In both developed and undeveloped countries around the world, it is estimated that 9-10% of people are affected by Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Experts have made a prediction that by 2020, it will be the third leading cause of death in the world as the population ages and people continue to smoke. More than 12 million people have been diagnosed with COPD in the United States alone and it is the third leading cause of death claiming more than 120,000 American lives each year.

COPD is an umbrella term used to describe progressive lung diseases including chronic bronchitis, emphysema, refractory asthma and some forms of bronchiectasis. It is mainly characterized by shortness of breath. In its initial stages, COPD may show no symptoms or have very mild symptoms but as the disease progresses, the symptoms usually become more severe.

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Physicians have traditionally measured the severity of COPD by the amount of air a person can forcibly exhale in one second (FEV1). The amount of air usually decreases as COPD becomes worse. Just the same, COPD affects other systems and body parts, which helps provide clues about the severity of the disease. A lot of physicians are now using the BODE index to categorize COPD and predict outcome. BODE is short for body-mass index, degree of airflow obstruction, dyspnea (breathlessness), and exercise capacity as measured in a 6-minute walk test.

You are probably familiar with COPD classic symptoms which include;

• Frequent respiratory infections.
• Lack of energy.
• Chronic cough with production of a lot of mucus.
• Experiencing shortness of breath, especially with physical activity.
• Chest tightness.
• Wheezing or hearing a whistling sound when you breathe.
• Blueness of the lips or fingernail beds.

You however may not be aware of the potential common complications associated with COPD and how you can limit them. Below is a list of 6 complications that you may face with COPD. 

1. Cor Pulmonale 

This refers to a failure of the right side of the heart. It is a condition in which the right side of the heart swells up (lower extremity edema) and cannot pump blood properly. COPD makes the heart work harder, especially on the right side which pumps blood into the lungs. Due to poor gas exchange in COPD, there are reduced amounts of oxygen in the blood causing blood vessels to constrict. Many of the capillaries around the alveoli are destroyed in the disease process making the heart work even harder for blood to be forced through fewer constricted blood vessels. Because of all this effort, the right ventricle swells up, the walls of the heart become thicker, and the chamber over time loses its ability to contract efficiently.

Symptoms of cor pulmonale include fainting spells and discomfort in the front of the chest. To control your symptoms your doctor may recommend a low-salt diet, medication or supplemental oxygen. If you are an active cigarette smoker, you should plan to quit. You should also engage in mild to moderate physical activity to build up heart and lung stamina. Remember to consult your doctor before you start any exercise regimen.

2. Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a lung infection that can be caused by a bacteria or a virus, and can lead to respiratory failure in patients with COPD. COPD weakens the respiratory system increasing vulnerability to pneumonia. Because people with COPD already have weakened airways and a worse immune system, the likelihood of them to die from pneumonia is higher than that of patients without COPD.

Symptoms of pneumonia usually include coughing, a fever, and having a difficult time breathing. Pneumonia is more common in COPD patients that take steroids for their symptoms. You should consider talking to your doctor about getting a pneumonia vaccine if you have not already gotten one.

One dose is usually enough for most people, a second dose may be suggested for some, including those that have been using steroids for a long time. Antibiotics can also be used to treat pneumonia caused by bacteria. Streptococcus pneumonia is the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia in patients with COPD. To reduce the risk of getting infected, you should;

• Drink plenty of fluids especially water, to maintain healthy bronchioles while thinning out mucus and secretions.
• Quit smoking.
• Wash hands consistently.
• Avoid contact with people you know are ill.
• Discourage sick family members and friends from coming to visit your home.

Overall good health is key to preventing infections.

3. Depression

Shortness of breath that limits your activities can have you feeling down in the dumps and lead to loss of interest or pleasure in activities. Having this feeling every once in a while is okay but when you feel this way frequently then you may be undergoing depression. One study estimated that 40 percent of people with COPD suffer from depression.

Depression can lead to the worsening of your physical symptoms because you may not fell like exercising and feeling low all the time might make it hard for you to follow your treatment plan.

You may even turn to alcohol, cigarette smoking or any other unhealthy habits to help you cope with depression which can lead to more harm to your body. Do not ignore how you are feeling and talk to your doctor about this so that they can get you the help that you need. Signs to look out for include;

• Feeling guilty or worthless.
• Being overly sensitive to criticism.
• Feeling hopeless or suicidal.
• Having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.
• Having trouble making decisions and concentrating.
• Lethargy and lack of motivation.

Your doctor may recommend antidepressant medication or talk therapy. You may also decide to join a support group with other COPD patients or a pulmonary rehabilitation program to help you fight depression.

4. Osteoporosis

This is a complication that sometimes occurs with COPD causing the weakening of the bones. Bones are made with living tissue and as older bone tissue breaks down, new bone tissue is created. When the nutrients in the body are not enough to create new bone tissue, the bones may become weak and fragile, and when this occurs, the risk of getting fractures is greatly increased. Although no exact reason can be given by researchers on the coexistence of COPD and osteoporosis, some theories for what the cause may be include;

• Cigarette smoking – some researchers believe that some chemicals in cigarette smoke cause changes in the body, and these changes include genetic changes that may cause bones to become weak and slow to heal.
  
  
• Corticosteroids – these are commonly used by COPD patients to control COPD flare-ups and to reduce airway inflammation, and a common side effect of corticosteroids is osteoporosis.
  
  
• Low vitamin D levels – people with COPD may opt to stay indoors and lack of exposure to the sun, causing low levels of vitamin D. Low vitamin D levels have been linked to poor bone growth and skeletal mass, which may contribute to osteoporosis. 

Your doctor can check your bone health with a bone density scan. You may need prescription medicine along with calcium and vitamin D supplements to keep your bones strong. You may also want to exercise as research has shown that progressively harder weight-bearing exercise, such as strength training can boost bone health. Consult your doctor before you start any exercise regimen.

5. Trouble sleeping 

It is very common for people diagnosed with COPD to have trouble sleeping. In fact around 50 percent of COPD patients face this problem. This is a problem because getting enough sleep is vital for all body functions to work properly.

