There are many different types of lung and respiratory conditions that can cause problems as you get older, especially if you smoke. One of the most common respiratory diseases is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), which is an umbrella condition that includes two serious diseases: chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

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Many people, even doctors, sometimes confuse the signs of emphysema and chronic bronchitis. These two diseases share many early symptoms and share the fact that they are chronic, incurable respiratory conditions. In other ways, however, they are very different.

Understanding these differences is essential for diagnosing lung diseases, and preventing unnecessary lung damage and complications. This article will show you how to differentiate the signs and symptoms of emphysema and chronic bronchitis and help you understand the different treatments and medications that are effective for fighting these diseases.

What is Chronic Bronchitis?

Acute bronchitis is a common, short-term condition that otherwise healthy people can get, and it's usually the result of a respiratory infection. However, smoking and exposure to other respiratory toxins can cause chronic bronchitis, a much more serious condition in which bronchitis symptoms keep coming back and last for months or years at a time.

Acute bronchitis only lasts a few days or weeks, but chronic bronchitis lasts a lifetime. Symptoms include breathlessness and a chronic, phlegmy cough that either refuse to go away or keep coming back over the course of many years.

Chronic bronchitis occurs because of irritation in the bronchial tubes, which are the airways that carry air to and from your lungs when you breathe. When they are irritated frequently over a long period of time (whether from smoke, infections, or other causes), it causes irreversible damage to tissues in your airways.

The walls of the bronchial tubes get thicker and stiffer and secrete extra amounts of mucous that clog them up and block air from passing through. This makes your airways narrower, makes it difficult to breathe, and causes frequent coughing that often brings up mucus.

These changes to the airways are permanent and tend to get worse over time. But with early detection and treatment, you can slow down the damage that chronic bronchitis does to your airways and prevent more serious complications.

What is Emphysema?

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While chronic bronchitis is a result of damage and obstruction in the bronchial tubes, emphysema occurs as a result of damage in the lungs. It happens when irritation and inflammation (from smoke or other irritants) destroys tissue in the tiny air sacs—known as alveoli—in the lungs.

Healthy alveoli are very efficient at taking up oxygen because the tiny, round air sacs have a lot of surface area to absorb the gas. But if you have emphysema, the walls in-between the air sacs get broken down, turning many tiny air sacs into fewer, bigger ones. This severely impairs your lungs' ability to absorb oxygen from the air you breathe.

Emphysema also causes other changes to the structure of the lungs, damaging the soft, elastic tissue that allows them to expand and contract with ease. Lung tissue that has been damaged by emphysema (known as emphysemous tissue) gets thicker, stiffer, and inelastic, preventing the lungs from collapsing all the way and pushing all the air out when you breathe.

The stiffened alveoli are no longer able to expand and deflate normally, and get permanently stretched out. As a result, the lungs can't absorb oxygen efficiently and pockets of air are left in your lungs every time you exhale.

When air gets trapped in the lungs like this, it means that they can't take in as much fresh, oxygen-rich air the next time you breathe. This can cause breathlessness and make it difficult to inhale, straining the heart and eventually leading to hypoxia (low blood oxygen levels) as more and more lung tissue becomes damaged.

Why Understanding the Difference between Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis is Important

Both chronic bronchitis and emphysema are serious, life-threatening diseases with no known cure. They are progressive diseases, meaning they tend to cause more and more permanent damage to your lungs and get worse with time.

Fortunately, modern treatments for emphysema can slow the progression of both diseases, reduce symptoms, and improve patients' overall quality of life. That's one reason why understanding the differences between emphysema and chronic bronchitis is important; knowing exactly what kind of lung condition you have is necessary to make sure you get the right kind of treatment.

Proper, early treatment for COPD can be life-saving and help prevent the disease from causing further scarring and damage to the lungs. That's why you should never ignore the symptoms of chronic bronchitis or emphysema, such as a chronic cough or frequent breathlessness.

If you experience these symptoms often, especially if you smoke, you should see your doctor immediately to get checked for COPD.

One reason chronic bronchitis and emphysema are often mixed up is that many people are diagnosed with both diseases at the same time. That's because respiratory irritants and lung inflammation is a common root cause of both diseases.

As a result, many people exposed to smoke and other toxic chemicals throughout their lives develop emphysema and chronic bronchitis simultaneously. More than 11 million adults in the US have been diagnosed with COPD, and researchers believe there are many more living with the disease who are unaware.

But despite having similar causes and symptoms, the biological effects of both diseases are very different. When they use the right equipment, doctors are usually able to see the difference between emphysema and chronic bronchitis with ease, even when a patient is suffering from both conditions.

Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis Share Many Common Causes

Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are both the result of long-term respiratory irritation or infections. The most common trigger for both diseases is long-term exposure to respiratory irritants like smoke, dust, and toxic fumes.

People who smoke cigarettes or don't properly protect their lungs from workplace hazards are at a higher risk for both emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Some people develop one or the other, but a great many people end up developing both conditions at the same time.

To better understand how each disease works, let's take a closer look at some of the common causes and symptoms of both emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

What Causes Emphysema?

Smoking is the number one cause of emphysema, but long-term exposure to other irritants like dust, pollen, and chemical fumes can also cause the disease. However, how these respiratory toxins lead to emphysema is very different than how they cause chronic bronchitis.

These things hurt your lungs because they cause damage to microscopic hair-like structures called cilia that line the inside of the lungs. These tiny hairs move back and forth and act like brushes that move irritants, like dust and smoke particles, out of the lungs.

Cilia are the only tool your lungs have to clean out harmful foreign particles and mucus build-up in the lungs. But when they're repeatedly exposed to smoke or other irritants, the cilia get damaged and paralyzed, and let mucus, bacteria, dust, allergens, and other particles build up inside the lungs.

This leads to the chronic irritation and inflammation that results in permanent damage to the lung tissue and air sacs. The alveoli get broken down and stiffened, reducing the lungs' ability to absorb oxygen, and the damaged tissue impairs the lungs' ability to expand and contract, making it difficult to breathe.

Here is a list of common irritants that can cause emphysema with long-term exposure:

• Smoking (or exposure to second-hand smoke from cigarettes, fires, wood-burning stoves, etc.)
• Air pollution
• Dust (especially from workplace exposure)
• Asbestos
• Chemical fumes (especially from workplace exposure)

There is another unique cause of emphysema, a rare genetic disease known as Alpha-1 Antitrypsin deficiency (or simply Alpha-1). People with this disease lack an important functional protein that helps protect their lung tissue from irritation and inflammation, and can lead to permanent lung damage and emphysema.

Other diseases that cause inflammation in the lungs, like cystic fibrosis, can also cause emphysema over time.

What Causes Chronic Bronchitis?

All of the same irritants that can irritate your lungs can also cause inflammation in the bronchial tubes. Inhaling smoke particles, dust, or other toxins causes irritation and swelling in the airways that makes it difficult to breathe.

This causes mucus and bacteria buildup that can lead to worse inflammation, infection, and a variety of respiratory symptoms. It can also damage the tiny cilia that line the bronchial tubes, making it difficult to clear the mucus and other particles out of your airways.

Chronic bronchitis can also be caused by repeated respiratory infections and severe asthma. Although it only happens in rare cases, repeated long-term inflammation from infection can lead to permanent damage to the airways and cause you to develop chronic bronchitis.

Here is a list of common irritants that can cause chronic bronchitis with long-term exposure:

• Smoking (or exposure to second-hand smoke from cigarettes, fires, wood-burning stoves, etc.)
• Air pollution
• Dust (especially from workplace exposure)
• Asbestos
• Chemical fumes (especially from workplace exposure)
• Repeated respiratory infections or severe asthma (especially during childhood)

Symptoms of Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis Can Be Similar

Symptoms of COPD can develop quickly, but it usually takes a long time, even years, for major symptoms to appear. Many of the early symptoms of chronic bronchitis and emphysema can be identical, but there are some notable, distinct differences if you know what to look for.

