It is not uncommon to wake up in the morning feeling drowsy, like you didn't sleep well or long enough. However, this is something you will want to actively seek a solution for when this lack of sleep is reoccurring. 

If you wake up often with drowsiness you can't shake and feel tired every day, it could be a sign that you have sleep apnea.

There are many potential causes of sleep apnea, and each case requires special evaluation to determine what's causing the obstruction. Luckily, there are a variety of treatments and interventions that can help people with all types of sleep apnea sleep better and feel better.

Simple lifestyle changes, home treatments, or surgery can treat or even cure sleep apnea depending on what's causing the condition. In most cases, sleep apnea sufferers can find relief and get better sleep with the assistance of mouthpieces or medical devices such as positive airway pressure (PAP) machines.

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While mild sleep apnea can seem like just a minor annoyance at first, it can lead to dangerous complications over time including hypertension and heart disease. It's important not to ignore the symptoms and get proper treatment from qualified health professionals as early as possible if you suspect you might have the disorder.

If you think you might have sleep apnea, this guide will help you get started with understanding the condition and what you can do to get better. However, it's no substitute for talking to a doctor. If you have symptoms of sleep apnea you need to be diagnosed by a certified sleep specialist so you can get proper treatment right away.

Untreated sleep apnea can have devastating effects on long term health, and it's important for more people to recognize the symptoms and risks of the disorder. This sleep apnea guide will get you started in understanding what sleep apnea is, how it's caused, and what kinds of lifestyle changes and medical treatments are available to treat it.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a common, yet serious, sleep disorder that affects at least 9 percent of women and 24 percent of men. It is characterized by difficulty breathing and waking up often during the night while trying to sleep, which leaves sufferers sleepy and fatigued during the day.

Sleep apnea occurs when your body's airways have trouble staying open and become blocked while you sleep. This is often caused by swelled, sagging, or weighed-down throat tissue than narrows and obstructs your airways when you fall asleep and your muscles relax.

Because their airways are narrowed and breathing is more difficult, people with sleep apnea experience frequent pauses in breathing (called apneas) during the night. These lapses in breathing can last just a few seconds or even minutes, and can happen as often as thirty or more times per hour.

This causes people with sleep apnea to snore, gasp, choke, and wake up frequently during the night. However, since this happens while you are asleep, many people are not consciously aware of their symptoms until a friend, spouse, or other family member notices.

The gasping, choking, and frequent waking is very disruptive and makes it impossible to get normal, restful sleep. That's why feeling tired frequently during the day is often the first symptom people with sleep apnea notice.

People with sleep apnea are essentially sleep deprived, which hurts their mood, performance, and overall quality of life. Even if you're unaware of the interruptions to your sleep, it can leave you feeling very drowsy and irritable during the day.

The constant drowsiness can be dangerous, too, because it leaves you prone to mistakes and accidents, which is particularly dangerous when driving on the road or operating heavy machinery.

How Sleep Apnea Affects Your Body

Living with sleep apnea can be difficult, and the condition can negatively affect your health and daily life in many ways.

In the short term, sleep apnea disrupts your sleep and makes you feel fatigued and unfocused. In the long term, sleep apnea puts a tremendous amount of stress on your cardiovascular system and can lead to serious complications.

People with sleep apnea are constantly sleep deprived because frequent episodes of apnea severely disrupt their sleep. The disorder leaves sufferers feeling tired, foggy, and irritable day after day, and can make concentrating and coping with stress difficult.

What makes sleep apnea so serious, however, is that the narrowed airways and frequent pauses in breathing deprive your lungs of oxygen while you sleep. As a result, blood oxygen levels drop, making it difficult for the body supply its organs and tissues with the oxygen they need.

When oxygen levels in your body are low, it puts a lot of strain on your body, and especially your heart, to compensate. When sleep apnea is left untreated this happens for hours night after night, which is very dangerous and can lead to major health problems later on down the line.

Some of the potential long-term effects of sleep apnea include:

• Depression
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Liver disease
• Diabetes
• Stroke

Key Facts about Sleep Apnea

Despite its name, sleep apnea is actually a breathing disorder. Even though it's a sleep-related condition, the most dangerous effects don't come from disrupted sleep, but rather from disrupted breathing.

Narrowed airways and constant apneas leave sleep apnea sufferers struggling to breathe and forces their bodies to cope with low blood oxygen levels every night. This can have dangerous and potentially life-threatening effects on the body over time, which is why it's important to take the diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea seriously.

Unfortunately, the early symptoms of the disorder are difficult to catch. General symptoms like drowsiness or irritability are easy to ignore or write off, and many other symptoms—like nighttime snoring and choking—happen while you're asleep and not consciously aware.

This makes it difficult for people with sleep apnea to recognize the signs and get early diagnoses. A total of at least five to ten percent of adults in the United States have sleep apnea, but researchers estimate that as many as 80% of them are undiagnosed and not receiving the treatment they need.

While the disorder seems to be more common in men, it likely has to do with their larger average size and weight (having a large neck, for example, increases your risk of sleep apnea.) However, many doctors believe that as obesity rates rise, this gap between the number of men and women with sleep apnea will close.

Sleep Apnea Symptoms

The major symptoms of sleep apnea can be divided into two main categories: daytime symptoms and symptoms that occur while you sleep.

Nighttime symptoms of sleep apnea include:

• regular loud snoring
• pauses in breathing
• frequent waking
• gasping for air or choking while you sleep
  

However, most people don't even remember waking up during the night, and don't understand why they feel drowsy and unrested in the morning.

Even though frequent waking could be many things besides sleep apnea, waking up gasping, choking, or feeling breathless is a telltale sign on the disorder. Since many of the most obvious symptoms happen while you sleep, many people with sleep apnea never notice their symptoms until a friend, spouse, or family member does.

The most common daytime symptoms of sleep apnea include drowsiness, morning headaches, irritability, fatigue, trouble concentrating, and even depression. These symptoms are directly related to sleep disruptions and the lack of oxygen caused by nighttime symptoms.

These are the most common symptoms of sleep apnea:

• Sleepiness during the daytime
• Memory issues
• Trouble concentrating
• Morning headaches
• Sore throat and/or dry mouth when you wake up
• Loud snoring, gasping, or choking during sleep
• Waking frequently during the night
• Depression, irritability, or mood swings

Causes of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea can be caused by anything that narrows or obstructs your airways while you sleep. Most cases have physiological cause, such as excess weight, inflamed or excess throat tissue, or weakened muscles in the back of the throat. This is known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

However, in very rare cases sleep apnea is caused by a neurological condition instead of a physical one. In this case, the signal that the brain uses to tell the respiratory system to breathe gets temporarily disrupted.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

When you fall asleep, all of the muscles in your body soften and relax, including the muscles in your throat. In healthy people who don't have sleep apnea, the throat is kept open by special muscles that prevent the airways from collapsing. This allows comfortable, unobstructed breathing during the night.

People who have sleep apnea, however, have difficulty keeping their airways open while they sleep. The airways become severely narrowed and frequently collapse during the night, temporarily blocking their airways and causing lapses in breathing

Common Causes of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

• Large Neck: Sleep apnea is associated with neck size, which is in turn associated with being overweight or obese. People with necks that are at least 16-17 inches in diameter are more likely to have sleep apnea.
• Abnormal Soft Palate: The soft palate is the tissue at the back of the mouth and throat, and abnormalities in this area are a very common cause of sleep apnea. If the soft palate is enlarged, swollen, or abnormally stiff, it can narrow or obstruct the throat and cause sleep apnea. In other cases, some people's soft palates are simply more prone to collapsing.
• Weakened Throat Muscles: Some people's throat muscles are too weak or not properly stimulated when they breathe at night. Without functioning muscles to keep the airways open while you sleep, they frequently collapse, making breathing difficult and causing apnea.
• Abnormal Jaw Structure: People with slight alterations in their jaw structure can be at a greater risk for sleep apnea. It is associated primarily with the lower jaw; having an undersized, narrow, or jutting lower jaw can cause airway obstruction during sleep.
• Abnormal Mouth Structure: Minor characteristics in the mouth, such as an unusually large tongue or enlarged tonsils can obstruct the airways at night, causing sleep apnea.
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): GERD and acid reflux occur when acidic fluids from the stomach leak up into the esophagus, which is especially likely to happen at night when you lie on your back. This can cause throat irritation and muscle spasms, which are thought to obstruct breathing and cause sleep apnea.

