Breathing comfortably is a constant struggle for people living with COPD, and bad posture can make it even more difficult to breathe. Unfortunately, many people with COPD do not practice good posture, and the disease itself can lead to unhealthy slouching habits.

The good news is that, if you do struggle with bad posture, you might be able to improve your COPD symptoms simply by changing how you position your body. By paying attention to how you sleep, sit, stand, and lie down, you can make adjustments that reduce the strain on your lungs and muscles and make it easier to breathe.

How Posture Affects COPD

Some of the main symptoms of COPD include reduced lung function, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing. Because of this, the lungs of people with COPD need all the help they can get to function efficiently and take in enough oxygen.

However, when you assume a hunched posture, it compresses your chest cavity and pushes your rib cage against your lungs and diaphragm. This constricts your diaphragm and makes it more difficult for your lungs to expand.

As a result, you take shallower breaths and get less oxygen when you slouch than you do when you stand or sit up straight.

In this way, poor posture can cause chest discomfort and breathlessness that can make it very difficult and uncomfortable to breathe. Getting into the habit of hunching forward for significant periods of time can significantly affect your respiration and lower your blood oxygen levels, which can be dangerous day after day.

You can see the difference for yourself by comparing how comfortably you can breathe in an upright versus hunched over position.

First, sit and lean forward with your shoulders drooped forward and your neck bent toward your chest. Try to take a few deep breaths. You should notice that your chest feels compressed and your breaths feel restricted.

Next, sit up straight. Hold your chin up parallel to the ground and put your shoulders back, so your back is straight and your shoulders are parallel with your hips. Now, try to take a few deep breaths again. Do you notice that your chest feels more open, and it's much easier to breathe?

If you did this right, the difference should be obvious; a poor, hunched posture puts a great deal of strain on your ability to breathe, while an upright posture takes off the pressure and makes it much easier for your lungs to expand. This difference is apparent after only a few moments of holding a hunched posture, so you can imagine how much strain it puts on your lungs if you have bad posture all the time.

Even though it's clear that body posture can have a significant effect on COPD symptoms, some doctors are beginning to believe that it can go the other way, too. They think that simply having COPD can directly affect your posture and can lead people with the disease to develop negative postural habits.

How COPD Affects Your Posture

If you have COPD, take a moment to think about what you do when you have difficulty breathing. Do you tilt your body forward when you try to catch your breath?

Whether or not this is your reaction to breathlessness, many doctors have noticed that this is a common posture people with COPD assume when they have difficulty breathing. They believe that, in the short term, this forward-leaning position might help relieve the feeling of breathlessness.

This is a learned posture that many people with respiratory illnesses get in the habit of doing. In the short term, this can be helpful and make it easier to breathe when you're having trouble.

However, if you do this often, it's important to tilt your body forward while keeping your back straight and your shoulders relaxed. You could end up putting even more strain on your lungs and the rest of your body if you aren't careful.

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The Effects of Bad Posture

Bad posture hurts more than just your breathing. It can cause stiffness, pain, and other complications elsewhere in your body that can affect your ability to exercise and do daily activities.

When your body is not aligned the way it was designed to be, it forces other muscles and joints to have to take over. These muscles aren't designed to hold up your body's weight, and they become sore and strained when you don't practice good posture.

Here are some of the major effects that bad posture can have on your body:

• Shoulder, Neck, and Back Pain: Slouching forward can put enormous strain on the muscles in your neck, back, and shoulders. This results in soreness, stiffness, and joint damage, and over time can cause permanent disfigurement.
  
  
• Jaw and Head Pain: Bending your neck forward often, as many people do when working at a desk or computer, can strain the muscles, tendons, and joints in your neck and jaw. It can cause muscle tightness that radiates to the head, which leads to jaw tension and headaches.
  
  
• Gastrointestinal Pain: Hunching forward puts pressure on your stomach and intestines, making it harder for them to function and move food through your digestive system. This can lead to stomachaches, pain, and indigestion.
  
  
• Reduced Lung Function: As we discussed before, hunching forward puts pressure on your lungs and reduces their capacity by up to thirty percent. This makes it difficult for your lungs to get enough oxygen, which can be especially troublesome for people with respiratory conditions who already have reduced lung function.
  
  
• Reshaping Bones and Joints: Extra pressure on certain bones and joints that aren't suited for the role can actually cause them to change shape. Certain muscles and tendons get shorter or longer over time due to improper posture that positions your body unnaturally. This can lead to stiffness, soreness, decreased mobility, and, in the worst cases, a permanently hunched-over posture.

The strain that bad posture puts on your muscles, organs, and joints only makes it more difficult to move and exercise. And the more your physical activity is limited, the more likely you are to experience worsened COPD symptoms and quicker disease progression.

Since living with COPD already weakens your muscles and makes physical activity difficult, the last thing you need is to be even further hindered by the effects of bad posture.

What Good Posture Looks Like

In general, good posture is a straight posture. Your back should form a straight line connecting your hips, shoulders and head.

That means no slouching or bending for extended periods of time. Pay attention to your normal posture and look out for habits like leaning back, hunching forward, and pulling your shoulders or neck toward your chest

Here's a list of bad postural habits to watch out for:

• Shifting your weight to one foot or the other, which puts extra strain on your hips and spine. You should try to distribute your weight evenly between both feet instead.
  
  
• Bending forward over your phone, laptop, or desk. This strains your neck, back, and shoulders and reduces your flexibility.
  
  
• Using your shoulder to prop your phone against your ear puts strain on your shoulders, neck, and upper back. Hold your phone in your hand or use a hands-free device like a bluetooth earpiece, instead.
  
  
• Bending your neck back and your chin up in order to look up at a screen. Make sure your screen is positioned in such a way that you can keep your back and neck straight while viewing it.
  
  
• Standing with your pelvis pushed back and your chest pushed forward, a position that exaggerates the curve in your lower back.
  
  
• Standing with your back flat, which forces you to pull your pelvis forward and hunch slightly. In a proper posture, your spine should have three curves: it curves in at your lower back, out at your chest, and back in again at your neck.

It can be hard to break bad posture habits like these because, over time, they start to feel natural and comfortable. You have to be diligent about catching yourself slouching or practicing bad posture, and make an effort to correct it every time to successfully break the habit.

Over time, you can train yourself to hold a better posture that will help your muscles, joints, and lungs stay healthy. In fact, there is a wide variety of benefits that you can gain if you dedicate yourself to practicing good posture.

Here are some of the greatest benefits you can gain from good posture:

• Prevent muscle strain and soreness in your back, neck, shoulders, and limbs
  
  
• Reduce strain on joints and ligaments throughout your body, especially your spine.
  
  
• Prevent bone and spine stiffness and disfigurement
  
  
• Increase the efficiency of your muscles, which increases physical endurance and reduces fatigue
  
  
• Prevent abnormal wear and tear on your joint surfaces
  
  
• Reduce your risk of arthritis
  
  
• Improve your confidence and physical appearance

How to Practice Good Sitting Posture

Poor sitting posture is extremely common. And now that most people in the developed world do at least 75% of their work sitting down, learning proper sitting posture is more important for health than ever before.

A hunched posture while sitting is one of the worst positions for someone with COPD because it constricts your chest and makes your lungs have to work extra hard to breathe. If you stay in a hunched position for prolonged periods of time, it can even reduce your blood oxygen saturation and contribute to hypoxia.

Good sitting posture, however, opens up your chest and takes pressure off of your lungs and diaphragm. You should keep your back as straight as possible (while maintaining the curvature of your spine) and keep your neck and shoulders aligned with your hips. Any bending or leaning forward or backward should happen at your waist, not your chest or back.

It's okay to tilt your chest forward if needed, as long as you keep your back straight and refrain from tensing your neck and shoulders. In fact, research shows that leaning forward slightly while sitting or standing can actually make it easier for people with respiratory conditions to breathe.

Here are some general guidelines for proper sitting posture:

• Keep your back straight at all times and your feet flat on the floor.
  
