Supplemental oxygen therapy is vital for people with chronic respiratory conditions who experience low blood oxygen levels. When a patient’s blood oxygen level falls below what’s considered normal, this is known as hypoxemia, and it’s a potentially serious condition — especially when it prolongs over long periods of time. The longer you experience hypoxemia, the more likely you are to have heart or brain complications along with many other systemic issues.

Unfortunately, many people who are prescribed supplemental oxygen decide not to use it for one reason or another. Some people believe it’s too expensive to maintain while others are turned off by the idea of carrying an oxygen device around wherever they go. If this sounds like you, it’s important to remember that — while oxygen therapy can often feel like it’s more trouble than it’s worth — your doctor prescribed you oxygen because he/she was looking after your long-term health.

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The good news is that you don’t have to simply “settle” for one oxygen device or another. There are hundreds of different oxygen machines on the market and our oxygen specialists at LPT Medical are here to help you find the best one for your needs. In this post, we’re going to take a look at the portable oxygen concentrators with the most intuitive design in 2021. In other words, we’ll help you decide the best POC for ease of use so that you don’t feel the need to fall back on your oxygen treatment plan.

If you have any questions or you would like more information about the concentrators below, please reach out to us by phone or email.

What Does it Mean to Have An “Intuitive Design”?

The term “intuitive design” refers to something that’s easy to pick up and learn how it works without sifting through user manuals or consulting the device manufacturer. A great example of this would be a web page. Rather than presenting you with tons of information that you don’t need, web pages tend to be concise and help you navigate quickly to where you’re trying to get on the website. This is also very similar to the way that portable oxygen concentrators are designed.

As opposed to oxygen tanks which are solely designed to be functional, portable oxygen concentrators are designed with both functionality and usability in mind. What this means is that they not only provide you with the oxygen you need, but they make it easy to use. Portable oxygen concentrators manufactured by reputable companies tend to have easy-to-learn user interfaces with only a few buttons to remember. If you struggled to learn how your smartphone works and you believe POCs will be the same, don’t worry because there are plenty of options out there for you. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the most intuitive concentrators of 2021.

5.) The AirSep FreeStyle 5

AirSep is one of the most recognized names in the oxygen industry. They were founded in the 1980s in Buffalo, New York, and they’ve since been known for their heavy-duty industrial oxygen machines as well as their personal medical oxygen generators. AirSep was recently acquired by Chart Industries Inc. which has expanded their global reach and put them alongside other oxygen brands such as Caire Inc., Inogen, and Respironics.

The FreeStyle 5 is one of the first AirSep concentrators under 8 pounds with a flow rating of 5. It’s also one of the few portable oxygen concentrators out there that has gotten a full redesign to make it more user-friendly and reliable. AirSep made several internal changes to the unit, but most people are more interested in hearing about the changes to the exterior. The biggest change they made was to the battery system. As opposed to using the internal battery system, the new design has an external battery. The benefit of this is that you don’t need to open a compartment in order to replace the batteries.

One thing that’s unique about the FreeStyle 5 is that it doesn’t have a control panel screen like most other portable oxygen concentrators. It just has one button for each of the 5 flow settings and a light above it so that you know which one is activated. This makes it the perfect concentrator for people who are intimidated by all the symbols and icons on other concentrators. With the FreeStyle 5, you won’t have very much to worry about. 

4.) The AirSep Focus

It almost feels like we’re cheating by putting the AirSep Focus on this list, but it’s worth mentioning nonetheless. The AirSep Focus is the lightest portable oxygen concentrator on the planet and it’s also one of the most intuitive. Since the experts at AirSep wanted to make a concentrator under 2 pounds, they had to pick and choose what features were important to keep in the unit. Due to the limitations, they decided to lock the device at a flow setting of 2, but this also means that there is no screen and no flow adjustment buttons, just a single power button. Press the button once and the device will immediately start putting out oxygen. It’s that simple!

One of the major benefits of having such a lightweight device is that you can carry it any way you want. Put it in a backpack, carry it over your shoulder, or you can even attach it to a belt buckle! This is one of the reasons why the AirSep Focus is such a versatile device. In fact, many people forget they’re even wearing it as they go about their day.

Despite how small and lightweight the AirSep Focus is, its battery life is nothing to joke about either. The micro battery that comes with the device can last up to 1.5 hours on one charge and the 8-cell battery sold separately offers up to 3.5 hours on one charge. In other words, you’ll just need to carry one or two extra batteries with you to make it through a full day whether you’re at work, going to visit a friend, or just going out for a walk.

3.) The Respironics SimplyGo

The Respironics SimplyGo is the only continuous flow portable oxygen concentrator on this list. What this means is that it puts out a constant stream of oxygen rather than only putting out oxygen when the user inhales. We tend to not recommend these types of units for most oxygen patients because they’re much heavier and bulkier than their pulse dose counterparts. However, the Respironics SimplyGo is an exception to that. While this oxygen machine is certainly bigger and heavier than the other concentrators on this list, it’s not heavy enough that you’ll need to wheel it around using a rolling cart. 

The first thing that you’ll likely notice about the SimplyGo is that it has a big carrying handle on the top of the unit. This is pretty unusual for an oxygen concentrator but it’s hard to deny the benefits that it offers. If you have to set your concentrator on the ground for one reason or another you can simply use the handle to pick it up again rather than straining your back to pick it up from the bottom.

Another intuitive feature of the Respironics SimplyGo is its battery port. Instead of being located on the bottom of the unit like with most concentrators, the Respironics SimplyGo batteries are located on the top. This makes it incredibly easy to switch out your batteries on the fly because you don’t have to flip the device over in order to do it. Simply pull up on the handle and slide in the other battery.

2.) The Inogen One G5

The Inogen One G5 is the latest device in Inogen’s pulse dose line of concentrators. Within the past several decades, Inogen has become well-established as one of the top innovators in mobile oxygen devices. The Inogen One G3 was championed for its outstanding battery life, the Inogen One G4 was one of the lightest portable oxygen concentrators ever produced and the Inogen One G5 has been an all-around great concentrator since it was released in 2019. Despite the age of the G3 and G4, they’re still in use by thousands of people all around the world. This is a testament to the careful design choices that Inogen makes when putting out a new concentrator.

