Living with a serious disease like COPD can be scary, stressful, and sometimes even overwhelming. Just the feeling of shortness of breath, the main symptom of COPD, can be a very frightening sensation.

Feeling anxious, overwhelmed, and even depressed is a natural and, to an extent, even a healthy reaction to getting diagnosed with a chronic disease. However, you shouldn't let these negative feelings control your life.

If you don't take steps to manage your anxiety and fears they can end up taking a huge toll on your emotional and physical health. It's okay to feel anxious and depressed sometimes, but it's also important to learn to manage and minimize your stress.

In this article we'll help you better understand the effects of chronic anxiety and how to manage it while living with COPD. We'll show you a variety of effective relaxation techniques, breathing exercises, and lifestyle changes you can use to help you navigate the difficult emotional aspects of COPD.

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Understanding The Emotional Impact of COPD

Everyone experiences feelings of depression and anxiety from time to time. It happens as a natural reaction to unfortunate events and the troubles of everyday life.

However, nothing can truly prepare you for the emotional effects of getting diagnosed with a disease like COPD. Negative emotions like fear, anxiety, worry, and guilt can easily get out of hand if you don't learn how to manage them in healthy ways.

Here are some common emotional reactions people experience after getting diagnosed with COPD:

• Anxiety and panic
• Depression
• Anger
• Fear and worry
• Grief
• Helplessness
• Frustration
• Guilt and remorse
• Feeling loss of control

As you can see, living with a chronic disease can be an immense emotional challenge. The good news is that it often gets better after you have time to adjust and get used to your treatment plan.

It is normal to feel a great deal of fear, stress, and guilt at first, but you can take back control over your physical and mental health by giving yourself time to adjust and make the life changes necessary to stay healthy. You will also find your disease much easier to manage if you seek support from friends and family and practice healthy coping mechanisms and relaxation techniques.

If you are able to manage the emotional aspects of your disease, it will become much easier to manage your symptoms, live a healthy lifestyle, and follow your treatment plan. That's why it's so important for people with COPD to learn how to manage negative emotions and practice habits that foster a positive mindset.

In the following sections we'll show you a variety of tips and techniques to help you feel better and manage the difficult emotional aspects of COPD. But first, we'll discuss how to recognize the signs of anxiety and depression and how to break out of negative thought cycles related to COPD.

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Recognizing the Signs of Anxiety

Anxiety is often associated with the “fight or flight” response, an instinctual reaction that all humans experience when confronted with danger. In many cases anxiety actually serves a practical purpose; it helps prepare us to recognize and respond to real threats.

However, anxiety becomes a problem when it happens too often and won't go away. This happens when we feel anxiety in response to things that are not real, immediate threats, like worrying over an argument or feeling anxious about the future.

Since there's no solution or easy “off” switch when you worry about these types of things, sometimes the anxiety just doesn't go away. It's easy to get caught in negative thought loops where you worry about the same things over and over again when there's no actual purpose or use for dwelling on those worries all.

It's common to feel anxiety in response to thoughts, fears, and situations that are out of your control, especially when you suffer from a chronic health condition like COPD. It's important to be able to recognize these feelings of anxiety because when you know they're there, you can actually do something about it.

Here are some of the immediate physical effects of anxiety you should learn to recognize:

• Rapid breathing
• Rapid heart rate
• Nausea
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating
• Paleness or flushing
• Stiff, tensed muscles
• Twitching or trembling
• A tight feeling in your throat
• Dry throat

Anxiety can also have less obvious physical effects in the short term that can affect your COPD:

• Re-distribution of fluids throughout your body (and your lungs, which can affect breathing)
• Increased blood sugar (because it triggers extra glucose production in the liver)
• Increased blood flow throughout your body

As you can see, all of these different anxiety symptoms can affect your breathing and your COPD. Anxiety affects your heart rate, breathing rate, water distribution, and breathing muscles, all of which affect your respiratory system and together can make your COPD symptoms even worse.

If left untreated, chronic anxiety can even cause more serious health complications that are particularly dangerous for people who have COPD. Long-term anxiety can suppress your immune system, affect your short-term memory, cause problems with digestion, and even increase your risk for premature heart disease.