Symptoms of Emphysema

Emphysema takes many years to develop, and most people don't experience symptoms until they are 40-60 years old. The most common symptoms are breathlessness with exercise and fatigue that get worse over time.

There's a trick often used in the medical community to help people distinguish between the two diseases and remember the different symptoms. They use the colorful terms “pink puffers” and “blue bloaters” to highlight the main differences in symptoms between late-stage emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

“Pink puffer” refers specifically to people with severe emphysema who experience severe shortness of breath (puffing) and have a thin, skeletal physique. That's because, in the late stages of the disease, emphysema makes your heart and lungs work harder, makes it difficult to breath, and uses up a lot of extra energy.

This can lead to severe weight loss and muscle wasting that leads to the skinny appearance associated with the “pink puffer.” Fortunately, because of earlier diagnosis and modern medical treatment, such severe changes in physical appearance are rarely seen in people with emphysema today.

The most common early symptoms of emphysema include shortness of breath, wheezing, and a cough that won't go away. As the disease progresses and lung damage worsens, many people with emphysema feel breathless even at night or while at rest and require supplemental oxygen therapy.

Common symptoms of emphysema:

• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• A cough that won't go away
• Chest tightness and discomfort
• Rapid breathing
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Reduced appetite

Late stage symptoms of emphysema:

• Hypoxia (low oxygen levels in the blood)
• Blue tint to skin and lips
• Weight loss
• Swelling in the legs and ankles (edema)

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Symptoms of Chronic Bronchitis

Most people begin developing the first symptoms of chronic bronchitis when they're in their forties or fifties. However, people who smoke heavily or have a history of severe asthma sometimes develop chronic bronchitis much earlier.

The term “blue bloater” is used to describe people with late-stage chronic bronchitis who tend to have a swollen, barrel-chested physique. That's because chronic bronchitis is very straining for the heart and can lead to swelling in the limbs (edema) and right-side heart failure. This results in the classic “blue bloater” appearance, although it is much less common to see in recent years as a result of modern medical treatments and earlier diagnosis.

The most common early symptom of chronic bronchitis is a severe, phlegmy cough that persists for weeks and months. Episodes of worsened symptoms can also come with a fever, chills, and fatigue.

Unlike emphysema, symptoms of chronic bronchitis tend to come and go, especially in the early stages of the disease. It's common for symptoms to lessen or disappear for short periods of time and then return in full force without warning.

When you have chronic bronchitis, you have to watch out for a number of things that can trigger your symptoms and make your disease worse. Getting sick with the cold or flu, getting an infection, or getting exposed to dust, pollen, or air pollution can all cause episodes of increased symptoms.

Common symptoms of chronic bronchitis:

• Persistent, severe cough that brings up mucus
• Thickened, discolored mucus
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• Chest pain and discomfort
• Sinus congestion
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Chills
• Bad breath

Late stage symptoms of chronic bronchitis:

• Hypoxia (low oxygen levels in the blood)
• Blue tint to skin and lips
• Swelling in the legs and ankles (edema)

Diagnosing Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis

While, on the surface, chronic bronchitis and emphysema might seem similar, their differences show up on chest x-rays and other diagnostic tests. If you know what to look for, serious cases of both chronic bronchitis and emphysema can be spotted simply by looking at the shape and structure of the lungs and airways.

Chronic bronchitis can be seen by looking at the bronchial tubes. It often shows up through thickened airway walls, enlarged blood vessels, and scarring in the airways.

Emphysema is often diagnosed by looking at the lungs, especially the upper lobes, through chest x-rays and CT scans. Seriously damaged tissue shows up on scans as dark regions of emphysemous tissue and are referred to as bullae.

If you see a doctor for symptoms of COPD, your doctor will likely take a variety of chest x-rays, CT scans, and lung function tests. To see if you have emphysema or chronic bronchitis, he will look at your lungs, bronchial tubes, and the results of other tests together to give you an accurate diagnosis.

Effective Treatment Options for Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema

Most of the treatments for both chronic bronchitis and emphysema focus on protecting the lungs from further damage and making it easier to breathe.

Most of the same medications, treatments, and airway clearance techniques used to treat emphysema can also be used to treat chronic bronchitis. The most important first step toward treating both diseases is to quit smoking and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke and other irritants.

Common treatments for emphysema and chronic bronchitis:

• Quit Smoking: Smoking is, by far, the most common cause of both chronic bronchitis and emphysema. If you still smoke, quitting is the best thing you can do to keep your lungs healthy and prevent continued, permanent damage to your lungs. If you need help quitting, you can talk to your doctor to learn about smoking cessation programs and medications, or visit the American Lung Association's website for more information that can help. http://www.lung.org/stop-smoking/
  
  
• Pulmonary Rehabilitation: Pulmonary rehabilitation is a special class for people who suffer from respiratory diseases like emphysema and chronic bronchitis. It usually consists of a combination of exercise classes, support groups, and lessons on how to manage your symptoms. At pulmonary rehab you will learn how to keep your lungs healthy, use your medication, and manage breathlessness during physical activity. It's a great way to learn how to be more active and live a more fulfilling life with COPD.
  
  
• Supplemental Oxygen: Both chronic bronchitis and emphysema cause irreversible damage to the lungs and airways that makes it difficult for your lungs to get enough oxygen. As the disease progresses, it gets more and more difficult to breathe and you might need to use a supplemental oxygen device to reduce shortness of breath and make sure you have enough oxygen in your bloodstream. There are a variety of tanks and oxygen concentrators to choose from that fit different lifestyles and oxygen needs, and you doctor can help you decide what's right for you.

Common medications for treating emphysema and chronic bronchitis:

• Bronchodilators: Bronchodilators help relax and dilate (open up) your airways and are often prescribed both to people with emphysema and chronic bronchitis. This makes it easier to breathe and temporarily reduces symptoms like breathlessness and wheezing.
  
  
• Corticosteroids: Corticosteroids work as a powerful anti-inflammatory medication and can be effective for treating irritation in both the lungs and bronchial tubes. They can be inhaled, injected into the bloodstream, or taken as an oral medication as a temporary treatment for worsened symptoms and inflammation. Because they can cause serious side effects, however, they should only be taken for short periods of time under close supervision from your doctor.
  
  
• Antibiotics: Irritation in the lungs (from emphysema) and airways (from chronic bronchitis) traps bacteria and makes you more prone to respiratory infections. People with emphysema or chronic bronchitis often have to take antibiotics to fight off infections that worsen symptoms and could cause further damage to tissues in their lungs and airways.
  
  
• Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Protein Therapy: This is a treatment that only works for patients who develop emphysema as a result of having the genetic disease Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. The therapy involves getting weekly injections of a protein that helps protect the lungs from inflammation. If therapy is begun early enough, it can prevent people with Alpha-1 from developing future lung damage and emphysema.

Surgeries sometimes used to treat emphysema (but not chronic bronchitis):

• Lung Volume Reduction Surgery: Lung volume reduction surgery is an option for some patients with severe emphysema, but would not help patients with chronic bronchitis. This surgery involves removing damaged, emphysemous tissue from the lungs and leaving the healthier, stretchier tissue behind. This helps reduce air pockets in the lungs that trap air and make it difficult to breathe, and can significantly reduce patients' symptoms in many cases.
  
  
• Lung Transplant Surgery: Some patients with advanced emphysema may be eligible for a lung transplant surgery. Although it is a very risky procedure, it is used as a last resort for qualified patients with life-threatening lung disease. However, not everyone qualifies for an organ transplant, and waiting lists for viable organs can be long.

Conclusion

Despite their similarities, chronic bronchitis and emphysema are distinct diseases that cause recognizable changes to the lungs and airways. Although they are both part of COPD and often go hand-in-hand, some people only get chronic bronchitis or emphysema alone.