Inogen oxygen concentrators have never been difficult to use, but the G5 is likely their most streamlined unit thus far. The oxygen outlet port is located on the top of the device meaning it’s easy to access and it won’t get in your way as you’re walking. The user interface is also pretty simple with only five buttons: one to turn the power on and off, two for the flow settings, one to change the alarm settings, and one to adjust the volume. The screen displays your battery life, flow setting, and brightness settings.  

One of the best things about buying an Inogen oxygen machine is that you know there will be plenty of accessories to help you customize your experience — the G5 is no exception to that rule. Since the G5 is such a compact portable oxygen concentrator, this has opened the door for many sleek and comfortable carrying cases. The custom carrying case for example fits snugly over your oxygen device and doesn’t provide any unnecessary bells and whistles. Attached to it is a comfortable adjustable carrying strap and it has a mesh exterior that helps the device take in air properly. 

Another carrying accessory for the Inogen One G5 is the G5 backpack. This is like any other backpack but it has an extra pouch in the back to store your G5. Similar to the custom carrying case, the backpack was intuitively designed with a mesh material that helps your concentrator function properly. What’s more, it has an opening on the top where the oxygen nozzle is located so that you use your concentrator as you walk. The G5 backpack has plenty of extra space that you can use to store your personal belongings, so this carrying case is perfect for people who are on the move a lot.

1.) The Caire FreeStyle Comfort

The Caire FreeStyle Comfort is one of the newest portable oxygen concentrators on the market, and to many people, it’s the best. No other oxygen company has been able to match the reliability and convenience of the FreeStyle Comfort, and it’s all because the experts at Caire Inc. took the time and resources to ensure that their device is able to accommodate the lifestyles of oxygen patients around the world.

One of the intuitive design features of the Caire FreeStyle Comfort is its ergonomic curve. Unlike most portable oxygen concentrators that move around at a patient’s side due to their box-like shape, the Caire FreeStyle Comfort has a subtle curve built into it that reduces movement at your side as you’re walking. Another benefit of this design is that you’ll always know which way you should be wearing the device. You’ll never have to worry about taking the device off of your shoulder and readjusting it so you can read what’s on the screen.

Another intuitive aspect of the FreeStyle Comfort is its user interface. This device keeps it as simple as possible in this regard with only three buttons: one to turn the device on and off and two to adjust the flow settings. The screen is also extremely streamlined and doesn’t provide you with tons of information that you don’t want or need. When you look at the screen you’ll simply see the battery life, battery life percentage, and flow rate — that’s it!

Replacing the batteries on your Caire FreeStyle Comfort is extremely easy and intuitive. On the front of the device, you’ll see a blue tab. Simply press the tab and pull downwards. What’s more, the particle filters are also on the front of the device and can easily be removed for weekly cleaning or whenever they get dirty. Generally speaking, many people prefer the design of the FreeStyle Comfort over other concentrators on the market because it looks sleek and only takes a few minutes to figure out how it works.

Conclusion

The way an electronic device works is incredibly important. Portable oxygen concentrators like the Caire FreeStyle Comfort and the Inogen One G5 are not only powerful and reliable but they’re designed to be easy to learn and easy to operate without the user having to constantly consult the user manual. While they both have some additional features like CAIREView and Inogen Connect, these applications are separate from the basic functions of the concentrator and you don’t need to use them in order for your device to work properly.

In this post, we highlighted just a few of the intuitive design choices made by some of the most trusted oxygen manufacturers in the industry. There’s a clear trend towards making portable oxygen concentrators more seamless in the day-to-day lives of oxygen patients, and it’s likely that many oxygen patients will begin to feel less stigma towards oxygen devices in the future as a result. If you’d like to learn more about the concentrators listed above, click the links to visit their respective pages. Otherwise, feel free to call us or email us to get connected with an oxygen specialist. 

Getting diagnosed with COPD and watching your body change can be a disheartening thing to go through. This, along with the symptoms of COPD, make depression a reality for a large number of COPD patients.

It's not too difficult to see why; COPD can lead to weight loss, fatigue, sleep disorders, poor nutrition, and a variety of other uncomfortable symptoms. These ailments can be distressing on their own, leading to health anxiety, a negative outlook, and a feeling of loss of control over one's life.

According to some studies, up to forty percent of COPD patients suffer from depression. What's worse, many cases go untreated, which makes patients more likely to suffer a quicker physical decline and death.

But, while COPD can be difficult to cope with, there are plenty of options for support and treatment that can help you take back control over your life. Even though depression can make obstacles seem too difficult to face, the truth is that you can find the power within yourself to overcome them.

It is important to remember that it's more than possible to live a happy and fulfilling life despite the hardships that come along with COPD. If you can shake yourself free of anxiety and depression, you'll find that you have the ability cope in healthy ways and confidently meet any challenges that come your way.

It's hard to see the light when you are in the midst of depression and everything seems hopeless and bleak. That's why it's so important to recognize the signs of depression and seek treatment, and in this article we're going to show you how.

In the next sections, we'll show you how to identify depression and explain how it affects people with COPD. Then, we'll show you how to utilize available mental health resources and how to use a variety of practical techniques to help yourself out of depression.

What is Depression?

The term “depression” is often used loosely in casual conversation, but in reality, it is a serious medical illness. It is much more than just feeling a little down for a few days; it's a deep state of sadness and helplessness that affects many aspects of sufferers' lives.

Depression is often marked by hopelessness, lack of motivation, and lack of interest in activities that you used to enjoy. Depression often interferes with your ability to function and participate in activities at work, home, and with friends.

People who are depressed are also more at risk for a variety of other health problems, including obesity, substance abuse, and premature death. In general, people who are depressed have difficulty maintaining healthy habits and lead a significantly reduced quality of life.