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Breaking Out of The Negative Feedback Cycle of Anxiety

Because the physical effects of anxiety often mimic or exacerbate symptoms of COPD, bouts of acute anxiety can quickly spiral out of control. You might start out feeling a little bit stressed out, but when the anxiety symptoms kick in it can be difficult to stay calm and control your breathing.

The cycle happens like this:

• You start to feel stress or anxiety
• The anxiety makes your throat tighten and increases your breathing rate, making you feel short of breath.
• Feeling short of breath inspires even more fear and anxiety, causing your heart to race even faster.
• Your increased heart rate and muscle tension makes it even more difficult to breathe, which inspires more anxiety... and the cycle continues on.

When you get stuck in this feedback loop, it can be difficult to calm down enough to pull yourself out of it. It becomes easy to confuse symptoms of anxiety with symptoms of COPD, and you can't manage your anxiety if you don't realize that it is what's causing your physical symptoms.

In these situations, breathing exercises and relaxation techniques are the most effective ways to bring your anxiety and physical symptoms back under control. However, the best solution is to learn how to recognize the early signs of anxiety so you can get a handle on it before the negative cycle starts.

The Negative Feedback Cycle of Depression

Feeling depressed can also start a negative feedback loop that can be detrimental to your health. This happens when depression snuffs out your energy and motivation, leading to habits and behaviors that continue to make your depression, and your COPD, worse.

Here are some of the common symptoms of depression:

• Decreased energy and fatigue
• Feelings of sadness, anxiety, and emptiness
• Feelings of helplessness, worthlessness, or guilt
• Pessimism, cynicism, and hopelessness
• Restlessness and irritability
• Loss of interest in hobbies, exercise, and other activities
• Changes in eating habits (increased or decreased appetite)
• Increase in aches and pains, headaches, and other physical ailments
• Reduced ability to focus and concentrate

The negative feedback loop of depression begins with feelings of hopelessness and helplessness that cause you to give up on healthy habits and treatment goals. When you're depressed, you're likely to give up and avoid activities when you feel breathlessness or other symptoms of COPD, which only leads to even worse symptoms and fuels further depression.

It's important to familiarize yourself with the symptoms of depression so you can address it and manage it if it occurs. It's also important to recognize the unhealthy habits that start the negative feedback loop of depression so you can take care of it before it spirals too far and takes a permanent toll on your health.

Here's what the negative feedback loop of depression looks like:

• You feel depressed and hopeless because of your disease, so you choose to stay inside and do nothing instead of pursuing hobbies and other activities. You might have difficulty getting out of bed and motivating yourself to continue healthy habits like exercising and cooking healthy meals.
• As a result of being less active, your symptoms get worse and your disease may progress even further. You feel more breathless and fatigued and have even less energy to exercise and do other activities.
• This leads to even more anxiety and depression, which makes you feel even less motivated and less capable of managing your health. As your physical condition declines, it becomes more and more difficult to stay active and causes even more emotional distress.
• This leads to even more depression, more time spent sedentary, and more physical symptoms. If the cycle isn't interrupted, it can make your COPD symptoms irreversibly worse and cause permanent physical decline.

Anxiety and Depression Can Have Long-Term Effects on Your Health

A certain amount of anxiety is healthy, and can even motivate us to take positive actions and make healthy choices. But when anxiety or depression is prolonged, it can have serious negative effects on your body.

Here are some of the long-term effects that chronic anxiety and depression can have on your body:

• Insomnia
• Suppressed immune system
• Reduced ability to focus and problem solve
• Impaired short-term memory
• Reduced sex drive
• Changes in your metabolism
• Indigestion
• Increased susceptibility to stomach ulcers
• Cardiovascular problems
• Nervous system malfunction

This is why it's very important to get support and learn new habits if you suffer from anxiety or depression on a daily basis. If you let it eat away at you for too long, it can have devastating effects on and start an unhealthy, downward spiral of physical and emotional distress.

How to Deal with the Emotional Aspects of COPD

There are many proven and effective methods for dealing with challenging, stressful times such as living with COPD. Relaxation techniques like meditation, breathing exercises, and a variety of other activities can make all the difference when you're dealing with overwhelming emotions.