Both are long-term, life-threatening diseases that can be treated and slowed down with proper medical treatment and lifestyle changes if caught early enough. If you notice that you have any symptoms of COPD, you should see your doctor right away for a diagnosis.

Chronic bronchitis and emphysema can be difficult to tell apart at first glance but they cause more distinct symptoms and complications as they progress. Fortunately, with proper training and the right medical diagnostic tests, knowledgeable doctors can reliably differentiate between the two diseases and ensure their patients get the treatments they need.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has often been linked to smoking cigarettes as well as long-term contact with second-hand smoke, chemicals, air pollution, and dust fumes. However, recent research from Weill Cornell Medical College suggests that along with polluted air and cigarette smoking, a genetic predisposition linked to excess iron in the lungs may exacerbate some people's susceptibility to COPD.

If you’ve ever been tasked with finding an electronic device like a cell phone, TV, or washing machine, you’re probably aware of just how difficult it can be. In the digital age, devices are being produced faster than ever before, and most people simply don’t have the time or the bandwidth to keep up with everything that’s going on. This is no different when it comes to choosing an oxygen concentrator. There are literally hundreds of different oxygen machines out there, so how are you going to figure out which one is right for you?

Unfortunately, there is no guide out there that compares every single oxygen concentrator on the market. There are just too many machines and too much variety among them to compare all of them at once. This is why we’ve taken it upon ourselves to compare some of the most popular oxygen devices one at a time. Here are a couple of topics we’ve covered so far:

The Inogen One G5 vs. The Inogen One G3

The Inogen One G5 vs. The Inogen One G4

The Inogen One G5 vs. The Respironics SimplyGo Mini

The Inogen One G5 vs. ResMed Mobi

The Inogen One G5 vs. The Oxlife Freedom

The Inogen One G5 vs. The CAIRE Freestyle Comfort

The Inogen One G5 vs. The AirSep Focus

The Inogen One G5 vs. The AirSep FreeStyle 5

The Inogen One G5 vs. The GCE Zen-O Lite

We’ve only just scratched the surface when it comes to portable oxygen concentrator comparisons. Over the decades, we’ve seen many great oxygen machines released by companies like AirSep, Respironics, Inogen, all of which deserve their time in the limelight due to their high-quality design and long-lasting appeal. So far, we’ve primarily been comparing each portable oxygen concentrator to the Inogen One G5. This is because the G5 is the most popular mobile oxygen concentrator currently on the market and, in many ways, it’s leaps and bounds ahead of its competition. 

In this post, we’re going to be taking a look at the Inogen One G5 and the Invacare Platinum Mobile. If this article doesn’t answer your question or you want to learn how to get started purchasing an oxygen concentrator, don’t hesitate to reach out to us by filling out the contact form at the side of the page. One of our oxygen specialists will reach out to you and answer your questions about oxygen prescription require as well as any questions you have about the concentrators themselves.

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About Invacare Oxygen Products 

Invacare is no stranger to the healthcare industry. Since its inception in 1885, they’ve worked to ensure the freedom and mobility of people with chronic illnesses and disabilities. While they got their start manufacturing wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and walkers, they’ve since branched out to provide respiratory products and personal care products as well. 

Homefill oxygen systems or homefill oxygen concentrators are what Invacare is primarily known for. These operate using the same principles as regular oxygen concentrators but they’re intended for people who use oxygen tanks or portable oxygen cylinders. Instead of having to go to an oxygen company each time they want to refill their tank, the homefill oxygen system allows them to do refill their oxygen in the comfort of their own home.

Invacare is also known for stationary oxygen concentrators and transportable oxygen concentrators. Unlike the homefill stations, these oxygen concentrators attach directly to the oxygen patient’s nasal cannula and distribute oxygen. Stationary oxygen concentrators need to be plugged into the wall, but transportable concentrators like the Invacare Platinum Mobile run on batteries.

About Inogen Portable Oxygen 

Inogen is one of the most popular and recognizable brands in the way of oxygen therapy and respiratory care. Inogen has only been around since 2001, so its popularity has grown a staggering amount in a very short period of time. The main reason for this is that they’re hyper-focused on what they’re trying to accomplish: providing oxygen patients with more freedom and independence in their daily life.

Because Inogen believes that oxygen patients deserve the same freedom as everyone else, they’ve focused primarily on pulse flow portable oxygen concentrators. These concentrators are light, provide outstanding battery life, and they’re easy to use whether you’re at home or on the go. So far, Inogen has five generations of pulse flow POCs with the Inogen One G5 being the latest. They’ve also manufactured one home oxygen concentrator: the Inogen at Home Concentrator.

Maximum Oxygen Output

No matter what type of oxygen device you use — oxygen tanks, oxygen cylinders, liquid oxygen, home oxygen, or portable oxygen concentrators — ensuring that your machine meets your oxygen demands should always be your first step. For the most part, choosing an oxygen tank is easy because they all have the same oxygen output. However, it’s a little more complicated when you get into home and portable pulse flow oxygen concentrators.

A pulse flow portable oxygen concentrator works differently from oxygen tanks in that the oxygen is only delivered when you inhale. Since these devices are so efficient, it enables oxygen companies to make them much smaller and lighter than other oxygen devices like oxygen tanks and continuous flow oxygen concentrators. It’s important to remember, however, that the way their oxygen output is measured is also different. Oxygen tanks and continuous flow units are measured in liters per minute (LPM) and pulse dose oxygen concentrators are measured in milliliters per minute (ml/min). A flow rate of 1 LPM is not equivalent to a pulse dose flow rate of 1,000 ml/min because there is no wasted oxygen with a pulse flow unit.

With that being said, both the Inogen One G5 and Invacare Platinum mobile provide over 500 milliliters of oxygen per minute of oxygen. The Inogen One G5 takes the cake in this category with a maximum oxygen output of 1,260 ml/min on a setting of 6 while the Invacare Platinum has a maximum oxygen output of 880 ml/min on a setting of 4. Either way, both concentrators are enough for the vast majority of oxygen patients. However, if you have late-stage COPD and require high oxygen flow, the Inogen One G5 will likely be the best way to go since it has the highest oxygen output of any pulse flow concentrator on the market.

Before you decide on a concentrator, it’s important to speak with your pulmonologist first. While most COPD patients should be fine using a pulse dose portable oxygen concentrator, your doctor may have a reason for keeping you on continuous flow. He/she might not be aware or completely informed about what oxygen concentrators are available so be sure to know the flow rate and maximum oxygen output of your preferred oxygen concentrator before meeting with your doctor.

Battery Life

Once you ensure your oxygen needs are accounted for, you should take a look at battery life. Ultimately, battery life is what will determine how long you’ll be able to stay out of the house without having to run to an outlet to charge your device. In our last post, we took a look at four of the portable oxygen concentrators with the longest battery life in 2020. The Inogen One G5 made one of the top spots on this list offering 13 hours of battery life while using the 16-cell battery. Unfortunately, the Invacare Platinum Mobile didn’t make this list because it only offers up to 8 hours of battery life.

While 8 hours may sound like a long battery life, it’s important to take into consideration the actual flow setting that you will be using. For example, if you need to run the Invacare Platinum on its maximum flow setting of 4, you’ll only have a couple of hours of freedom before you need to come home and recharge. This could be a deal-breaker if you’re someone who wants to be able to stay out of the house longer and do more. On the other hand, you’ll still get 3 hours of battery life on the highest flow setting of 6 with the Inogen One G5. 

At the end of the day, you can simply carry more batteries if you feel like you don’t have enough time. The batteries for both the Inogen G5 and the Invacare Platinum are very light, so you should be able to carry several of them without feeling like you’re carrying too much weight. However, if you want to limit weight as much as possible, the Inogen One G5 will be the way to go because it’s one of the most efficient portable oxygen concentrators on the market in 2020.