Depression should always be taken very seriously and should never be ignored. If you or someone you know is showing the warning signs of depression, you should encourage them to seek help as soon as possible.

Symptoms of Depression

The main characteristics that separate clinical depression from normal sadness or negative moods is its severity and its duration. Everyone has a bad day or bad week every once and awhile, but people who suffer from depression often experience weeks or months of despair along with a variety of noticeable physical symptoms.

Here are some of the most common symptoms of depression:

• Sadness
• Emptiness
• Hopelessness
• Anxiety
• Helplessness
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Feelings of guilt
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulty sleeping
• Irritability
• Loss of appetite or increase in appetite
• Fatigue
• Lack of interest in hobbies and activities you used to enjoy
• Thoughts of death or suicide

How Depression Affects People with COPD

If left untreated, depression in people with COPD can significantly increase their risk for physical decline. It can increase patients' risk of exacerbations, loss of physical mobility, malnutrition, and even death.

There are many reasons for these risks, most of which have to do with changes in behavior and motivation that happen to COPD patients who are depressed. For example, depression can affect both your appetite and your sleep quality, leading to malnutrition and sleep deprivation. This, in turn, weakens your body, makes COPD symptoms worse, and depresses your immune system, making you more prone to exacerbations and hospitalizations.

Studies also show that people with COPD who are depressed are more likely to be hospitalized, less likely to adhere to COPD treatments, and have a much higher risk of death. They are also more likely to smoke and suffer from an overall decreased quality of life.

One of the most damaging effects of depression is how it can take away your motivation to do things that make you healthy and happy. Many people who are depressed stop exercising, eating, and socializing, which are important to living a healthy life with COPD.

There is hardly anything more essential for keeping yourself healthy with COPD than following your treatment plan, eating a healthy diet, and, especially, getting plenty of exercise. However, depression can take away your motivation to do all of these things, causing you to skip meals, workouts, and medication doses. This is a large part of the reason why many depressed COPD patients suffer a more rapid physical decline.

Another reason is the fact that being depressed can make it much more tempting to reach for unhealthy coping mechanisms like cigarettes and other drugs. Since smoking is one of the most damaging things you can do to your body when you have COPD, depression can be even more damaging to patients who are former smokers or who are currently trying to quit.

For all of these reasons, it's vitally important for COPD patients who suffer from depression to seek support and treatment as early as possible. It's certainly not something you should ever take lightly or ignore, as it could have huge and irreversible effects on your health.

Everyday Techniques for Reducing Depression for People with COPD

Everyday activities like diet and exercise can have a huge impact on how you feel. Building healthy habits in these areas is an important first step to breaking free from depression and getting yourself back on track to living a healthy, fulfilling life.

Exercise More

When you are feeling depressed, exercising and being active might sound like the last thing in the world that you want to do. However, getting out of bed every day and doing some physical activity can actually improve your depression, not to mention that it's absolutely necessary to prevent early death from COPD.

It can be difficult and disheartening to exercise when you're experiencing COPD symptoms like breathlessness and wheezing, which on its own can contribute to depression and exercise avoidance. However, skipping exercise will only make that same problem worse, making your body weaker and your lungs decline quicker.

On the other hand, forcing yourself to get out, move your body, and increase your fitness can do wonders for both your body and mind. It not only stimulates your brain and promotes a more positive mood, but it can also increase your physical strength and mobility, allowing you to breathe better, do more, and have more energy.

Here are some of the benefits of exercise for people with COPD:

• More efficient use of oxygen
• Stronger breathing muscles and using less energy to breathe
• Reduced shortness of breath
• Reduced anxiety and depression
• Improved self-esteem and self-image
• Increased physical endurance
• Increased energy levels and reduced fatigue
• Improved sleep quality and reduced insomnia
• Increased cardiovascular health and fitness
• Improved muscle strength

It's not hard to see how getting regular exercise can help with depression caused by COPD. As you see your physical strength and condition improve, you are bound to feel more confident and more optimistic about your future.

Committing to exercising even when you feel down will also allow you to stave off some of the most devastating effects of depression for people with COPD—loss of physical strength and quicker lung function decline. It can also put you in a much better place both physically and mentally to cope with and manage your disease.

That's why it's so important to exercise according to your COPD treatment plan, even when it's hard and you don't feel like it. As soon as you start to neglect your exercise plan, you can quickly fall into a negative downward spiral, where it becomes more and more difficult to exercise.

If you find exercise difficult or don't know where to start, talk to your doctor about joining a pulmonary rehabilitation program. There are also many resources online, such as the Cleveland Clinic, that offer advice and ideas for specific exercises for people with COPD.

Here are some general tips and resources to help you exercise with COPD:

• Start small and work your way up. Start by walking short distances or doing low-impact strength exercises, and increase the distance you walk and the number of repetitions you do by just a little bit every week. The improvements you make will motivate you to keep going and help you work up to more activity over time.
  
  
• If you have limited strength or physical mobility, try starting out with some chair exercises. These allow you to work out different parts of your body while sitting in a chair, which helps with balance and reduces the amount of strength you have to expend while still toning your muscles. Check out this comprehensive guide for a huge list of chair exercises with accompanying illustrations and instructions for how to perform them.
  
  
• Stretching exercises are easy to do and can improve your strength, mobility, and range of motion. You should always stretch before you workout, but you can also try stretching in the mornings and evenings to get some extra activity and keep yourself limber throughout the day. Check out this guide from Lung Foundation Australia that includes instructions for how to do a variety of different stretches.
  
  
• Use breathing exercises, such as pursed-lips breathing and diaphragmic breathing to help with breathlessness and wheezing when you work out. You should also keep your bronchodilator, supplemental oxygen, and any emergency medications with you in case you need them. Check out this guide from the Cleveland Clinic on how to manage your breathing while you exercise.
  