  
• Your back should always have three curves: at your lower back (lumbar curve), chest (thoracic curve), and neck (cervical curve). Your spine, when viewed from the side, should look roughly like an elongated “S” shape.
  
  
• Your knees should form a right angle (approximately) when you sit.
  
  
• Scoot all the way back into your seat when you sit down. In general, the back of your buttocks should be touching the back of your chair when you sit.
  
  
• Always keep your weight evenly distributed between both hips so you don't put extra pressure and strain on one side.
  
  
• Use a chair with back support when possible. If you are sitting in a straight-backed chair, you can place a rolled-up towel between the chair and your lower back to support the natural curve of your spine.
  
  
• Don't sit still in one place for more than thirty minutes at a time. Take breaks to stand, stretch, and move around whenever possible.
  
  
• Use an office chair with a seat that can spin, that way you can turn the whole chair when you need to turn left or right. This helps you keep your back straight instead of twisting at your waist all the time.

It's easy to get in the habit of hunching your body forward, and sitting upright probably won't feel right at first. But if you put forth a conscious effort to practice proper sitting posture, it will start to feel much more natural and more comfortable with time.

Here is an example of a good sitting posture you can use to breathe better with COPD:

• Keep both feet flat on the floor at all times to keep your hips and back supported.
  
  
• Keeping your back straight, lean forward slightly and rest your elbows on your knees. You may also rest your elbows on a table or flat surface in front of you.
  
  
• If you need extra support, you can rest your chin in the palms of your hands.
  
  
• Make sure your neck and shoulders are relaxed. Do not tense them or allow them to slump forward.

How to Practice Good Standing Posture

Even if you spend most of your day sitting down, it's important to pay attention to your posture when you stand, too. If you develop the habit of using correct, upright standing posture you can increase your standing endurance, breathe easier, and reduce muscle soreness and fatigue.

Here are some general guidelines for proper standing posture:

• Keep your shoulders back, relaxed, and aligned with your hips.
  
  
• Keep your chin up and parallel to the ground. Don't lean forward or bend your neck forward when standing or walking.
  
  
• Bend your knees slightly and keep your feet about shoulder's-width apart.
  
  
• Tuck your stomach in and keep your back straight; don't lean back or push your hips forward when standing.
  
  
• Wear comfortable shoes with good arch and ankle support.
  
  
• Don't stand still for long periods of time. Move around, walk, stretch, and shift your weight to prevent soreness and strain.

Image courtesy of Beth Scupham on Flickr.

Here are two examples of proper standing positions you can practice to improve your posture.

Standing Posture 1:

• Stand with your feet spread about shoulder's width apart.
  
  
• Make sure your weight is distributed evenly between both feet, so you're not leaning on one leg or another.
  
  
• Lean your hips back against a wall for support if needed and rest your hands on your thighs.
  
  
• Keep your shoulders relaxed and parallel with your waist.
  
  
• You can lean forward slightly and let your arms hang in front of you as well.

Standing Posture 2:

• Stand with your feet spread about shoulder's width apart.
  
  
• Make sure your weight is distributed evenly between both feet, so you're not leaning on one leg or another.
  
  
• Rest your hands or arms on a chair, table, or another piece of furniture in front of you that's below shoulder height.
  
  
• Rest your head on your hands or forearms if needed.

How to Practice Good Sleeping Posture

Many people don't think about how they position themselves when they sleep, but bad sleeping posture can significantly affect your body. Most people spend 6-9 hours every night in bed, and how you position your body during that time can significantly affect your muscles and your ability to breathe.

Here are some general tips for good posture while you sleep:

• Choose a mattress that is medium firmness. You want it to be soft, yet not so soft that it doesn't support the curves of your body.
  
  
• Use a lumbar support for your lower back if needed.
  
  
• As always, it's important to keep the natural curvature of your spine intact. Here's how you can do this while you sleep.
  
  
• If you sleep on your back, put a pillow or rolled towel under your knees. You can also place a lumbar support roll under your lower back.
  
  
• If you sleep on your side, bend your knees slightly at the knee. Don't pull your knees up toward your chest.
  
  
• Avoid sleeping on your stomach, which can strain your back and neck.

Here are two examples of good sleeping positions you can practice for better posture:

Proper Sleeping Posture 1:

• Sleep on your back and put a pillow under your head to support your head and neck.
  
  
• Bend your knees slightly and place a pillow or rolled-up towel under your knees. This will help keep your spine straight and relieve pressure on your lower back.

Proper Sleeping Posture 2:

• Sleep on your side with your knees slightly bent, but not pulled up toward your chest.
  
  
• Put a pillow under your head to keep your head elevated and your neck supported.
  
  
• Tuck a pillow in-between your knees.
  
  
• Do your best to keep your back straight while you sleep. Don't curl up your body or tuck your chin in.

Improving Flexibility

Unnatural postures causes stiffness and a variety of imbalances in your muscles, tendons, and joints. If you have had bad posture for a long time, chances are your body needs some work to restore natural balance and flexibility.

Regular exercise and physical activity is one of the best ways to restore strength and flexibility to your muscles and joints, but it's important to take time to stretch as well. There are a variety of simple stretching exercises you can do at home and before workouts that can help you improve your posture and flexibility.

Here are some stretching exercises you can do to support better posture:

• Chin tucks (Neck Flexion): Sit or stand up straight and tilt your neck down toward your chest and hold. Follow up this stretch with neck extensions
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• Neck extensions: Sit or stand up straight, tilt your head straight back, and hold.  Keep your shoulders as relaxed as possible.
  
  
• Chin retractions: Sit or stand up straight and push your chin forward. Then pull your chin back and tuck it in slightly—but not too much—keeping it parallel to the floor. Hold for a moment and repeat.

Shoulders

• Shoulder rolls: Sit or stand with your back straight and roll your shoulders backward. Start by pulling your shoulders up (like a shrug) and then pushing them backward, down, then forward again. Repeat ten times, then reverse the direction by rolling your shoulders forward another ten times.
  
  
• Arm stretch: Straighten your right arm and cross it over your chest. Place your left hand on your upper-left arm to hold it in place and pull it closer to your chest. Hold, then repeat with your left arm.

Back

• Upper back stretch: Sit up straight and clasp your hands together in front of you with your fingers interlaced. Then, turn your palms facing away from your body and push out, extending your arms all the way, and hold.
  
  
• Lower back stretch: Lie on your back on a flat, firm surface. Bend your knees slightly and place both feet flat on the floor. Reach up with both hands and grasp your thigh behind one knee. Pull your knee in toward your chest until you feel the stretch in your lower back and hold. Then, lower your foot back to the ground and repeat with your other leg.

• Open chest stretch: Stand with your side facing a wall or doorway. Extend one arm and place it on the wall or doorframe, then twist at the waist, turning your body away from the wall. Twist until you feel the stretch in your chest and shoulder and hold. Next, turn so that your other side faces the wall or doorframe and repeat with your other arm.

You can do most of these stretching exercises while sitting in a chair to save energy. You should hold each stretch for about 20-30 seconds at a time (unless otherwise indicated) and repeat 2-3 times.

If you still find it difficult to perform light exercises like these, talk to your doctor. You might need to take physical therapy or a pulmonary rehabilitation class to help you get into good enough shape to exercise on your own.

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Conclusion

Managing breathlessness and difficulty breathing is one of the most important skills you can learn if you have COPD. Learning to have better posture is an effective and simple means to better control your symptoms.

By practicing a straighter, more natural posture, your body will be in a better position to breathe without extra pressure or strain. Not only that, but good posture will also reduce aches, pains, and cramps in the rest of your body.

But just as important as knowing good posture is knowing what positions to avoid. Breaking negative postural habits can be tricky, but with enough attention and diligence you can get to the point that you use good posture without even having to think about it.

It can be difficult to get in the habit of sitting, sleeping, and standing in the right way, but you get to reap the benefits of feeling better, breathing better

For many people with COPD, a chronic cough is an ever-present feature in their lives. This can be very disruptive to daily life and leave you feeling tired and fatigued.