Sleeping problems linked with COPD include; low levels of oxygen during sleep, sleep apnea, depression, medication used to treat COPD symptoms and some of the COPD symptoms like coughing and wheezing.

You should let your doctor know if you are experiencing trouble sleeping so that he can figure out what is causing it and then treat it. A few things you can do to help with this problem include:

• Keep the room that you sleep in cozy, dark, cool and quiet.
• Practice airway clearance techniques throughout the day and right before you sleep to remove secretions in your airways.
• Ask your doctor if night-time use of supplemental oxygen is an option for you.
• Review the medicine that you are using with your doctor to see if it has any side effects. You may require an adjustment.
• Talk to your doctor about non-invasive positive-pressure ventilation (NIPPV) such as CPAP if you suffer from sleep apnea or other sleeping disorders.
• Try not to drink caffeinated beverages late in the day or avoid them altogether.
• Do not sleep lying flat. Elevate your upper body with pillows to help facilitate breathing.

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6. Pneumothorax 

Pneumothorax, which is also referred to as a collapsed lung, occurs when a hole develops in the lung, allowing air to escape into the space around the lung causing the lung to partially or completely collapse.

People diagnosed with COPD are at higher risk of getting pneumothorax because the structure of their lungs is weak and vulnerable to the development of these types of holes. It can be caused by an injury to the lung, rib fracture, certain medical procedures and in some cases air pressure changes for example high altitude. 

Signs to look out for include sudden sharp chest pains that worsen when you take a deep breath, rapid heartbeat, chest tightness, and cyanosis caused by lack of oxygen.

Pneumothorax can be treated by inserting a chest tube between the ribs into the space between the lung and the chest wall to help remove the air and re-inflate the lung. The chest tube stays in place for a number of days as the patient recovers in hospital. In some rare cases, surgery is required to prevent future occurrences.

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

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

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

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

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

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

COPD is commonly Misdiagnosed

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

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

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

Here are some early warning signs to look out for:

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

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

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

Be Careful to Avoid COPD Flare Ups

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

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

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

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

There is No Cure for Chronic Lung Diseases

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

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

COPD is Commonly Cause by Smoking and Air Pollutants

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

COPD is Diagnosed by Your Doctor with a Series of Tests

Common COPD tests are as follows:

Lung (pulmonary) function tests

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

Chest X-ray. A chest X-ray

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

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

Arterial blood gas analysis

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

Laboratory tests

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

Spirometry

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

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

You Can Treat COPD

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Too Much Oxygen Can be Dangerous

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

An oxygen concentrator is a device that administers medical-grade oxygen to a patient via a nasal cannula. Oxygen concentrators are used to treat a variety of respiratory ailments including COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, and pneumonia. There are a wide variety of oxygen concentrators on the market that suit people with different wants and needs, but it can be somewhat daunting choosing a concentrator if you’re not sure what to look for.

Earlier this year, we put out a great comprehensive guide for choosing a portable oxygen concentrator in 2020. If you’ve never used supplemental oxygen before or you’re switching to a concentrator from compressed oxygen or liquid oxygen, this guide will teach you everything you need to know about choosing the perfect oxygen machine for you.

In this post, however, we’re going to be looking at one oxygen concentrator in particular — The Inogen One G3 Portable Oxygen Concentrator. Ever since its release in 2012, this portable oxygen machine has been one of the most popular choices for oxygen patients everywhere. Despite being released 8 years ago, the Inogen One G3 still holds its own against newer concentrators like the Inogen One G5 and the Caire FreeStyle Comfort.

Keep reading if you’d like to learn more about how the G3 works and some of its key benefits. And if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to fill out the contact form at the side of the page. One of our respiratory specialists will reach out to you and guide you through the process of choosing an oxygen concentrator.

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High Oxygen Output

As an oxygen user, the most important thing you need to do is ensure that your oxygen device meets your needs. For example, someone with stage 1 COPD will not need a high concentration of oxygen while someone with stage 4 COPD will need significantly more oxygen. Every device has a different oxygen output, so you’ll need to do your research before committing to anything.

Fortunately, the Inogen One G3 provides oxygen users with a very high oxygen output. On its maximum setting of 5, the G3 puts out an impressive 1,050 milliliters of oxygen per minute (ml/min). While this may not sound like a lot, you need to consider the fact that the G3 is a pulse dose concentrator, not a continuous flow concentrator. What this means is that oxygen is only administered when the user inhales.

For example, at an average breathing rate of 20 BPMs and a continuous flow oxygen concentrator with a 3 liter per minute (LPM) output, you would only inspire 1 liter of oxygen each minute. This is the equivalent of 1,000 ml/min, slightly less than the output of the Inogen One G3. In other words, the G3 has about the same oxygen output as a 3 LPM continuous flow concentrator. If this is confusing, be sure to check out our pulse flow vs continuous flow comparison guide for more information.

While the Inogen One G3 has a higher oxygen output than most pulse flow units on the market, you’ll need to speak with your doctor first to ensure this is the right machine for you. Most people won’t even need to go beyond a setting of 2, but in rare cases, someone may require very high oxygen flow. In which case, you may need to upgrade to a newer oxygen concentrator. 

Lightweight Design

Up until the early 2000s, oxygen concentrators were stationary units. In other words, they weren’t designed to be moved around, and in order to use them, you had to have them plugged into a wall outlet. While stationary oxygen concentrators still exist today, they’ve largely been replaced with portable versions like the Inogen One G3. What’s more, the G3 weighs in at only 4.8 pounds making it one of the lightest portable oxygen concentrators ever produced.

Since the G3 weighs little more than a small handbag or purse, you’ll feel comfortable slinging it over your shoulder and going wherever you need to go. Whether you simply want to go to the store to grab a few things or you want to go for a long walk in the park, the G3 won’t cause any unnecessary strain in your shoulders or back. This is especially helpful if you already suffer from back problems or similar issues.