  
• Try joining a fitness class or trying an exercise like yoga or Tai Chi. Having instruction (at a gym or from an exercise tape) can help you get started more easily and keep you motivated to continue. Yoga and Tai Chi are especially good exercises for people with COPD because they incorporate breathing control and meditation in their routines.

Eat Well

When you are depressed, you might not feel like eating as much as you should. It can also make you feel sluggish and unmotivated, making you more likely to reach for convenient, unhealthy options, like fast food, instead of making nutritious meals at home.

But when you have COPD, proper nutrition is vital for keeping your body and lungs healthy. Lungs affected by COPD use up more energy when you breathe, meaning that many patients actually need extra calories to keep their lungs working efficiently.

Eating well is also important for improving depression, as the foods you eat can have a huge impact on both your body and your mind. If you eat unhealthy foods or let yourself become malnourished, you will feel even more tired, fatigued, and depressed.

A variety of nutritional deficiencies and imbalances can contribute to depression, including deficiencies in fats, amino acids, Vitamin D, and blood sugar imbalances. However, proper nutrition can help restore balance to your body and mind, giving your brain the vitamins and nutrients it needs to keep you happy and healthy.

Unfortunately, the symptoms of COPD often make it difficult to maintain a healthy weight and get enough nutrition. However, having a healthy BMI is important for managing the disease; obese COPD patients face a wide variety of health risks, while underweight patients are also more likely to experience more rapid physical decline and other health complications.

Some COPD patients find it difficult to get enough to eat because of COPD symptoms like breathlessness, which often are worse on a full stomach. If you are also depressed, you may experience a reduced appetite, reduced motivation, and reduced enjoyment from the taste of food, which makes it even more difficult to get enough calories and nutrients every day.

If you have COPD, you should think of every meal as an opportunity to strengthen your body and support the health and function of your lungs. Even though it can be difficult and time consuming, it's important to eat whole, home-cooked foods as much as possible so you have maximum control over what nutrients you put in your body.

Even though it might be difficult and require some adjustments to your schedule, you can find ways to eat healthy with minimal effort and discomfort. Here are a variety of tips and techniques for eating well to improve your depression and your COPD:

• Increasing your intake of certain foods has been shown to help fight depression. These include foods containing Vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, vitamin C, magnesium, selenium, and B vitamins.
  
  
• Avoid sugary drinks, caffeine, and fried foods, which can contribute to depression. Instead, increase your intake of water, healthy fats, complex carbohydrates, and whole fruits and vegetables. Here is a guide from Healthline to help you choose healthy, nutrient-rich foods for your kitchen.
  
  
• To avoid feeling uncomfortable and breathless when you eat, have several smaller meals throughout the day instead of large ones. This will help you eat enough calories without ever feeling too full.
  
  
• Prepare meals and freeze them ahead of time to eat on days when you feel especially depressed or fatigued. That way, even when you don't have the energy or motivation to cook, you can eat a nutritious, home-cooked meal with hardly any effort at all.

Get Out, Socialize, and Have Fun

Being depressed tends to cause people to isolate themselves and give up on the hobbies and activities that used to make them happy. This is partially due to a lack of energy and motivation, and partially due to a feeling of helplessness and a perceived inability to enjoy things that used to be fun.

However, even when things seem bleak, it's important not to neglect the people, hobbies, and productive activities that used to make you happy. Even if it doesn't feel satisfying right away, being social and active can improve your depression and will likely feel more satisfying with time.

Depression has an uncanny ability to make you avoid the very things that you need the most in order to break free from depression. Just remember that, even though things may seem hopeless right now, you will be much worse off if you give up and drop out of life's activities.

When you feel like staying indoors and avoiding the world, try calling up a friend or family member instead. Often, simply talking to someone else can help to pull you out of the fog and give you a more positive perspective on life.

It's okay to take days off and focus on self-care, but it's important not to let yourself stay in bed all the time and avoid the people who care about you. If you make an effort to get out of the house and spend time with family and friends, you will find it much easier to cope with depression and COPD.

And remember, it's okay to talk to your friends and family about your depression and let them know that you need support. Most people who care about you will understand and be willing to support you when you really need them.

Having a support group of family and friends and activities will give you something to get out of bed for and live for everyday. So don't let yourself become isolated from the people and things that matter in life; once you break out of your bubble, you might just start to notice all the many things that make life worth living.

Oxygen therapy is a life saving therapy that helps oxygen patients around the world treat respiratory diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD. Oxygen therapy is most commonly administered through nasal tubing called oxygen cannulas or with a face mask if you are using oxygen at night time while you sleep. 

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There are many ways to treat COPD, but oxygen therapy is the only treatment that has been proven to prolong life in hypoxic patients.

If you use oxygen therapy you probably have a liquid oxygen tank, a gas oxygen tank, or a portable oxygen concentrator, all of these devices will supply you with oxygen, however a portable oxygen concentrator (POC) is the easiest-to-use solution for better breathing. 

In this blog you will be able to compare different solutions for your oxygen therapy needs, and specifically how Inogen oxygen devices compare to other oxygen therapy devices. 

How Inogen Oxygen Devices Work 

All oxygen devices push oxygen through tubing that connects to your nose so that you can breathe in the extra oxygen to treat the hypoxia caused by your disease. Portable oxygen concentrators operate very differently than an oxygen tank. Rather than getting your oxygen tank refiled every week, you simply charge the batteries. 

Here is how Inogen systems work: 

Purifies Air continuously

Similar to an air filter that you can leave in your home, your portable oxygen concentrator filters out impurities in the air before you breathe in the oxygen it is providing you. Inogen systems including the One G3, One G4, and One G5 all come with great filters that will extract particles from the air to ensure you are getting medical grade oxygen. Your filter should be replaced depending on how often you have to use your device, it is very easy to replace your own filter. 

For example if you have the One G4, you can order a One G4 air filter, simply purchasing a new filter from LPT Medical, and calling 1(800)-946-1201.

By changing your filter when it becomes misshapen or when the screen is damaged the filters keep dust, pet hair, and other air-borne contaminants out of your oxygen.