COPD causes a chronic cough for two main reasons: First, COPD causes inflammation in your throat, lungs, and airways, making them much more sensitive to getting triggered to cough. Second, COPD causes you to produce extra mucus, which obstructs your lungs and airways and triggers a phlegmy cough.

People with COPD also tend to suffer more often from other conditions that cause coughing, like pneumonia, asthma, and GERD.

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Along with breathlessness, coughing is one of the most uncommon and unpleasant symptoms of COPD. Some people have a chronic cough that they have to deal with day in and day out, while others only experience severe coughing during exacerbations.

But whether you struggle with coughing every day or just when your symptoms get worse, you should know that you don't have to suffer hopelessly. While you probably won't be able to rid yourself of your cough for good, there are many effective cough suppression techniques that can reduce your cough and make it easier to manage.

In this article we're going to show you a variety of cough suppression techniques for COPD. We'll introduce you to an assortment of home remedies, lifestyle changes, and mucus reduction techniques that can help you control your cough and breathe unobstructed

Not All Coughing is Bad

Before we get into the cough suppression techniques, it's important to know that there are times when you shouldn't try to suppress your cough. Oftentimes, COPD causes a productive cough, which is a cough that produces sputum (a mixture of mucus and saliva).

A good rule of thumb is that if you can cough up mucus, then you should try to cough up as much as you can. You don't want to stop or suppress the coughing, otherwise the mucus will build up in your airways and make it even more difficult to breathe. The mucus has to come out at some point, so you might as well deal with it now!

If you have a wet cough that produces sputum, you can use controlled huffing and coughing techniques to move the mucus up and out of your airways and into your mouth, where you can spit it out. You can read more about controlled coughing techniques in our previous post here, and learn about other methods to loosen and get rid of mucus in your airways.

Controlled, productive coughing is important because it's the only way to clear your airways of mucus and prevent uncontrolled coughing later. Uncontrolled coughing, however, can be disruptive, uncomfortable, and even painful.

If you have COPD, uncontrolled coughing can leave you feeling exhausted and leave you with less energy for other activities. In this next section, we'll show you how you can reduce and suppress coughing with simple activities and home treatment methods.

Simple Activities to Reduce Coughing

Avoid Coughing Triggers

COPD makes your lungs and airways especially sensitive to airborne irritants. That includes particulates likes smog, dust, and barbecue smoke as well as biological molecules like bacteria, pollen, and mold.

These airborne irritants are common causes of coughing, and breathing clean, pure air is one of the best ways to prevent it. If you smoke, live in an area with high air pollution, or are sensitive to airborne allergens like pollen, you're much more likely to experience a chronic cough and other worsened COPD symptoms.

To avoid coughing as a result of exposure to contaminated air, its important to keep airborne irritants and allergens from building up in your home. Since most people spend a lot of time indoors, it's worth putting in some extra effort into cleaning and buying a high-quality air filter to remove particulates from the air indoors.

You should also avoid going any place where you might be exposed to smoke or other forms of air pollution. Stay away from wood-burning stoves, avoid breathing car exhaust on busy roads, and stay indoors when your local air quality or allergen report indicates caution.

Finally, scented products like perfumes, lotions, and other body products are irritating to many people who have COPD. If you notice that certain products and fragrances are making you cough or causing other respiratory symptoms, make sure to use only unscented products. You might consider asking other people who share your home or work space to do the same.

Avoid Foods that Worsen Symptoms

There are certain foods, like dairy, that you should avoid if you often have thick or excess amounts of mucus in your airways. For some people, dairy seems to increase mucus production and changes their mucus' consistency to be thick and sticky.

Not everyone is sensitive to this effect, however. But if you regularly experience thick mucus and coughing, it's worth testing whether dairy is a culprit by reducing your dairy consumption and paying attention to how it affects your congestion and cough.

Another category of foods to avoid is foods that contain a lot of salt. Too much salt can make you dehydrated, thickening the mucus in your airways and making you more likely to cough. It can also cause bloating, which increases chest discomfort and makes it even more difficult to breathe.

Drink Plenty of Water

If you have COPD it's important to avoid dehydration. If you don't drink enough water, it can make several COPD symptoms worse, including chest discomfort, coughing, and difficulty breathing.

This happens because, when you don't get enough water, the mucus in your lungs and airways dries up and becomes more thick and sticky. This thick mucus gets stuck in your lungs and airways, blocking airflow and triggering the need to cough.

Proper hydration prevents this by keeping your mucus thin and watery, that way it is less likely to cause blockages. Thin, runny mucus is also easier to cough up and drain out of your airways using postural drainage techniques (discussed later in this article).

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Get Plenty of Exercise

If you have COPD, then you know that exercise is important. It's the only way to stay healthy and keep your body strong, and it's an effective way to reduce coughing, as well.

Regular exercise can improve many COPD symptoms and can make it much easier to breathe on a daily basis. That's because, in the long run, physical activity strengthens the muscles in your chest that you use to breathe.

This overall reduction in symptoms, increased ability to breathe, and increased tolerance for activity means less coughing and wheezing, too. However, exercise can also help your cough in the short term by helping mucus drain.

For some people, exercise helps their mucus flow and makes it easier to clear out of their airways. However, some people find that exercise actually increases their mucus production and makes coughing worse. To figure out how exercise affects you, pay attention to how you feel and how much you cough during and after moderate to light aerobic activity.

Practice Breathing

Shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing can all make you more likely to cough. That's right, coughing itself causes more coughing because it irritates your airways and makes them even more sensitive to irritants and other coughing triggers.

This is why, when you have a coughing fit, it can be so difficult to stop coughing and get your symptoms back under control. The best way to break out of this negative cycle is to practice controlled breathing techniques.

Breathing techniques help you slow your breathing and get it back into a natural rhythm. Doctors recommend that you practice breathing exercises like diaphragmic breathing and pursed lips breathing every day, that way you can use them when needed to recover from periods of wheezing, breathlessness, and coughing.

Position Yourself for Proper Drainage

Excess mucus production is a major cause of coughing in people with COPD. One way to prevent this and reduce coughing is to position yourself so that the mucus drains out of your lungs and airways.

Postural drainage is a specific mucus-draining technique used to help COPD patients and people with other respiratory conditions breathe better. It involves positioning your body in specific ways that allow mucus to flow out of your lungs and airways and into your mouth, where you can spit it out.

There are several recognized postural drainage positions, and each helps drain a different section, or lobe, of your lungs. Most positions require lying down on a soft surface and using pillows to elevate certain parts of your body.

Here is a link to more information on postural drainage positions.

Chest and Back Percussion

Percussion is a method used to loosen up mucus in the lungs so you can more easily cough it up. This allows you to clear out phlegm that might obstruct your breathing or cause a fit of coughing later.

To do chest percussion, you lie flat on your back and have someone tap firmly and rhythmically on specific places on your chest. After a few minutes, you sit up and do controlled coughing techniques until you are able to get the dislodged mucus out of your lungs.

Back percussion is similar to chest percussion, except you lie on your chest and have someone tap on specific points on your back. To learn more about chest percussion and the correct spots to tap, see this guide to chest physiotherapy from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Elevate Your Head at Night

Keeping your head and neck elevated at night is an effective way to prevent coughing and breathing difficulties while you sleep. It helps mucus drain out of your airways so it doesn't pool in your throat and obstruct your breathing at night.

Before you go to sleep, prop up your head and neck with a pillow or two to keep mucus from building up in your throat and upper airways. This will help you avoid nighttime coughing and help you and your family sleep more comfortably.

Home Remedies for Coughing

Get a Humidifier

Dry air is a very common trigger for coughing, especially if you have COPD. If you live in a dry climate or experience worse coughing in the winter, the cold weather could be what's making your cough and other COPD symptoms worse.

When you breathe air that is too dry it irritates your airways and triggers a coughing reaction. When you breathe in moist air, however, it lubricates your airways and allows air to pass through without discomfort.

