From the novel coronavirus to devastating wildfires, 2020 has been a challenging year for us all. But for people with chronic respiratory illnesses like COPD or asthma, this year has been the ultimate test. The good news is that, by following all COVID-19 safety precautions stated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and by checking the air quality index (AQI) before leaving the house, many COPD patients have adjusted nicely to a new way of life.

With the holidays coming up, you may be wondering how you can stay safe while still catching up with friends and loved ones. Whether you’re flying across the country or you’re just going down the street, it’s important to prepare well enough in advance so that you can stay healthy and happy and avoid emergencies like COPD flare-ups and exacerbations. Conversely, if you are having relatives over to your house, you should ensure your home is safe for you and your guests.

{{cta('b59df0c1-c4de-47a8-8e1c-0d33d4b414aa','justifycenter')}}

In this post, we’ll take a look at several of the most important safety tips you should take into consideration. As always, if you have any questions for us, feel free to leave them in the comment section and we’ll do our best to answer them as soon as possible. What’s more, if you have any questions about your COPD treatment plan or you’re thinking of making changes to your diet, exercise routine, or medication, please consult your doctor beforehand.

Upgrade to a Portable Oxygen Concentrator

Chances are, you know exactly what it’s like to use an oxygen tank during the holiday season. First and foremost, you have to have a plan as to how you will refill your oxygen tank while you’re away from home. This could mean bringing a spare tank or researching oxygen companies in the area that can deliver oxygen to you. Unfortunately, it can be very difficult to find an oxygen company that’s actually open during the holiday season.

The next thing you have to consider is how you will actually transport your oxygen. Oxygen tanks are banned on all airlines, so taking a flight is out of the question. It’s also very dangerous to travel with an oxygen tank in your car, so you will have to take a number of safety precautions in order to ensure that it doesn’t move around while you’re in transit. Last but not least, you’ll have to spend your whole holiday keeping a close eye on your tank, making sure it’s not exposed to any open flames or anything that could damage the fragile components.

Fortunately, using a personal oxygen concentrator is much easier and safer. Travel size oxygen concentrators like the Caire FreeStyle Comfort are lightweight, compact, and most importantly, they’re much safer to use than a standard oxygen tank. Portable oxygen concentrators are electronic devices that draw in ambient air, remove unneeded gases, and then put out medical grade oxygen. As a result, they don’t store oxygen at high pressures like oxygen tanks do. 

Another reason they’re safer is that they have an implemented “breath detection technology” which cuts off oxygen flow if no breath is detected. Since oxygen increases the flammability of everything it comes in contact with, you can rest assured you’ll be safe if you accidentally drop your nasal cannula and leave it for an extended period of time.

One final reason that portable oxygen concentrators are safer to use during the holidays is that they don’t create a tripping hazard. If you use an oxygen tank, you will have to wheel it around on a carrying cart meaning your nasal cannula will have to run from the tank to your nose. However, portable oxygen concentrators like the Inogen One G5 can be slung over your shoulder and tucked under your arm so that it’s always accounted for. What’s more, you can keep your oxygen tubing nice and short so that it’s not dragging on the ground.

Have a Plan for Dealing with Exacerbations

According to the American Thoracic Society (ATS), a COPD exacerbation is a period of worsening symptoms, most commonly caused by infection. And unfortunately, being around your family and extended family during the holidays will put you at a higher risk of contracting illnesses like the flu, the common cold, and even the coronavirus. Contrary to popular belief, most medical experts recommend wearing a mask if you have COPD. As long as you’re using supplemental oxygen therapy as prescribed and you’re checking your blood oxygen levels regularly, the mask should not affect your symptoms.   

If you’re someone who experiences anxiety or claustrophobia while wearing a mask, there are a number of techniques you can try to alleviate this. Since claustrophobia is closely linked to how you breathe, taking the time to learn breathing techniques like diaphragmatic breathing can help you in the long run. This involves concentrating on using your diaphragmatic muscles to breathe rather than your chest muscles. Another thing you can try is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) which can help you pinpoint the root cause of anxiety and learn ways to cope with it in a manageable way.

Aside from wearing a mask, you should follow all other COVID-19 safety guidelines. This means maintaining 6 feet of distance between other people, washing your hands regularly throughout the day, and making others aware that you’re a high-risk individual. Making others aware of your condition is important because if there was an emergency, they would need to know how to help. If you want, you can even write down an action plan to help you out in a difficult situation. If you’d like to learn more about COPD action plans, read through this post.

Don’t Fall Back on Old Habits

When you were diagnosed with COPD, you likely had some significant obstacles to overcome. Smoking cessation, an improved diet, and a consistent exercise routine are all necessary to get back on track and slow the progression of COPD. Unfortunately, all the bad habits you dropped when you were diagnosed with COPD can come flooding back when you’re around people you haven’t seen in a while.