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Weight

Behind battery life, weight tends to be one of the most important things for oxygen patients to consider. If you’re someone who’s traveling across the country or out of the country, you likely want to carry a lot of personal belongings with you such as your car keys, wallet, passport, a camera, cellphone, or any number of other things. As such, you’re going to want to limit the weight you’re carrying as much as possible. Another thing that affects weight is the accessories that are offered. If you have an effective way of carrying your oxygen concentrator, you may find it easier to bring extra personal belongings.

With the single battery (the battery that comes with the device), the Inogen One G5 weighs in at just 4.7 pounds. The Invacare Platinum Mobile weighs slightly more at 4.8 pounds with the battery that comes with the device. If you compared the two side-by-side, you likely wouldn’t notice any difference, but it is important to note that the Invacare Platinum batteries aren’t as powerful, so you’ll be adding extra weight if you need to carry more batteries. The double battery (16-cell) doubles the battery life of the G5 and it only weighs a pound more than the single battery (8-cell).

Another great benefit to the Inogen One G5 is that it has a slew of amazing accessories to help you carry your device more easily. The G5 Custom Carrying case is the most minimalist offered for the G5. This accessory fits snugly over your device and has an adjustable shoulder strap so you can carry it over either shoulder. It also has a mesh-like material on either side to prevent your oxygen machine from overheating. If you’re more of a traveler, you may opt for the Inogen G5 Backpack. This will enable you to carry your G5 on your back rather than at your side and it has plenty of room to carry extra personal belongings such as your car keys, wallet, passport, cellphone, or camera.

Ease-of-Use

There’s nothing worse than having a portable oxygen concentrator that’s difficult to operate. For most oxygen patients, just having to be hooked up to oxygen 24/7 is enough of a chore, so if their POC has tons of buttons or complicated functions, it may not be worth going out of the house at all. Fortunately, both the Invacare Platinum Mobile and the Inogen One G5 are very easy to use and even troubleshoot on-the-go.

One of the first things you’ll notice about these two oxygen concentrators is their clean and simple user interface. All the buttons and the screen are located on the top of the unit so that you can make adjustments to your oxygen usage on the fly or check your battery life. The batteries are located on the bottom of the unit out of the way. To get them off, simply pull the tab on the side and you can pop another one on. On the Invacare Platinum, however, the batteries are located under the interface. You simply need to lift it up and you can pull each one out to have it replaced. What this means is that you’ll never have to flip the device on its side or risk dropping the battery. The Invacare Platinum also holds two smaller batteries which are lighter and easier to handle than the G5 batteries.

Who’s the Ideal Candidate for the Invacare Platinum Mobile?

Invacare is a company that’s been around for quite some time. Through most of their existence, they’ve provided chronically ill patients with mobility equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, and scooters. However, they’ve also served many oxygen patients across the globe by manufacturing homefill oxygen systems, stationary oxygen concentrators, portable oxygen concentrators and aerosol devices like nebulizers.

The Invacare Platinum Mobile is one of the latest and most advanced respiratory products they’ve ever produced. It uses pulse dose technology which is the most efficient oxygen delivery method ever produced. As an oxygen patient, this means you’ll have more freedom than ever before, allowing you to go where you like, whenever you please. While the Invacare Platinum is a great choice for many oxygen patients, it lags behind the Inogen One G5 in terms of total oxygen output, battery life, and weight. 

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Who’s the Ideal Candidate for the Inogen One G5?

Unlike most oxygen companies that got their start manufacturing other types of medical equipment, Inogen got their start producing oxygen concentrators. Inogen was founded in 2001 and shortly after, they put out their first home oxygen concentrator the Inogen at Home oxygen concentrator. After this release, they primarily focused on pulse flow portable oxygen concentrators, and at this point in time, they currently have five generations of concentrators.

The Inogen One G5 released in the summer of 2019 and is considered to be the best oxygen concentrator on the market. The G5 has the highest oxygen output of any pulse flow unit with 1260 ml/min of 90% (+6%/-3%) oxygen and 6 pulse flow settings. The only concentrator that can compete with it is the new CAIRE FreeStyle Comfort which also released this past year. The G5 also has one of the longest battery lives of any POC, offering up to 13 hours of freedom on one charge! All of these features make the G5 the perfect oxygen concentrator for anyone with high oxygen demands or someone who wants a great all-around oxygen concentrator that will last them for years to come.

Conclusion

Choosing the right mobile oxygen concentrator is not always easy. There are hundreds of them on the market and not enough resources to make a decision quickly. Luckily, we’ve taken the time to compare each concentrator side-by-side so you simply need to find the one you’re interested in and read about it. The Invacare Platinum Mobile and Inogen One G5 are both great oxygen concentrators, but the G5 gets our top pick simply because it excels in nearly every aspect.

If you have any questions that weren’t answered here or you’re ready to get started purchasing a portable oxygen concentrator, start by filling out the contact form at the side of the page. One of our respiratory specialists will get back to you answering any questions that you have. Be sure to keep in touch with your doctor or pulmonologist as well so that you know exactly what your oxygen needs are.

If you’ve spent some time perusing the internet for oxygen supplies, oxygen concentrators, or oxygen companies, you’re probably well aware of how difficult it can be to find exactly what you’re looking for. While you want simple and straightforward solutions to your oxygen needs, you’re instead met with scams, misleading advertising, and pages and pages of statistics; most of which is useless information. As a result, many people end up with oxygen supplies that don’t suit their wants and needs.

Here at LPT Medical, we take pride in simplifying the oxygen industry for you. Rather than spewing out a bunch of statistics and letting you sift through them to find what’s important, we break apart the information you want to know into bite-size pieces. One of the ways we like to do this is by comparing some of the most popular portable oxygen concentrators side-by-side, looking at the most important details like weight, battery life, oxygen output, and ease-of-use. Here are the units we’ve compared so far:

The Inogen One G5 vs. The Inogen One G3

The Inogen One G5 vs. The Inogen One G4

The Inogen One G5 vs. The Respironics SimplyGo Mini

The Inogen One G5 vs. ResMed Mobi

The Inogen One G5 vs. The Oxlife Freedom

The Inogen One G5 vs. The CAIRE Freestyle Comfort

The Inogen One G5 vs. The AirSep Focus

The Inogen One G5 vs. The AirSep FreeStyle 5

To continue this trend, we’re going to take a look at the Inogen One G5 and the GCE Zen-O Lite in this post. As always, if you need clarification on anything that you read in this post or you’re ready to get started purchasing your portable oxygen concentrator, fill out the form at the side of the page and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

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About the GCE Group

GCE Group (Gas Control Equipment Group) is an industrial and medical oxygen company based out of Malmö, Sweden. Founded in 1987, they’ve put out a number of notable oxygen concentrators including the Zen-O and the Zen-O Lite portable oxygen concentrators, the Nuvo 8 oxygen concentrator, and the Nuvo Lite Mark 5 oxygen concentrator. The newest of which, the GCE Zen-O Lite is one of the most advanced, reliable, and efficient machines they have to offer.

GCE doesn’t just specialize in oxygen concentrator technology, though. They also offer gas supply systems for the analytical and electronic industries along with cutting and welding components like regulators and blowpipes. In 2018, GCE announced a rebranding project where they divided into three separate brands: GCE, GCE Druva, and GCE Healthcare. According to the Executive Vice President, this is a necessary step in their continued evolution and that their company is still committed to safety, innovation, and integrity in everything they do. 

About Inogen

Inogen is possibly the most well-established and respected brand in medical oxygen. While they haven’t been around quite as long as companies like GCE, AirSep, or Respironics, they’ve more than demonstrated their worth by producing industry-leading portable oxygen concentrators like the Inogen One G3, Inogen One G4, and Inogen One G5, all of which are still used by thousands of oxygen patients all over the world. Unlike many other oxygen companies out there, Inogen is solely focused on portable oxygen concentrators. While they did manufacture the Inogen at Home oxygen concentrator in the early 2000s, they decided to focus their efforts on portability and mobility.  