Central Sleep Apnea

Central sleep apnea is caused by problems in the central nervous system (the brain). It happens when signaling in the brainstem gets disrupted, causing the brain to repeatedly fail to send signals telling the lungs to breathe.

People with central sleep apnea experience more severe and abrupt drops in blood oxygen levels. This often causes a violent, uncomfortable awakening, which is why people with central sleep apnea can often remember waking up.

Causes of Central Sleep Apnea

• Heart disease: Heart disease, heart failure, or stroke is a common cause of a condition called Cheyene-Stokes breathing. This causes an irregular breathing pattern and repeated cycles of increased and then reduced airflow. Breathing can become so weak during the reduced airflow cycle that it stops altogether, causing sleep apnea.
• Medications: Some medications, especially opioids, can disrupt breathing patterns or even stop breathing altogether. Drugs that can induce central sleep apnea include oxycodone, codeine sulfate, and morphine sulfate.
• Altitude: Exposure to high altitudes can cause irregular breathing and a cycle of rapid breathing followed by slow, restricted breathing. This can cause sleep apnea in some people.
• Other Causes: Some cases of central sleep apnea have no obvious cause. These cases are diagnosed as idiopathic sleep apnea.

Since central sleep apnea is very rare, this guide focuses primarily on obstructive sleep apnea. However, most of the information that follows applies to both types and should be generally useful to people with all types of sleep apnea.

How Sleep Apnea is Diagnosed

Sleep apnea can go unnoticed for years since it only affects you while you sleep. This also makes it difficult for doctors to diagnose, since they have to monitor while you are sleeping to know if you have sleep apnea for sure.

Some doctors will diagnose sleep apnea based on symptoms and medical history alone, but often they will ask you to do a sleep study to confirm the diagnosis. That means either doing a home sleep apnea test or spending the night at a sleep study test lab for monitoring.

Home Testing

To do a home sleep apnea test, you take home a small monitor that measures things like your heart rate, breathing, and even blood oxygen concentration while you sleep. Afterward, you give the monitor back to a sleep specialist who will analyze the data to determine whether or not you have sleep apnea.

Sleep Study Test

A full sleep study, also known as a polysomnogram, has to be done in a certified sleep study test center. While this is less convenient than a home test, getting monitored at a sleep study center will give you much more accurate and detailed results.

To do the study, you'll have to check in to a hospital or specialized sleep center where you'll stay the night in a private room. Technicians will hook you up to a variety of equipment so they can monitor you while you sleep.

Most people are able to sleep through the study without much difficulty, even though it might seem strange and somewhat uncomfortable at first. It's worth the time and inconvenience to get an accurate diagnosis, however, and sleep centers can also set you up with a CPAP machine (a nighttime device that helps you breathe) to treat your sleep apnea if the test is positive.

Complications that Occur with Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea sufferers experience low blood oxygen levels night after night, which can lead to serious complications in the long term. Lets look at some of the major health complications that can result from sleep apnea:

Heart Problems and High Blood Pressure

People with sleep apnea are deprived of oxygen when they sleep, which puts a lot of pressure on the heart and circulatory system. Low blood oxygen levels force the heart to work harder to deliver enough oxygen to all the different parts of the body, straining the cardiovascular system and causing increased blood pressure.

This can be detrimental to cardiovascular health and lead to hypertension, irregular heart rhythms, and heart disease. Because of this, sleep apnea can be life threatening to people with existing heart problems. In the most severe cases, sleep apnea can cause heart attacks, stroke, or even sudden death.

Type 2 Diabetes

Researchers believe that struggling to breathe during the night coupled with low blood oxygen levels can lead to insulin resistance and reduce your body's ability to control your blood sugar. Because of this, sleep apnea leaves you at a higher risk for developing metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.

It doesn't help that many people with sleep apnea are also overweight or obese, which is a major contributing factor to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

Liver Problems

People with sleep apnea often show signs of liver dysfunction and scarring, known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The exact cause is unknown, but researchers suspect that low oxygen levels caused by sleep apnea worsen chronic inflammation, which can harm the liver.

One study found that two-thirds of obese, middle-aged adults with sleep apnea also had fatty liver disease that was strongly associated with the disorder. The more severe sleep apnea someone has, the more severe liver disease they are likely to have also.

Liver disease also tends to be associated with high blood pressure and obesity, which can compound the problem in some people with sleep apnea.

Risk Factors for Sleep Apnea

Some preexisting characteristics, such as genetics, age, and body mass index, can put you at a greater risk of developing sleep apnea. Some of these factors, like gender and age, are uncontrollable, but some, like smoking, can be mitigated by healthy habits and lifestyle changes.

Here are some of the major risk factors for sleep apnea:

• Being overweight, especially with a body mass index above 25
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Heart disease (common cause of central sleep apnea)
• Opioid medications
• Family history of sleep apnea
• Age (most common between young adulthood and middle age, and in people older than 65)
• Being male (less common in women)
• Smoking

Treatments for Sleep Apnea

Getting treated for sleep apnea is very important for short-term and long-term health. If you think you have sleep apnea, don't wait to see a doctor and figure out a treatment plan.

Proper sleep apnea treatment can improve symptoms immediately, reducing drowsiness and improving overall quality of life. But, most importantly, sleep apnea treatments focus on allowing your body to get enough oxygen at night, protecting you from a host of serious health problems that can result from low blood oxygen levels.

There are a number of different lifestyle changes and home treatments, including mouthpieces and breathing devices, that are effective at treating most cases of sleep apnea. In severe and unique cases, when typical treatments don't work, doctors might recommend surgery as a last resort to eliminate airway obstructions causing the disorder.

Lose Weight

The past several months have been challenging for many people across the world. With the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), most of us are filled with uncertainty about our health and financial well-being. While many people have lost their jobs, older adults, especially those with chronic health conditions like COPD or diabetes, have had to drastically adjust their lifestyle to avoid getting sick.

Last week, we told you seven things that COPD patients need to know about COVID-19. This guide is a great place to start if you want to know the best way to deal with the coronavirus as a COPD patient. In it, you’ll find information about what exactly the new virus is and why it’s so important for respiratory patients to take extra precautions when it comes to social distancing, sanitation, and sheltering in place.

One important point we discussed in this article was staying active. Despite most of us being in our homes all day and night, exercise remains a key part of treating respiratory conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, contrary to popular belief, you don’t necessarily need to get out of your house in order to exercise effectively. 

In this post, we’ll take a look at six tips you should know before exercising at home. While these can act as guidelines to get you started, it’s strongly recommended that you first speak with your doctor or pulmonologist to learn what exercise routines are best for you. In the meantime, if you have any questions for us, don’t hesitate to leave them in the comment section at the bottom of the page or fill out the contact form at the side of the page.

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Practice Good Posture

Good posture is paramount not only for exercising, but for managing COPD symptoms in general. Posture simply means the way that you hold and carry your body throughout the day. Someone with bad posture may experience back pain, fatigue, or other adverse symptoms, while someone with good posture will avoid any unnecessary and excessive strain on their body.

As we age, it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain a good posture. When we become weaker, we begin to reinforce bad habits that we’ve developed over the course of our life, so late adulthood is a great time to reevaluate the way we sit, stand, and even walk. According to this Harvard report, poor posture can lead to muscle weakness, spasms, and put stress on your neck and lower back. Over time, it can even impair your ability to exercise which is the very goal you’re trying to accomplish in the first place.

Fixing a bad posture is something that you’ll have to actively work at and it’s not something you can necessarily fix overnight. However, by taking things one step at a time, you’ll be able to reverse bad habits that you’ve developed over the course of your life.