Small Form Factor

Another aspect of portability is the size of the device. Chances are if your portable oxygen concentrator was bulky and hard to handle, you wouldn’t be able to get out of the home and travel very easily. Luckily, the Inogen One G3 has a nice compact form factor that’s easy to tuck under your shoulder allowing you to move freely. If you’re traveling in public areas such as a busy city street, it will be easier to navigate without bumping into other people.

Another reason it’s important to have a small portable oxygen concentrator is that they’re easier to store. Many people own both a home oxygen concentrator and a portable oxygen concentrator, so these people need to be able to keep their portable unit out of the way when they’re at home. The G3 is small enough that you can keep it out of the way but big enough that you won’t lose it.

You might be surprised to learn that the Inogen One G3 is approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the organization that oversees all commercial flights in the United States. What this means is that you can carry your Inogen One G3 on the plane with you as long as you notify the airline ahead of time and you have one and a half times the duration of your flight in battery life.

Everyone knows that flying these days can be uncomfortable due to a lack of legroom and personal space. However, you’ll be happy to know that the Inogen One G3 won’t take up any extra space. It’s small enough to slide under the seat in front of you or you can even hold it in your lap during the flight. If you don’t need it during the flight, you can even store it in the overhead compartment.

Durability

Just like your cell phone or laptop, portable oxygen concentrators are electronic devices. This means they have delicate components like processors that need to be kept in good condition in order to function properly. The good news is that Inogen took the time to create a machine that’s as durable as it is powerful.

All of the electrical components inside the Inogen One G3 are protected by a hard outer shell which is made from high-quality materials. If you happen to bump or scrape your G3, you can rest assured that it won’t hurt crucial parts inside the unit. While the G3 is durable, it’s not indestructible, so don’t intentionally drop it or cause harm to it. Since the G3 has a lot of air intake and output vents, it is not waterproof or water-resistant in any way.

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Battery Life

Portable oxygen concentrators are powered by lithium-ion batteries. These batteries are specifically designed to last and they can hold a charge long enough to keep you out all day long. The Inogen One G3 8-cell battery (which comes with the device) can last up to 4.5 hours on one charge. If you choose to upgrade to the larger 16-cell battery, you’ll get up to 9.5 hours on one charge. Note that using the 16-cell battery will slightly increase the weight of your device.

Oftentimes, battery life is the first thing people look for in a portable oxygen concentrator because without a great battery, you’re not going to be able to get out of your house long enough to live life on your own terms. Unlike with compressed oxygen tanks or liquid oxygen tanks, you’ll never “run out of oxygen.” Simply remove your battery and replace it with a fully charged one and you’ll be good to go.

One of the reasons the G3 has such a great battery life is because it’s a pulse dose oxygen concentrator. Like we mentioned before, this means that oxygen is only delivered when the patient inhales through the nasal cannula. As a result, the device can conserve a lot more energy while still providing you with the high concentration of oxygen that you need to stay saturated wherever you go.  

Easy to Use

The last thing anyone wants is to have another convoluted piece of technology to complicate their lives. From dealing with computer issues to having your calls dropped randomly, you may dread adding another electronic device to your life. The good news is that the Inogen One G3 was designed to be as easy as possible to use. There are only a few buttons on the entire device and you won’t have to spend weeks or months learning what they all do.

On the Inogen One G3 control panel (on top of the unit) you’ll find a power button to turn the device on and off, a backlight button, an audible alarm button, and two buttons to control the flow rate — that’s it! While the G3 is pretty straightforward, we recommend consulting the user manual whenever you get a new unit to educate yourself about the various alarms and settings available to you.

Two other things you’ll need to do with your portable oxygen concentrator are replacing the batteries and the air filters. Luckily, both of these processes are very simple with the G3 as well. Both of the air filters are found on the side of the unit and they can be removed without any tools for easy cleaning or replacement. The battery is attached to the bottom of the unit and all you’ll need to do is pull a tab on the side to remove it and replace it with a fully charged battery.

Quiet

While sound output should not be at the top of your priorities list by any means, it’s always nice to have a portable oxygen concentrator that doesn’t produce any unnecessary sound pollution. The Inogen One G3 comes in at around 39 decibels (dBA) on a setting of 2 making it better than average when it comes to overall sound output. 

Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions about how loud POCs are. Many people believe that they will no longer be able to go to church, the library, or any public place without disturbing people, but this couldn’t be farther from the truth. The Inogen One G3 is very quiet and what noise it does make is just a slight humming sound that likely won’t bother anyone.

Great Accessories

Accessories are the icing on the cake when it comes to portable oxygen concentrators. Everyone wants to find the oxygen concentrator that’s right for them, but if there are accessories that allow you to customize your experience, that’s even better! You’ll be happy to know that the Inogen One G3 has plenty of accessories you can use to make your oxygen experience even easier.

First up, we have the Inogen One G3 Rolling Backpack. It’s not very often that a rolling backpack is offered alongside a pulse flow oxygen concentrator because they’re all light enough to carry on your shoulder; however, the G3 is an exception here. This accessory allows you to either roll your G3 around behind you or carry it on your back using the adjustable shoulder straps. It also has ample room to hold your batteries, chargers, and other personal items.

Second is the standard Inogen One G3 Backpack. This is similar to the rolling backpack but it doesn’t have wheels. It has comfortable adjustable padded straps and plenty of room for G3 accessories and personal belongings. When the G3 is in this backpack, the control panel is easily accessible so you can make quick changes to your oxygen settings on the fly.

The third and final carrying option for the Inogen One G3 is the GO2 Carryall. If you’re someone who’s self-conscious about carrying an oxygen concentrator or you just want a carrying bag that’s a little more stylish, these are for you. The GO2 Carryalls look just like a purse or handbag, but the Inogen One G3 is concealed inside of it. They have mesh side panels that ensure your device gets enough air and there are two carrying options to suit your needs. These bags come in two different colors depending on your preference.