The Inogen filters are washable and reusable so you don't have to continuously buy new ones. The best practice is to wash and dry your filters weekly, and if you use your device more often in very dusty environments, you can even clean it twice a week to help keep your concentrator working properly.

Removes Nitrogen to Deliver Oxygen-Rich Air

The air surrounding you that you breathe everyday is made up of 80% nitrogen and 20% oxygen. This level of nitrogen is not an issue for healthy people who have normal levels of oxygen in their blood. With your low levels of oxygen in your blood you will struggle with converting the nitrogen filled air into the pure oxygen your body needs. 

This is why it is important for your oxygen device to take regular air and purify it to be 90-95% oxygen, with limited amounts of nitrogen.

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To remove nitrogen from the oxygen you breathe you inogen oxygen concentrators goes through these three steps:

1. Uses a compressor that moves air into sieve bed filters to remove the nitrogen
2. Distributes the purified oxygen through hoses inserted into the nostrils
3. The nitrogen is later released back into the air

Delivers Purified Oxygen Via Nasal Cannula

The nasal cannula is tubing that is attached to the oxygen device, and wraps around your head and the tubes are inserted into your nose. It is essentially a thin, plastic tube that has two small prongs at one end that rest in your nostrils.

The nasal cannula can comfortably deliver oxygen to a you at a setting of one to six liters per minute (LPM), but if you are breathing through your mouth it is possible you are not getting enough oxygen.

A study by PubMed concluded that, while mouth breathing doesn't always result in hypoxia, it can contribute to it.

If you are a mouth breather and need supplemental oxygen it could be very beneficial to learn how to breathe through your nose. 

Mouth Breathing with Oxygen Therapy  

To address your mouth breathing, first try to figure out the cause, and what exactly is making you breath out of your mouth rather than your nose. Once you have accurately diagnosed this, you can address the treatment options which may include the following:

Clear Your Nasal Passages

You could be breathing through your mouth because your nasal passages are blocked. A stuffy nose could be attributed to seasonal allergies, illness, prior trauma, or even weather changes. 

Over-the-counter antihistamines are available to reduce your allergy and cold symptoms and for a brief time, and open up your clogged nasal passages. 

Saline nasal spray is another option you have to lubricate your nasal passages and relieve congestion.

Go to the Dentist

Dentists can sometimes offer you more insight into why you are mouth breathing. It could be that a facial or dental abnormality is the cause of your mouth breathing and in this case they may fit you with a functional device to help correct the problem.

Switch from a Nasal Cannula to a Face Mask

The easiest solution to getting enough supplemental oxygen as a mouth breather, if deemed medically appropriate, is to switch to a face mask. Unfortunately, this is much more invasive for many people and must first be approved by your oxygen-prescribing healthcare provider. 

Another option is to consider using the nasal cannula during the day while you are out doing things, and switching to a mouth covering face mask at night. This way you are getting the full benefit of oxygen therapy while you are asleep. 

Talk to your doctor about these alternatives to the nasal cannula.

Nasal Surgery

If you have a deviated septum your nasal passages are blocked all the time and you should consider talking to an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialist about the surgery that may help correct the problem and allow you to breathe better. 

Remember anesthesia can cause postoperative complications if you have COPD, so be aware of these risks before undergoing surgery.

Pulse Oximetry for Those on Supplemental Oxygen

Despite your oxygen therapy method or device, having a pulse oximetry monitor is essential for anyone who receives oxygen therapy. Pulse oximeters can detect rapid changes in your oxygen saturation levels so that you are warned that you're low on oxygen. Knowing your oxygen saturation levels is a huge benefit and helps you treat you disease to the best of your ability

Powered by Rechargeable Battery and any AC or DC Power Source

The most notable difference between traditional oxygen tanks and Inogen brand devices is how Inogen oxygen systems are all powered by rechargeable lithium ion batteries.

Having an oxygen device that will never run low on oxygen means a number of things. First, you will never wait around for your oxygen to be delivered, nor will you have to worry about paying for your new oxygen tanks every week. 

Instead, you can recharge your battery day or night, while you are using your device, in the car or on the move with an external battery charger. 

You have the option to go with the smaller 8-cell battery or buy a larger 16 cell battery when you order an Inogen One G3 One G4, or One G5. The 16-cell battery lasts longer, and it is just slightly heavier. 

The 8-cell battery is no additional cost and comes with the purchase of any Inogen oxygen concentrator when you purchase from LPT Medical at 1(800)-946-1201! 

With a battery powered device you have the ability to take your oxygen system on a plane with you and travel to your destination stress free. You will no longer have to rent oxygen and spend valuable time and money finding a palace to rent oxygen while you are away from home. 

Read our blog about traveling with your supplemental oxygen in 2021.

Out of all of the Inogen systems, our best selling device is the Inogen One G5, and here is why:

Inogen One G5 

The Inogen One G5, is the most advanced Inogen system so far, it has six pulse flow settings— The amount of oxygen the One G5 can administer while maintaining the compact and lightweight design in comparison to the earlier generations is outstanding. This extra level of oxygen output gives more people who use oxygen therapy the ability to take advantage of lightweight portable oxygen devices. 

If you have a lower flow of oxygen you may not see this as an immediate benefit, however having the option to increase your oxygen output is always better. As ailments worsen or your condition progresses, you may need to increase your oxygen output.

For example, if you have a chronic lung condition like COPD  your prescription may be suited to a three-level flow setting, but your need for oxygenation could increase to a six while exercising, or in the case of an emergency while you are experiencing a COPD exacerbation. 

One common issue you might have with oxygen concentrators in the past is their noise, which can be loud enough to impact a good night’s sleep. However, Inogen has improved upon their previous models, and the One G5 is only 38 decibels while on a level two setting, which is quieter than other Inogen One units. 

38 decibels is rated as a soft sound, and typically it will not impede on your day-to-day activities, and it may just help you sleep a little better.