Forward Neck 

The first sign of incorrect posture is a forward neck. This happens when someone pushes their head and neck forward away from their center of gravity and usually develops in people who use their computer frequently. This also occurs more commonly in people who are hard of hearing because they find themselves leaning forward to hear a sound more acutely.

The key to fixing a forward neck posture is to strengthen your upper thoracic extensors. These are the muscles that help keep your head aligned with your shoulders. One way to do this is with chin tucks. Each morning you wake up, roll your shoulders back and drop them. Then press your chin gently backwards. Repeat this several times a day and you’ll notice your neck muscles getting stronger.

Another way to fix this posture is to change the way you sit at a desk. If you use a computer or laptop frequently, try raising it up so that it’s at eye level. If it’s below eye level, you may be tempted to bend over to view the screen. You can also try using a standing desk or using a chair that has support all the way up your back. 

Postural Kyphosis

Also known as a “hunched” back, postural kyphosis is a leading cause of back pain, stress, and most relevant to COPD patients, breathing difficulties. While so many people struggle with a hunched back, it's very unnatural for our bodies to be in this position. It causes an enormous amount of stress in the spine, pinches nerves in the back, and compresses the lungs preventing us from getting a full breath.

One simple way to fix this is to stand with your back against the wall. Ensure that your heels are as close to the wall as possible and hold your head up straight looking forward. Drop your shoulders and let them roll backward. You should feel your spine center and start to rest in a more natural position. If you notice your back starting to slouch throughout the day, practice this exercise to reset your posture.

Standing and Walking Posture

Unfortunately, the aforementioned tips won’t do you much good if you don’t apply them to the way you stand and walk as well. As we age, standing and walking can become difficult enough as it is due to conditions like osteoporosis or muscle weakness, so a poor posture will only make this more difficult. In general, the same rules apply as when you’re sitting like a straight back and your head being aligned over your shoulders, however, there are some additional points to take note of.

First and foremost, you should be using decent shoes that have good arch support and shock absorption. Tennis shoes are typically the best option but other types of shoes are an option if they follow these guidelines. Another way to ensure you have a great posture while walking is to act like there are balloons attached to your head and chest while your shoulders are able to drop backwards freely. This may feel awkward at first, but eventually you’ll develop a natural way of doing it.

Another way people develop poor posture while walking is if they carry heavy objects like backpacks, purses, or oxygen concentrators. While it’s recommended that older adults avoid carrying heavy objects, if you need to, make sure you’re doing it properly. If you use a backpack, make sure the straps are pulled tight enough that the majority of the weight is held as closely to your back as possible. Doing so will ensure that you don’t experience any unnecessary back strain.

If you’re a COPD patient who needs to carry oxygen with you while you’re out and about, it’s best to find a carrying method that won’t hurt your back. Portable oxygen tanks can weigh over 8 pounds and continuous flow oxygen concentrators can weigh over 15 pounds, so generally you’ll need to use a rolling cart or carry them in a specially designed backpack. Pulse dose oxygen concentrators, on the other hand, are much lighter (under 5 pounds) and can be carried on one shoulder without ruining your posture. Check out this great guide for finding the best portable oxygen concentrator for seniors or fill out the contact form at the side of the page and we’ll get back with you.

Practice Breathing Exercises

Once you’ve fixed your posture, practicing breathing exercises is a great next step towards staying active during the pandemic. As a COPD patient, breathing correctly is very important, and not unlike posture, it is possible to develop bad breathing habits throughout your life. We’ve discussed this topic in depth in a previous post, but if you want a condensed version, we’ll cover it here.

One of the biggest problems COPD patients face is something called “shallow” or “chest” breathing. This is a type of breathing that is primarily done through the use of intercostal muscles the muscles found in between your rib cage. This is a problem because it limits your air intake and it can be painful or difficult for someone with a chronic lung disease because it emphasizes the use of chest muscles which are often weak in these patients.

Alternatively, COPD patients should practice what’s called “deep” or “diaphragmatic” breathing. As opposed to using chest muscles, this type of breathing uses the sheet of muscle below the lungs called the diaphragm. Learning to master this type of breathing can be difficult, but it’s well worth it for someone who wants to breath more comfortably and freely.

Pursed Lips Breathing

Pursed lips breathing is a breathing exercise that’s used to make your breaths slower and more intentional. It’s also designed to give you more control which is ideal for people who want to improve their athletic performance or cope more effectively with respiratory ailments like cystic fibrosis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

To practice pursed lips breathing, lie on your back or sit with your back straight. Drop your shoulders and try to eliminate tension within the body as much as possible. Inhale through your nose for 2 seconds letting your lungs fill with air. Then, purse your lips and blow out slowly for about 4 seconds. Continue to practice this exercise several times each day.

While this may seem like a rather simple and ineffective breathing exercise, studies have shown that it can significantly improve exercise tolerance, arterial oxygen, and breathing patterns, especially in those with declining lung function. This study even found that pursed lip breathing can reduce dynamic hyperinflation in patients with low peak expiratory flow (PEF). Another reason to practice pursed lips breathing is that it can calm your nerves and make you more relaxed. This can help relieve stress and anxiety which are common among COPD patients. 

Coordinated Breathing

Breathing is part of what’s called the autonomic nervous system. What this means is that it’s a function that your body does without you having to think about it. Your heart rate, blinking, and your breathing rate are all controlled by the autonomic nervous system. Coordinated breathing refers to breathing that you consciously try to control while you’re exercising.

Whenever you lift a heavy object or do some type of strenuous exercise, you may notice that you tend to hold your breath for a second or two or otherwise alter your breathing in some way. While this may be harmless to some people, to someone with COPD, it could cause a significant amount of tension and stress to build up in the chest.

If you’re lifting a dumbbell or some other type of weight, for example, inhale slowly before lifting the weight and start exhaling as you lift the weight. Once you start lowering the weight back down, you can inhale again. This is not only done to help you get a rhythm going and prevent tension in the chest, but it can also improve the strength you gain from the training exercise. Once you master this technique, you’ll also notice that it allows you to recover more quickly from a workout so that you can get back to it the next day.

Diaphragmatic Breathing

The diaphragm is a very important muscle in the body. Unfortunately, many people develop bad habits throughout their life that prevent them from using this muscle effectively. If this happens, it’s imperative that you retrain your body to breathe in the most efficient and healthy way possible. This is even more imperative for COPD patients who frequently suffer from muscle atrophy (muscle wasting). Try the following to practice diaphragmatic breathing:

• Lie down on your back on the floor or on a bed. Relax your shoulders and put one hand on your stomach and the other on your chest.
• Inhale for 2 seconds through your nose. If you’re doing the exercise correctly, you should feel your stomach moving more than your chest.
• Slowly exhale with pursed lips and feel your stomach move back downward. Repeat this each day to improve the strength and coordination of your diaphragm.

Practice Endurance Improving Exercises

Lung function is a huge factor in determining your overall endurance. Many COPD patients are unable to run or walk long distances because of problems like low forced expiratory volume (FEV) and total lung capacity. However, by taking the time to create a plan for improving your overall endurance, you’ll be able to do more without adding to symptoms that you may be experiencing.

Typically, pulmonary lung function tests are done in your doctor or pulmonologists office. During this appointment, he/she will perform a number of tests including spirometry, plethysmography, or diffusion capacity tests and gather data about your lung function. Once this is done, your doctor will help you interpret the results and set you up with an exercise plan that best fits your needs. What’s more, you may even be able to track your progress at home using a lung function testing device provided by your doctor. In this case, you’ll be able to track your progress more easily and without having to leave your home.

Aerobic exercise or “cardio” exercise is what you will need to do in order to improve your endurance and lung function as a COPD patient. This includes things like walking, running, hiking, or any other type of activity that gets you moving. Don’t worry though, you won’t have to perform high-intensity exercises to experience the benefits. In fact, many patients are advised not to exercise too much if it will increase your likelihood of experiencing an exacerbation.