With the release of each of their concentrators, Inogen offers an external battery charger. This is a small device, about the size of your battery, that can charge either your 8-cell or 16-cell battery without it being connected to the concentrator. This is a great accessory to have because it allows you to charge two batteries at once: one on your G3 and the other on the external charger. This means you’ll be able to get out and get going faster than ever before.

Conclusion

All around, the Inogen One G3 is one of the best portable oxygen concentrators on the market, despite releasing many years ago. It provides a high oxygen output for people with severe respiratory illness, it’s very easy to carry and store, it offers a long battery life, and it’s supported by many great accessories to help you make the most of it.

If you’ve never used oxygen before, it’s important to first speak with your doctor. He/she will help you determine the ideal flow setting to maximize the health benefits of supplemental oxygen. You’ll also discuss how often you should use oxygen and whether or not you should use it while you sleep. 

Once you’ve spoken with your doctor, don’t hesitate to give our respiratory specialists here at LPT Medical a call. We’ll walk you through the process of choosing an oxygen concentrator that takes into account your lifestyle and preferences. Fill out the contact form at the side of the page to get started.

Last year, we were very happy to announce that we would be selling the Caire FreeStyle Comfort, the latest pulse flow portable oxygen concentrator by Caire, Inc. This concentrator was miles ahead of anything that Caire had manufactured in the past, and it even held its own against the most popular oxygen concentrator on the market: the Inogen One G5.

One of the reasons we continue to support the FreeStyle Comfort is that it’s backed by a company that prioritizes quality above all else. Whether you have COPD, cystic fibrosis, or any other chronic lung condition, you need an oxygen device that you can rely on wherever you go and for many oxygen patients, the FreeStyle Comfort has been the best oxygen concentrator for that.

If you keep up with our blogs, however, you know that we like to approach every subject from as many angles as possible in order to give you a better understanding of your needs and the industry as a whole. In this post, we’re going to be comparing and contrasting the Caire FreeStyle Comfort portable oxygen concentrator and standard compressed oxygen tanks. As always, if you have any questions, be sure to leave them in the comment section below, or feel free to give us a call and address them with one of our respiratory specialists.

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Oxygen Output

Supplemental oxygen isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Every oxygen patient has varying degrees of lung function and as a result, everyone requires a different amount of oxygen in order to stay healthy. For example, someone with stage 1 COPD may only experience a small amount of airway obstruction, so they might only need to use oxygen for an hour or two a day. However, someone with severe stage 3 or 4 COPD may need to use oxygen 24 hours a day.

Another important factor to consider is the “grade” or “purity” of the oxygen you’re inhaling. Earth’s atmosphere is made up of only about 21 percent oxygen. The rest of the atmosphere is composed of various other gases including nitrogen, argon, and carbon dioxide. Medical-grade oxygen, on the other hand, always has over a 90 percent purity rating. This should not be confused with “recreational” oxygen which is sold in canisters and doesn’t require a prescription to purchase.

Both portable oxygen concentrators, like the Caire FreeStyle Comfort and oxygen tanks put out medical-grade oxygen. In fact, oxygen tanks are refilled with something called a HomeFill Station which operates like an oxygen concentrator. The main difference between the two is that an oxygen tank will allow you to put out oxygen at a higher flow rate. This is ideal for people with severe lung impairment, but it’s not necessary for the vast majority of respiratory patients.

Another thing to note is that the Caire FreeStyle Comfort is a pulse dose machine. What this means is that oxygen is only administered when the user inhales rather than continuously flowing out of the device like with an oxygen tank. Because of this, many people underestimate the value of pulse dose oxygen concentrators. The FreeStyle Comfort puts out 1,050 milliliters per minute of oxygen which is roughly the equivalent of 3 liters per minute on a continuous flow device such as an oxygen tank.

Ultimately, it will be up to your doctor or pulmonologist whether you should use the Caire FreeStyle Comfort or an oxygen tank. While oxygen tanks tend to be the default for many people, they are not necessarily the best option, especially for people who want to maintain their freedom, independence, and mobility while on oxygen.

Portability

If you think about it, “portability” has been a defining feature of this millennium so far. Ever since the early 2000s, we’ve seen technology become smaller, lighter, and more powerful than ever before; this is really no different when it comes to O2 devices. Just several decades ago, oxygen concentrators were mostly only used in the home. While there were portable versions, they were cumbersome and difficult to maneuver. 

Fast forward to today and you’ll find that oxygen patients have a wide variety of lightweight portable oxygen devices to choose from. The AirSep Focus is the lightest portable oxygen concentrator ever produced, weighing in at just 1.75 pounds! However, it’s only able to go up to a pulse flow setting of 2 (330 ml/min), so it may not be enough oxygen for many patients.

The Caire FreeStyle Comfort, however, is the perfect balance of both portability and power. It weighs in at only 5 pounds and it’s able to output over three times as much oxygen as the AirSep Focus. Its dimensions are only 10” H x 7.3” L x 3.1” W, so it’s also very small, compact, and easy to carry. Whether you’re just going for a walk in the park or you’re going on a long vacation, you’ll find that the FreeStyle Comfort is as easy to transport as a small purse or handbag.

Unlike portable oxygen concentrators, oxygen tanks haven’t gotten any smaller in the past couple of decades. Oxygen can only be compressed a certain amount before it becomes too dangerous to use, so the size of your tank directly correlates with the amount of oxygen you will have access to. While there are “portable oxygen cylinders” they will only offer you several hours of freedom before they need to be refilled.  

Safety

Safety should always be the first priority when choosing an oxygen device. Unfortunately, oxygen manufacturers have not always been able to provide this to their patients. Oxygen is considered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be a controlled substance. First and foremost, oxygen is an oxidizer meaning it makes everything it’s exposed to more flammable.

Secondly, it is possible to overdose on oxygen and experience something called oxygen toxicity. This condition is characterized by lightheadedness, fatigue, muscle twitching, and nausea. Prolonged exposure to high levels of oxygen can even be deadly. This is why it’s so important that oxygen is used exactly as instructed by your doctor.