The One G5 unit weighs less than five pounds, which for some people may actually be too heavy to carry around all day, and that is why it comes with a One G5 custom carrying case, and you have the option to buy a One G5 backpack. The backpack can hold extra items when you are out running errands or playing a round of golf! 

The One G5 also offers an amazing battery; you’ll have the option to get an 8-cell battery or a 16-cell battery. With the 16-cell battery on a setting 3 you will have power in your device for 7 hours! It is not only a great portable unit to carry around all day but it is also Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved meaning that it’s an excellent option if you are  eager to travel.

Overview

It is clear why Inogen oxygen devices are so popular, they work well and for many different kinds of oxygen patients, but they are also durable and last a long time.

If you are interested in learning which generation of Inogen One concentrators will work better for you and within your budget, give LPT Medical a call, and our respiratory specialists will help you, and work with your doctor to find the right oxygen device for you. 

The medical term “localized disease” refers to a condition that is confined to one organ or system of the body. For example, an ear infection is a localized disease because it typically only affects the “middle ear” just behind the eardrum. While ear infections can spread to other parts of the body, this is very uncommon. A “systemic disease”, on the other hand, is one that has systemic manifestations. For example, diabetes is a disease that affects the level of glucose in your blood. Since every organ in the body is reliant on this blood, diabetes can have many systemic effects ranging from cardiovascular disease to nerve damage.

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

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

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

7 Reasons Sleep is so Important

1. Sleep Boosts your Immune System

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

2. More Sleep Will Help Shed the Extra Weight 

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

3. Sleep Can Strengthen Your Heart

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

4. Better Sleep Means a Happier You

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

5. Sleeping Can Increase Productivity

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

7. Sleep Can Increase Exercise Performance

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

When Should You Talk to Your Doctor About your Sleep

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

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

Diagnosing Sleep Apnea 

To diagnose sleep apnea test will be conducted: 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cut out mid day coffee or tea

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

Cultivate healthy sleeping habits 

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

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

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

Adjust your lifestyle 

Adjusting your lifestyle means creating healthy habits.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sleeping with an Oxygen Concentrator

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here are the SimplyGo specs: 

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

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

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

Here are Inogen One G5 Specs:

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

Overview

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

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

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

Summer is the season that most people associate with sunny days, bathing suits, and a plethora of outdoor sports and activities. But if you have COPD, summer can also be a difficult time marked by struggles with respiratory irritants and difficulty breathing.

Part of living with COPD is having to be extra careful about protecting your body, and especially your lungs, from harm. That means doing everything you can to avoid illnesses, exacerbations, and any environmental conditions that could weaken your lungs or make your symptoms worse.

Unfortunately, with every new season COPD patients have to adjust to new hazards and challenges that come with the change in weather. And with the summer on its way, it's important to know what to expect and how you can prepare yourself for the shift.

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The summer weather, in particular, is especially hard for many people with COPD, bringing with it a variety of atmospheric conditions that can be dangerous for your lungs. The extra humidity, smog, and the plethora of new allergens that come in the summer can worsen your symptoms and make it much more difficult to breathe.

The summer weather can also sap your energy and interfere with your ability to exercise and do other activities during the day. The poor air quality and high temperatures can wreak havoc on your lungs, forcing you to be extra cautious about spending time or exercising outdoors.

It's important to keep your lungs working as efficiently as possible when the air is hot and damp, which means protecting yourself from harsh temperatures and pollution in the air. You have to know when to stay indoors, how to keep your home comfortable, and how to keep your symptoms under control.

In this article, we're going to help you get ready for the summer by alerting you to all the unique summer hazards you should be prepared for. We'll show you how to reduce your risk of flare-ups, better manage your symptoms, and even prepare for summer storms.

With some knowledge and preparation, you can make it through the summer without exposing your lungs to toxic irritants or making your COPD worse. By taking some basic, practical precautions, you can keep your symptoms under control, rock the season, and enjoy this summer to the fullest.

Prepare for Poor Air Quality

Heat, air pollution, and humidity all spike during the summer months, and all of these conditions can make it more difficult to breathe. For patients with lung diseases, these hazards can make respiratory symptoms significantly worse, and often make it both difficult and dangerous to spend time outdoors.

For example, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, high levels of particle pollution, which includes smoke and smog, increases the number of hospitalizations among people with heart and respiratory conditions. It also causes a variety of serious symptoms in people with COPD, including coughing, chest pain, and shortness of breath.

However, living with COPD doesn't mean you have to forego the outdoors and all the fun activities you can do in the summer. You can still enjoy swimming, hiking, and other outdoor activities as long as you know your limits and plan them right.

In this section, we're going to help you learn how to spend time outside while minimizing your symptoms when you're outdoors. We'll show you how to monitor your local weather and air quality so you can make safe and healthy decisions about when to go out and when it's best to stay indoors.

Enjoy the Outdoors During Cooler Times of Day

Spending too much time out under the hot, summer sun can worsen COPD symptoms like breathlessness, coughing, and fatigue. This happens because, as your body overheats, your lungs have to work extra hard to help your body cool down.

The warm environment alone can make breathing a challenge, especially when you suffer from a respiratory condition like COPD. Hot air can irritate your lungs and cause them to spasm, constricting your airways and blocking oxygen from flowing through. This can cause bouts of coughing and wheezing and make it much more difficult to breathe.

When you have COPD, it's important to avoid the heat so you can keep your body and your lungs running at maximum possible efficiency. Otherwise, symptoms like fatigue and shortness of breath may get the better of you and lead to flare-ups or even serious exacerbations.

In the summer, this means staying indoors and limiting your physical activity when the weather outside is too hot. However, that doesn't mean you have to trap yourself indoors all day during the summer.

The trick is to avoid going out during the hottest time of day and during especially bad heat spells. Instead, plan outdoor activities and exercise during the early mornings and early evenings, instead of in the middle of the day.

To plan ahead, you can check your local weather archives and find patterns in how the temperature changes throughout the day. Using records of past year's weather and paying attention to hourly temperature forecasts, you can pin-point the best and coolest times of day to go outside at different points during the season.