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Walking

Walking is one of the most basic forms of aerobic exercise. And although it likely won’t raise your heart rate too much, it will do enough for you to see noticeable improvement if you stay consistent. When the weather is nice, it’s best to do some walking outside in a park or open space with clean air. However, due to current circumstances with COVID-19, it’s important to follow all your local regulations and wear a face mask. Use this guide by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on how to wear a face covering correctly.

If you feel unsafe walking outdoors either due to the virus or the weather, there are plenty of options for walking indoors as well. Some COPD patients enjoy walking up and down the stairs for added exercise but you can also use a treadmill which makes it very easy to track how far you’re walking. If you want, you can even purchase a device like a Fitbit which will track exactly how many steps you’re taking in a day and help you set long-term goals that are more achievable. 

Stationary Bike

Stationary bikes are another great option for at-home endurance training. They’re especially great for COPD patients because they allow you to do something a little more interesting than simply walking and it also works different muscle groups like the hamstrings, quadriceps, and the soleus and gastrocnemius in the calves. You also don’t have to deal with things like balance or the threat of falling over and getting hurt while on a stationary bike.

Tai Chi

Tai Chi is a long-standing Chinese martial arts tradition. While it’s been used for many purposes over the years, it’s commonly used by older adults and seniors as a form of exercise and meditation. We wrote a whole post on Tai Chi and it’s benefits, so check it out if you’re interested in learning more.

One of the main benefits of Tai Chi for people with lung conditions is that it allows you to tone your muscles, practice good posture and breathing, improve your endurance, and put your mind at ease all with one exercise. Tai Chi doesn’t involve fast-paced movements like other types of martial arts and it’s easy for beginners to jump into and start learning right away. According to COPD News Today, Tai Chi is an accessible, low-cost alternative to pulmonary rehabilitation.

Learn Strength Training Exercises

As aforementioned, muscle atrophy is a common occurrence in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other chronic lung conditions. According to this official publication, 40 percent of patients experience limited exercise capacity due to skeletal muscle loss in addition to pulmonary issues. This is often amplified by issues like oxidative stress, systemic inflammation, malnutrition, and hypoxemia.

What this means for those with COPD is that it’s extremely important to not only focus on improving your strength and working each muscle group, but you also don’t want to be losing more weight than you’re putting on. On the other hand, you don’t want to be overweight either because this can lead to problems like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and increase dyspnea (shortness of breath).

Much like endurance exercises, the strength training exercises you do don’t need to be high intensity. The consistency of your efforts is what will make the difference at the end of the day. 

Weight Lifting

Resistance exercises are a key part of any COPD exercise program. Many patients may be intimidated by the thought of performing strength training with a chronic lung condition, but they should only be done under controlled conditions advised by your doctor. Since muscle atrophy can occur anywhere in the body, a full-body exercise routine is likely to benefit you most rather than one that targets a specific muscle group.

One concern many people will likely have is finding the right equipment to perform strength training while at home. If you normally have a gym, you probably don’t have weight machines around your home that you can use. In this case, you’ll have to use a mix of free weights, elastic resistance training, and body weight exercises. While not a lot is known about what exercises are most beneficial for COPD patients, Tom Storer, Ph. D. and former member of the Pulmonary Education and Research Foundation (PERF) board of directors, has put together a great guide for COPD patients interested in strength training.

Use a Portable Oxygen Concentrator

No matter what type of exercises you’re doing at home, one thing that can make your life a lot easier is the type of oxygen therapy device you’re using. A large portion of COPD patients are on oxygen 24/7 making it ineffective and difficult or near impossible to stay active. Luckily, there are alternatives to heavy and clunky oxygen tanks. Portable oxygen concentrators like the Inogen One G5 are lightweight, small, and easy to use, even when you’re up and moving around the house.

The G5 weighs in at just 4.7 pounds and it’s the size of a small handbag. This means you’ll be able to practice all the at-home exercise we mentioned previously without feeling restricted or confined to one space. Portable oxygen concentrators run on batteries and the G5 offers up to 13 hours of freedom on one charge. What this means is that you’ll be able to move around the house freely without your device being plugged into the wall or without long oxygen tubing that could be a tripping hazard.

Despite portable oxygen concentrators being easier to use, they are less expensive than alternatives like compressed oxygen and liquid oxygen. And since these are difficult financial times for many Americans, it’s best to have a long-term plan for managing your COPD symptoms. When compared side-by-side with there are far less costs associated with portable oxygen concentrators. While oxygen tanks need to be refilled regularly, POCs, will run for 5 to 7 years without needing any additional financial investments.

Last but certainly not least, portable oxygen concentrators are much safer than oxygen tanks. While concentrators remove oxygen from ambient air, oxygen tanks store oxygen at high pressures. This makes them significantly more prone to explosions or other safety issues. Portable oxygen concentrators also use pulse dose technology which only delivers oxygen when a breath is detected. If you happen to drop your nasal cannula, the flow of oxygen will stop, reducing the likelihood of a fire.

At Home Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Pulmonary rehabilitation programs are designed to educate COPD patients about their lungs and train them on proper techniques for exercising safely and effectively. Under normal circumstances, you would visit a specialist who will walk you through everything you need to know, but with the coronavirus being a clear and present danger, most pulmonologists will advise against in-person pulmonary rehab programs — fortunately, there are alternatives. 

Thrive ePulmonary Learning is a fully online disease management course designed to help COPD patients understand their condition and implement proven breathing and exercise techniques that can reduce symptoms like breathlessness, chest pain, and coughing. By joining, you’ll have access to the following:

• One-on-one instruction from registered respiratory therapists, nutritionists, and counselors
• Exclusive access to your own support

In this day and age, convenience and reliability are everything. With how busy the average American is in their day-to-day life, most of us expect things like our phones, vehicles, and medical equipment to work as they’re intended all the time. By doing so, we’re able to enjoy the freedom to go where we want and do the things we set out to do without anything standing in our way.

But if you have COPD, cystic fibrosis, or one of any number of respiratory illnesses, you know that there’s one additional obstacle standing between you and freedom — your oxygen needs. When your needs are met, you’re able to enjoy your life and accomplish everything you set out to do. However, if they aren’t met, you could be left with a lot of wasted time and effort.

Last year, oxygen patients were fortunate enough to be introduced to one of the most convenient and reliable portable oxygen concentrators ever produced — the Inogen One G5. This new unit provides the highest oxygen output of any pulse flow oxygen concentrator on the market meaning that more oxygen patients than ever before are able to experience true freedom.

But when you purchase an Inogen one G5, your freedom isn’t limited to staying out of the house longer. Inogen has built an oxygen machine that is capable of being fully customized to suit all your wants and needs. In this post, we’re going to take a look at seven different things you can do to make the most of your Inogen One G5. If you have any questions about the G5, be sure to leave them in the comment section or fill out the form to the side of the screen so one of our oxygen specialists can reach out to you.

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Read and Understand the G5 User 

Manual

If you want to make the most of your Inogen One G5 experience, you should start by reading and understanding the user manual. The G5 user manual describes in detail all of the specifications and functions of your new mobile oxygen device. It also provides important information about cleaning, maintaining, and troubleshooting your new unit.

You don’t need to read the entire manual from top to bottom, however, it’s recommended that you read the most important sections. This includes things such as operating instructions, user controls, and cleaning and maintenance. You should also begin to familiarize yourself with the audible and visible signals so that you’re prepared if something goes wrong while you’re out and about.

Every Inogen concentrator comes with a manual, so once you’ve read it, be sure to keep it in a place that it won’t get lost. The carrying case that comes with the G5 has a side pouch where you can store it. This way you’ll be able to easily refer back to it whether you’re at home or on a trip. If you ever lose your G5 manual, there is a PDF version you can find online with a quick Google search.

If you decide that you don’t want to carry the Inogen One G5 manual with you, you can always download the Inogen Connect application on your mobile phone or tablet. With this application, you’ll be able to quickly read up on troubleshooting information or check the glossary of symbols for a symbol you don’t recognize.

