even breathing it—can reduce lung function and worsen COPD symptoms. Even short periods of exposure to cold weather can trigger breathlessness, fatigue, and a significant increase in the number of COPD patient hospitalizations.

These effects are likely caused, at least in part, by how your body reacts to getting cold. In an effort keep your core temperature from falling, your body has to work harder and burn extra energy to stay warm.

When you're exposed to very cold temperatures, this can drain your energy levels and cause you to feel fatigued. It also requires your lungs to work harder to keep pace, which puts extra strain on your respiratory symptom and makes it more difficult to breathe.

Many studies have linked worsened COPD symptoms with cold outdoor temperatures and even cold temperatures indoors. Some studies show that cold temperatures can double COPD patients' risk for exacerbations and even increase their risk of death.

That's why you should be prepared to experience worsened COPD symptoms when the temperature drops this winter. That means keeping your rescue inhaler handy and making sure you have a warm place to go when extremely cold weather hits.

During the coldest months of the year, keep a diligent eye on your local weather forecast so a cold snap doesn't take you by surprise. When you're expecting extra chilly weather, make preparations to stay warm and avoid spending time outdoors.

When you do go out, don't take any chances and always dress appropriately warm. Even if it adds a few minutes to your usual routine, bundling up is your best defense against the harsh winter temperatures that could worsen your COPD.

Most importantly, make sure you have a reliable heating system that can keep your home at a comfortable temperature all winter. You should also make sure you have somewhere to go if your heater breaks down or your house loses power during a storm.

Here are some tips for combating cold temperatures this winter:

• Avoid exposing yourself to cold weather and spend as little time outside as possible on especially frigid days.
• Always check the weather before you leave the house and wear appropriately warm and comfortable clothes.
• Wear layers so you can stay warm in the cold but also stay comfortable indoors by removing unnecessary layers.
• When you do go out in the cold, cover as much skin as possible; don't skimp on cold weather gear like hats, scarves, mittens, leg warmers, and earmuffs.
• Avoid clothes that are too tight—especially around the chest—because they can restrict your movement and breathing.
• Make sure to keep your house at a warm, comfortable temperature at all times during the winter.
• Consider changing your plans so that you can stay indoors during particularly cold or harsh weather. (e.g. work from home or reschedule other outings and errands)
• Make a special effort to avoid going out in cold weather when you are not feeling well or are experiencing a COPD exacerbation.
• Be prepared to use your rescue inhaler more often and bring it with you anytime you leave your home.
• Keep extra food and supplies at home just in case cold or inclement weather keeps you home-bound for an extended period of time.
• Ask a friend or family member to check up on you during cold spells and winter storms

Fewer Exercise Opportunities

If you have COPD, you shouldn't exercise outdoors when the weather is bad or the air is cold and dry. This means you will need to do the majority of your physical activity indoors during the winter months.

Exercise is one of the best ways to keep your heart and lungs healthy, which is why it's vital to keep it up all throughout the year. Even though you might be tempted to hide away and hibernate this winter, you shouldn't let the cold weather get in the way of your exercise goals.

Without outdoor sports and activities to keep you active, you might need to be more creative and deliberate with your workouts. Be prepared to rework your exercise routine and find new ways to get physical activity indoors.

For example, if you are used to walking outdoors for exercise, you could walk on a treadmill or indoor track at the gym instead. You could also take walks in a large public building in your area, such as an indoor mall.

You might also consider joining an exercise class at a local gym or fitness center. Many people find that participating in this kind of scheduled group activity makes it easier to stay motivated and stick with an exercise routine.

If you'd like, you can even work out in your own home without needing any expensive equipment. All you have to do is find a home exercise routine you like, whether it's online, on DVD, or a routine you devise yourself.

Don't ever think that staying inside means that you can't also stay active. Winter exercise opportunities are essentially endless, even though they might be tricky to find.

Here are some tips to help you get more exercise this winter:

• Join a gym where you can walk and do other exercises indoors.
• Clear some floor space in your house to practice simple indoor exercises at home.

Even if you are not short of breath, or experiencing symptoms of breathlessness, you blood oxygen levels could be dangerously low! Read this blog to learn about how much oxygen you are getting compared to how much you need. 

The hallmark symptoms of COPD are shortness of breath, or feeling breathless. It's certainly one of the most common symptoms, as well as that most invasive. Whether you're the person with COPD or the caregiver, shortness of breath is scary and unsettling for everyone involved.

There are devices called pulse oximeters, which measure your oxygen saturation levels. This is important for COPD patients to know how much oxygen they are able to process. Pulse oximeters have become more popular and accessible in recent years. 

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This is both a good and bad thing because COPD patients may be relying as much on their oximetry results as their actual symptoms when evaluating their breathing capabilities. It can cause a lot of confusion. 

The confusion comes from having a "normal" oxygen saturation level, but still feeling extremely short of breath. Also, it might be hard to notice any symptoms even when your oxygen saturation levels are dangerously low. 

We are going to clear up this confusion in this blog.

The Difference Between Shortness of Breath and Being Hypoxic

There are the three main factors that impact how well your body is able to take up and use oxygen.