Before leaving the house for the holidays, it’s important to mentally prepare. While the holiday season is all about relaxing and letting go, you don’t want to be so relaxed that you forget about your COPD treatment plan. One thing most people do on Thanksgiving and Christmas is overeating. This may be relatively harmless for someone who’s healthy, but for someone with COPD, this could mean exacerbating your lung symptoms. 

{{cta('fa8abc2a-1e88-4fa3-82fd-1cb5b9ed43b2','justifycenter')}}

The main reason you don’t want to overeat during the holidays is that it can lead to bloating. When this happens, you’ll notice that you have a harder time breathing and you’ll be more likely to experience chest pain or a chronic cough. Secondly, COPD patients have a hard time processing a lot of food all at once. This is why doctors recommend eating smaller meals spread throughout the day because it is easier for your body to manage. Eating large meals can also lead to weight gain. 

According to U.S. News, being overweight has a number of negative effects when it comes to managing your disease. Overweight individuals will get out of breath faster and excess body weight on the stomach and chest can interfere with breathing. Another problem is that overweight people tend to maintain a diet high in carbohydrates which get converted to carbon dioxide (CO2) during digestion. This means you’ll be struggling to get the oxygen you need to maintain your blood oxygen levels. So, if you want to eat healthy this holiday season be sure to focus on portion control and avoid foods that are high in carbs.

Another habit you may be tempted to fall back on is smoking. Cigarette smoking causes around 85 to 90 percent of all COPD cases and continuing to smoke with COPD will worsen the disease and trigger exacerbations. If you’re spending time with relatives that you used to smoke with or people who currency smoke this holiday season, this could cause you to slip back into an old habit. And even if you don’t smoke with this person, being around them will still expose you to secondhand smoke which can be just as bad.

Take Time Packing Your Medication

If you’re a COPD patient, your medication is paramount to your health. Whether you take orally administered medication, inhaled medication like nebulizer therapy or inhaler therapy, or some combination of the two, you’ll need to ensure that everything is packed and ready to go before you head out the door. If you haven’t done so already, be sure to renew your prescription for all of your medications so that you don’t have to worry about that when the time comes to leave.

Long-acting bronchodilators are designed to relax the airways and help you breathe easier throughout the day. This includes drugs such as tiotropium, salmeterol, indacaterol, formoterol, arformoterol, and aclidinium. Short-acting bronchodilators, on the other hand, are designed to work quickly in the event that you experience a COPD exacerbation. Short-acting bronchodilators include albuterol, ipratropium, ipratropium bromide, and levalbuterol.

Plan a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Schedule

Pulmonary rehabilitation has been one of the most hotly debated aspects of COPD treatment plans. In the past, it was believed that any form of exercise would exacerbate respiratory systems. However, within the past several decades, studies have shown that a carefully planned and consistent exercise routine can improve lung strength and slow the progression of COPD.

While it’s tempting to forget about exercising and practicing breathing exercises while you’re away for the holidays, this will only put you behind on your treatment regime. Rather you should take the time to plan out your day and ensure that you follow all of your doctor's instructions. It may not seem like it, but even a small amount of moderate exercise can go a long way towards improving your long term prognosis and helping you feel better.

Check the Air Quality Index (AQI)

You may believe that, since the temperature is starting to drop, there’s no need to check the air quality index before you go outside. Unfortunately, this is simply not the case. Cold weather actually causes things like car exhaust and other types of air pollution to stick closer to the ground since the air is denser and moves more slowly. This means it’s more important than ever to check the air quality. What’s more, there are a number of wildfires still raging across the country which are filling the air with smoke.

According to this study, the most common types of pollution during winter months are PM10 (particulate matter that is 10 micrometers in diameter or smaller), sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide. Wildfires are a complex mixture of pollutants including fine particles, water vapor, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, organic chemicals, and more. When you go to check the AQI in your area, be sure to keep an eye out for these.

COPD patients are considered part of the “sensitive group” when it comes to air quality. Generally speaking, COPD patients should not go outside if the AQI is over 100, but if you have late stage COPD, an AQI under 50 will be ideal. Like we discussed in our last blog post, there is an AQI mobile application that you can download on either your Android or iPhone that makes it simple and easy to check the air quality in your area.

Bring Clothing That’s Appropriate for the Weather

The weather has an immense impact on COPD symptoms. Extreme conditions, typically over 90 degrees Fahrenheit or below freezing can cause flare-ups and lead to unexpected side-effects like increased mucus production. Of course, the best way to cope with these weather conditions is to remain inside with the heater on, however, going outside may be unavoidable if you’re visiting relatives. 

One of the best ways to keep your body temperature high while out in the cold is to wear multiple layers. Unfortunately, simply wearing a heavy jacket won’t do much to keep you warm and it could even restrict your breathing. Rather, you should wear several layers of flexible clothing that don’t add any unnecessary strain to your chest or stomach. Also, be sure to wear gloves, a hat, and a scarf. 