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Find a Good Source for Weather and Air Quality Forecasts

Besides paying attention to the temperature, you should also watch out for days with high humidity or air pollution. Summer is usually the most humid time of the year, and it's also the prime season for pollen, mold, and smog.

Your local air quality can vary significantly from day to day, depending on the temperature, wind patterns, and other environmental factors. Even allergens vary in severity throughout the season and can spike unexpectedly depending on the weather.

Luckily, you can always monitor your local air quality conditions by watching your local weather channel or by checking the forecast daily online. There are a variety of websites that provide detailed reports, including levels of pollution, humidity, and allergens, to help people like you avoid hazardous conditions.

To prepare for this summer, you can even take a look at past weather and air quality archives to get a better idea of what the summer will be like where you live. You will likely notice patterns in how humidity, allergens, and pollution levels vary throughout the season that you can use to plan your summer activities.

Here are some online resources you can use to check the daily air quality and humidity in your area:

• Visit airnow.gov to check your local air quality index. This website is run by the EPA and uses an intuitive scale (from “good” to “hazardous”) to help you quickly understand the risk.
  
  
• Visit pollen.com for local allergy and pollen forecasts. There, you can get a general allergen rating (from low to high allergen risk) and even a list of the top allergens (e.g. oak, ragweed, etc.) in your area.
  
  
• You can check the weather and temperature history for your zip code by using this tool from Weather Underground. It can give you detailed information about temperatures and weather from past years, and even includes graphs showing you hour-by-hour temperatures from past dates. You can use this information to figure out the coolest times of day for different parts of the summer and get a better idea of what kind of weather to expect.

Set Up Weather and Air Quality Alerts

There are a variety of Android and iPhone apps you can use to track weather and air quality on your phone. These apps give you a convenient way to monitor outdoor conditions on the go or from your home.

Having the weather and air quality on a mobile app can help you remember to check and plan around poor conditions. Some apps will even push alarms to your phone to warn you of air and weather hazards in real time.

There are dozens of apps on both the Google and iTunes app store dedicated to weather, pollen, and air quality forecasts. Here are a few examples of apps that can be particularly useful for people with COPD.

Plume Air Report

Plume Air Report is an app available for both Android and iPhone mobile devices that gives you real-time data on air pollution for any city in the world. It also tells gives you basic information on the local temperature, wind, and humidity levels.

Plume is simple, straightforward, and easy to use and navigate. It's a great all-in-one app for weather and air quality to help you determine whether it's safe to spend time or exercise outdoors.

WebMD Allergy App

The WebMD Allergy App tells you everything you need to know about pollen and other allergens in your area. It is available for both iPhone and Android and provides up-to-date data on weather and allergen levels.

This app is great for people with seasonal allergies and even people with allergies to dust and mold. It even separates allergens by category, showing you the concentrations of different types, including allergens associated with grass, trees, weeds, dust, dander, and mold.

The WebMD Allergy App also lets you record your allergy symptoms every day to help you monitor your health. This is a great way to track the severity of your symptoms, learn what you're most sensitive to, and get a better idea of how your allergies affect your COPD.

BreezoMeter Air Quality Index

The BreezoMeter app gives you detailed air quality reports you can use to plan outdoor activities and minimize your exposure to airborne pollutants. It includes current air quality data, future air quality forecasts, and detailed air quality maps that can show you the air conditions down to the street level.

The BreezoMeter map even provides personalized, practical health tips based on your local air quality to help you avoid hazards and plan your day. It can also send you alerts when the air quality changes and allows you to monitor the air in multiple locations at once.

Avoid Hazardous Temperatures, Weather, and Pollution

Depending on where you live, the temperature and air quality might vary vastly from day to day or even between morning and evening. But once you've found some good sources for air quality, allergens, and weather alerts, you can begin to work your days and summer plans around the hazards.

Air pollution and extreme heat or humidity can have a significant effect on your COPD, worsening your symptoms and even leading to serious exacerbations. In fact, even if you don't notice its effects in the short term, polluted air alone can make you more prone to getting respiratory infections, raise your risk of heart attack, and increase your chances of needing to be hospitalized.

The dangers of heat, humidity, and poor air quality go up depending on three main factors: the severity of the weather or pollution, the length of time you spend outside, and how much physical exertion you do. For example, taking a short walk or sitting outside on a hot or humid day isn't nearly as dangerous as doing vigorous exercise or spending an extended amount of time in the heat.

Use local forecasts to help you plan outdoor exercise, sports, and activities for times when the temperatures are expected to be mild, humidity is low, and the air quality is good. That might mean limiting outdoor activities in the afternoons and going out during cooler times of the day.

You can use the trends from past years to help you plan things further out, such as sporting leagues, exercise schedules, and vacations. For shorter-term plans, you can use week-long weather and air quality forecasts to figure out what days and times you should avoid spending time outdoors.

Here are some tips for planning your activities around hazardous weather and air conditions:

• Check your air quality forecast every week and note any days that are supposed to be particularly bad. As you plan activities and outings, avoid planning anything on hazardous days that involves physical activity outdoors or requires you to spend too much time outside.
  
  
• Protect yourself from the heat by figuring out what parts of the day are the coolest and planning any outdoor exercise, work, or other activities during these times.
  
  
• Take care when doing lengthy outdoor activities or heavy exercise, in particular. Make an effort to plan them on days with the most favorable conditions.
  
  
• Save lengthy walks, gardening, lawn work, outdoor sporting events, and other activities that keep you outdoors for extended periods of time for cooler days. They are too risky to do in hot, humid, or polluted air.
  
  
• Always check the allergen and pollution levels in your area before opening up windows and doors in your house. Airing out your home is a great way to let in cool, fresh air, but if the air quality is poor, you'll just end up filling your home with pollen and airborne irritants.
  
  
• During heat spells or very hot days, make sure you have an air-conditioned, indoor place to spend time in. If you don't have air conditioning or it stops working during the heat, leave the house and go somewhere public that has A/C (such as the library, mall, movie theater, a restaurant, or a coffee shop).
  