While oxygen tanks are mostly safe to use, they still pose more of a safety risk than pulse dose oxygen concentrators like the Caire FreeStyle Comfort. For one, oxygen tanks are stored at very high pressures of around 2,000 to 3,000 psi (pressure per square inch). This makes them a huge explosive hazard whereas oxygen concentrators do not pressurize oxygen at all.

Another reason oxygen tanks are more dangerous is that they are continuous flow. When you release the pressure valve on an oxygen tank, oxygen will constantly flow out of the nasal cannula until you turn it off. This is dangerous because if it were exposed to fire it would oxidize it making it burn more. This can be somewhat remedied by using a pulse dose conserver which can be attached to the top of the tank, but there’s still a chance it could be leaking oxygen.

Finally, the weight and size of oxygen tanks are a potential hazard. Oxygen tanks are made of metal and they’re usually very heavy and bulky. If one happens to fall on you while you’re removing it from storage it could cause serious injury. Its bulkiness can also make it a tripping hazard and make it difficult and stressful to transport.

The Caire FreeStyle Comfort doesn’t have most of these issues because it’s so light and portable. You can easily carry it on one shoulder without it causing back pain and you’ll never have to wheel it around using a rolling cart. Since it’s so small, it’s very easy to store and keep somewhere that you’ll remember where it is.

Cost-Effectiveness

When money is tight, every financial decision you make counts. On the surface, it may seem like oxygen concentrators are the cheapest form of supplemental oxygen. But when you take into consideration long-term costs, they’re actually one of the more expensive options out there. Conversely, portable oxygen concentrators, in general, are designed to save you a significant amount of money over time.

The Caire FreeStyle Comfort has a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $2,495, but it comes with a battery, AC and DC charger, carrying case and strap, and a 3-year warranty. What this means is that if anything that comes with your POC breaks or isn’t functioning properly within 3 years, you can have it replaced free of charge. This warranty can be extended to give you even more coverage and security.

Even if you don’t choose to extend the warranty, Caire builds their portable oxygen concentrators to last. On average, a new portable oxygen concentrator will last 5 to 7 years depending on how well the user takes care of it, and we’ve even seen them last much longer than that in certain cases. If you’re interested in learning how to clean and maintain oxygen equipment, we wrote a great post on this subject a couple of years back. You can find it here.

Another thing to note is that the Caire FreeStyle Comfort requires very little long-term maintenance. Whereas oxygen tanks need to be filled up every time they run out, oxygen concentrators simply need to be plugged into a wall outlet to recharge. You’ll never need to go out of your way to find an oxygen supplier to refill it and you won’t have to invest in a HomeFill Station which can break the bank.

Even if you purchase your Caire FreeStyle Comfort at the suggested retail price of $2,495 that works out to about $41 per month over 5 years or $30 a month over 7 years. However, if you take advantage of a sale, it will be even less than that! There are also a whole host of financing options you can use to make payments easier and you can even trade-in your oxygen concentrator whenever you’d like if you’re thinking of upgrading. On the other hand, you likely won’t get anything for trading in an oxygen tank and you may even have trouble finding someone to take it. 

Ease-of-Use

In this day and age, it’s more important than ever to simplify your life. No matter whether you’re old or young, poor or wealthy, most people just have too many things on their plate to worry about. For some people, simplifying could mean downsizing by getting rid of things that you don’t need or it could just mean replacing those things with ones that are easier to manage.

When most people try a portable oxygen concentrator like the Caire FreeStyle Comfort for the first time, they find that it’s much easier to manage for several different reasons. First and foremost, they work great as an all-in-one oxygen machine. Rather than using a portable oxygen cylinder while you’re out of the house and then having to switch over to your home oxygen tank when you get home, the FreeStyle Comfort can be used as both a portable and home unit.

Another factor contributing to its ease-of-use is the interface. Just like the concentrator itself, the interface is electronic and there are no knobs that you have to turn or worry about. Simply turn the device on and select the flow setting that you would like to use. If there are any problems, the device uses an alarm to notify you.

Durability

Respiratory patients depend on their oxygen. But what happens if you accidentally drop your oxygen device or bump into something? While the Caire FreeStyle Comfort may not look durable at first glance, you might be surprised to find that it’s very compact and solid. All of the delicate electronic components that keep the device running are protected by a hard outer shell that will protect from scratches and dents. The carrying case that comes with the device will also give some added protection. And since it’s light enough to carry on your shoulder, you’ll be able to navigate more easily without the chance of dropping it or bumping into anything.

While oxygen tanks are mostly made of metal, the nobs and nozzles on top of the tank are plastic. If any of these things are damaged, it could lead to a leak in the tank. Oxygen tanks are more prone to damage when you use a rolling cart because you aren’t always able to see what obstacles are in your way without looking behind you. Oxygen tanks also have an awkward shape that can make them difficult to handle.

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Final Thoughts

It’s not always easy to make decisions about your health as a COPD patient. There are many different oxygen devices for seniors and you may have no idea where to begin when it comes time to choose one. While oxygen tanks have been used for many years, they’re certainly starting to show their age when it comes to portability, cost, and general ease-of-use.

Portable oxygen concentrators, however, are more technologically advanced and offer you more freedom for you to live life on your own terms. The Caire FreeStyle Comfort is one of the newest POCs the industry has to offer and it doesn’t disappoint. Weighing in at only 5 pounds with a maximum oxygen output of 1,050 ml/min of oxygen, it will meet your needs wherever you are in the world.

If you have COPD, you're probably no stranger to feeling drained, tired, and lethargic. Fatigue is a common problem for COPD patients, and a serious one at that. Fatigue is a common culprit behind exercise avoidance and sedentary living, which causes many patients to experience a quicker physical decline.

Fatigue is often used as a synonym for feeling tired or exhausted, but it's actually different in several ways. First, fatigue isn't necessarily related to activity or quality of sleep; you can feel fatigued even if you haven't done anything tiring and even if you get plenty of rest at night.