In this next section, we're going to introduce you to a variety of these techniques that you can use today to help reduce your anxiety, feel better, and gain back control over your life. If you take the time to learn and practice some of these techniques when you feel down or overwhelmed, you can teach yourself to redirect your negative energy to relaxing and calming activities, instead.

Therapeutic Activities for Emotional and Mental Health

Physical Exercise

Staying active and doing physical activities is one of the best ways to keep your mind and body healthy. It's a great way to get rid of extra tension and negative energy, and it can strengthen your breathing muscles and help your COPD symptoms, too.

Regular exercise gives you more energy and strength during the day at the same time that it makes it easier to relax and sleep at night. You'll feel stronger, more confident, and more in control of your health if you get plenty of physical activity.

Here are just a few of the many emotional benefits of exercise:

• Decreased stress and anxiety
• Improved memory and cognition
• Increased energy levels
• Increased ability to focus and problem-solve
• Increased feelings of happiness and well-being
• Better self image and increased self-confidence
• Feelings of satisfaction and accomplishment
• Protection against cognitive decline
• Increased ability to relax and sleep well at night

Along with its quantifiable physical and mental benefits, regular physical activity will help you feel more confident, secure, and give you a wonderful sense of accomplishment.

If you're not used to exercising regularly, work with your doctor to put together an exercise plan that will ease you into the habit. Start small and set realistic goals, and don't push yourself to the point of feeling too breathless or fatigued. At the same time, don't be afraid to challenge yourself and be as active as you can.

If you like structured activities, you can try joining a gym, group sport, or an exercise club. Many gyms offer a variety of classes such as aerobics, yoga, and tai chi that are great for building physical strength as well as practicing relaxation and breathing techniques.

Yoga & Tai Chi

Yoga and Tai Chi are both great physical activities for people with COPD. They are designed to improve your physical strength and endurance while practicing breathing and relaxation techniques at the same time.

Yoga is a slow-paced exercise that involves holding different stretches and poses which can be adjusted for different strength and skill levels and for people with limited mobility. It's incorporation of deep breathing exercises and meditative practices makes it perfect for patients with COPD, and can help you learn how to control your breath when you exercise.

Tai Chi is a more active exercise technique that uses graceful, flowing actions and encourages constant movement. Like yoga, what makes Tai Chi such a great exercise for COPD is that it also teaches deep breathing techniques as an integral part of the practice.

Both of these exercises are great for building physical endurance and deep breathing skills that can help you manage both the physical symptoms and emotional strain associated with COPD. If you'd like to give these exercises a try, you can look for a gym near you that offers group classes.

If you don't want to go to the gym, you can also follow Tai Chi or Yoga instructional videos by yourself in your own home. You can find guided Yoga and Tai Chi video classes in stores, at your library, and even watch them for free on sites like YouTube and elsewhere online.

Mindfulness Meditation

Mindfulness meditation is one of the most highly-researched and effective methods for reducing anxiety and depression. In fact, it's considered to be so effective for mental well-being that it should be the one thing you try even if you don't use any of the other techniques on this list.

Mindfulness meditation isn't anything like the kind of meditation you've probably seen in movies and pop culture. It's actually a very simple and relaxing activity that anyone can do; all it takes is a bit of time and patience to see results.

Practicing mindfulness meditation is all about clearing your mind of worries, letting go of distracting thoughts, and living in the present moment. It helps you learn how to separate yourself from your stress and your anxious thoughts, enjoy life without worry, and achieve a quiet inner peace.

To practice basic mindfulness meditation, you start by finding a quiet, comfortable place to sit and close your eyes. Then, you practice just living and being in the present moment. Let go of any specific thoughts and worries, and instead just focus on your breathing and listen to your thoughts as they go by without judgment.

It can be helpful to listen to a guided meditation audio clip or follow along with a written meditation guide. Mindful.org is a great resource for a variety of textual guides and information on mindfulness meditation, or you use one of UCLA Health's guided audio meditation sessions by visiting their website here.