For more information on managing COPD in cold weather, read our article titled, “The Complete Guide to Managing Your COPD in the Winter”. 

Conclusion

It’s hard to believe that the holidays are just around the corner. In just a few weeks it will be time to pack the bags and head to the relatives’ house. And whether you’re planning on traveling across the country or next door, there’s a lot of planning COPD patients need to do in order to stay safe and healthy during this time. Follow the tips above to get you started and don’t hesitate to leave a comment below if you have any questions for us.

If you’re looking for a lightweight portable oxygen concentrator for your holiday trip, feel free to reach out to our respiratory specialists here at LPT Medical. We are happy to provide COPD patients with plenty of options from the most reputable brands in the industry like Caire Inc., Inogen, and Respironics. Some of our most popular units include the Caire FreeStyle Comfort, Inogen One G5, and the Respironics SimplyGo.

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

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

{{cta('fa8abc2a-1e88-4fa3-82fd-1cb5b9ed43b2','justifycenter')}}

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

What is Halotherapy and How is it Used?

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

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

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

Wet Salt Therapy

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

Dry Salt Therapy

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

Speleotherapy

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

Active Salt Rooms

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

Passive Salt Rooms

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

Can COPD Patients Benefit from Salt Therapy?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Should COPD Patients Use Salt Therapy?

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

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

What Should COPD Patients be Doing Instead of Salt Therapy?

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

An Improved Diet

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

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

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

Supplemental Oxygen Therapy

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

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

Smoking Cessation

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

Inhaled Therapy

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

Conclusion

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

{{cta('b59df0c1-c4de-47a8-8e1c-0d33d4b414aa','justifycenter')}}

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

It is 2021, and no matter who you are, your life was most likely impacted by the global pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus first exposed late in 2019 (COVID-19). This virus is the most dangerous for humans when it infects your respiratory system, so this is obviously frightening for people with COPD and other underlying health conditions and immunodeficiencies.

There is much more that is unknown about the virus than there is any information that is definitive. How fast it spreads, how easily transmittable it is, and so much more will be under scientific scrutiny for months even years to come.

COVID-19 and COPD recommendations  

This means that if you have COPD or any respiratory aliment or immunodeficiency it is recommended by medical professionals all over the world, that you especially need to take care to adhere to guidelines and other health related advice.

This means limiting your travel or vacation plans, maintaining social distancing recommendations of at least 6 feet apart, among other requirements.

You might have had plans this year to visit the grandkids, or they were coming to visit you, maybe you were embarking on an adventure, or a relaxing getaway, or maybe you had no plans at all, but are finding the reality of a global pandemic lifestyle unfulfilling.

No matter how serious your COPD is, there are ways you can maintain a positive livelihood without being exposed to COVID-19. Here are the best ways to enjoy this year safely in the midst of a global pandemic if you are immunocompromised or suffer from a respiratory illness such as COPD.

Simplify your life

There is no better time than now to simplify your life. This is often called minimalism. The benefits of simplifying your life are substantial especially at a time of pandemic when our minds are filled with anxieties and uncertainty. Ironically, making things simpler can sometimes be more complicated than you think.

Minimalism and simple living can offer anyone, especially seniors and people living with COPD, many benefits. For example, minimalism can help seniors have a much easier life physically.

{{cta('43b79c5e-6bd6-4f02-ac27-2d038d20c146','justifycenter')}}

With all of your things organized, you will decrease the annoyance of misplacing something. And with less things, you won’t have to deal with moving things around as much, or moving around and clean as often. Overall, with less to physical material to deal with, comes less stress and anxiety.

By reducing the clutter in your home, yard, and work space, you subsequently make room in your mind for peace and mindfulness, something that might have gotten lost since the global pandemic has shifted reality.

It can be difficult to get rid of older things that have sentimental value to you, so start by cleaning out a shed or garage where the items have less emotional attachments.

You will find a powerful feeling of control and liberation in this stage and will be able to make more decisions about getting rid of things closer to you.

Hold yourself accountable for getting rid of things that do not serve you, for example: donate clothing you don't wear, donate plates and bowls that are taking over your kitchen cabinets, give away books you’ve read and don't want to read again. The act of giving to others through donations or gifts is very fulfilling in itself, so this is a bonus.

In order to avoid going to donation centers, ask a less vulnerable family member or friends if they would help you by picking up boxes of stuff from your home for them to bring to donation centers for you.

Start a garden or doing daily yard work

While at first thought, this sounds exhausting, gardening and 10 minutes of yard work each day can be very exciting and addicting. Being outside and getting physical activity everyday is one of the best treatment options if you have COPD, and starting a garden is one way of doing that.

Gardening is a physical challenge, relieves stress, and improves dexterity, and aspects that will encourage healthier lung functions.