Discover Which Carrying Option Suits You

The way you carry your Inogen One G5 is almost as important as the weight and size of the unit itself. While you can simply use the carrying case that comes with your G5, you’d be selling yourself short if you didn’t try some of the other carrying options that are available to you. 

The G5 Custom Carrying Case is one of the most popular G5 carrying bags on the market. This is similar to the carrying case that comes with the G5 but it offers a more sleek and minimalist design. The G5 Custom Carrying Case has a shoulder strap that can be adjusted to suit your needs and it a pad to help prevent irritation on your shoulders. Once the device is placed snuggly in the bag, the flap can easily be moved in order to access your G5’s control panel.

The custom carrying case is perfect for anyone who wants to take a quick trip to the grocery store or if you want to travel as light as possible. You’ll be happy to know that there is some storage space on this carrying case, but it’s primarily designed for small personal belongings like your car keys, a wallet, or your Inogen One G5 user manual. The sides are made of a mesh-like material that leaves G5 intake vents open and prevents overheating.

Another carrying option available for the G5 is the Inogen One G5 Backpack. This G5 accessory is designed with the traveler in mind because it has ample storage space to keep all your G5 accessories along with many other belongings such as your passport, wallet, keys, and much more. Like with the custom carrying case, the G5 will fit securely into the back pouch and won’t slide around while you’re walking. The control panel is fully visible and accessible without removing the device.

Last but certainly not least, we have the GO2 Carryalls. The G5 Carryalls have yet to be released, but the G3 Carryalls will give you some idea of what to expect when they do come out. Unlike other Inogen carrying bags on the market, the Carryalls are designed to be stylish. In fact, most people think they’re purses until they look closely and see that it’s holding a portable oxygen concentrator. Once you place your concentrator in this bag, it will be fully concealed with the exception of the nasal cannula which runs out the side. 

Like a purse, the GO2 Carryalls have plenty of room for small personal belongings and the control panel can be accessed by simply unzipping the bag. Currently, the G3 offers two different Carryall colors: a classy brown and a sleek black. Either way you go, this carrying bag is sure to grab the attention of one or more passersby as you’re out and about. If you’re interested in these bags, be sure to wait for the release of the G5 Carryalls. 

Carry Extra Batteries

The Inogen One G5 already offers an impressive 13 hours of battery life on a flow setting of 1 using the 16-cell battery. This is more than enough battery life to stay out all day. This puts the G5 at the second-highest battery life for a POC behind the CAIRE FreeStyle Comfort. This is pretty impressive! But it’s worth noting that if you’re using higher settings or you’re traveling a lot, you may want to invest in a second battery. 

One great thing about the Inogen One G5 batteries is that the 16-cell only weighs 1 pound more than the 8-cell. So, you’re effectively doubling your battery life for only 1 additional pound. You may even be able to upgrade the single battery that comes with the G5 if you decide you don’t want the single battery. 

If you travel by plane frequently, it may be worth it for you to either upgrade to the double battery or purchase an additional one. Most airlines require you to have 1.5 times the duration of the flight in battery life. On the highest flow setting, the G5 double battery will provide you with about 3 hours of battery life, so this should be enough to cover you for most flights within the United States. If not, you can either reduce the flow setting or purchase an additional battery.

Make Use of Different Charging Options

One thing that many oxygen patients forget about the Inogen One G5 is that it has many different charging options to suit your needs. The AC charging cable is the basic wall charger that comes with your portable oxygen concentrator. The DC charging cable, on the other hand, is the one you’ll use to charge your POC in the car via any cigarette lighter. It’s a good idea to keep these both on you wherever you go.

Many oxygen patients are shocked that they’re able to charge their oxygen concentrator while sitting at home or sitting in the car and while they’re simultaneously using it. If you’re taking a road trip, you’ll be able to keep your POC at a maximum charge so when it comes time to take a pit stop or do some sightseeing, you won’t have to worry about running out of battery. The only thing we would advise against is charging your portable oxygen concentrator while the car is off. This will drain the car battery quickly and after a while, you may find that your car won’t start.

The last charging option available for the Inogen One G5 is the external battery charger. This is a small device that attaches to either your 8-cell or 16-cell batteries and can charge them allowing you to charge them without them being attached to the G5 unit itself. What this means is that if you own two batteries, you’ll be able to charge them both at once: one on the G5 and one on the external charger. 

Sell Your Old Home Oxygen Concentrator

Possibly one of the greatest things about owning an Inogen One G5 is that you’ll no longer have a need for your home oxygen concentrator. The G5 has something called Sleep Mode Technology built into it which closely monitors your breathing rate as you sleep. This system will make subtle adjustments to your oxygen delivery to ensure you’re always receiving the right amount of oxygen.

Oftentimes, oxygen manufacturers or oxygen concentrator suppliers will allow you to sell back an oxygen concentrator as long as it’s in good condition. So, if you have a home oxygen concentrator lying around the house, be sure to reach out to an oxygen retailer. With the extra money, you can invest in accessories for your Inogen One G5 or save it.

Another thing you can get rid of now that you have your Inogen G5 are those bulky and dangerous oxygen tanks or oxygen cylinders you have lying around. If you’re currently renting oxygen tanks, you’re going to want to return them to the owner so that you’re not paying to use them monthly. Even if you own your own oxygen tanks, you’ll want to get rid of them because they’re a fire hazard and they take up a lot of space.

In many ways, the Inogen One G5 is an all-purpose oxygen concentrator. It offers a lightweight design like portable oxygen concentrators but it has a high oxygen output like home oxygen concentrators. So, regardless of whether you’re someone who travels non-stop or you never leave the house, you’ll benefit greatly from having an Inogen One G5. Even people who consider themselves “homebodies” love having the ability to be more mobile and active in their own homes so they usually end up selling or returning their old home oxygen concentrators.

Use Your G5 With Your CPAP or BiPAP Machine

In addition to the Intelligent Nighttime Delivery Technology, the Inogen One G5 is CPAP and BiPAP compatible. In other words, if you have COPD and a sleeping disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), you’ll be able to attach your G5 directly to your positive airway pressure machine and receive oxygen treatment simultaneously.

This is a very important feature to have with your portable oxygen concentrator because you shouldn’t have to sacrifice one respiratory treatment for another. Sleep apnea alone can be a very dangerous condition to cope with, and COPD can make it much worse. The compressor inside the Inogen One G5 is designed to be used 24/7, so you’ll never have to worry if it will hold up when you run it day and night.

Before you use your G5 with your CPAP or BiPAP machine, you should first speak with your doctor. He/she may want you to adjust your oxygen settings at night or avoid using your oxygen concentrator altogether while you sleep. You might also consider doing a sleep study which will help your doctor better understand your nighttime oxygen needs. If your doctor does approve of nighttime oxygen use, be sure to reach out to your oxygen retailer and consult the user manual to ensure it’s set up correctly.

Plan a Vacation With Friends and Family

Once you have your Inogen One G5 portable oxygen concentrator, you’d be remiss not to start planning trips that simply weren’t possible before. The G5 was designed to provide you with the freedom you need to live life on your own terms and not be defined by your disease. With the G5’s outstanding battery life and lightweight design, you’ll be amazed at all the places you can go and the things you can do.

One thing that many COPD patients miss is being able to travel out of the country. In the past, the majority of oxygen patients used oxygen tanks which are strictly banned on commercial flights due to their bulky size. As a result, many oxygen patients feel confined and like the walls are closing in on them. What’s more, if these people have family on the opposite side of the country, they’d either have to prepare for a long drive or meet them somewhere in the middle.

Fortunately, oxygen patients have been able to regain all of this freedom with the introduction of portable oxygen concentrators. Since the G5 is approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), all you’ll need to do is contact your airline a couple days ahead of your flight and let them know you’ll be carrying an oxygen concentrator. Most airlines will ask that you take 1.5 times the duration of the flight in batteries which won’t be hard considering the G5 double battery offers up to 13 hours of battery life.