The Inogen One G5 currently holds the record for the highest oxygen output of any pulse flow portable oxygen concentrator. It also has some of the longest battery life offered by a pulse flow unit. The last generation of oxygen concentrator, the Inogen One G4, is also one of the lightest portable oxygen concentrators ever produced, surpassed only by the AirSep Focus which weighs in at just 1.75 pounds. In general, Inogen continues to move the industry forward, offering patients more reliable and technologically advanced portable oxygen concentrators than ever before.

Maximum Oxygen Output

One of the first issues oxygen patients encounter when choosing an oxygen device is understanding oxygen output. You need an oxygen machine that will meet your needs but you don’t want to have to deal with a heavy and bulky continuous flow portable oxygen concentrator which will severely restrict your freedom and independence. The good news is that pulse flow technology is advancing very rapidly meaning that high-flow oxygen patients no longer have the need to use continuous flow units.

The Inogen One G5 and the GCE Zen-O Lite are both pulse flow concentrators. What this means is that, instead of outputting a continuous stream of oxygen, they put out “boluses” or “doses” of oxygen whenever the patient inhales. The benefit of this is that the concentrator is not wasting resources by producing oxygen that is never inspired by the patient. The Intelligent Delivery System built into these devices ensures that oxygen is delivered at the optimal moment during the patient’s breath. 

The mistake many people make when comparing continuous flow units versus pulse flow ones is that they assume a 1,000 ml/min output on a pulse flow device is the equivalent of 1 LPM on a continuous flow unit. This is not the case, because pulse flow machines don’t have the wasted oxygen that their continuous flow counterparts do. In turn, the 1,260 ml/min offered by the Inogen One G5 and the 1,050 ml/min offered by the GCE Zen-O Lite should be more than enough to suit the vast majority of oxygen patients. However, it’s best to speak with your pulmonologist before switching over to pulse flow.

Weight

Weight has always been a serious issue with medical oxygen devices. Home oxygen concentrators that have been in use since the 1970s can weigh upwards of 30 pounds while portable continuous flow units can weigh 20 pounds or more. However, with the advent of portable pulse flow oxygen concentrators, medical oxygen has become much more lightweight and easy to carry by the average oxygen patient.

The Inogen One G5 weighs in at just 4.7 pounds with the 8-cell battery and the GCE Zen-O Lite weighs slightly more at 5.5 pounds. This is around 10 to 15 pounds lighter than your average continuous flow concentrator and 20 to 25 pounds lighter than your average home oxygen concentrator! What’s more, the Inogen One G5 and GCE Zen-O Lite are much more efficient than other pulse flow concentrators with a higher oxygen output per pound.

There’s no understating the importance of having a lightweight portable oxygen concentrator. Oxygen patients tend to get exhausted rather quickly and carrying a heavy oxygen machine can exacerbate symptoms such as chest pain, coughing, and lightheadedness. Additionally, it’s not uncommon for people to suffer from overlapping conditions like back pain or shoulder pain. So, having an oxygen concentrator that’s over 6 pounds is simply not feasible for these people. If you invest in a light and powerful portable oxygen concentrator, you’ll be prepared if your symptoms ever worsen.

Battery Life

Battery life is another important facet of portable oxygen concentrators. While having a lightweight portable oxygen concentrator will ensure you’re able to lift your device without overexerting yourself, it’s the battery life that will enable you to stay out of the house for as long as possible. The Inogen One G5 has an impressive battery life offering up to 13 hours on one charge while using the 16-cell battery. The GCE Zen-O Lite will offer around 8 hours on one charge with the 12-cell battery.

In the grand scheme of things, both of these portable oxygen concentrators will provide you with ample battery life to get out and enjoy full freedom and independence. Whether you simply want to get out and go to the store or visit friends and family, either of these oxygen concentrators will do. However, if you want to do a lot of traveling, either within the country or outside of the country, the Inogen One G5 will likely be a better option for you.

Another great thing about the impeccable batteries on these two units is that you can significantly extend your runtime by carrying an extra battery or two. By carrying two 16-cell batteries with your Inogen One G5, that will offer you up to 26 hours of battery life and you’ll still be holding under 10 pounds of weight in total. That’s lighter than all continuous flow portable oxygen concentrators on the market! You can even purchase accessories like the Inogen One G5 backpack which will allow you to carry your G5 with ease. It also has plenty of additional space to store extra batteries, your AC and DC power supplies, and other personal belongings.

Sound Level

If you currently use an oxygen tank or portable oxygen cylinder as your primary means of oxygen delivery, you’re likely used to having a quiet device. Since there are no electronic components or moving parts in your oxygen tank, they tend to be very quiet, even when the flow setting has been increased. Fortunately, if you decide to pick up a portable oxygen concentrator like the Inogen One G5 or GCE Zen-O Lite you can expect to be pretty quiet as well.

On average, oxygen concentrators emit about 45 decibels (dBA), however, both the G5 and Zen-O are below this at 37 dBA. To put this into perspective, that’s about the sound of a quiet conversation or whisper, even. So, although pulse flow portable oxygen concentrators tend to be louder than oxygen tanks and oxygen cylinders, they’re not loud enough to bother you or people around you. 

While you’re wearing and using your Inogen One G5 or GCE Zen-O Lite, you’ll feel comfortable going in public places such as a church, library, or restaurant. Although both devices do have audible alarms, they can be turned off by following the directions in your device’s respective user manual. Note, however, that as you turn the POC up to higher flow settings, the sound level will increase as well.

Size

With portable oxygen concentrators becoming lighter and easier to use, we’ve also had the pleasure of seeing them get much smaller. The benefit of having a small portable oxygen concentrator is that it will be easier to carry under your arm or store in tight places. It also makes it easier to carry on public transportation like on a crowded bus or on an airplane. When it’s time for takeoff or landing, you can easily put it under the seat or hold it under your arm.

The dimensions of the G5 are 8.15" H x 7.19" L x 3.26" W and the dimensions of the GCE Zen-O Lite are 9.25” H x 9.8” L x 3.8” W. So, they’re fairly comparable in terms of their size, but the Inogen One G5 is a couple of inches smaller all around. This can make a big difference when it comes to taking your portable oxygen concentrator more places and with less hassle. You might also be able to carry several additional accessories that you couldn’t with the Zen-O Lite. 

Additional Features

Nowadays, most people expect their electronic devices to come with a lot of features. For example, you’re unlikely to find any phone on the market that can just text and make phone calls. Most modern phones have a wide array of features including the ability to send emails, browse the internet, download apps, and much more. In a way, portable oxygen concentrators are similar. Rather than putting out concentrators that simply do their job, oxygen manufacturers are working to add additional features to their devices which improve ease-of-use, interconnectivity, and freedom.

The most notable feature of the Inogen One G5 is the Inogen Connect app. This software was first implemented into the Inogen One G4 back in 2015 and was added to the G5 due to popular demand. The Inogen Connect can be downloaded on any tablet or smartphone device, it can then be connected to your G5 through Bluetooth. When you open the app, it will display important information about your oxygen machine such as battery life, column status, and system integrity. You’ll even have full access to your G5’s user manual so you won’t have to worry about keeping track of the hard copy that came with your device. Although the Inogen Connect is very easy to use and set up, it is by no means mandatory. Your oxygen concentrator will run perfectly fine without it.

Unfortunately, the GCE Zen-O Lite doesn’t come with any features that compare to the Inogen Connect. GCE instead opted to focus on the fundamental aspects of their oxygen machine and avoid any cross-functionality with smartphones and other electronic devices. Whether you see this as a positive or a negative, it may be something to consider when choosing your next portable oxygen concentrator.  

Who’s the Ideal Candidate for the GCE Zen-O Lite?