The best solution to dry indoor air is to get a humidifier for your home. Running a humidifier increases the amount of moisture in the air and makes it easier and more comfortable to breathe.

You can get either a whole-house humidifier for your entire home or a smaller, portable humidifier for a single room or small area. Just make sure to read the information on the box to make sure that the humidifier you get is big enough for your space.

Many people find that using a humidifier in their bedroom at night reduces their COPD symptoms and makes it easier to breathe while they sleep. However, if the humidity gets too high then it can actually make your symptoms worse. Most doctors recommend that you keep the humidity in your home at about forty percent for the best results, and to not let the humidity rise above fifty percent indoors.

Breathe Moist Air

If you're suffering from an acute coughing fit due to an irritated throat or airways, try taking a hot shower or bath. This helps suppress coughing by moistening and soothing your airways so they are less irritated and sensitive to coughing triggers.

If you don't want to go through the hassle of taking a whole shower or bath, you can breathe in moist air from other sources. You can inhale the steam rising from a hot drink or by standing over a pot of simmering water to get the same effect as a steamy shower.

Breathe Still Air

Moving air, like wind or air stirred up by a fan or heater, can sometimes make coughing worse. Moving air can tickle and irritate your throat and nasal passages, which are particularly sensitive to irritation in people with COPD.

To prevent this, turn off any overhead fans, HVAC ventilation, heaters, or other air-stirring appliances whenever you feel particularly sensitive to coughing. If you remove the air currents indoors and stay out of the wind, you will be less likely to cough and experience other respiratory symptoms.

Drink the Right Stuff

Along with drinking water, there are certain foods that might be able to suppress coughing by reducing the amount of mucus in your airways. For example, one group of researchers found that drinking pineapple juice can help your body get rid of mucus in your lungs, although no other scientists have yet verified these results.

Lemon and honey is another common and potentially effective home remedy for coughing. The acidity from the lemon helps kill bacteria clinging to the walls of your throat and the honey acts as a thick, soothing liquid that soothes your throat and prevents irritation.

Eat to Clear Your Throat

Sometimes thick mucus gets stuck in the folds and the walls of your throat and just won't let go. This gives you an uncomfortable, phlegmy feeling and can obstruct airflow when you breathe.

Sometimes a few gulps of water or a warm drink like coffee or tea can loosen mucus and clear it up, but it's often not enough to do the job. Extra fluids will thin your mucus if you wait and give it time, but you can sometimes get more immediate relief by using solid food to physically brush it off.

Toast is a perfect food for this purpose. It's soft and spongy, and yet rough enough scrape stubborn mucus from the back of your throat. So if you have a phlegmy throat that's bothering you and won't go away, try eating a piece of toast to clear it up.

Medical Remedies for Coughing

When all else fails, you might need to turn to pharmaceutical medications to manage your cough. If you talk to your doctor, he can prescribe daily bronchodilators, recommend over-the-counter medications, or suggest other treatments to help you reduce coughing.

Bronchodilators

Bronchodilators help widen your airways so that it's easier to get mucus out. They relax and open up your airways, bypass blockages, make it easier to breathe, and make it easier to move mucus up and out of your lungs when you cough. Many doctors recommend using bronchodilators before trying other mucus clearance techniques like percussion or postural drainage.

Cough Suppressants

Some studies show that cough suppressant medications like codeine can help people with COPD better control their chronic cough. However, cough medications are not always effective, and you should always talk to your doctor before taking any over the counter medicine.

VapoRub

This is a common remedy for congestion and coughing that could help reduce coughing for people with COPD. You simply rub the thick, menthol-infused cream on your back, throat, and/or chest, and you should feel its effects within minutes.

Throat Lozenges

Throat lozenges, or cough drops, are often an effective way to suppress coughing when you have an irritated throat. Cough drops coat your throat to prevent irritation and usually contain a soothing compound like menthol which can reduce congestion and soothe your throat.

Positive Expiratory Pressure

If you have trouble with breathlessness and coughing while you sleep, you might need to use a positive expiratory pressure device at night. This is a medical device with a tube that connects to a breathing mask that fills your airways with pressurized air.

This pressurized air helps keep your airways open so they don't collapse and obstruct your breathing while you sleep. The widened airways also make mucus less likely to build up and block your airways, preventing coughing and making it easier to breathe.

High Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation

This is a technique for which you need a special vest that inflates and vibrates against your chest and back. This works similarly to chest percussion by loosening mucus in your lungs and airways to make it easier to cough up.

You can do high-frequency chest wall oscillation for several sessions of several minutes each. In-between each session, use controlled coughing techniques to dislodge the loosened mucus and cough it up and out of your body.

Conclusion

Dealing with a chronic cough is hard. It makes it difficult to exercise, sleep, and participate in the activities that you enjoy.

Luckily, with these techniques and home remedies you can reduce your coughing and prevent it from taking a major toll on your life. If you eat a healthy diet, use mucus-draining techniques, and try the other tips in this article you'll likely find your cough much easier to manage.

Treating your cough makes it easier to exercise, breathe, and get more joy and fulfillment out of your life. Start using these cough suppression techniques today to get yourself back on the road to feeling better.

Creating an effective financial plan is essential no matter who you are or what stage of life you’re in. According to brightplan.com, having organized financials can help you improve your confidence, peace of mind, and reach both long-term and short-term goals. However, if your life becomes complicated by a chronic condition like COPD, you might find that financial planning is a lot more time-consuming and less straightforward.

Not only does COPD come with a lot of added costs like doctor’s visits, medications, and oxygen devices, but it also leads to added stress, anxiety, and worry; all of which can make it feel overwhelming to create a financial plan. Luckily, the more you educate yourself about your disease and the common financial mistakes that COPD patients make, you’ll be well on your way towards creating a more secure long-term plan.

Here at LPT Medical, we take pride in offering cost-effective long-term solutions for your supplemental oxygen needs. We offer a wide selection of portable pulse dose and continuous flow oxygen concentrators, stationary oxygen concentrators, as well as oxygen accessories that help you get the most out of your purchase. Read on to learn about some actionable tips for saving money as a COPD patient and be sure to reach out to us if you’re interested in an oxygen machine.

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Reduce Living Expenses

If you think about it, a lot of your money goes into essential things like your monthly rent, food, gas money, car repairs, and insurance. But just because these things are necessary does not mean that you can’t save money on them. In fact, according to a CNBC article from last year, on average, people spend $143 more than their budgeted weekly allowance. And while this may not sound like a whole lot, that adds up very quickly accounting for over $7,000 each year.

Another thing associated with living expenses is that many people assume they only affect younger people. People that are just out of high school or college are oftentimes more aware of their monthly living expenses because they don’t have that much money saved up. As a result, they need to be more frugal in the way that they use things such as utilities or how much they use their car. As we age, however, it’s easier to overspend on living expenses because we have more of a financial safety net.

One popular trend that’s being embraced by many seniors is something called “downsizing.” Simply put, this is the process of significantly reducing your expenses by getting rid of things that you don’t need. In some cases, downsizing could even mean moving from your current home into one that is physically smaller and less costly. By doing so, you’ll be able to save up more money each month for things like doctor’s visits and COPD medication.

Another living expense that COPD patients may struggle with is the prospect of applying to a nursing home. According to AARP, a nonprofit organization designed to support people over the age of 50, the cost of long-term care options like nursing homes is skyrocketing. Because of this, many people with disabilities are opting for cheaper options that don’t break the bank.

Reduce Unnecessary Spending

Unnecessary spending differs from living expenses in the fact that they are not essential. This includes things like subscription services, gym memberships, cigarettes, or any other type of “luxury” product or service. The problem is that nowadays it’s so easy to spend money. Online shopping has become such a common way for people of all ages to pass their time but it’s also very easy to lose track of how much you’re actually spending.