Fatigue is a kind of whole-body exhaustion that takes “feeling tired” to a new level. It hurts your ability to concentrate, drains your energy, and often worsens anxiety. Fatigue makes you feel too tired to do things that you usually enjoy, and can make simple things like dressing, reading, or leaving the house feel like monumentally difficult tasks. Often, fatigue is a sign that your body is having trouble keeping up with its energy needs.

Fatigue can make everything feel like a chore, like you have to drag yourself to every activity and social engagement. Some patients feel so fatigued every day that they stop exercising, isolate themselves in their homes, and give up on healthy lifestyle habits and treatment goals that are necessary for their well-being.

That's what makes fatigue such a major concern for COPD patients and the doctors that treat them. When left untreated and unmanaged, fatigue discourages many people with COPD from doing the very activities that would help preserve their health and quality of life.

In this article we're going to help you beat COPD-related fatigue by giving you thirteen useful tips for reducing fatigue and maximizing the amount of energy you have to invest in your life every day. But first, let's look at what causes fatigue and how it affects the lives of people with COPD.

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Causes of COPD-Related Fatigue

COPD is a chronic, continually-progressing disease, and simply managing the symptoms alone can get exhausting. But there are several specific ways in which the disease causes patients to suffer from fatigue.

COPD-related problems like decreased lung function, lack of exercise, and lack of oxygen all result in fatigue. Unhealthy habits can also make it worse; a poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, and lack of sleep all contribute to COPD-related fatigue.

Let's take a closer look at some of the main causes of fatigue for COPD patients.

Lack of Exercise

COPD symptoms can make exercise very difficult, which can start you on a negative cycle of exercise avoidance, fatigue, and physical decline. The less you exercise, the more breathless and fatigued you will feel, which then makes it more and more difficult to stay active.

This is partially due to loss in physical strength, but fatigue is also directly related to the lung function decline that happens when you don't get enough exercise. The more your lung function is reduced, the more easily you become winded, and the more likely you are to have low-blood oxygen levels and fatigue as a result.

Hypoxemia

Having blood oxygen levels that are too low is known as hypoxemia, and it's a condition that causes your body to feel very fatigued. This discourages many people with COPD from being as active as they should be, even though exercise is essential for keeping your lungs and body strong.

Hypoxemia is often treated with supplemental oxygen, which delivers extra oxygen to your lungs so that your blood oxygen saturation doesn't drop too low. If you experience frequent fatigue, your doctor can evaluate your blood oxygen to see if supplemental oxygen is right for you.

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Lack of Sufficient Nutrients

COPD causes uncomfortable symptoms that make it difficult for many patients to eat properly. Patients with inflated lungs due to emphysema, in particular, have difficulty breathing when they eat.

Because of this, many patients avoid meals and don't get enough calories and nutrients. This is especially common in the later stages of COPD.

People with COPD also tend to need more calories because of their declining lung function. Damaged lungs aren't able to absorb as much oxygen with every breath, and have to work harder to keep your blood oxygen levels up. This results in your lungs and the muscles that support them working overtime when you breathe.

Studies show that the breathing muscles of people with COPD use up to ten times the amount of energy compared to people with healthy lungs. This means that most COPD patients burn extra calories just walking, living, and breathing.

Because of this, many people with COPD have to eat a higher calorie diet to supply their lungs and breathing muscles with the nutrients they need. This helps them meet their daily nutrient requirements, have more energy, and experience less COPD-related fatigue.

How to Beat COPD Fatigue and Have More Energy Every Day

Depending on the severity of your COPD and how active you are, you might find even simple, everyday tasks difficult to do. If you're not careful, fatigue can quickly lead to a sedentary lifestyle and an even quicker decline in your physical ability.

Maintaining your physical mobility is key for maintaining a good quality of life, which is why treating COPD-related fatigue is so important. If you can reduce your fatigue, you will have more energy and strength to live a healthy, active life.

There are a variety of treatments for COPD-related fatigue and daily habits you can practice to boost the amount of energy you have every day. Continue reading for a variety of different ideas, including dietary tips, lifestyle habits, and exercises that can help you overcome COPD-related fatigue.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Photo by Sgt. Andy Bellami

As we've mentioned before, lack of exercise is a major contributing factor to COPD-related fatigue. When you avoid physical activity, it causes your muscles to atrophy, and even weakens the muscles you use to breathe. It also causes your lung function to decline, increasing COPD symptoms and making it harder for your lungs to supply enough oxygen to your body.

Luckily, there is a special type of class designed to help COPD patients who struggle with this exact problem. It's called pulmonary rehabilitation, and it uses a variety of hands-on methods to help you increase your strength, endurance, and quality of life.

Pulmonary rehabilitation classes are usually six to eight weeks long and often held as group lessons. Classes are generally run by a team of social workers, dietitians, and medical professionals that are knowledgeable about chronic respiratory diseases. Classes include exercise instruction, lessons on breathing exercises and medications, and opportunities to learn a variety of useful skills that will help you stay active and maintain your independence with COPD.

Here is a list of some of the benefits you can receive from taking a pulmonary rehabilitation class:

• Improved blood circulation
• Reduced breathlessness
• Deeper breathing
• Improved physical fitness and exercise endurance
• Improved mood and motivation
• The skills for proper COPD dieting
• Reduced chance of COPD exacerbations and hospitalizations
• Increased mobility and ability to do daily activities
• Knowledge about COPD medications and treatments
• Improved quality of life

Regular Exercise

People with COPD often feel like they don't have enough strength or energy to devote to exercise. However, if you start getting regular physical activity, you're more likely to have more energy, not less.

Regular physical activity is a cornerstone of COPD treatment because it keeps your body, lungs, and breathing muscles strong. It also helps battle anxiety, fatigue, and certain kinds of chronic pains.

When fatigue makes you feel the most like staying in bed, that's when you need to get up and be active the most. Staying sedentary will only make you feel worse; you have to get your body moving in order to overcome fatigue and find the energy you need to start your day.