If you do not have a yard or a nearby community garden to plant anything, you can buy a plant and leave it on the stoop of your house. Visit your plant everyday in the sunshine and watch it grow!

Yard work can take up a lot of time and give you a fulfilling mindset at the end of each day. You don't have to do a lot at first, but once you start picking weeds one day, you’ll begin to enjoy cleaning the yard and finding creative ideas for an outdoor sanctuary right in your backyard.

Find a new hobby you can do online

There are a lot of indoor activities that can keep you occupied and busy this summer and beyond. And there are a lot of activities you probably don’t know that you enjoy yet.

One way to try a lot of different hobbies is to join a club, and because of COVID-19 rather that gathering in a large group for a weekly meeting, you can do this online.

Right now there are a lot of resources where you can join a book club online, or spend time virtually connecting to people with similar interests, either through video chat or social media.

If you have a favorite hobby already, you can try to expand on that by dedicating more time to that specific activity, and find a way to get involved with others who enjoy that hobby virtually.

If it brings you joy, prioritize the time you spend doing those things.

If you feel you are struggling alone with COPD, try joining a FaceBook group or a supportive online forums where individuals share their stories and resources about their COPD.

Go hiking or walking

Walking is a safe and effective form of exercise for people living with COPD, and there are a number of reasons walking and hiking relive COPD symptoms.

Walking and hiking can help improve your COPD:

• Low impact activity that will improve your body's ability to use oxygen
• Build endurance
• Strengthen muscles
• Enhance an overall sense of well-being
• Being more self-sufficient
• Tolerate exercise better

There are even more benefits of walking for a person with COPD than whats listed above.

While you should not travel too far away from home, there might be a great walking or hiking trail near you. Try to avoid walking on busy trails by going during the week day rather than the weekends.

Hiking gets you into the outdoors and under the sun, but it is important that you do so safely. Be sure to continue wearing a mask if people are present on the trails. If the parking lot is extremely crowded, come back another day.

If you are curious how to find the best trails near you, be sure to do some research and learn more about how you could go walking and hiking even with COPD or other complicated health issues can enjoy hiking and walking.

Invest in a oxygen concentrator

Even though we are expected to “stay in place” there is no better time to become more mobile while doing so.

Receiving oxygen treatment for conditions such as COPD doesn't have to mean being tethered to a bulky canister of compressed oxygen, and you should not be subject to limited mobility and lack of independence.

You do not have to subject yourself to the unnecessary risks of carrying around an atmosphere of pure oxygen. There are safer and more transportable alternatives available today.

You do not have to carry a heavy tank around, instead portable oxygen concentrator extracts and concentrates pure oxygen and give you therapeutic doses of purified oxygen from the air around you.

Being at home unable to move around easily due to a rolling oxygen cart can be frustrating and upsetting, especially when you have no outlet to go out and do something, go on vacation, or look forward to family members and friends visiting you.

The uncertainty of these times leaves people hesitate to make larger purchases, such as a portable oxygen concentrator. However, when it comes to the air you breathe and the peace of mind you gain by being more physically active with less shortness of breath is priceless.

These long-term investments lead to long-term savings both monetarily and with regard to your livelihood.

You have a plethora of choices to make when it comes to buying an oxygen concentrator. One thing you need to know is there are two ways that concentrators deliver nearly pure oxygen from the air around you and into your lungs:

1. Pulse flow

Pulse flow or pulse dos oxygen concentrator sensors measure your breathing rate and automatically deliver a short bursts of oxygen as needed. This is a more popular choice for those with higher-functioning lungs like people in stages 1, 2, or sometimes 3 of COPD or those seeking an oxygen boost for exercise or at higher altitudes.

2. Continuous flow

Continuous flow oxygen concentrator maintains a steady supply of oxygen to you while it is being produced. This model will generally be heavier with more power and lower battery life. This option is best for you if you have stage 3 or 4 COPD and very limited lung capacity or higher oxygen saturation requirements for your body.

Be sure that you purchase your oxygen concentrator from an authorized dealer that carries devices from well-established manufacturers. By working with an authorized dealer you can be sure that your machine will be serviced and that the warranty is valid.

Medical and healthcare professionals do not advise purchasing portable oxygen concentrators from questionable sources such as amazon or online auction websites because the warranties and support may be fraudulent and the device may not be exactly what is represented online.

Plan ahead

Planning ahead has been recognized as a key to success, so even under the impending uncertainties brought on by COVID-19, you should plan your goals through hard work and strategic thinking.

This can mean:

• Planning to a regular walking routine for the next week
• Planning to call your loved ones once a day for the next month
• Planning a budget to purchase a portable oxygen concentrator within the next year
• Planning a diet for healthier eating habits over the next week
• Planning goals to quit smoking

COPD can cause a lot productivity challenges, due to shortness of breath and common depressive moods and anxiety. Nevertheless it is these times of isolation, where planning is more important than ever.