Cigarette smoking is another expense that can really add up over time. Believe it or not, around 38 percent of people with COPD still smoke despite the fact that 85 to 90 percent of COPD cases are the result of smoking. What’s more, smoking a pack a day can run you around $2,292 each year. Not to mention the fact that continuing to smoke while you have COPD will increase your risk of experiencing an exacerbation and cause your diseases to progress more quickly. Inevitably, this will lead to more medical expenses.

Another unnecessary expense that many people fall victim to is subscription services. It seems like just about every product or service nowadays is bound to a subscription payment in hopes that consumers will start one and forget they have it. Unfortunately, this is usually what happens. Take some time to go through your bank statements and identify any recurring costs, and if they aren’t absolutely necessary then you should eliminate them. 

Limit Hospital Visits

By far the biggest expense for anyone with a disability like COPD is a hospital visit. You may be surprised to find that the average hospital visit costs the patient $10,000 and hospital stays are responsible for 60% of all bankruptcies. With this information in mind, it should be your number one priority to prevent medical emergencies that facilitate a need to visit the emergency room.

The best way to prevent medical emergencies related to COPD is to follow your COPD treatment plan and avoid exacerbation triggers such as smoke, pollution, and other airborne particles. And due to the fact that infections are the most significant cause of exacerbation, you should also take safety precautions like getting your annual flu shot and staying up-to-date about COVID-19.

The most essential components of your COPD treatment plan include supplemental oxygen therapy and pulmonary rehabilitation. Oxygen therapy will help you keep your blood oxygen levels stable wherever you go which can prevent respiratory failure and pulmonary rehabilitation will keep your lungs and muscles working efficiently making it easier to breathe. 

Learn About Social Security Disability Benefits

Old-age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) is the official name for “social security benefits” in the US. This program is funded by the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes made by employees and matched by employers. According to the official Social Security website, Social Security benefits play a crucial role in the economic well-being of millions of Americans. So, when it comes to managing your finances with COPD, it’s important to know what your social security benefits allowance is.

The social security administration defines a disability as any condition that prevents you from participating in “substantial gainful activity” for 12 months or more. In other words, if you are unable to work due to severe respiratory symptoms you should start collecting social security in order to help you pay for medical expenses. However, in order to determine whether COPD is severe enough to warrant SS benefits, they use something called the “Blue Book.” COPD is listed under section 3.02. 

In order to qualify for social security benefits, you also need evidence of your COPD diagnosis. First and foremost, you’ll have to provide a full history of your COPD including symptoms, prognosis, and physical examination results. Below are some of the test results that you should provide:

• Pulse oximetry
• Hospital records
• Spirometry results
• Lung function tests
• Supplemental oxygen prescriptions
• Imaging tests such as CT scans
• Arterial blood gas tests

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Remember that it is possible for them to deny your social security benefits claim for COPD. Because of this, it’s important to gather all the medical information you can before filling out the claim. It takes around 3 to 5 months to process your documents and let you know the results, so if you are careless in how you go about the process, you may be waiting a lot longer than expected to start receiving your benefits. Here are some tips to ensure that you’re doing the process correctly:

Fully Understand the Blue Book

The Blue Book also called the “Disability Evaluation Under Social Security” highlights medical conditions and the symptoms that need to be specified in order to receive benefits. You can either view an updated version of this book online or you can receive one in the mail which may take several weeks. This document is used as a guide book for agency officials when determining the validity of your application, so it’s important to read and understand it, especially the section that pertains to your condition.

Receive Up-to-Date Lung Function Tests

One good way to ensure that you’re receiving your full allowance is to get up-to-date tests. For example, if you received a spirometry test several years ago, you may want to consider having another test done. COPD is a progressive disease meaning it tends to get worse over time, so you want the documents you send to the SSA to reflect that.

Learn About Medical Vocational Allowance

In certain situations, it is possible for someone with severe disability to not qualify for social security benefits. However, there is something called a medical vocational allowance which can make this possible. What you’ll need to do to qualify for this is to prove that your disability has prevented you from working a job that you’ve been trained to do. Since COPD significantly impairs lung function, you should have no problem proving this if you are involved in manual labor work. 

Contact a Social Security Attorney or Advocate

If you’re worried about qualifying for social security benefits or you believe you have been wrongly denied for benefits, you may consider working with a social security attorney or advocate. One of the greatest benefits of contacting an SSDI attorney is that you’re protected by something called a contingency fee arrangement. What this means is that your attorney is only allowed to charge you a fee if you win the case. What’s more, the fee is capped at 25 percent of the past-due benefits awarded to you, up to a maximum of $6,000.

Cut Costs on Medication

Medication is another area that COPD patients tend to overspend in. There are a large variety of medications that you may be required to take for COPD including bronchodilators to prevent shortness of breath, antibiotics that prevent infection and exacerbations, and anti-inflammatories which reduce flare-ups. Unfortunately, many COPD patients purchase these expensive medications without taking the time to consider how they can save money. We discussed this topic in detail in a previous post, but we’ll go over it again for your convenience.

Order Prescriptions Online

Most peoples’ gut reaction after being given a prescription is to go to their local pharmacy. While there’s nothing wrong with this approach, it will likely mean spending significantly more money on your medications. Rather, it’s often a better option to research online pharmacies because there is more competition meaning they will offer lower prices. Many online pharmacies also offer free shipping and quick turnaround times, so you shouldn’t have to wait too long to receive your medication.

Purchase Generic Brands

While you’re probably constantly bombarded with advertisements of name-brand medications, these are not the only options out there. In fact, many generic brands offer the same exact product for a much lower price. If you want to save some money, ask your doctor about generic brand medications to see if they will work for you.

Use a Patient Assistance Program (PAP)

Believe it or not, many pharmaceutical companies offer patient assistance programs designed to help low-income people pay for their medication. Oftentimes, these programs require you to make below a certain income, you must be a US citizen, and you can’t be a part of any other patient assistance program with a different pharmacy.

Ask Your Doctor for Advice

Last but certainly not least, you should always consult your doctor before making decisions about your medication. Not only will he/she have advice for you to save money on your medications, but he/she may also warn you of common pitfalls of the pharmaceutical industry. Medication is expensive these days so it’s important to take the time to understand your options.

Participate in a Clinical Trial

A clinical trial is a program designed to test the safety and efficacy of new medications and treatments before they hit the market. Clinical trials are carefully designed by medical professionals and they must be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These research programs depend on volunteers, so it’s very easy for anyone to sign up for one and get involved. 

The benefit of participating in clinical trials for COPD is that you may be able to test new medications for free and in some cases, researchers will even pay you to participate. What’s more, the researchers will thoroughly examine your medical history to ensure the new medication doesn’t negatively interfere with your condition. Generally speaking, clinical trials are safe and they can save you hundreds or thousands on your medical expenses. It’s also nice knowing that you have the power to help researchers test new drugs and treatment procedures. If you’re interested in researching COPD clinical trials, visit clinicaltrials.gov. 

Invest in a Long-Term Oxygen Therapy Solution

Supplemental oxygen therapy is a reality for most COPD patients. Whether you have stage one COPD or stage four COPD, medical oxygen helps to ensure that your blood oxygen levels remain stable and that you can breathe easily. Unfortunately, many COPD patients take the wrong approach when it comes to purchasing a medical oxygen device and it often costs them more in the long run.

Oxygen tanks are a very popular oxygen for oxygen therapy because they are accessible and have low upfront costs. The problem, however, is that the costs add up very quickly because you have to keep refilling them. Since they run out of oxygen so quickly most people keep two or more on hand at any given time. They’re also really heavy, bulky, and dangerous to use. 

Alternatively, you could invest in a long-term oxygen therapy solution like a portable oxygen concentrator. Rather than refilling oxygen concentrators as you would with an oxygen tank, these devices draw in ambient air and output medical-grade oxygen. Since these are electronic devices, all you need to do is have access to a power outlet in order to charge the batteries. Additionally, portable oxygen concentrators are extremely lightweight and easy to carry making them perfect for traveling and getting out of the house.