Keep a Journal

Journaling is a proven and effective way to cope with difficult emotions and challenging times in life. In fact, research shows that journaling is a powerful tool for emotional and physical health, and something everyone should do for their mental well-being.

Journaling allows you to write and sort through your thoughts in an entirely private, safe, and non-judgmental environment. No one else will ever have to know the thoughts you put down; you are writing for just you and you alone.

Your journal can be whatever you want to make of it, but its' most helpful when you use it to better understand yourself, others, and sort through difficult feelings. It can be helpful to keep track of your moods and emotions on a daily basis so you can notice trends and patterns and see how you change and grow.

Here are some tips for a successful journaling experience:

• Let Go of Your Internal Filter: Don't think about good grammar, good taste, or what anyone else would think about what you write. Try to write quickly and let the words flow, don't analyze them or judge them. The point is to write down raw, pure, honest thoughts, which is impossible to do if you're constantly editing yourself as you write.
  
  
• Journal Every Day: It's easiest to journal regularly if you make it a daily habit. Keep a dedicated journal in an easy-to-access space, and try to set aside at least fifteen minutes of time every evening to write.
  
  
• Write About What Matters to You: No one else will see your journal, so you can structure it however you like and write about whatever you want to. Let go of your inner critic and write about whatever comes to mind, or whatever has been on your mind lately.

Practice Breathing Exercises

It can be scary, or even panic-inducing, when you find it difficult to breathe. In fact, it's very common for people who have COPD to experience anxiety during bouts of breathlessness or wheezing.

One of the best defenses against this kind of worry and panic is breathing techniques. Breathing exercises like pursed lips breathing and diaphragmatic breathing are extremely effective and simple ways to calm down and reduce anxiety when you experienced worsened symptoms of COPD.

Most doctors recommend practicing breathing exercises every day, even when you don't feel anxious or breathless. This helps you learn the techniques thoroughly so you can easily remember how to do them in the moment when anxiety and panic strikes.

Diaphragmatic Breathing Technique

Diaphragmatic breathing helps you learn to use your diaphragm instead of your chest muscles to breathe. This allows you to breathe with less effort and can reduce symptoms like chest tightness, breathlessness, and fatigue that often get worse when you feel anxious.

How to Practice Diaphragmatic Breathing

• First, lie on your back in a comfortable position.
• Put one hand on your chest, and the other on your belly.
• Take a deep breath in while trying to breathe from your belly, not your chest. You should feel the hand on your stomach rise while the hand on your chest stays still.
• When you exhale, once again try to push from your stomach instead of your chest. You should feel the hand on your stomach fall as you breathe out while the hand on your chest stays still.
• Repeat until you are successfully breathing from your belly and not your chest. Over time, this will become second nature and you will have better control over your breathing.

Pursed Lips Breathing Technique

Many people with COPD have airways that collapse and lungs that trap air, making it difficult to breathe. Pursed lips breathing helps you open up your airways and push all the air out of your lungs with each breath, which makes it easier and more comfortable to breathe.

How to Practice Pursed Lips Breathing

• Stand or sit in a relaxed position with your back straight.
• Relax your chest muscles and take a deep breath in through your nose lasting about two seconds.
• When you breathe out, purse your lips together (as if you were blowing a kiss) and exhale slowly through your mouth. You should take about twice as long to exhale as you did when you inhaled, about four seconds.
• Repeat several times, or until you feel your breathlessness subside.

Bringing your breathing back under control is the first and most important step to bringing your anxiety and panic back under control, too. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to remember how when you feel anxious or panicked, which is why it's important to practice often.

We created a comprehensive guide into the similarities and differences between the GCE Zeno and the Respironics Simply go portable oxygen concentrators. We also made a video for you to watch that takes you through everything you need to know about these two portable oxygen concentrators.

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If you are a long time oxygen patient or were recently given a prescription to be on supplemental oxygen, and you are in the market for a continuous flow portable, don’t miss out on watching this video!

Both of these devices are great options for people who need continuous flow oxygen concentrators. We are comparing these two devices so that you can decide for yourself which device has the features you want and need in an oxygen device. 

Similarities of the GCe Zeno and the SimplyGo  \

While there are a few notable differences between the GCE Zeno and the Respironics SimplyGo, they also have a lot of similarities! 