Another freedom you’ll regain with the G5 is the ability to travel via public transportation. In the past, you likely felt self-conscious about taking your oxygen tank on the subway or bus because there’s always the fear that someone will bump into it, or that your cart might break and you won’t be able to move it. However, the G5 is so small that you can rest it under your shoulder as you’re walking so that nobody bumps into it. It’s also much more durable than an oxygen tank so you won’t have to worry if it gets jostled around a little bit.

At the end of the day, the most important part about traveling is getting to spend quality time with friends and family. When you make the transition to the G5, you’ll be able to spend more time connecting with those around you rather than worrying about your oxygen therapy. A portable oxygen concentrator will enable you to be self-sufficient by managing your own oxygen delivery rather than feeling like you’re a burden on someone else. Depending on your age and the stage of COPD that you have, you may even be comfortable traveling alone, even if it’s just for a short period of time. 

Conclusion

If you just purchased an Inogen One G5, congratulations! You own the most advanced and reliable portable oxygen concentrator ever produced! But if you want to make the most of your G5, you need to get out and start enjoying all the things you used to see and do. If you’re used to being held back and restricted by your oxygen therapy device, it’s time to take a step back and reframe your mindset. With the G5, there is very little standing in the way of you and your dreams or aspirations, so get out and get moving!

If you have any questions at all about operating your Inogen One G5, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us by filling out the contact form to the right. We’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

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

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

What is a Respirator?

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

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

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

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

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

What is a Ventilator?

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

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

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

What is an Oxygen Concentrator?

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

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

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

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

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

What are Nebulizers and Inhalers?

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

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

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

What are CPAP, BiPAP, and APAP Machines?

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

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

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

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

Conclusion

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

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

Supplemental oxygen is a type of medical therapy used to treat chronic lung conditions like cystic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, and COPD. The aim of supplemental oxygen is to maintain a patient’s blood oxygen levels which are vital for systemic health. Every organ in the body requires oxygen in order to function properly, so using supplemental oxygen as it’s advised by your doctor can provide you with immense short- and long-term benefits.

Despite how important supplemental oxygen is for respiratory patients, receiving a prescription for oxygen therapy can be a scary experience. You likely have a lot of thoughts and concerns running through your mind and you’re likely overwhelmed by the prospect of being connected to an oxygen delivery device. While these concerns are certainly justified, it’s important to take a step back and begin to clarify your concerns with your doctor. Chances are, as you learn more about oxygen therapy and become more experienced with using it, many of your concerns will begin to disappear.

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To help you organize your thoughts, we’re going to be discussing 14 questions you should ask your pulmonologist about supplemental oxygen therapy. Feel free to either print out this article or take notes so that you know exactly what to ask your doctor during your next visit. If you enjoy this article and you’re looking for more information, be sure to read through our post titled “16 Questions You Should Ask Your Doctor About COPD.”

1.) Is Oxygen a Necessity or a Suggestion?

Chances are, you or someone that you know has fallen back on a prescription at some point. Either you never make it to the pharmacy to pick up your medication or you simply stop using the medication for one reason or another. This Harvard Medical report states that many people either forget to use their medication, or they never fill it due to high copayments. So, naturally, you might wonder whether or not your oxygen therapy prescription will follow a similar trend. As a general rule of thumb, you should take what your doctor says seriously, because it’s unlikely that he/she would make you go out of your way or spend extra money on something that isn’t necessary. However, it doesn’t hurt to address these concerns so that your doctor can clarify the rationale behind your oxygen prescription.

2.) What are the Benefits of Oxygen Therapy?

The second thing you should ask your pulmonary doctor about are the benefits you can expect to reap from using supplemental oxygen. The air around us contains about 21% oxygen, but for someone with impaired lung function, this is not always enough for them to sustain their blood oxygen levels. The goal of oxygen therapy is to provide the lungs with a higher concentration of oxygen in order to reduce the load on the lungs. You may experience additional benefits from using supplemental oxygen based on the severity of your disease. Be sure to ask your doctor about this. 

3.) What is My Flow Rate?

Your flow rate determines the amount of oxygen that you will be receiving when you put on the nasal cannula. It’s imperative that you know the exact amount of oxygen that you should be receiving because inhaling too much oxygen can lead to a condition called oxygen toxicity. This condition results in dizziness, fatigue, nausea, and eventual lung damage. Conversely, receiving too little oxygen will not provide you with the full benefits of supplemental oxygen. 

Oxygen flow is measured using one of two different measurements. Pulse dose oxygen devices are measured in milliliters per minute (ml/min) and continuous flow oxygen devices are measured in liters per minute (LPM). The amount of oxygen that you’re prescribed will be based on the severity of your respiratory impairment, but generally speaking, most people need less than 2 LPM of oxygen.

4.) How Many Hours a Day Should I Use Oxygen?

Knowing how long you should be using oxygen is just as important as knowing your oxygen flow setting. If you’re using oxygen inconsistently, you might see a lot of your respiratory symptoms start to return. Long-term oxygen therapy is usually done for at least several hours a day, and your doctor will work with you to determine the best time to use it. If your doctor prescribes you with 24/7 oxygen, then you should discuss with your doctor about using an oxygen concentrator which doesn’t need to be refilled constantly like oxygen tanks or liquid oxygen tanks.

5.) What Type of Oxygen Device Should I Buy?

You might be surprised to find out how many oxygen devices there are on the market. You’ll have a whole host of options to choose from including traditional oxygen tanks, liquid oxygen tanks, stationary oxygen concentrators, and portable oxygen concentrators. But as someone who’s new to supplemental oxygen, you likely don’t know where to even begin with choosing one of these. Your doctor will likely have some information for you regarding which oxygen devices you should avoid and which ones you should consider.

It’s important to be careful when you’re purchasing an oxygen device. You may encounter companies that try to sell you oxygen without a prescription or that boasts prices that are significantly lower than any other company. However, these are most likely scams. Before making any decisions, be sure to research the company that you’re buying from to make sure that their products are reliable and that they follow all laws and regulations. For more information about how the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates oxygen, please visit this page. 

6.) Is it Okay to Adjust My Flow Rate Depending on How I’m Feeling?

If you have a chronic respiratory condition like COPD or pulmonary fibrosis, it’s not uncommon for symptoms to come and go. One day, you might be out of breath or lightheaded and the next you could feel perfectly fine. Because of this, you’re going to want to clarify with your doctor when it’s okay to adjust your oxygen flow and when you should not adjust your oxygen flow. The reason it’s important to ask this question is because your increase in symptoms may be due to something completely unrelated to your blood oxygen levels. In which case, increasing your oxygen flow would not benefit you.

7.) How Can I Track My Blood Oxygen Level?

A pulse oximeter, or pulse ox device, clips onto your finger and measures the saturation of oxygen in your blood (SpO2). They are noninvasive and they work by passing rays of light through your finger to measure the amount of oxygen-carrying hemoglobin. While they aren’t the most accurate method of measuring blood oxygen levels, they are very lightweight and portable meaning you can pack one in your purse or handbag for easy access. If your doctor hasn’t already provided you with one, it’s worth mentioning it so that you have a way of monitoring your oxygen levels. To learn more about blood oxygen levels, read this post.

8.) Is Oxygen Therapy Safe?

Since oxygen is a controlled substance in the United States and requires a prescription, you may be wondering if it’s even safe to use in the first place. The answer to this question is “yes,” however, there are some things you should be aware of. Firstly, as aforementioned, using more oxygen than you’re prescribed will put you at risk of experiencing oxygen toxicity. Secondly, the safety of oxygen therapy depends heavily on the type of oxygen device you’re using. 

Traditional oxygen tanks are the most dangerous because they contain compressed oxygen and they’re also heavy and bulky. Portable oxygen concentrators are the least dangerous oxygen device because they are lightweight and do not contain compressed oxygen. Oxygen is an “oxidizer” meaning it increases the flammability of anything it comes into contact with. So, you should never smoke near your oxygen device or use it near an open flame.