If you’re looking to save money in the long term and you want a powerful, reliable oxygen device, we recommend either the Caire FreeStyle Comfort or the Inogen One G5. Each of these units is 5 pounds or under, they offer over 10 hours of battery life, and they can last you between 5 and 7 years with minimal maintenance. They also have 3-year warranties which will protect you from rare occurrences like manufacturing defects.

The above portable oxygen concentrators are pulse dose delivery, meaning they deliver oxygen whenever the user inhales. In certain situations, your doctor may require you to use continuous flow instead. In this case, we recommend using the Respironics SimplyGo. This oxygen machine is not quite as light as the other two but it is the most reliable and trusted continuous flow portable oxygen concentrator on the market.

While portable oxygen concentrators have a larger upfront cost, they are always the best long-term solution. Another benefit of owning one is that if you ever decide you want to upgrade to a newer model or your doctor tells you that you no longer need oxygen, many oxygen retailers will buy back your oxygen concentrator. This is usually not possible with oxygen tanks because most oxygen companies just rent them out rather than selling them. 

Speak With a Financial Advisor

Seeking out the help of a financial advisor is usually a last resort for the average person. Some financial advisors charge a pretty penny for their work and some people simply have nothing to gain from it. However, if you’re overwhelmed with financial decisions after being diagnosed with COPD and you can find the right financial expert to go to, it’s always something to consider.

A financial advisor will walk you through all of your financials and put together a long-term plan that will help you meet your goals. Oftentimes, they will tell you where to invest your money and give you a monthly allowance for what you’re allowed to spend. They’ll also help you better understand how to deal with the increasing number of medical expenses that you’re having to deal with.  

Conclusion

Financial planning is something that we all have to deal with throughout our life. Taking the time to understand how much money you have and understanding where you should invest that money is crucial to living comfortably. Unfortunately, if you’re coping with a chronic lung disease like COPD, asthma, or pulmonary fibrosis, the process of planning your finances may be difficult and time-consuming.

On a positive note, if you take the time to understand your condition and some common mistakes that COPD patients make, you can avoid some major financial pitfalls. Hopefully, some of the tips listed in this article got you started on the right foot, and if they did, be sure to share it with a friend or loved one who may be struggling with the same issue. 

Life is filled with unpredictability. Whether it’s a change to our daily routine or a life-changing event like a COPD diagnosis, staying on our toes is often the best way to maintain stability in our lives. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to deal with these changes. Sometimes, it can feel like you’re trying to play keep up rather than dealing with problems quickly and effectively as soon as they arise.

What this all boils down to is a matter of motivation. Either you have the motivation to take charge of your life and thrive with the hand you’ve been dealt, or you lack the motivation you need and end up feeling stressed, lost, and unable to deal with life’s challenges effectively. Oftentimes, when someone is diagnosed with a chronic illness, they find themselves in a rut where they are unable to find the motivation to manage their disease effectively. 

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If you want to get to the point where you’re controlling your disease rather than your disease controlling you, it’s imperative that you start with square one. Instead of viewing your disease as a whole with all its complexities, you should break it down into more manageable parts that are easier to work with. In this post, we’ll take a look at the steps you need to take to go from struggling with COPD to thriving with COPD.

Understand That COPD is Not the End

According to mindful.org, positive thoughts not only affect how we feel, but they also affect our behaviors. When someone faces a life-changing scenario like a COPD diagnosis, they often feel shame, fear, or disappointment; all of which will shape the way we cope with this newfound information. Someone who is able to conquer these thoughts quickly and return to a normal, stable mindset will be successful in managing their disease. However, someone who is not able to overcome these negative thoughts will find it increasingly difficult to cope with the challenges of managing a chronic lung disease.

What ends up happening is that many people who have just been diagnosed with COPD automatically place themselves in the same group as someone with heart disease, lung cancer, or some other serious life-threatening illness. This is a mistake because COPD progresses much more slowly than the vast majority of chronic illnesses. In fact, many people around the world have been able to nearly bring the progression of COPD down to a halt by adhering to a strict treatment regime.  

The key to turning these negative thoughts around is understanding that COPD is a very treatable illness and any commitment you make to a new lifestyle will not be in vain. In comparison to lung cancer and other chronic respiratory diseases, COPD is much more predictable in its pathogenesis meaning that following the treatment plan created by your doctor will yield tangible results that you can use to further motivate you.

According to MedicineNet, the five-year life expectancy for someone with COPD is 40% to 70%. In other words, 40 to 70 out of every 100 COPD patients live beyond five years. Keep in mind that about 40 percent of all COPD patients continue smoking after their diagnosis. What this means is that immediate smoking cessation will significantly improve your odds of living beyond five years, and implementing other healthy routines will extend it far beyond that. Many COPD patients have been able to live happy and healthy lives for 20 to 30 years after their diagnosis.

Make Smoking Cessation a Priority

Not only is smoking the leading cause of COPD and COPD progression, but it’s also the cause of many of the emotional difficulties of coping with COPD. According to Bridgestone Recovery, the mental health effects of smoking may be among the most dangerous. 48% of women and 40% of men with severe depression are found to be smokers as opposed to 17% and 25% of women and men who are non-depressed. While smoking leads to temporary feelings of satisfaction and pleasure, the symptoms of withdrawal that you experience far outweigh the benefits.

Simply put, not only is smoking the main factor contributing to the progression of your disease, but it’s also the main factor preventing you from feeling better and living longer. By ending your dependency on cigarettes, you will not only feel better, but you will be more mentally and emotionally available to take on other challenging aspects of COPD management such as exercise, diet, and medication.

Smoking cessation is by no means “easy.” Whether you’ve been smoking for several years or your whole life, the effects of smoking are the same. Nicotine, a chemical found in cigarettes, leads to the release of dopamine in the brain. This is a neurotransmitter that plays a major role in our feelings of pleasure and reward. When you’re smoking a cigarette, dopamine levels are high. However, when you quit, your dopamine levels are low, causing you to experience a withdrawal. Studies show that nicotine addiction can occur within a few days of starting to smoke.   

Another reason to start with smoking cessation is the financial burden of cigarettes. Due to market changes and tax increases, cigarettes are not the cheap product that they used to be. According to Very Well, the average cost of a pack of cigarettes is $6.28. If you smoke a pack a day, that’s $2,292  Alternatively, you could save that money and instead use it to buy a portable oxygen concentrator which will provide you with portable, easily accessible oxygen for the rest of your life.

Consider Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

The world is currently undergoing a mental health paradox. Mental health issues like stress, anxiety, and depression are more prevalent than several decades ago, yet people are less likely to seek help for their problems. In our modern age, people are constantly bombarded with information through the internet, social media, or in-person with little time to focus on their own mental health. Due to the negative stigma of seeking help for these problems, many people are left with no outlet to express their frustrations. This can make it night impossible for someone to quit smoking.

The objective of cognitive behavioral therapy is to take a behavior that is perceived as “wrong” and correct it to help you better achieve your goals. For COPD patients, this could mean correcting thoughts or behaviors that reinforce your dependence on cigarettes or other bad behaviors that contribute to the progression of COPD. At the end of the day, correcting your thoughts and behaviors will lead to more motivation because it will make you realize that you are capable of managing your disease on your own.

According to Medical News Today, CBT is a form of short-term therapy that often lasts around 20 sessions. They can be one-on-one courses or group therapy situations, but the latter is more common since this type of therapy is very goal-oriented and focused on the individual. After completing CBT, patients walk away with a greater understanding of their problems, what’s causing them, and how to fix them. Most importantly, however, people learn how to be more self-sufficient and avoid giving into thoughts or behaviors that could lead to smoking relapse.