Similar Flow Rates 

Both of the GCE Zeno and the Respironics SimplyGo devices can go up to pulse flow settings 1-6 and continuous flow settings 0.5-2.0 LPM. So this device can fulfill oxygen patients' needs across the spectrum. 

Because theses oxygen devices are continuous and pulse flow devices, you can hook up these devices to your BiPap machines and use them while you sleep! 

Both are FAA Approved 

Both of these devices, and all of the devices LPT Medical carries, are FAA approved, meaning you can carry them on a plane with you, and use your oxygen device while you travel! 

This is a huge benefit to owning a portable oxygen concentrator compared to using oxygen tanks and canisters. 

All you need is an extra oxygen device battery to bring along with you for the duration of your flight, and also be sure you let your airline know you are traveling with oxygen. They may have a few requirements and checkpoints you have to go through to make sure you are safe during your flight! 

Read this blog linked in blue to learn about traveling with oxygen in 2021! 

3 Year Warranty 

Both devices and every new device LPT Medical sells comes with a 3 year warranty on the machine itself, and a 1 year warranty comes with all of the oxygen accessories! 

Both the GCE Zeno and the Respironics SimplyGo are super reliable oxygen machines, yet, things happen! Having a company like LPT Medical ready to assist you with any problem you have with your oxygen device, especially in the first three years, will come in handy! 

Differences between the GCE Zeno and the SimplyGo 

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Weight and Size Differences 

The SimplyGo is a lightest continuous flow oxygen device you can buy, it weighs just under 10 pounds, which is not a lot for continuous flow devices. It is also very compact and sleek. It is able to fit nicely under the seat in front of you while you fly or in the space by your feet in the car. It doesn’t take up much room in your home, and you will easily be capable of maneuvering the device around on the cart it comes with!

The Respironics SimplyGo’s dimensions are 10” H x 6” D x 11.5” W. 

The GCE Zeno comes in a close second, and weighs 10 pounds, it is not a huge difference from the SimplyGo, but it is worth noting. The GCE Zeno stands at 12.3” H x 6.6” D x 8.3” W. So it is slightly taller than the SimplyGo yet it is not as wide! 

Battery Life 

The GCE Zeno shines bright with outstanding battery life, you can get up to 8 hours of battery life when the device is set to a pulse flow setting 2, and up to 1.5 Hours of battery life when it is set to continuous flow setting 2 LPM. 

The Respironics SimplyGo is still known for being small but mighty, and it can operate for up to 6 Hours on a pulse flow setting of 2, and about 1.8 hours on a continuous flow setting of 2.

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Keep in mind that you can use these devices while they are charging! So when you are resting at home, you can have the device plugged in and have it fully charged before you go to the grocery store, out to eat, or to run any errands. 

Overview 

Both of these devices will be able to give you the oxygen you need. However, depending on your lifestyle and other factors, one may be better for you than the other. Talk through this decision with an experienced respiratory specialist at LPT Medical, you can reach us at 1(800)-946-1201! 

It is true that when people are diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or any other chronic respiratory illness their lives change forever. 

Even though you might feel physically the exact same way leaving the doctor's office that day as you did when you walked in, your mentality is noticeably different. After you are diagnosed with COPD or once you have reached a point in your diagnosis where you need to be out on oxygen you are given another chance. 

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It is not a death sentence, and it should not be treated as one. You can look at this moment as a second chance. 

Now you know why you are coughing excessively, feeling tired, short of breath, moody and all of the things you were experiencing are due to something in your body that isn’t exactly right. And while that thing that isn’t exactly right is not curable, you can treat it and make it more manageable day to day.  

There are levels of severity of COPD that are broken down based on your lungs capacity and their ability to do their job! At a certain point in your diagnosis, there may come a time where you need extra help getting oxygen pumping through your body. 

You will go through a series of tests that will display to you doctor whether or not you need supplemental oxygen therapy. As with any prescription drug, you will be prescribed medical oxygen, and within your prescription will be instructions on how much oxygen you need and when.