You can combat depressive moods and especially anxiety, by planning beneficial goals that will help you to attain a higher quality of life. And there is no excuse not to give this a try while you have so much extra time on your hands.

Foster new and old social connections

Social interaction is vital for everyone, and if you have COPD connecting with others is essential.

If you are not used to being all alone and without other people, and are eager to to reach out to find ways to connect with others, it is important to do so safely.

When exposing yourself to other people you should stay the recommended 6 feet apart and everyone should be wearing a mask. But this does not mean that you can’t have fun.

Take a trip with friends and family to the local beach, river bed, or lake, bringing a large towel or blanket to establish physical boundaries and make sure others are staying a safe distance away from you.

{{cta('fa8abc2a-1e88-4fa3-82fd-1cb5b9ed43b2','justifycenter')}}

Try bringing a king sized bed spread and your spot can be right in the middle of it, creating a perfect distance away while still socializing.

You and your neighbors can have small communal cookouts where families bring their grills to their respective front yard to BBQ and eat together.

If you want to be more creative, have a neighborhood talent show where each house takes turns putting on a show, either playing music, dancing, or magic outside for everyone to watch.

In order to have a successful social-distancing get-together you must do your best to be innovative. And if you have COPD and are rightfully concerned about COVID-19 you should become a leader in your community to help people socialize safely amid the ongoing pandemic.

Enjoy

Taking each of these steps in your own personal way will help you to enjoy your summer to the fullest, despite on-going risks associated with COVID-19.

Simplifying your life will give you the space you need to try new things. And by taking pleasure in the simple things, you will appreciate your new found adoration for gardening, or yard work.

You can also start exploring ways to use the computer to start new hobbies, or join an online club that you've always wanted to try but could never find the time or motivation to get out of the house and do so.

If you find yourself stuck inside unwilling or unable to move around without shortness of breath, this is the best time to purchase a portable oxygen concentrator that will give you the freedom and independence you need to get moving around your house and outside safely.

Once you are ready to explore more with a lightweight oxygen concentrator that you can carry around, you can attempt taking a short hike or going for a walk. If this is within the capabilities of your lungs, be sure you go to less busy hiking trails and try to go on weekdays when trails are less busy.

Remain social by getting "together" with you family and neighbors and try putting on a social gathering where everyone stays in their respective yards for a BBQ or talent show.

Do you best to stay motivated by planning ahead and setting goals for yourself in all aspects of you life. By taking all of these measures in 2021, amidst a global pandemic while also managing a chronic lung disease, will lead you to a more fulfilling and satisfying life.

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

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

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

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

{{cta('fa8abc2a-1e88-4fa3-82fd-1cb5b9ed43b2','justifycenter')}}

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

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

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

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

Why it’s so Important to Avoid Hospitalization With COPD

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

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

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

Have a Plan to Deal With Exacerbations

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

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

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

Change Up Your Diet

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

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

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

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

Be Consistent With Your Exercise Routine

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

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

Avoid Getting Sick

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

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

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

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

Avoid Environmental Triggers

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

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

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

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

Use a Reliable Portable Oxygen Machine

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

{{cta('b59df0c1-c4de-47a8-8e1c-0d33d4b414aa','justifycenter')}}

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

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

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

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

Conclusion  

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

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

First and foremost, we want to preface this article by saying that within the global reality as it stands now, we highly recommend checking in with your primary care physician or a medical expert in your corner when dealing with potential ailments, especially if you have a condition that would exacerbate your symptoms if you were to be exposed to the Coronavirus causing COVID-19, influenza, or the common cold. 

{{cta('fa8abc2a-1e88-4fa3-82fd-1cb5b9ed43b2','justifycenter')}}

The current state of the global pandemic is still unfolding, and rapidly changing. Definitive information is not readily available, nor are there answers to the burning questions we all have. The fact of the matter is that we are all learning how to mitigate risk, safely operate within some capacity of our normal lives, and keep ourselves and the ones around us safe. 

In this article, we first want to elaborate on the importance of staying healthy if you have a chronic illness, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Secondly, this article is a glimpse into the differences and similarities between COVID-19, influenza or the common flu, and the common cold. 

How to Mitigate your Risk of Infection 

If you are a COPD patient and/or a long term oxygen therapy patient, protecting yourself from viruses and bacterial infections is a critical course of action you must take everyday. Outside of the global pandemic, infection and weakened immune systems are ways that respiratory patients find themselves in critical conditions and often hospitalized. Infections of any kind are something that you should try to avoid at all costs because these are life threatening situations. 

Even though chronically ill people are not more susceptible to catching the Coronavirus, contracting COVID-19 imposes much higher risks than if a healthy person was to contract the virus. 