Make a List of Things That are Important to You

Lists are great for a lot of things, but they’re especially helpful if you want to keep track of things that are important to you. Far too many people take the time to implement goals in their life, but by the time they start pursuing them, they’ve forgotten why they’re doing it. Or they simply lose motivation because they lose sight of what’s actually important to them. If you’re trying to quit smoking, for example, take some time to write down 10 or more reasons why it will benefit you. Here are a few of the things you can write down:

• I will save over $2,000 each year without cigarettes
• I will improve my symptoms including anxiety, stress, and depression
• I will slow the progression of inflammation in my lungs
• I will reduce my risk of diabetes, heart disease, and many other life-threatening illnesses
• I will be more socially accepted by my friends and loved ones
• I will have taken the first step toward treating my COPD
• I will be able to help others dealing with cigarette addiction more effectively

These are just a few of the things you can list. Feel free to add to this list if you can think of more important reasons to quit. Once you have written these down, make copies and post them around your house to help motivate you. If you find success in this method, be sure to do the same for any other lifestyle change you want to make such as improving your diet, exercise routine, and more. 

Recruit Others to Hold You Accountable

Generally speaking, people are more successful at accomplishing their goals when they’re held accountable by friends and family. When you’re on your own, it becomes very difficult to pinpoint where you’re going wrong and how you can improve. However, if you have an outside observer looking in, your potential flaws will be more obvious. This is similar to how you have someone proofread your writing for structural and grammatical accuracy.

The bottom line when it comes to having others hold you accountable is that you need to make sure they are being honest and aren’t just telling you what you want to hear. Far too often, family, friends, or caretakers will reinforce negative habits; not because they don’t care about them, but because they want to avoid uncomfortable interactions that could compromise the relationship.  

If you want to do something like quit smoking, exercise more, or improve your diet, start by being open and honest with friends and loved ones about what you’re trying to accomplish. The more aware they are of your goals, the more easily they will be able to hold you accountable and remind you of your goals when you begin to fall back on them. In some cases, you may not even realize that you’re falling back on them.

Upgrade to a Portable Oxygen Concentrator

One thing that’s virtually guaranteed if you’re a COPD patient is that you will be on supplemental oxygen therapy. Since COPD patients have impaired lung function, oxygen therapy assists them by saturating the lungs with medical-grade oxygen, thus increasing blood oxygen levels. When your blood oxygen levels are normal, every organ in your body will receive more oxygen meaning you’ll be healthier and feel happier.

One of the biggest problems with oxygen therapy, however, is that it can be a major inconvenience. Oxygen tanks are very heavy, they take up a lot of room, and they can even be hazardous. If that’s not bad enough, they also need to be refilled after several hours of use either with a homefill oxygen station or with the help of a local oxygen provider. In other words, oxygen tanks keep you bound to your home with very little freedom. What’s more, oxygen tanks are banned on flights, so you won’t be able to travel long distances with the ease that you could previously.

It’s not all bad news, though! Luckily, modern technology is making it easier every day for oxygen patients to get the therapy they need without being stuck at home or put their safety at risk. Portable oxygen concentrators are currently the most advanced oxygen machines on the market. They are powered by electricity meaning they never need to be refilled and you’ll be able to charge them in any wall or car outlet anywhere in the world. Portable oxygen concentrators are also approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) meaning you’ll be able to take them on any commercial flight within the United States.

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Portable oxygen concentrators have been the industry standard for supplemental oxygen since the early 2000s, so there are a whole host of options to choose from. One thing to note, however, is that portable oxygen concentrators have a maximum oxygen output, so you’ll need to ensure that a POC meets your oxygen needs before purchasing it. You’ll also want to look into the weight, battery life, and other factors to determine whether the oxygen machine will meet your lifestyle needs or not. 

If you’ve never purchased a portable oxygen concentrator before, you should start by looking at the Caire FreeStyle Comfort and the Inogen One G5. The FreeStyle Comfort is one of the latest POCs to release and it’s widely considered to be one of the best. Its maximum oxygen output is 1,050 ml/min, so it offers enough oxygen for the vast majority of COPD patients. It offers up to 16 hours of battery life on one charge, meaning you’ll be able to stay out all day without having to worry. Lastly, it weighs in at only 5 pounds making it light enough to carry on your shoulder without it causing any pain or discomfort.

The Inogen One G5 came out last year, so it’s a little bit older than the FreeStyle Comfort, but that doesn’t make it any less valid. The differences between this device and the FreeStyle Comfort are minimal, so the one you choose to purchase will ultimately come down to your preferences. The Inogen One G5 offers a maximum oxygen output of 1,260 ml/min, so it provides a little more flexibility than its competitor. It’s also slightly lighter, weighing in at only 4.7 pounds. The Inogen One G5 provides oxygen users with 13 hours of battery life on one charge, 3 hours less than the FreeStyle Comfort.

Although these are two of the best portable oxygen concentrators on the market, it’s imperative that you understand what your needs are first. Get in touch with your pulmonologist and ask him/her how much oxygen you need and how many hours a day you need to be on oxygen. Once you do so, reach out to our respiratory specialists here at LPT Medical and we will align you with the oxygen concentrator that best meets your needs and lifestyle.

Conclusion

Motivation is paramount when it comes to managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Whether you are in stage one COPD or end-stage COPD, staying motivated will ensure that you always have the energy to keep up with your treatment plan and make healthy choices. Also, generally speaking, you will be happier and more satisfied with your life when you feel motivated to pursue goals that are important to you.

While there is certainly no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to increasing motivation, there are several problems COPD patients (and people with other chronic conditions) face that can lead to a loss of motivation. In this post, we highlighted just a few of the things you can do to improve your state of mind and get back on track towards achieving your health goals. As always, if you have a question or concern, please feel free to leave them in the comment section below.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an umbrella term that represents two separate diseases: chronic bronchitis and emphysema. The foer affects around 8.9 million Americans and the latter affects around 3 million Americans. One of the characteristics of both of these diseases, however, is that they both develop over the course of many years leading to permanent and irreversible damage to the lungs and airways.

The only way to slow the progression of COPD is with a carefully planned treatment regime organized by your doctor or pulmonologist. These plans typically involve a revised diet, a strict exercise plan known as “pulmonary rehabilitation,” smoking cessation, and supplemental oxygen therapy. If you have another condition such as sleep apnea which can result in complications with COPD, your doctor will likely treat this with medication or other forms of therapy.

While it may not seem like you have much of a say in how your disease is treated, you’ll be surprised to find that there are a lot of decisions to make after being diagnosed with COPD. One of the first, and likely most consequential decision you’ll make is what oxygen device you would like to use. There are many choices including oxygen tanks, liquid oxygen tanks, and stationary concentrators. But there’s only one type of oxygen device that will provide you with the ultimate comfort and freedom in your daily life and that’s portable oxygen concentrators. 

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In this post, we’ll take a look at one of the most recently released portable oxygen concentrators, the Caire FreeStyle Comfort, and how it provides oxygen patients all over the country with more convenience than ever before. In order to get the right oxygen concentrator for you, be sure to speak with your doctor first to learn what your oxygen needs are. If you have any questions about oxygen concentrators or supplemental oxygen in general, be sure to leave them in the comment section below.

It’s one of the Lightest Portable Oxygen Concentrators

Weight is usually the first concern anyone has when they start looking at oxygen devices, and for good reason. Just a quick internet search will bring up hundreds of different oxygen devices, many of which weigh 10 pounds or more. For someone who suffers from a respiratory impairment, this can be difficult if not impossible to manage, especially for people who enjoy going on long trips.

Oxygen devices vary greatly in terms of weight. The AirSep Focus, for example, weighs in at only 1.75 pounds, light enough to carry on your belt buckle. The problem, however, is that it only provides you with 330 ml/min of oxygen making it off-limits for the vast majority of oxygen patients. On the other end of the spectrum, you’ll find continuous flow oxygen concentrators and oxygen tanks which can weigh as much as 20 pounds. This is far too heavy to carry on your shoulder, and for some people, they’re even too heavy to wheel around using a rolling cart.   

The Caire FreeStyle Comfort hits the sweet spot when it comes to weight. While it’s not light enough to carry on your belt buckle like the Focus, the FreeStyle Comfort still only weighs 5 pounds making it easy to carry around on your shoulder without affecting your walking or causing back pain. You can enjoy long vacations on the other side of the world or a walk in a local park without your oxygen concentrator causing any unneeded stress or strain.