The GCE Zen-O Lite is an all-around great oxygen concentrator. Manufactured by a company that specializes in both industrial and medical oxygen supplies, along with a host of other things, you know that GCE will always offer a reliable and durable product. The Zen-O Lite is their latest portable oxygen concentrator and it’s also one of the most advanced they’ve ever produced.

The Zen-O Lite has a great oxygen output offering over 1,000 ml/min meaning it will work for the large majority of oxygen patients. While it’s not the lightest portable oxygen concentrator, it’s still under 6 pounds so you can easily take it anywhere you go without experiencing back pain or becoming out of breath. It offers enough battery life for you to be able to stay out and about throughout the day without worrying about having the oxygen you need.

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Who’s the Ideal Candidate for the Inogen One G5?

Inogen is an oxygen company that tends to never disappoint with their products. In fact, many people eagerly await the release of new Inogen portable oxygen concentrators because they know they will offer groundbreaking new technologies that enable oxygen patients to live a more active and independent lifestyle. The Inogen One G5 is just the latest example of what Inogen is capable of.

Weighing in at only 4.7 pounds, the Inogen One G5 is one of the lightest on the market. In terms of battery life, the G5 is surpassed only by the CAIRE Freestyle Comfort which provides 16 hours of battery life. The G5 also has the highest oxygen output of any pulse flow portable oxygen concentrator ever produced with 1,260 ml/min of 90% oxygen and 6 flow settings to choose from.

Conclusion

Finding the right portable oxygen concentrator takes time and patience. To start, ensure that the device meets your oxygen needs. If you’re thinking of buying a pulse flow oxygen machine like the Inogen One G5 or GCE Zen-O Lite, you should first speak to your pulmonologist to make sure this oxygen delivery method will work for you. Once you know how much oxygen you need, you can start looking into other aspects of the device such as weight, size, battery life, and ease-of-use.

If you need help choosing the right POC, don’t hesitate to reach out to our oxygen specialists here at LPT Medical. You can reach us by filling out the contact form at the side of the page and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. In the meantime, keep reading our blog posts to learn more about the best portable oxygen concentrators on the market. 

Inogen is an oxygen concentrator company that never slacks when it comes to quality. Since their inception in the early 2000s, they’ve delivered reliable, state-of-the-art portable oxygen concentrators that maximize the freedom and independence of each oxygen patient who uses them. Inogen works hard to ensure that, with the release of each new portable oxygen concentrator, they’re on the cutting edge in terms of battery life, ease-of-use, and maximum oxygen output.

Their latest portable oxygen concentrator, the Inogen One G5 is just one more example of why Inogen continues to be such a successful oxygen equipment manufacturer. Potentially its most notable accomplishment is its high oxygen output. This enables more people than ever before to experience the freedom that comes with having a pulse flow portable oxygen concentrator. And since it’s so far ahead of its competition, G5 owners can rest easy knowing that their unit won’t be made obsolete in the months or years to come.

In the past, we’ve talked about a lot of the considerable freedoms you’ll regain while using your Inogen One G5. For example, we’ve talked about how the G5 is approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) meaning you’ll be able to fly wherever you want in the world while still receiving the oxygen you need. We also talked about how easy it is to take a road trip with the G5. By using the G5 DC power cable, you can charge your oxygen machine wherever you go, allowing you to sightsee at your own leisure.

All of these things are great and prove that the G5 really is the most advanced portable oxygen concentrator ever created. But the truth is, many people don’t enjoy long flights or road trips across the country. For many people, it’s the little things that count like being able to see their family more often or cook a meal without the help of a caretaker. If you’re someone who enjoys the little things in life, read on, because we’re going to take a look at 8 day-to-day activities you’ll be able to enjoy with the Inogen One G5.

Going to the Grocery Store

In the 21st century, people have thought of solutions to just about any problem you can think of. All it takes is a quick Google search to find that many grocery stores have a delivery service. For just a small fee, you can have someone gather all the produce you need and have it delivered to your home all within the same day. Grocery delivery is unbelievably convenient for people who are bound to their bed with a debilitating illness, however, if you have mild to moderate COPD, you may feel bad about relying on grocery delivery when you could go out and do it yourself.

Before you had COPD, you may have thought of grocery shopping as a chore. Grocery stores are often crowded and chaotic environments which can be stressful to deal with after a long day at work. But if you’ve been bound to your oxygen tank or home oxygen concentrator for years, chances are, you’ve come to miss the freedom of getting out and doing your own shopping. Fortunately, the Inogen One G5 will make grocery shopping a breeze. With up to 13 hours of battery life on one charge, you’ll never feel like you’re pressed on time while shopping.

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Taking a Walk in the Park

The United States is currently enduring a mental health crisis. Despite the majority of individuals being wealthier than previous generations, many people report feeling unhappy, alone, and depressed. For younger generations, this might simply be a matter of setting aside the phones or tablets and connecting more with friends and family, however, for older generations, it’s a little more complicated.

Many older Americans are afflicted with conditions like COPD that prevent them from getting out of the house. This could be taking a huge toll on peoples’ mental health, a subject that’s often ignored when it comes to older adults and seniors. What’s more, studies have shown that people who get outside each day are less likely to experience common health complications like cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and more.

Getting out of the house and taking a walk in the park is incredibly easy with the Inogen One G5 and it could go a long way in improving your happiness. Unlike continuous flow portable oxygen concentrators, the G5 is light enough to carry on your shoulders. What this means is that you’ll never have to worry about lifting it over curbs, or wheeling it through a puddle of water or mud. Weighing in at just 4.7 pounds, you’ll be able to stay out all day without feeling out of breath.

Visiting Friends and Family

In the grand scheme of things, there really isn’t anything more important than the time you spend with your friends and family. While your career, hobbies, and interests are all important, ultimately, your family is what will make you feel whole. 

Unfortunately, COPD and other chronic illnesses tend to put a strain on many relationships. If one of your family members is acting as a caretaker to you, they may feel stressed by the added work. And from your perspective, it may be frustrating feeling like you’re a burden on your loved one. While this is a completely natural and common reaction to a situation like this, it’s not something you have to simply “cope with.”

While COPD is a debilitating disease, its symptoms can be significantly reduced by following the treatment plan set forth by your pulmonologist. This will likely include a strict diet, some form of exercise like pulmonary rehabilitation, and most importantly, oxygen therapy. When you follow all of these things to a tee, you’ll be able to spend more quality time with your friends and family.

One great thing about owning a pulse flow portable oxygen concentrator like the Inogen One G5 is that they’re remarkably easy to operate. All you need to know how to do is turn the device on, adjust the flow settings, and replace the batteries on the bottom of the unit. This is in stark contrast to something like an oxygen tank that requires you to purchase and know how to use a separate concentrator device to refill the tanks. If not, you’ll have to drive to an oxygen company that’s able to refill them. This is why many oxygen patients need a caretaker — it’s a lot of work!

Cooking a Healthy Meal

One activity many COPD patients miss is cooking. If you’re using a home or portable oxygen tank, it’s very dangerous to work in a hot environment or around an open flame. So, cooking is strictly off-limits for many oxygen patients. 

Another problem with not cooking your own meals is that you have less control over what you eat. You may spend more money eating out or you may opt for unhealthy fast food. These foods are often high in salt which will cause you to retain water, making breathing more difficult. Acidic foods like soda or sugary sweets can also cause complications by increasing inflammation in the body, leading to chest pain.

Alternatively, when you cook your own meals, you know exactly what’s going in it; you’ll be able to target specific nutrients that your doctor recommends for treating COPD symptoms. The Inogen One G5 will give you the mobility you need to navigate the kitchen with ease and most importantly, it doesn’t have the same safety risks associated with oxygen tanks. Since portable oxygen concentrators contain no compressed oxygen, there’s no risk of them exploding or becoming damaged if they’re around a flame.