There are a lot of ways to avoid getting sick during flu season and there are a lot of ways to avoid catching COVID-19, respiratory patients should be diligent to follow the CDCs recommendation, and take the precautions necessary to avoid transmission.

{{cta('b59df0c1-c4de-47a8-8e1c-0d33d4b414aa','justifycenter')}}

Follow these resource to find all of the way you can prevent getting sick:

CDC COVID-19 Prevent Getting Sick 

How to Prevent the Flu: Natural Ways, After Exposure, and More

Common Colds: Protect Yourself and Others

Germs: Understand and protect against bacteria, viruses and infection

The overarching points made within all of these resources are very basic tasks and practices that you can implement into your daily life in order to protect yourself and others.

These include, washing your hands frequently, disinfecting frequently touched surfaces in you vehicle and home, avoiding people outside of your quarantine bubble, staying a minimum of 6-feet away from people when in public spaces, wearing a double layered masks when in public spaces, avoid itching your eyes, nose, and mouth, avoid traveling far distances, avoid touching people, interact less with people in person and more so virtually, do not spend time in enclosed spaces with other people. 

Social distancing, wearing a mask, and disinfecting your hands and surfaces are the most effective ways to avoid catching any ailment whether that's the common cold or COVID-19.

The Common Cold

Having a cold is never a fun experience, and while you may feel horrible when you have a cold, it feels generally less intense than having a more severe virus like the flu. 

Cold symptoms can include any of the following:

• Runny or stuffy nose
• Cough (mild)
• Fatigue (sometimes)
• Sneezing
• Watery eyes
• Sore throat
• Headaches (rarely)
• Aches and pains

If you are looking to treat your cold symptoms, and over the counter medication can help, but will not have lasting impacts, and the best course of action is to rest and wait. A typical cold will last on average up to 7 to 10 days.

The Common Flu (Influenza) 

The seasonal flu rapidly and effectively infects people every year and is vital for a long time out of the year from around the beginning of Fall through all of the winter and even spring sometimes. It’s a common virus causing respiratory infection so it affects your nose, throat, and lungs and can last from 5 to 7 days. 

Here’s are some common symptoms of the flu:

• Fever and/or chills
• Cough (usually dry)
• Fatigue
• Aches and pains
• Runny or stuffy nose (sometimes)
• Sore throat (sometimes)
• Diarrhea (sometimes in children)

Unlike a cold, you can get vaccinated in order to prevent the flu. If you are hesitant to get the flu vaccine, be aware that if you do get a flu shot and still get the flu, the symptoms you experience will be milder than if you didn’t receive the flu shot. Medical treatment for the flu is uncommon for most people, but if you have COPD or another chronic respiratory disease, the flu can cause more issues where medical treatment may be necessary. It is important to stay home, rest, and get plenty of fluids. If you have a fever, that can be treated with Tylenol or Ibuprofen.

COVID-19

Coronavirus causing COVID-19 is a new virus that has spread quickly worldwide. There are other strains of coronavirus which are very common and usually only cause mild symptoms similar to a common cold.  COVID-19 on the other hand, causes much more severe illness in certain groups. People who are at risk of developing serious COVID-19 symptoms include older people and people of all ages with severe underlying health conditions like heart disease, lung disease, and diabetes. 

Covid-19 Vaccines: Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson

There are now two COVID-19 vaccines and very soon there will be three readily available in the United States, they are Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson. You only need one of the vaccines, and you will need two doses if you get the Pifizer or Moderna, but the Johnson & Johnson vaccine only requires one dose, each vaccine will protect you against the COVID-19 virus. They all have been shown to be highly effective at preventing COVID-19 Learn more about the different COVID-19 vaccines by following this link.

Once you get the vaccine it is still highly recommended to wear a mask in public places, social distance, and continue washing your hands and disinfecting the surface, because It’s not yet known if any of these vaccines prevent asymptomatic infection, meaning you could still potentially catch COVID-19 and simply not experience symptoms in which case you could be unknowingly be transmitting the disease to others not yet vaccinated. Still, it is not known for sure if vaccinated people can transmit the virus if they do become infected but don’t show symptoms, so it is best to be safe and continue mitigating any risk of spreading COVID-19. 

Symptoms of COVID-19 can include:

• Fever and/or chills
• Cough (usually dry)
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Tiredness (sometimes)
• Aches and pains (sometimes)
• Headaches (sometimes)
• Sore throat (sometimes)
• *Upper respiratory symptoms, like runny nose and sinus congestion, are very uncommon in COVID-19.

The severity of COVID-19 symptoms ranges from mild to severe. If your symptoms are mild you will likely be directed to stay home to protect others from illness and follow the CDC’s recommended guidance for self-care. If you’re referred to a testing site or medical facility, remember to call ahead and let them know your symptoms before you go in. 