1. How well your lungs absorb oxygen into your body and release carbon dioxide. 
2. How well your heart is able to pump oxygen throughout your body.
3. How well your cells and muscles use the oxygen they get from your blood.

Obviously, various diseases like COPD or heart disease will inhibit some or all three of those factors. COPD causes intense lung damage, and even cardiac problems, that definitely can impact all three of these.Treatment methods including medication, supplemental oxygen therapy,  and exercise can help in improving the way your body utilizes oxygen, and in turn, making you less short of breath. 

Feeling breathless

Have you ever felt yourself gasping for air, or feeling out of breath even when you’re not exerting yourself? Well this can happen to anyone, and while it is a common symptom of COPD, not everyone who feels short of breath has COPD. 

Breathlessness is associated with lung damage and/or airway inflammation but it can also be caused by: 

1. Heart health
2. How fit you are
3. Emotions
4. Weather
5. Altitude
6. Infection
7. Low red blood cell count (anemia)

Even if you are t feeling breathless, this does not always mean that you are hypoxic.

Being Hypoxic or Having Hypoxemia

There is a difference between hypoxemia and being hypoxic. Hypoxia is when there is a low level of oxygen in your blood. Being hypoxic means that not enough oxygen is getting to your body's cells. 

These impact your body at two different stages when your body is working to absorb oxygen.  

You can find your oxygen saturation level and test whether or not you have these conditions. There are two ways to measure it:

1. Arterial blood gases test. This takes place at your doctor’s or a with a lab tech
2. Using a pulse oximeter. This you can do on your own, and the small device fits over a finger tip. It uses infrared rays to measure the percentage of oxygen in your blood.

Oxygen saturation is largely dependent on your overall health. This can be indicated by how fast you are breathing during activity and rest.

A typical healthy person has oxygen saturation levels that range from 95 to 100%.When saturation levels drop to 90% and below that is considered low and unhealthy. COPD patients often dip below 90% at times.

Feeling Breathless But Not Hypoxic

Now that you have an understanding of oxygen saturation, and the symptoms associated with low levels of oxygen, you might be wondering, “Why am I so short of breath, but my oxygen levels are still normal?" 

Well, even if you're experiencing extreme breathlessness, but your oxygen saturation levels remain in that 95% - 100% healthy range, then supplemental oxygen will not solve your problem. 

Instead, you need to learn how to recover from breathlessness. Try stopping what you’re doing and resting right away.

After stopping the action that caused your breathlessness try these additional actions:

1. Remind yourself that you know what to do. Taking action can help you overcome the anxiety that often goes along with being short of breath.
2. Position yourself to breathe easier. Leaning forward or bending over helps drop your abdomen away from your lungs, making breathing easier. Lean your arms on your knees or on some stationary object like the wall or a counter. (I remember often seeing my dad doing this, especially after a severe coughing spell.)
3. Work on controlling your breathing. If you know how to do diaphragmatic or pursed lip breathing, then do so. If you haven't learned those techniques yet, then at least work on slowing and deepening your breaths in and out.
4. Once you are feeling better and more in control of your breaths, it may be time to resume whatever you had been doing. But you may need to modify the intensity to avoid re-triggering your breathlessness.

Pulmonary rehab is another great tool that can be beneficial in teaching you how to avoid and/or deal with this symptom. These are classes you take with trained professionals, they teach you breathing exercises and physical activities that are good for your level of health. 

You can also look into a rescue, or quick-relief, inhaler. Talk with your doctor about these options, because they can offer some relief in your situation. 

Hypoxic But Not Feeling Breathless 

Even if you are not feeling at all breathless, your oxygen levels can still be low, and this is an important concept to understand. Low oxygen saturation levels are not healthy, do not  ignore it. Get your oxygen levels tested regularly, even if you are not short of breath.

If you do measure low oxygen levels during a blood test, or while conducting pulse oximeter tests. Speak with your doctor right away about the next steps you must take to get your levels to normal. 

This is often when people need a portable oxygen concentrator to use as their additional source of oxygen. Devices like the Inogen One G5, and the ARYA P5 Portable Oxygen Concentrator often oxygen patients medical grade oxygen they can use 24/7. 

It means your blood and tissues are not getting the oxygen they need to survive, and it needs to be addressed right away.

The answer to hypoxia is supplemental oxygen therapy. However, how much and how often you need oxygen depends on the progression of hypoxia you are experiencing and your health care team will determine this. It is also important that your healthcare team helps you with a plan for how often to measure your oxygen levels with a home pulse oximeter.

Overview 

If you have COPD, remember that shortness of breath (and other symptoms, such as coughing) are an important thing to take note of. Track your symptoms to measure your current health status and how your health changes over time.

As far as knowing your oxygen saturation level, you will need to monitor this regularly because even if you are not short of breath your oxygen levels could be low, and that is dangerous. This is around the time you will need to call LPT Medical at 1+(800)-946-1201 to talk about your oxygen device options. On the other hand, and unfortunately so, it is entirely possible to be short of breath, but have healthy oxygen saturation.