With that being said, it’s still important to be cautious while cooking and using an oxygen concentrator. As a COPD patient, you’re extremely sensitive to airborne particles like smoke, so ideally you’ll want to cook in the oven and avoid overcooking anything. You might also want to open a window or turn on a fan to prevent airborne irritants from settling in one room. If all else fails, don’t be afraid to recruit chef Mike! (microwave).

Doing Chores Around the House

Like cooking, the Inogen One G5 will also give you the freedom to do daily chores without help from a caregiver. While most people aren’t ecstatic about doing chores, they do have several proven therapeutic benefits. Many psychologists would suggest that having a clean and organized home and workspace is a great way to boost your mood and self-worth. What’s more, you’ll see more benefits is you’re the one doing the cleaning rather than a maid or your caretaker.

Another reason to clean up around the house is for your safety. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air can be even more polluted than outdoor areas even in industrialized cities. One of the main reasons this is the case is because the air is concentrated. If your home has poor circulation, airborne irritants and contaminants will stay in one area and you’re likely to inhale them at some point during the day. For someone with COPD, this can increase the risk of experiencing a COPD exacerbation.

Using the Inogen One G5, you’ll have a much easier time completing chores around the house like vacuuming, dusting, laundry, and dishwashing. The best part of all? You’ll be able to carry your portable oxygen concentrator with you the whole time. Unlike with oxygen tanks, you won’t have to constantly stop what you’re doing and walk over to your oxygen device if you’re feeling out of breath. Accessories like the Inogen One G5 Custom Carrying Case will keep your device light and allow you to carry it securely wherever you go. If you don’t want to carry it on your shoulder, you can also buy some longer oxygen tubing and walk around with your concentrator on the floor. If you use this method, be sure not to trip over the tubing or step on it as you could trip or damage your POC. 

Going to Church

One of the biggest concerns oxygen patients have before purchasing a pulse flow portable oxygen concentrator is how loud they are. Oxygen tanks make very little sound, so they don’t want to give them up if it means using a noisy, obnoxious device. Fortunately, this is not the case. Oxygen concentrators are very quiet, and the Inogen One G5 is one of the quietest currently on the market!

On a flow setting of 2, the Inogen One G5 only puts out 37 decibels (dBA). This is comparable to a quiet conversation or whispers even. What’s more, it’s not an annoying noise like you might expect. It just gives off a slight buzzing noise. Many people compare it to the sound of a refrigerator because you’ll notice it at first, but after a while, you won’t even notice it’s there. If going to a church service each Sunday is your goal, you’ll be happy to know that it won’t be disruptive to other people. However, if it causes any concern you can move to the back of the congregation.

Going to the Library

Another activity you’ll feel comfortable doing with this quiet portable oxygen concentrator is to go to the library. For many people, going to the library is a great way to escape from the hectic nature of day-to-day life and read a good book or two. However, if you’re left to deal with a loud continuous flow portable oxygen concentrator, you’re likely going to have to move away from other people. While the sound of the Inogen One G5 shouldn’t be a problem, if you’re concerned about disturbing others, try setting it under a table while you’re using it.    

Taking Up a Hobby

Last but certainly not least, you should think of taking up a new hobby once you have your Inogen One G5. Hobbies are not only great for passing the time and occupying our minds, but they’re part of what defines people and their purpose. Unfortunately, when someone is diagnosed with COPD and they’re bound to their oxygen tank or home oxygen concentrator, they may lose sight of their favorite pastime.

Whether you want to get out and go fishing with your grandkids or you have a hobby to pursue at home, it’s important to start doing things again. Not only will you be doing something productive and interesting, but it will take your mind off your respiratory condition and focus on more positive things. With the Inogen One G5 portable oxygen concentrator at your side, you’ll worry less about having a reliable oxygen supply so that you can concentrate on what you’re trying to accomplish.

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Conclusion

Over the past couple of decades, Inogen oxygen concentrators have enabled oxygen patients to experience more freedom and independence in their daily lives than ever before. Unlike oxygen tanks and home oxygen concentrators that came before it, the Inogen One G5 excels when it comes to a lightweight design, ease-of-use, quality, and durability. With an astounding oxygen output of 1,260 ml/min and a flow setting of 6, the G5 puts out more oxygen than any pulse flow concentrator ever produced.

The Inogen One G5 is approved by the FAA and offers plenty of accessories to ensure that oxygen patients are able to travel wherever and whenever they want. But it also has plenty to offer for people who want to enjoy the little things like taking a walk in the park or visiting with friends and family. The G5 was just released in the summer of 2019, so you can rest assured that it will be supported by Inogen for years to come. 

If you have any questions or concerns about what you read here, please feel free to leave a comment. And if you’d like to learn more about the Inogen One G5, fill out the contact form at the side of the page so we can get back to you.

If you want to lead a healthier life, you need to be more acutely aware of how your lifestyle choices — and the lifestyle choices of others — affect your long-term well-being. For example, you need to research nutrition in order to make sure that your diet is helping you progress towards your health goals, rather than pushing you farther away from them. But nobody ever said this would be easy. With all the information (and misinformation) that’s out there, it can be pretty overwhelming trying to create a health plan and carry it out.

One thing that can really muddle up this issue and make it even more challenging is being diagnosed with a respiratory ailment like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). While it may seem like this will only have an effect on your lungs, your respiratory health actually has a significant impact on your systemic health. For example, in one of our more recent posts, we took a look at how COPD can cause heart problems and swelling in the hands and feet. 

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A topic that’s hotly debated these days is how vaping and e-cigarettes should be viewed as a COPD patient. Some people believe that vaping is an effective tool to help smokers wean off their bad habit to something that’s “less dangerous” and “less addictive.” However, on the other side, people believe it’s being used to get younger generations involved in smoking and other drugs. No matter where you stand on vaping, this post aims to clarify misconceptions about vaping and e-cigarettes. We’ll also show you why it’s a good idea to reconsider vaping as a COPD patient or someone who’s at risk of contracting COPD.

What are Vape Pens and E-Cigarettes?

The concept of “vaping” has not been around very long. In fact, the first commercially successful e-cigarette was created in 2003, but it wasn’t introduced to the United States until 2006. And despite the fact that the vaping industry was valued at around $14.05 billion in 2018 and is expected to grow to $29.39 billion in 2022, there still seems to be a lot of confusion about what vaping actually is.

Like most products, e-cigarettes have evolved a lot since they were first introduced; but the basic principles remain the same: a battery-powered heating device is activated when the user inhales. This, in turn, vaporizes the e-liquid which is inhaled as an aerosol which is a suspension of fine solid particles and liquid droplets. The smoke that comes from a cigarette is also considered an “aerosol” because it contains water droplets, but vaping advocates claim that cigarettes are far more dangerous because they release more HPHCs due to their high combustion temperature.

Technically speaking, e-cigarettes and vape pens are essentially the same thing. The main difference is that e-cigarettes are designed to look like real cigarettes and once you use them up, they are disposed of. On the contrary, vape pens are much more popular and they can be recharged and refilled rather than being disposed of. We’re going to take a look at some of the risks associated with vaping, as well as some of the perceived benefits so that COPD patients can make more educated decisions about their lung health.

What are the Risks Associated with Vaping?

Chemicals Found in “Vape Juice” 

Just like cigarettes, vape juice contains a whole host of chemicals that will harm your long-term health. We know that cigarettes have around 7,000 different toxic chemicals but when it comes to e-cigarettes, the facts are less clear. Since vape juice is being produced by thousands of companies across the country, it’s difficult to track everything that’s being put into them. According to the American Lung Association, however, these are some of the most dangerous components:

• Nicotine
• Carcinogens - including formaldehyde and acetaldehyde
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like Benzene
• Diethylene glycol
• Diacetyl - known to cause bronchiolitis obliterans (popcorn lung)
• Acrolein - commonly used as a herbicide
• Propylene glycol - used to make paint solvent and antifreeze  

An Argument From Ignorance

There’s a common logical fallacy that vaping companies often use to prove the safety of their products. This fallacy is called “an argument from ignorance.” Basically what this comes down to is using a lack of evidence in order to prove that something is true. Most people realize that this is not a valid way to argue a point, but it’s easy to get past someone if they aren’t actively looking out for it.