Vaccines and What People with Lung Disease Need to Know

If you have asthma or COPD, your risk for experiencing serious problems from certain vaccine-preventable diseases is much higher than the average person. Therefore, getting vaccinated is an important thing you must do to stay healthy. 

Respiratory diseases can impact your system in a number of ways depending on your condition. Conditions like COPD or asthma block your airways with excess mucus and cause your airways to swell, making it very difficult to breath and get the right amount of oxygen. 

There are diseases that cause excess swelling to your airways and lungs that can be prevented by a vaccine, and therefore, it is crucial for respiratory patients to get these vaccines. If you do get ill on top of your COPD or other respiratory disease, the combination of the two can lead to pneumonia and other serious respiratory illnesses and progression of your disease into a more severe state. 

Vaccines are one of the safest ways for you to protect your health, even if you are taking prescription medications. Vaccine side effects are usually mild and go away on their own. Severe side effects are very rare.

COVID-19 Vaccine and Respiratory Patients 

All of the current COVID-19 vaccines are tested, analyzed, and meet strict criteria set up by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, so the COVID-19 vaccines meet strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness. When you get a COVID-19 vaccine, it will be highly effective and will protect you from coronavirus and save lives

If you have COPD, or any other respiratory illness protecting yourself from COVID-19 is very essential to your health, both in the short and long term. If you have a respiratory disease, you are at risk of experiencing worse symptoms and are at higher risk of being hospitalized for those symptoms. 

COVID-19 is not going away, and the vaccine is one of the best ways to mitigate your risk of infection. 

Overview

{{cta('43b79c5e-6bd6-4f02-ac27-2d038d20c146','justifycenter')}}

Getting sick is never fun, and as a respiratory patient getting sick is actually very harmful to your system and the condition that you already have can be exacerbated. 

Mitigate your risk of experiencing any worsening symptoms by following COVID-19 regulations and getting the vaccine when you are able to. It would be wise to reach out to your doctor and talk to them about the vaccine process, they will assure you whether or not it is prudent of you to get the vaccine based on your individual health standards. 

You should also be diligent to avoid common sickness such as influenza or a common cold, both of these illnesses can also negatively impact your health.

COVID-19 and lung damage is still a very new problem, and while research so far can tell us some of the impacts of COVID-19 on respiratory disease there is still a lot of uncertainty. That being said, it is important to fact-check information that you see on the internet, especially when it comes to something as serious as COVID-19 and lung damage.

{{cta('fa8abc2a-1e88-4fa3-82fd-1cb5b9ed43b2','justifycenter')}}

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that is fast spreading and highly contagious, and while the vaccine is rolling out in the United States and internationally, catching COVID-19 is still cause for concern. 

Here is a summary of the blog you are about to read:

1. COVID-19 has lasting effects on your respiratory system
2. People with lung disease have a high chance of experience harsher symptoms from COVID-19 than a person with no pre-existing conditions 
3. Don’t be fooled, if you are vaccinated you can still catch COVID-19, yet the effects of covid are much more mild than if you are not vaccinated, and this includes the damage to your lungs 

How Does COVID-19 Affect your Lungs 

COVID-19 can affect your lungs in mild and sometimes severe ways, and a lot of this depends on your health prior to catching the virus. If you have a relatively healthy respiratory system and have no pre-existing conditions COVID-19 can still hurt your lungs but not as badly as someone who already suffers from a chronic illness.

One of the most common implications caused by COVID-19 is pneumonia and in the most severe cases, acute respiratory distress syndrome. There is also the possibility of Sepsis as a complication of COVID-19, and this can also cause lasting damage to your lungs and other organs.

COVID-19 and Pneumonia

When you get pneumonia, your lungs fill with fluid and become inflamed, leading to breathing difficulties, this is extremely painful for lung patients who have diseases like Chronic Obstructive Respiratory Disease (COPD). When someone with COPD gets COVID-19 the symptoms can become so severe they require treatment at the hospital with a portable oxygen concentrator or even a ventilator.

Pneumonia occurs when your air sacs in your lungs fill with fluid, this limits their ability to take in oxygen and causes shortness of breath, a persistent cough and other symptoms.

While most people recover from pneumonia without any lasting lung damage, the pneumonia associated with COVID-19 can be severe, and people with lung disease have an even harder time healing from this. 

Even after the disease has passed, the damage to your lungs may result in breathing difficulties that take a lot of time to heal completely, and with chronic conditions, it is unlikely the damage will heal completely. 

{{cta('43b79c5e-6bd6-4f02-ac27-2d038d20c146','justifycenter')}}

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and COVID-19 

COVID-19 that causes pneumonia can progress further into a more severe state, and the air sacs which become filled with fluid start to leak from blood vessels in your lungs. Inevitably, breathlessness occurs, which can cause acute respiratory distress syndrome. ARDS is essentially a version of lung failure.