It’s Extremely Reliable

Have you ever gone somewhere and worried about whether or not your cell phone will work when you need it most? Nowadays, we are more reliant on technology than ever before, so ultimately, it’s best to invest in devices that we know will never give out on us. If anything this rings true even more for oxygen patients who have one additional device they need to rely on throughout the day.

Straight out of the box, the Caire FreeStyle Comfort offers a much lower failure rate than most other oxygen devices. Due to the high production standards that Caire Inc. has for their units, they’ve all but eliminated things like factory defects. What this means is that when you receive your device in the mail, it will be in great working condition so you won’t have to worry about sending it back to the manufacturer for repairs.

Another reason the FreeStyle Comfort is so reliable is that it was designed for 24/7 use. More often than not, COPD patients who are prescribed supplemental oxygen are required to use it for 15 hours each day or more and this often means using it while you sleep. The good news is that the FreeStyle Comfort can be run throughout all hours of the day and the night without being shut off or having to “cool down.” 

It Has a High Oxygen Output

“Oxygen output” is defined as the amount of medical oxygen a device can put out in a given period of time. Oxygen output can either be written as liters per minute (LPM) or milliliters per minute (ml/min). And since the FreeStyle Comfort is a pulse dose portable oxygen concentrator meaning it puts out oxygen only when the user inhales, it’s always written as milliliters per minute. 

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The Caire FreeStyle Comfort provides 1,050 ml/min of oxygen output making it the second-best of any pulse dose portable oxygen concentrator in the world. The only other machine that can put out more oxygen is the Inogen One G5 which has a maximum oxygen output of 1,260 ml/min of oxygen and offers one additional flow setting for a total of 6. There are some minor differences between the FreeStyle Comfort and Inogen G5, so be sure to consult with a respiratory specialist before committing to either one.

Another reason to invest in a portable oxygen concentrator that has a high oxygen output is that it gives you room to move up. As you know, COPD is a progressive disease meaning it only increases in severity. As your respiratory symptoms advance, you will need higher concentrations of oxygen in the lungs. So, for example, investing in a POC like the Inogen One G4 which only offers 630 ml/min of oxygen would not be a wise choice for most people, because even if it meets your oxygen needs right now, that likely won’t be the case a year or two from now. 

Fortunately, we have a great trade-in program here at LPT Medical. So if you’ve found yourself with a portable oxygen concentrator that doesn’t meet your needs, you can sell it to us and put that money towards a brand new portable oxygen concentrator. We also offer plenty of used portable oxygen concentrators if that’s something you’re interested in.

It Has Outstanding Battery Life

Battery life is synonymous with freedom; the more battery life your POC offers, the longer you’ll be able to stay out of your house. Drawing in ambient air and putting out medical grade oxygen requires a lot of energy, but due to decades of innovation, oxygen companies have been able to create batteries that are up to the task. All portable oxygen concentrators, including the Caire FreeStyle Comfort, use powerful lithium-ion batteries that allow you to run your concentrator for hours a day without having to be recharged.

On the lowest flow setting of 1 with the 16-cell battery, the Caire FreeStyle Comfort will provide you with 16 hours of battery life! In many ways, this is overkill since you likely won’t be out of the house for this period of time, but it gives you more flexibility and leverage when you increase your flow setting. Even on the maximum flow setting of 5, you will have four hours of freedom. What’s more, if you purchase an additional 16-cell battery, that will double your battery life to eight hours.

Having this amount of freedom was unheard of in the past. Several decades ago when oxygen tanks were the only form of supplemental oxygen therapy, it would’ve been impossible for oxygen patients to travel far from home. Oxygen tanks need to be refilled after several hours of use and there’s no option to “carry extra batteries” like you can with a concentrator. What’s more, oxygen tanks have to be refilled by an oxygen specialist which is costly and very inconvenient.  

Replacing batteries on the Caire FreeStyle Comfort is incredibly easy. Simply press the tabs on either side of the device and pull the battery off the bottom of the unit. Then snap the fully charged battery on to the bottom of the unit and you’re ready to go! If you have the external battery charger, you can have your old battery fully charged and ready to go once your new one runs out of juice.

It’s Incredibly Quiet

One of the biggest concerns many people have about making the switch from an oxygen tank or liquid oxygen tank is sound. Since these devices have no moving parts they’ve virtually silent. While portable oxygen concentrators produce some sound, people are often surprised to find that it is negligible. Last month, we published an article about the quietest portable oxygen concentrators in 2020, and the Caire FreeStyle Comfort made the list with only 43 decibels (dBA) of sound output. To put this into perspective, it’s about as loud as a quiet conversation.

With a quiet portable oxygen concentrator, you’ll be able to any number of things that are important to you, such as going to church, visiting a library, or going to see a movie without the fear of disrupting other people. Another benefit of a quiet device is that you’ll be able to use your POC while you sleep without it waking you up or causing you to get a poor night’s sleep. Keep in mind, however, that because the FreeStyle Comfort is a pulse dose POC, it is not compatible with CPAP and BiPAP machines.

It Has an Ergonomic Design

One of the greatest things about Caire Inc. is their willingness to go the extra mile to provide its customers with something truly special. The Caire FreeStyle Comfort is the first portable oxygen concentrator to be designed with an ergonomic curve. Rather than having a box shape like most portable oxygen concentrators do, the FreeStyle Comfort molds to your hip so that it doesn’t slide around as much. This is a small detail, but it goes a long way towards providing oxygen patients with a unit that’s more seamless and comfortable than ever before. 

It’s also pretty incredible considering how far portable oxygen concentrators have come since traditional oxygen therapy devices. Oxygen tanks, for example, are very oblong making them incredibly difficult to maneuver and they’re too big and bulky to carry under your arm as you walk. On the other hand, the dimensions of the FreeStyle Comfort are 10” H x 7.3” L x 3.1” W, so it’s about the size of a lunchbox. 

It Has Built-In Telehealth Technology

Another way Caire has gone above and beyond is by equipping every FreeStyle Comfort with telehealth technology. Telehealth, or “telemedicine” is the concept of providing health-related services remotely. An example of this would be a physician providing his/her patients with a checkup via a video call. Services like these are incredibly important, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic that we’re currently facing.

The Caire FreeStyle Comfort has built-in software that tracks your oxygen usage (flow rate, usage time per day, and more) then it relays that information to your physician and oxygen provider to help you monitor your progress. You’ll also be able to view this information through the online portal or smartphone application. This software is officially called CAIREview™ telehealth technology. It’s created by SynsorMed, and it’s available for the FreeStyle Comfort, the Eclipse 5, and the Caire Companion 5.

Conclusion

Choosing an oxygen device is no easy feat. There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of oxygen devices out there, many of which are poorly made and likely won’t meet your oxygen needs and personal preferences. Ultimately, it’s best to stick with concentrators that are manufactured by popular and trusted brands such as Inogen, ResMed, and Caire Inc. Here at LPT Medical, we don’t sell any portable oxygen concentrators that we wouldn’t use ourselves.

In this post, we took a look at the FreeStyle Comfort, the latest and most advanced portable oxygen concentrator produced by Caire Inc. Due to the reliability, high oxygen output, and lightweight design of this POC, it’s ideal for the vast majority of oxygen patients. However, with that being said, it’s still important to speak with your doctor and understand what your exact oxygen needs are. Once you do that, reach out to our respiratory specialists here at LPT Medical and we’ll help you find the right concentrator for you that meets both your oxygen needs and your personal preferences. 

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

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

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

Upgrade to a Portable Oxygen Concentrator

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

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

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

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

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

Have a Plan for Dealing with Exacerbations

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

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

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

Don’t Fall Back on Old Habits

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

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

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

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

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

Take Time Packing Your Medication

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

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

Plan a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Schedule

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

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

Check the Air Quality Index (AQI)

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

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

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

Bring Clothing That’s Appropriate for the Weather

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

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

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

Conclusion

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

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