If you're not used to exercising, you can start with light stretching, walking, and body weight exercises like leg lifts. Try taking up an active hobby, like biking, gardening, or swimming for extra physical activity.

Don't get sucked into a negative spiral of exercise avoidance, which inevitably leads to worsened symptoms, worsened fatigue, and accelerated physical decline. You should try to stay as active as you can for as long as you can, and always follow the exercise plan recommended by your doctor.

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Don't Skip Breakfast

Breakfast is an essential part of a healthy morning routine and will give your body a nutritional boost of energy. If you have COPD, it's especially important to start off your day with a nutritious, balanced meal of fruit, protein, and whole grains.

Eating food in the morning gives your metabolism a jump-start and can help you feel awake, energized, and alert during the day. Don't skip breakfast or wait too long to eat, otherwise you're likely to feel tired sluggish, and fatigued.

Minimize Stress

Living with constant stress not only eats away at your mental resources, but it drains your physical resources as well. Stress is a huge contributor to fatigue, and it's a common problem for people with COPD.

If you experience an excessive amount of stress, changing your habits and environment can make it easier to cope. You can relieve stress through physical activity, meditation, spending more time with loved ones, eating a healthy diet, journaling, and more.

Try to identify stress-inducing people, situations, and environments in your life that you have control over. Then, work on finding solutions that allow you to avoid, minimize, or cope calmly with the things that cause stress in your life.

If you are dealing with chronic stress-induced fatigue, don't hesitate to talk to your doctor about mental health services and resources that are available in your city. Consider joining a support group, seeing a therapist, or asking a psychologist about medications that might help with your anxiety.

Eat Nutritious, High-Calorie Foods

Increasing the amount of calorie-dense foods you eat is a great way to make sure you meet your daily calorie requirements. High-calorie foods are particularly helpful if you're struggling to get enough calories because of breathlessness, appetite loss, or trouble keeping up with a high-calorie diet.

If this sounds like you, then you may need to add more healthy, calorie-dense fats and proteins to your diet. Foods like yogurt, cheese, and ice cream, for example, are great options that you could eat as part of a meal or as a stand-alone snack.

It can also help to prioritize the highest-calorie foods first. For example, if you often find yourself unable to finish your food at mealtimes, eat the most nutritious, calorie-dense items on your plate first. It can also help to avoid drinking liquids before or during meals, that way you're less likely to feel bloated and breathless, and you'll have as much room in your stomach as possible for food.

Here are some nutritious, high-calorie foods that can help you meet your daily calorie needs:

• Milk
• Yogurt
• Cheese
• Ice cream
• Nuts (e.g. almonds and walnuts)
• Nut butters (e.g. peanut butter or almond butter)
• Eggs
• Olive oil and other vegetable oils (e.g. sunflower oil)
• Smoothies
• Protein shakes

As a final tip, eating small meals instead of large ones can make it easier to get enough calories without ever feeling too full. Try eating five or six smaller meals spread out throughout your day instead of the traditional, larger meals at breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Care For Your Mental Health

Anxiety and depression are common mental health issues that come along with COPD. Coping with the diagnosis alone can be difficult, and the stress of managing the disease and losing physical independence can be difficult to weather on your own.

Fatigue is a common symptom associated with both depression and anxiety, and is sometimes a major factor in COPD-related fatigue. That's why neglecting your mental health is not an option; caring for yourself and your emotions is necessary for both your physical and mental wellbeing.

If you suffer from chronic anxiety, depression, or are having trouble coping with COPD on your own, don't hesitate to seek help. You can talk to your doctor, therapist, or any other licensed mental health professional to get advice, support, and prescription medication if you need it.

You can also find support in group therapy, both in person and online. Your doctor or another mental health professional could help you find mental health support groups and other services in your area, or you can join one of several COPD and lung disease support groups online.

Eat a Lung-Healthy Diet

Did you know that eating a diet high in carbs can actually strain your lungs? That's right, foods high in carbohydrates make your lungs have to work harder to breathe compared to foods high in healthy fats and proteins.

Because of this, you should try to limit the amount of carbohydrates in your diet and replace them with more lean proteins and healthy fats. This will help your lungs work more efficiently, which lowers your risk of experiencing low blood oxygen levels and hypoxemia-related fatigue.

In this way, eating fewer carbs can actually give you more energy and reduce fatigue caused by low oxygen levels in your blood. However, you still need a limited amount of carbs in your diet, and cutting them out completely would cause malnutrition and even worse fatigue.

When you do eat carbohydrate-rich foods, make sure they contain complex carbohydrates instead of simple carbs. Choose things like whole-grain breads and whole-wheat pastas, which contain complex carbs, instead of white breads and pastas, which are stuffed with simple carbs.

Simple carbohydrates cause your blood sugar to spike and fall rapidly, which gives you a limited burst of energy that quickly gives way to fatigue. Avoiding all simple carbs, including sugars, helps keep your blood sugar stable and prevents sudden blood sugar spikes that ultimately lead to fatigue.

Avoid Caffeine

Caffeine might give you energy and help stave off fatigue in the short run, but too much can make you feel worse. Many people get addicted to the caffeine “high,” but end up crashing and feeling even more tired, anxious, and fatigued later on.

Caffeine can also hurt your ability to sleep, which will sap your energy reserves even more if you suffer from chronic fatigue. It's best to avoid caffeine when possible, or to wean yourself off of it for good. At the very least, be careful to cut off your caffeine intake at least six to eight hours before bedtime.

Make Sure You Get Enough Vitamin D

Many people who suffer from fatigue are actually deficient in vitamin D, and correcting the deficiency can significantly improve fatigue. In fact, it's common for doctors to prescribe vitamin D supplements for people with fatigue-related disorders.

It just so happens that vitamin D deficiency is particularly common in COPD patients—up to 66 percent of patients are deficient—and it is a common factor contributing to COPD-related fatigue. Studies show that vitamin D deficiency also affects patients' bone strength and ability to breathe, and that supplemental vitamin D can help improve exercise endurance and strengthen the muscles used for breathing.