Vaping companies will claim that their products are safer than cigarettes because there is no evidence that they cause COPD or lung cancer. The problem with this argument, however, is that vaping has not been researched long enough for us to know exactly how it contributes to chronic lung conditions. COPD, in particular, takes several decades to develop and severe symptoms don’t usually manifest until later in life. 

Another thing that needs to be researched is the effects of vaping on systemic health. We know that cigarette smoking damages your heart and blood vessels, and it’s a risk factor for many chronic systemic diseases, but vaping hasn’t been researched enough to determine if there is a link. Vaping advocates will claim that, since there are no immediate systemic effects, you have nothing to worry about. Be sure to look out for these logical fallacies next time you’re offered an e-cigarette.

It’s hard not to draw connections between what is going on now with vaping and what happened in the 1930s to 1950s with cigarettes. During those times, cigarettes were often advertised as “physician approved” just because they irritated the throat less than other cigarettes. These claims were based on nothing more than a couple of surveys and they were designed to profit off the general public’s lack of understanding concerning the dangers of cigarette smoking.  

Vaping is Addictive

No matter how you slice it, nicotine is an addictive chemical regardless of how it’s consumed. Cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and e-cigarettes all contain high amounts of nicotine. This chemical is referred to as a “neurotoxin” because it alters the structure and function of the nervous system. Nicotine activates nicotinic receptors in the brain which are intended for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, responsible for cognitive processing, memory, and attention.

There are nicotinic receptors in every part of the brain, so this is why nicotine has such a wide array of effects. And because the vapor is inhaled to the lungs, the effects are nearly instantaneous. One of the most well-known and concerning parts of the brain that nicotine affects is the nucleus accumbens which is often referred to as the “addiction hub” of the brain. Once nicotine enters this area of the brain, it releases dopamine, the neurochemical that’s responsible for feelings of reward.

E-Cigarette or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI)

In 2019, we saw our first major outbreak of lung illness due to vaping. This new lung condition was dubbed “E-cigarette or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI) by the CDC, and it’s currently being heavily researched. EVALI caused sudden and severe respiratory symptoms in otherwise healthy people, but researchers have determined that the one thing these cases had in common was the use of vaping products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Another problem safety concern associated with e-cigarettes is the battery. While traditional cigarettes can cause fires, e-cigarette batteries have caused harm to the user by exploding or causing severe burns. According to VapeDanger.com, the batteries that are used in e-cigs are not tested well enough to ensure their safety and they’re typically designed for things like power tools rather than e-cigarettes.  

Vaping as a “Gateway” Drug

One of the downsides that’s often under-discussed when it comes to vaping is its potential to be used as a “gateway drug.” A gateway drug is a drug that may not be extremely harmful in and of itself, but it can lead to someone trying other drugs that are far more dangerous. For example, even though vape juice contains less nicotine than cigarettes, it could make it either for someone to get hooked on traditional cigarettes.

Are There Any Benefits of Vaping?

While there are some perceived benefits to vaping like reducing addiction to cigarettes or saving money, you’ll be much better off if you completely eliminate nicotine use in your life. Since we don’t know the long-term effects of vaping, you’re basically just flipping a coin when it comes to your health. It’s best to assume that the only things you should be inhaling into your lungs are fresh air or any medication that your doctor has prescribed you for COPD treatment such as corticosteroids, bronchodilators, or other medication administered through an inhaler or nebulizer. Even then, these drugs should only be used as prescribed by your doctor.  

How Should COPD Patients React to Vaping?

Find other Methods to Quit Smoking

Possibly the most common use for e-cigarettes is as a tool for smoking cessation. Proponents of vaping will say that vaping can act like a nicotine patch or other types of nicotine replacement therapy in order to wean people off of cigarettes. Unfortunately, studies have shown that using e-cigarettes in this way is no more or less effective than other smoking cessation tools. What’s more, there’s a chance that you could become addicted to both cigarettes and e-cigarettes. According to the Truth Initiative, 54.6% of e-cigarette users in 2016 also smoked cigarettes. This would suggest that many people are using vaping as a supplement rather than a replacement for traditional smoking.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains that the most effective cessation tools include counseling, medications, or some combination of the two. There are several different types of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) that can be used to quit smoking, but the most popular include one-on-one counseling and group therapy. FDA-approved smoking cessation medication includes Chantix (varenicline tartrate) and Zyban (buproprion hydrochloride). Before taking these medications, however, you should speak with your doctor to determine if they’re right for you.

Above all, it’s important to try these other methods of smoking cessation before resorting to vaping. While e-cigarettes may be the most accessible option for many people, they are not proven to be effective at helping you kick the habit, and more importantly, we don’t yet know the long-term effects of vaping on the body. If you have COPD or you’re currently at risk of COPD, you should invest time in behavioral therapy, nicotine replacement therapy, or one of the FDA-approved medications before resorting to vaping.

Focus on your COPD Treatment Plan

If you have COPD, you should be focusing on your treatment plan above all else. This includes things like smoking cessation, supplemental oxygen therapy, a refined diet, and pulmonary rehabilitation. If you’ve smoked for years or decades, you may find it tempting to invest in vaping because it’s often advertised as a “healthier alternative” to smoking. But in reality, vaping will put you at a higher risk of contracting pneumonia, one of the primary causes of COPD exacerbations.

If you spend your time and energy focusing on making positive lifestyle changes, you’re likely to see your nicotine dependency dissipate over time. According to Addictions and Recovery, nicotine stays in the body for about 72 hours and nicotine withdrawal is worst 2 to 3 days after quitting. However, it takes around 3 months for your brain chemistry to return back to normal after smoking. Try to focus on your COPD treatment for this duration of time and you’ll find that it becomes much easier to avoid nicotine products. 

Get Outside and Exercise

If you’re still struggling with nicotine withdrawal, consider exercising more frequently. According to Medical News Today, exercise is one of the best-known ways to combat nicotine cravings, and the best part is that it doesn’t require you to commit to a high-intensity exercise routine. Even 10 minutes each day of moderate exercise can significantly reduce the chance that you’ll fall back on your smoking cessation plan.  

Understand the Financial Burden of Vaping

One of the claims you’ll hear thrown around is that vaping is “95 percent healthier and 40 percent cheaper than smoking.” While this is certainly an interesting statement, it’s not based in reality. First and foremost, very little research has been done on vaping especially when it comes to the long-term effects on the lungs. So, it’s very difficult to prove or disprove that vaping is “95 percent safer.”

Secondly, the cost of smoking or vaping varies greatly. Some people smoke several packs of cigarettes a day while others smoke only once or twice a week. When they say that vaping is “40 percent cheaper,” they are usually comparing the lower estimates of vaping with the upper estimates of smoking. Be careful when you hear claims like this, especially if they’re coming from vaping companies.  

Conclusion

Vaping is a trend that’s been increasing in popularity for years. Although it’s mainly used by young adults, many older adults and seniors are embracing it as a “healthier alternative” or “cessation tool” for traditional cigarettes. If you suffer from COPD or another chronic respiratory disease, you should be wary of these claims and focus on healthy lifestyle choices that are backed by many decades of research rather than several years of research.

Here at LPT Medical, we only sell products that are medically proven to help patients with COPD. Most people with COPD will be prescribed supplemental oxygen and we are happy to provide lightweight and durable portable oxygen concentrators that can keep you moving despite your respiratory condition. Whether you’re looking for the Caire FreeStyle Comfort, Inogen One G5, Respironics SImplyGo, or any other affordable portable oxygen device, we are here to help.