  
• If you like to exercise outdoors, shorten the length of time you spend outside in the heat and take more frequent breaks. You may need to break up your exercise into smaller chunks and spread them out during different times of the day.
  
  
• On days with high pollution or allergens, exercise indoors instead. For example, you could go the gym, do aerobics in your living room, or find a large, indoor place to take a walk.

Talk to Your Doctor About Preparing for Summer Hazards

As you prepare for the summer weather and the various respiratory hazards it brings, you should talk to your doctor about any concerns you have. For instance, if you are worried about allergies, flare-ups, or how much exercise you should do in the heat, your doctor is the best source of advice.

To help you get physical activity, your doctor can help you work out a feasible exercise schedule for the summer that takes the weather and heat into account. Your doctor can also help you find activities that are safe and healthy for you to do based on your personal medical history and physical condition.

You can also ask your doctor to help you prepare for allergies and flare-ups so you can minimize your symptoms when the summer respiratory irritants come. He may also be able to give you a prescription allergy medication or an emergency inhaler if you are prone to serious flare-ups.

By working with your doctor, you can make sure you have everything you need to keep your symptoms under control when it gets hot, humid, or the smog rolls in. If your doctor prescribes you s rescue inhaler, keep it and any other quick-relief medications with you at all times in case you encounter poor air conditions or experience a surprise flare-up.

Prepare for High Temperatures and Humidity

Exposure to extreme temperatures can be hard on your body, especially when you suffer from a chronic disease. That's why people with COPD should avoid going outside when the weather is especially hot and humid.

Regulating your body temperature is taxing on your body and puts extra strain on your respiratory system in particular. To keep your lungs working as efficiently as possible, you have to be extra careful to protect yourself out in the heat.

There are many ways to do this while still enjoying the warm summer sun and and your favorite outdoor activities. The following tips will help you keep breathlessness and fatigue at bay without having to shutter yourself in the whole summer.

Know the Signs of Heat Stroke

The symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke can be subtle and easy to miss, especially if you have COPD. Symptoms like fatigue and shortness of breath can be mistaken for normal COPD symptoms instead of a dangerous sign of heat exhaustion.

Heat stroke can strike suddenly, which is why it's so important to know the signs and symptoms and pay close attention to your body whenever you're out in the heat. Be on the look out for symptoms in yourself and others and take care not to exert yourself too much.

Heat exhaustion is not as severe as heat stroke, and the symptoms can be mild or severe. However, experiencing heat exhaustion when you have COPD puts you at a higher risk for serious complications.

Luckily, avoiding heat exhaustion is a simple matter of monitoring your body and taking care of yourself in the heat. Drinking plenty of water, replenishing your electrolytes regularly (with salty food or sports drinks), and taking frequent breaks in the shade can all significantly reduce your chances of heat stroke.

Here are some of the most common symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke:

• Dizziness or feeling faint
• Nausea or vomiting
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Fainting
• Pale or flushed face
• Weak, rapid pulse
• Muscle cramps or weakness
• Heavy sweating with cold, clammy skin

Wear Appropriate Clothing

How you dress can significantly affect your temperature and how you feel outside in the heat. Clothes that are tight or heavy will make you overheat more quickly, while light, loose clothes will help you stay cool.

When you go outside on hot days, make sure to wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothes that give you space to move and room to breathe. Clothes that cinch or are too tight will be very hot under the sun and make it more difficult for you to move freely and breathe comfortably.

To prepare for the summer, fill your wardrobe with light, airy fabrics and pale colors that reflect light rather than absorb it. It may also be a good time to go through your old clothes and get rid of items that don't fit or restrict your breathing.

A hat is another great clothing accessory to have when you're out in the summer heat. A wide-brimmed hat gives you the most protection from the sun, but a visor or baseball cap can help you stay cool as well.

Stay Hydrated

When you're outside in the heat, it's easy to get dehydrated without even realizing it. If you don't make a special effort to drink plenty of water, you could end up with worsened shortness of breath, coughing, and fatigue.

Dehydration strains both your body and your lungs, and also dries out the mucus in your airways. This worsens airway obstruction and makes it even more difficult to breathe, which makes physical exertion dangerous in the heat.

It's important to take dehydration seriously when you suffer from COPD, because it can severely exacerbate existing breathing troubles. Make it a goal to drink extra water during the summer and bring a water bottle with you anytime you leave the house.

Take Breaks

When you're outside in not-ideal weather, such as excessive humidity or heat, it pays to be extra cautious. You may need to limit your physical exertion or take more frequent breaks to keep your COPD symptoms under control.

As soon as you feel too fatigued or feel like you are having trouble catching your breath, stop whatever activity you are doing and retreat to a sheltered place where you can rest. Use any rescue medication you have if needed and don't exert yourself again until your respiratory ailments have passed.

If you feel overheated, find a shaded or air conditioned spot immediately, and drink some cold water to cool down. Don't go outside again until you are well-hydrated, rested, and your body temperature feels normal again.

It's important to stay in tune with your body and be able to recognize the signs of a flare-up. If you catch your symptoms worsening early and take appropriate action, you are much less likely to experience serious symptoms or have to be hospitalized for an exacerbation.

Keep Your House Cooled

Depending on where you live and how your house is designed, it can be a challenge to cool your house during the worst of the summer heat. Sometimes, the A/C just can't keep up with the sweltering heat and the hot sun beating down on your house.

If you have COPD, it's very important for your lungs to keep your house at a cool, comfortable temperature when you're at home. Fortunately, there are a variety of simple techniques you can use to keep the heat out and take give your A/C unit a break.

Short-Term Strategies

First of all, when the sun is beating down, make sure you keep your window blinds and shutters closed. This will prevent the sunlight from shining through and warming up the air inside your home.

You can also cool down and air out your house at night by opening up the windows after the sun goes down. However, you have to be strategic about which windows you open and close to make this method effective.

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