Patients with ARDS are usually unable to breath by themselves and may require a ventilator to help their bodies circulate oxygen through their body.

Sepsis and COVID-19

In severe cases of COVID-19 and people who also suffer from preexisting conditions, sepsis is another serious complication. Sepsis is a fast spreading infection that moves through the bloodstream, causing tissue damage everywhere it goes.

Sepsis causes long-lasting lung damage and also affects other organs in the long term. 

Reducing the Chance of Lung Damage from COVID-19 

If you have chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, COPD or heart disease, its crucial for you to continue taking your medication and treating your disease optimally. 

Take your oxygen as prescribed and monitor your health status and report to your doctor over the phone regularly. You can also use a pulse oximeter to measure when and if you are breathing appropriately.

Everyone, especially lung patients, need to maintain adequate nutrition by eating healthy and staying hydrated, this will keep your immune system healthy. Also double check that you are up to date with all of your vaccinations, even just getting the common flu can weaken your immune system and leave you more susceptible to catching COVID-19. 

Also, be wary of any information you read on the internet that's not supported by researchers and institutions which require a peer review process in order to be published. Because COVID is relatively a new virus, the research is still in progress meaning that most results from studies over the past year and a half are not conclusive yet. 

For example, you might have seen reports of vitamins, minerals and prophylaxis medications that can prevent/ or reduce lung damage, however there are no peer reviewed studies that are supporting it at this time.

The best way to avoid COVID-19 and worsening lung damage is to get the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Is the vaccine safe for people with lung conditions?

There have been a plethora of studies that have concluded the vaccine is safe for people with lung conditions. The vaccine has been tested on people with long-term conditions and people from all age groups including older people. 

In fact, it has been decided that people who are at high-risk should be prioritized to get the vaccine first. At this time, there is no reason to think the vaccine interferes with any medications and therefore, your treatment for your lung condition should continue as normal.

If you have asthma and you use biologics (otherwise known as mAbs, or monoclonal antibodies), talk to your doctor to discuss the timing of your vaccine and your asthma biologic. There is no evidence to show the vaccines are unsafe for you, however it’s advisable that there should be 7-day gap between your vaccine and your next asthma biologic.  

Do not stop taking or change any of your medicines without speaking to your doctor first. 

So how do we know the vaccine is safe? 

Any approved vaccines must meet a strict criteria of safety, quality and effectiveness. And so all of the approved coronavirus vaccines go through certain clinical trials and they are checked that same way as any licensed medicines are checked. Other vaccines are being developed, but they will only be available to the public once they’ve been thoroughly tested. 

A vaccine can not be given to people until the FDA oversees extensive lab testing of the vaccine. Usually this can take many years in order to ensure it is safe and effective. Because the COVID-19 vaccine was only developed and tested in a short period of time, some risk is involved, however data indicates that all of the available COVID-19 vaccines are safe. 

Also the risk of COVID-19 is far greater than the small risk of the vaccine. 

We know this because we can look at the rate of severe or life-threatening reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine, which is estimated to be about 1 in 100,000 patients, whereas the risk right now of dying from COVID-19 is substantially higher than that.

There are many deadly diseases that have been technically eradicated with the introduction of a vaccine. For example, Polio, Tetanus, The Flu (Influenza), Hepatitis B and A, Measles, Whooping Cough, and so many others have a vaccine that is successful in reducing the contamination and spread of the disease, and save millions of lives. COVID-19 can be added to this list eventually! 

Overview 

The risk of COVID-19 having long term effects and damaging your lungs is high for any person, but extremely high for someone with a pre-existing lung condition. If you have lung disease already, catching COVID-19 could mean hospitalization and it can be life threatening.

There are a number of ways to avoid catching COVID-19 by social distancing, washing your hands, and wearing a mask, and on top of all of those recommendations is to get vaccinated. 

If you are still wary of getting the vaccine, talk to your doctor, they can go over your medication that you take and reassure you that the vaccine will not interfere with your medical condition nor your treatments. 

Side effects of the vaccine are very normal, and oftentimes unavoidable and even uncomfortable. That being said, these short-lived side effects are much less dangerous than being exposed and unprotected against the coronavirus. 

If you have a lung condition like asthma, COPD, of cystic fibrosis, continue to treat your disease during the pandemic. It is important that you stay healthy and get stronger so that your body is capable of fighting ailments including COVID-19. While exposure to coronavirus is extremely dangerous due to the virus and its contagious properties, the healthier you are the better.

If you need oxygen, be sure you have a portable oxygen concentrator that is reliable and durable. For all of your oxygen accessories needs, head over to the LPT Medical website or call 1(800)-946-1202 to speak with a respiratory specialist. 

If you are prescribed an oxygen concentrator for chronic health problems and you experience symptoms of COVID-19, call your doctor. Do not change your oxygen levels on your own, unless you have been told to do so by your doctor.