9.) Should I Be On Oxygen When I Sleep?

If your doctor prescribes you with 24/7 oxygen, you might be wondering how this will work when you’re sleeping. Your breathing rate and depth fluctuate a lot when you sleep so the amount of oxygen that you’re receiving could change throughout the night. This is why it might be worth it to invest in a portable oxygen concentrator like the Caire FreeStyle Comfort or the Inogen One G5. Unlike oxygen tanks, these devices closely monitor your breathing as you sleep and adjust your intake accordingly.

If you have a sleep disorder like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), you may need to use your PAP device and your oxygen device at the same time while you sleep. PAP therapy is of critical importance for OSA patients because it keeps their airways open as they sleep allowing them to get restful sleep without interruptions. To use your CPAP device with your oxygen device, you need to be using a continuous flow oxygen unit and have a bleed in adapter that connects the tubing together. The Respironics SImplyGo is the perfect portable oxygen concentrator for CPAP compatibility.

10.) How Can I Eliminate Discomfort While on Supplemental Oxygen?

For the most part, oxygen therapy shouldn’t cause any discomfort. However, some people encounter issues with the nasal cannula such as irritation inside the nose due to dryness or some other reason. Humidifiers can actually be attached to your oxygen device to help ease the discomfort and there are a number of other accessories you can purchase that make the process more comfortable. We actually wrote a guide discussing some of the issues oxygen patients face and how to solve them. Check it out here. 

11.) Can I Exercise on Oxygen?

Consistent moderate exercise is crucial for pulmonary wellness. Not only does exercise improve the strength of your lungs but it also increases the efficiency that your heart pumps oxygen throughout your body. So, just because you’ve started oxygen therapy does not mean that you should stop exercising. Check out this post which has some tips for exercising with an oxygen device and be sure to ask your doctor for advice as well.

12.) What Do I Need to Know to Travel With Oxygen?

Traveling around the world with COPD is much easier than ever before thanks to portable oxygen concentrators. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the organization that oversees all commercial flights in the United States has approved most POCs for in-flight use. However, to make sure you have everything you need, you should contact your airline at least 48 hours before your flight. Most airlines require that you have at least one and a half times as much battery life as the duration of the flight. This will make up for any delays that may occur before and after you land.

13.) How Do I Maintain My Oxygen Device?

With the advent of the novel coronavirus, cleaning has taken on a whole new meaning. No matter what type of oxygen device you decide to use, you should take the time to clean it regularly. What’s more, nasal cannulae and oxygen tubing should be replaced every two weeks to ensure it’s clean and ready for use. If you purchase a portable oxygen concentrator you should remove the particle filters each week and wash them off. This will ensure that the air you’re inhaling through the cannula is clean and free of dust and dirt.

14.) Will I Need to Get Retested For Supplemental Oxygen?

Doctors typically use arterial blood gas analysis, pulse oximetry, and various lung tests to determine your need for supplemental oxygen. However, you may need to take on-going tests to help your doctor determine whether or not you still need oxygen in the future. Ask your doctor what kind of tests you will need to take and how often you should come in for a checkup once you are using your oxygen device. Some patients find it helpful to get a certificate of medical necessity which can help you file insurance claims and apply for benefits.

Conclusion

Supplemental oxygen is a very important facet of your treatment regime if you have COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, or any other number of lung conditions. Unfortunately, it’s something that takes time to get used to and learn about if you’ve never done it before. Many people don’t even know what questions they should be asking their doctor so we hope that this guide will help with demystifying oxygen therapy.

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Here at LPT Medical, we take your search for an oxygen therapy device very seriously. We work with some of the top brands in the industry such as Inogen, Respironics, AirSep, and Caire in order to provide our patients with the best oxygen devices on the market for an affordable price. Our respiratory specialists will work with you one-on-one to determine what your medical needs are, then they will help you narrow down your options based on your lifestyle and preferences. We also have a number of buying options like new, refurbished, and used units so you can choose which one best fits your needs.

Feel free to reach out to us either by email or phone to get started finding an oxygen device for you.

Getting enough sleep can help your well being in a number of ways, your mental health, your physical capabilities, and so much more. But if you have sleep apnea, falling asleep, let alone sleeping through the night is an impossible task. 

There are many reasons why people have sleep apnea, and understanding why you have sleep apnea is a critical step in treating it. Once you understand the root of the issue and what is causing it, you will be able to actively target the issue and hopefully get back to bed! 

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In this blog we will discuss why sleep is so important, especially as you get older. We will also talk about sleep apnea diagnosis and the telltale signs that you should talk to your doctor about your sleep. Once you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, you may need to start using a portable oxygen concentrator while you sleep, so we will discuss your oxygen therapy options as well. 

7 Reasons Sleep is so Important

1. Sleep Boosts your Immune System

It is important for your body to get the sleep it needs so that your immune cells are rested and strong  to fight off allergies, germs, viruses and whatever aliment comes their way. Avoiding sickness like colds or the flu reduces your chance of ever experiencing a COPD exacerbation. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine suggests that sufficient sleep can also enhance vaccines effectiveness, which is obviously a plus, especially now that the COVID-19 vaccine has been rolled out in the United States, and it is crucial for COPD patients health.

2. More Sleep Will Help Shed the Extra Weight 

Getting a full eight hours of sleep doesn’t mean you will wake up and lose the weight you need to, but sleeping can help your body from packing on extra pounds. Without sleep, your body produces something called ghrelin, a hormone that will boost your appetite, not great if you want to lose weight. Without sleep your body also will not produce leptin, a hormone that helps you realize that you are full, also not great for loosing weight. Not to mention, stress increases the likelihood that you will stress eat, and you might not have the energy to fight craving if you are stressed and under slept. 

3. Sleep Can Strengthen Your Heart

Your heart loves sleep. Lack of sleep can cause your body to release something called cortisol which can lead to high blood pressure and heart attacks. Cortisol is a stress hormone that triggers your heart to work harder. Your heart also needs rest to function properly.

4. Better Sleep Means a Happier You

Good sleeping can lead to good moods. Simply waking up feeling rested helps your energy levels soar. This gives you energy to deal with whatever life throws at you, or it at least helps you deal with the obstacles and challenges in everyday life. Having the ability  and energy to manage and deal with your emotions will help focus on the happier emotions. 

5. Sleeping Can Increase Productivity

Getting enough sleep cultivates a healthy attention span and promotes concentration. Sleep also helps several other aspects of thinking including memory, problem-solving, creativity, emotional processing, and judgment, all of which promote success at work!

7. Sleep Can Increase Exercise Performance

Exercise is essential if you have COPD. Exercise promotes your lung and muscle capacity so you are able to do more everyday activities and tasks, and it also helps to slow down the progression of your COPD. Sleep is a form of exercise recovery, and recovery helps your hand-eye coordination, reaction time and muscle recovery. Plus, depriving yourself of sleep can have a negative impact on your energy level, and decrease your strength and power, both of which you will need to have a healthy COPD exercise regime. 

When Should You Talk to Your Doctor About your Sleep

You should talk to your doctor about your sleep if you are not sleeping through the night on a consistent basis. If your lack of sleep is affecting your life while you are awake, you should contact your doctor to set up an evaluation. Your doctor will look at your signs, symptoms, and a sleep history. If you have a partner who shares a bed with you, their insight into your sleeping patterns could be helpful to know!

From there, you could be referred to a sleep disorder center. A sleep specialist can determine your need for further evaluation.

Diagnosing Sleep Apnea 

To diagnose sleep apnea test will be conducted: 

Nocturnal polysomnography is a test where you will be hooked up to equipment that monitors your heart, lung and brain activity, breathing patterns, arm and leg movements, and blood oxygen levels while you sleep.

Home sleep tests provide you with tools to diagnose sleep apnea at home. These tests usually measure your heart rate, blood oxygen level, airflow and breathing patterns.