If you have COPD and suffer from chronic fatigue, you should talk to your doctor to get tested for vitamin D deficiency. Your doctor can determine if a deficiency is causing your symptoms and prescribe you a vitamin D supplement if needed to correct it.

But you don't always need a supplement; minor vitamin D deficiencies can often be corrected by increasing the amount of vitamin D in your diet and by spending more time in the sun. Just letting the sun touch your skin for ten to twenty minutes a day is enough to give you a significant boost of vitamin D.

Most people should get anywhere from 400-800 IU, or 10-20 micrograms, of vitamin D per day. People who don't spend much time in the sun will need to get most of their Vitamin D from their diet.

There are several kinds of foods that naturally contain vitamin D, and even more that are fortified with extra vitamin D. Here are some good dietary sources of vitamin D you should know:

• Egg yolks
• Cheese
• Salmon
• Mackerel
• Tuna
• Sardines
• Beef liver
• Cod liver oil
• Cereals fortified with vitamin D
• Milk or yogurt fortified with vitamin D
• Orange juice fortified with vitamin D

Supplemental Oxygen

If you have advanced COPD and are experiencing chronic fatigue, it might be because your blood oxygen is low. In the later stages of COPD, many patients have to use supplemental oxygen to prevent hypoxemia and hypoxemia-related fatigue.

Supplemental oxygen is not right for everyone and has to be prescribed by your doctor. Some people need supplemental oxygen all the time, while others only need it during exercise, exacerbations, or while they sleep.

If you are having trouble breathing and getting enough oxygen at night, you might need nighttime oxygen to help you sleep better and keep your blood oxygen levels up while you sleep. You might also want to get tested for sleep apnea, a breathing-related sleep disorder that causes your body to be starved of oxygen at night, leading to daytime sleepiness and fatigue.

Your doctor will be able to test your lung function, your oxygen saturation, and review other information to determine whether you need supplemental oxygen and whether or not your insurance will cover the cost. In some cases you can use other treatments, like medications, exercise, or breathing techniques, to improve your breathing efficiency, instead.

Take Hydration Seriously

Dehydration doesn't feel good; it can cause headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. And what's worse, if you have COPD, not getting enough water can make symptoms like coughing and breathlessness worse, too.

Water has a multitude of benefits; it helps thin out your mucus, supports healthy metabolism, and lubricates your lungs and airways to prevent irritation. Staying hydrated also keeps your energy levels up, improves your mood, and can even prevent illnesses and infections.

Many sources recommend drinking up to 6-8 cups of water a day, but it varies greatly from person to person and depends on your age, sex, weight, and more. The CDC recommends drinking water whenever you feel thirsty.

If you have trouble drinking enough water, you can try keeping an extra large water bottle with you throughout the day. Use it to motivate yourself, make hydrating as convenient as possible, and to help you keep track of how much you drink.

Often, people who are dehydrated feel sluggish without even knowing why. When you feel particularly lazy or fatigued, try drinking a large glass of cold water. Wait a few minutes and, chances are, you'll feel much better and have more energy afterward.

Conserve Your Energy for What Matters

While you should always try to be as active as possible in your daily life, in the later stages of COPD it is usually necessary to start cutting out some activities and active responsibilities. That might mean delegating certain tasks to friends and family members, hiring help, or using tools and techniques to reduce the amount of effort that daily tasks require.

As you lose mobility and have less strength and energy during the day, time and energy-saving tips can be life-savers. If you can find ways to simplify tasks and responsibilities like cooking, cleaning, and running errands, you'll have more energy for the activities you enjoy.

You can increase your energy to a certain extent through effective COPD treatment and using the methods on this list, but your mental and physical energy stores will still be limited. That's why you need to know when to rest and take it easy so you don't overexert yourself or have to give up on important activities.

It's important to save enough energy during the week to stretch, exercise, and socialize. If you conserve your energy wisely, you will be more likely to be able to find the strength to participate in other healthy activities like sports, hobbies, and social outings. These kinds of activities are necessary for maintaining a healthy body, healthy mind, and enjoying your life to the fullest.

Learn to Recognize Fatigue

When you wake up and feel sluggish, or when you feel breathless and tired, you might not realize that the reason is fatigue. If you don't understand fatigue and how it differs from other types of malaise, it's easy to mislabel it as as anxiety, illness, hunger, physical exhaustion, or lack of sleep.

The problem with this is that, if you attribute fatigue to something else, you could steer yourself toward solutions that won't be effective. For example, mistaking fatigue as physical exhaustion could lead you to avoid exercise, when in reality exercise could actually reduce your fatigue.

Fatigue is more than simply feeling a little tired or run down, but the symptoms are often generic and vague. This makes fatigue sometimes difficult to spot.

Here are some of the most common symptoms of fatigue:

• Chronic feelings of sleepiness and tiredness
• Loss of appetite
• Irritability and mood swings
• Sore, aching, or weakened muscles
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Blurred vision
• Difficulty concentrating
• Slowed movement and reflexes
• Lack of motivation

When you feel tired and lethargic, take time to think about your sleep quality, recent heavy exercise, or anything else that could be causing you to feel run down. If you can rule out other causes, there's a good chance the culprit is fatigue.

When you know that you're suffering from fatigue, you can start to address it by putting some of the techniques we've discussed in this article to use. You should also talk to your doctor if you experience chronic fatigue. Your doctor can evaluate your blood oxygen, medications, and suggest other treatments that can start you on the path to regaining your energy and joy in life.

Conclusion

Recognizing and treating fatigue is a key part of managing COPD. Luckily, there are many effective ways for people with the disease to manage their fatigue and find the energy they need to participate in life to the fullest.

Even though fatigue is still somewhat poorly understood, there are plenty of non-drug treatments that can help many people with COPD beat, or at least manage, their chronic fatigue. More solutions will likely emerge as doctors and researchers continue to develop a better understanding of the causes and effects of COPD-related fatigue.

By watching your diet, exercise, hydration, and taking care of your mental health, you'll be much better able to keep your body strong and combat th