Based on the results of these tests and how abnormal they are, your doctor might be able to prescribe a therapy without further testing. However, these tests do not always doesn't detect all cases of sleep apnea, and if your results are normal, your doctor might still recommend polysomnography to understand your sleeping condition further.

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If you have obstructive sleep apnea, you may have to go see an ear, nose and throat doctor to rule out blockage in your nose or throat. 

However it is more likely that you have central sleep apnea because this is much more common, and if you have COPD it is likely that your sleep apnea can be tied to your respiratory condition. 

Tips and Tricks for Sleeping Better if you have Central Sleep Apnea 

People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) face distinct challenges getting enough sleep. COPD symptoms including coughing, pain and shortness of breath, all make it difficult to sleep. But as we mention in the section above, sleep is essential for COPD patients because sleep is important for resting your pulmonary muscles — and for simply functioning at a reasonable capacity. 

COPD is not the only reason you are not sleeping well, there could be a number of reasons beyond these symptoms that induce sleeping problems. Understanding what these reasons are could help you find your way to a better night’s sleep.

Cut out mid day coffee or tea

Even though you may be tired from not resting enough the night before, that afternoon cup of coffee could be keeping you up. Having a cup of coffee or tea may help the afternoon crash problem you experience, but the extra caffeine late in the day could be impacting your ability to fall asleep that night, and that is a very counterproductive cycle.

Cultivate healthy sleeping habits 

Make adjustments to your schedule and the ambiance of your bedroom to help improve your sleep. Start by limiting you napping because too much sleep during the day can disrupt regular sleeping patterns at night. Your naps should be no longer than20 minutes, this should help support your much needed night time rest.

Stick to a routine, this means going to bed and getting up at the same time every day. This will help reinforce natural sleep/wake cycles. 

Elevating yourself by sleeping in a slightly upright position helps reduce stress on your lungs. It also can reduce acid reflux symptoms if you have trouble sleeping due to that.

Adjust your lifestyle 

Adjusting your lifestyle means creating healthy habits.

First and foremost, if you smoke, get help to quit. Do not let anyone in your home smoke in order to keep your house  free of secondhand smoke, dust, and pollutants. Your breathing is directly impacted by what you breathe in and when you inhale smoke, your air passages get smaller, which makes it harder to breathe.

Start an exercise program, you can join a pulmonary rehabilitation course to learn how to exercise effectively and safely. If you have COPD you can often experience drops in oxygen levels at night and in some cases you may need oxygen therapy while you sleep, but to avoid having to get on oxygen therapy, physical activity will help you build up your oxygen supply. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise a day, three times a week. 

A sleep diary is very helpful for COPD patients who have trouble sleeping because it reminds you what works and what doesn’t. Write down what you ate that day, medicines you took, and activities for the day and then write down when you went to bed and woke up. Take a look at it after a few days and you will be able to see what helps you sleep better.

Getting ready for bed prepares you for sleep, even if you are not tired yet, start doing your bedtime routine at the same time every night, this will remind your body that it is time to start relaxing. Try these tips for relaxation:

• Take a warm bath to help your body reach a nice temperature for rest 
• Journal or write a to-do list for the next day to clear your mind
• Relax your muscles with light stretching
• Listen to soothing music or a hypnosis recording
• Shut off your electronic devices an hour before bed
• Create a comfortable and cool space with a temperature between 60-71 F. 
• Get rid of clutter as it can cause stress
• Aromatherapy with lavender can make it easier to fall asleep

Your sleep position is very important in terms of your lung capacity. Having a good sleeping posture helps open your airways making it easier to breathe. Sleep with your head slightly higher than the rest of your body rather than laying your head completely flat. If you sleep on your side, place a pillow between your knees and keep your back straight. When you sleep on your back, bend your knees slightly with a pillow placed under them.

Sleeping with an Oxygen Concentrator

Sleeping with a portable oxygen concentrator is something you will have to get used to doing. Your breathing pattern changes while you sleep, and you may breathe deeper when you sleep, or it is possible you have a shallower breathing pattern. That is why, if you use oxygen therapy while sleeping, your nighttime oxygen solution may differ from what you use for supplemental oxygen during the day.

Pulse dose portable concentrators can be an effective nighttime solution for some patients, and you can check with your doctor if your pulse flow device is sufficient in ensuring you have adequate blood oxygen levels while sleeping. But your doctor might determine your specific needs  require a continuous flow portable oxygen concentrator.  Your doctor will be able to perform a series of tests and studies in order to determine exactly what flow-setting you’ll need while you sleep, allowing you to choose your nighttime oxygen machine accordingly.

Once you know what nighttime oxygen machine you need, you can call 1(800)-946-1201 to speak with a respiratory specialist at LPT Medical. We will help you get the device that will cover your oxygen needs at the best possible price. 

There are several portable oxygen options to choose from. If you have trouble sleeping, you can look into specific portable oxygen units that have certain features that make them better suited for overnight use. As long as they meet your prescribed oxygen needs, the concentrators discussed here are ideal for your nighttime oxygen solutions.

Best Pulse Flow and Continuous Flow Oxygen Concentrators for Sleeping in 2021

The Respironics SimplyGo is the most flexible option for you in order to satisfy both daytime and nighttime oxygen demands. This device was engineered with your travel needs in mind, so it comes equipped with three modes of oxygen delivery – Continuous Flow Mode, Pulse Mode, and Sleep Mode! 

The SimplyGo can run off power from a wall outlet, a cigarette lighter or a charged battery, so you can transport your device with you anywhere. This is the most popular oxygen solution for those that who use sleep therapy equipment, such as a CPAP machine, in conjunction with oxygen.

The SimplyGo is ideal for your 24/7 usage and with its advanced ‘Sleep Mode’ technology you will be delivered a pulse dose of oxygen for a longer duration for a comfortable sleep. If you begin to breathe shallowly or through your mouth, the SimplyGo will automatically switch to the continuous flow mode, and deliver oxygen at 2 LPM to ensure you are adequately oxygenated. 

This is something oxygen tanks and canisters will never have the capacity to do. This feature gives you peace of mind that you are being oxygenated throughout the night and getting better sleep for an overall better life.  

Here are the SimplyGo specs: 

• Pulse Settings: 1 to 6
• Continuous Liter Flow: 0.5 to 2 LPM
• Battery life: Up to 3 hours (on the setting of 2)
• Weight: 10 lbs (with battery included)
• Dimensions: 11.5 W x 10 H x 6 D (inches)

The Inogen One G5 may be a good option for your nighttime use if you are prescribed nighttime supplemental oxygen and approved pulse dose delivery. This is a smaller and lighter machine conducive to an active person’s lifestyle, or simply designed with ease and comfort in mind. The Inogen One G5 weighs 4.8 lbs and will give you 13 hours of pulse dose oxygen when paired with a 16-cell One G5 battery. 

Beyond the benefits of its small and compact design, long lasting battery life, and powerful pulse flow settings, is the benefit of owning an oxygen device that provides extremely quiet operation, rated at 38 decibels. That means it won’t disturb you or anyone around you, while you’re asleep.

Here are Inogen One G5 Specs:

• Pulse Settings: 1 to 6
• Battery life: Up to 6 hr 30 min (with single battery)
• Weight: 4.8 lbs (with single battery)
• Dimensions: 3.26 x 8.15 x 7.19 (W x H x D in inches, with single battery)

Overview

The bottom line: you need to sleep well. Sleep is your beginning and the end of each day, so it is a massive part of your life and it should be treated as such, and pay mind to it. If you have trouble sleeping, speak to your doctor about steps you should take to sleep better. People who get less sleep tend to be heavier and are more likely to be diabetic. On top of that they are less energetic, experience bad moods, and lower productivity. 

There are so many ways that you can get into a healthier rhythm of sleep, but if you have central sleep apnea, you will need to take added measures to start sleeping again beyond changing your daily habits and creating a sleep routine. 

It may be necessary for you to go on oxygen at night. If so, you can get set up with a portable oxygen concentrator that is approved for nighttime use by calling 1(800)-946-1201.