Supplemental oxygen therapy is designed to help you improve your lifestyle and quality of life. And similarly to prescription medication, too much is too much and too little isn’t enough, so be sure you follow your doctor's instructions when it comes to oxygen therapy. 

This also means it's essential to have an oxygen therapy device that can handle your oxygen needs. You can either go with an oxygen tank or a portable oxygen concentrator (POC).

Both devices will give you oxygen, but one device is an older more traditional source of oxygen (tanks) while the other (POCs) is a newer more advanced device that has a number of qualities that make everyday life easier. 

To learn more about you oxygen therapy options read this blog: Upgrading From an Oxygen Tank to the Respironics SimplyGo Portable Oxygen Concentrator

So let's get down to it… Once you get that oxygen therapy prescription, your oxygen therapy gives you another chance to treat your disease so it is more manageable and you symptoms are less intrusive. 

Oxygen therapy is also the one treatment that has actually been proven to add years to your life, and not only time, but quality time where you can eat right, exercise, and sleep well (if you put in the work).

This is not to say that there will be hard days, COPD and respiratory illness across the board are no joke, and they affect millions of people across the world. 

How Oxygen Therapy Can Save your Life 

When you get on oxygen you will be sourcing your lungs with extra medical grade pure oxygen so that oxygen can move fluidly throughout your blood and muscles. 

With the help of you oxygen therapy you will have an easier time getting to sleep and staying asleep. Exercise will come more easily because you won't fee las tired or short of breath. Oxygen therapy is giving you the tools to live an active and healthy life, so it is not not only extending your life but improving the quality of life you have. 

Here are the 7 portable oxygen concentrators, and their most attractive features, that will help you live a long and healthy life. 

Inogen One G4 

The Inogen One G4 is a pulse flow device, it only weighs 2.8 pounds, that's no more than a basic laptop computer. 

Caire Freestyle Comfort

The Caire Freestyle Comfort is also a pulse flow device, it has a long lasting battery life. With the double battery installed it can last for up to 8 hours on a setting of 2 LMP. 

Inogen One G5

The Inogen One G5 is the most popular pulse flow device on the market because it is so powerful. It can operate on any setting 1-6 LPM without sacrificing battery life.

Respironics SimplyGo

The Respironics SimplyGo is the lightest continuous flow portable oxygen concentrator. It weighs 10 pounds and can give off pulse or continuous oxygen depending on the setting you set it to.  

Oxlife Freedom

The Oxlife Freedom is a pulse flow device that is the first of its kind. It is equipped with tools to help oxygen patients and their healthcare providers better manage their respiratory conditions! The built in DNA or Dynamic Network Analysis is cutting edge technology that allows your healthcare provider to more closely monitor your oxygen use.

 Oxlife Independence

The Oxlife Independence portable oxygen concentrator is a continuous and pulse flow device is also the first of its kind. It is the world’s first “smart” portable oxygen concentrator. It is equipped with the same DNA technology inside the Oxlife Freedom which is powered by the Verizon network. The Oxlife Independence can monitor your usage and corresponding environmental conditions to adapt and proactively support your needs. It tracks vital data like hours used, breathing rate, ambulation, and more!

SeQual Eclipse 5 

The SeQual Eclipse 5 is both a continuous and pulse flow device. It is known for offering the highest oxygen output on the market, gets good battery life, and it was also designed for the US Military.. It is one of the most popular continuous flow portable oxygen concentrators on the market because of its long-standing track record for being durable and reliable. If it’s good enough for the US Military, that should tell you something.

Staying On Track to Live A Healthy Life on Oxygen 

If any of these portable oxygen concentrators are calling your name, simply call 1(800)-946-1201 to speak with an oxygen specialist about their other features and how it can fit into your life! 

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Once you have an oxygen device that you trust you can start adjusting your lifestyle to a more positive and active one that cultivates more energy and happiness. We would like to leave you with some positive suggestions for everyday life that will make the challenges you face dealing with respiratory disease more manageable.

Keep a Journal 

Keeping track of your oxygen levels, symptoms, triggers, and health related issues are valuable for you and your doctor. This can give your doctor an inside look at your life at home, and how your symptoms evolve and change so they can advise a course of action and treatment plan that works for you.

It is also valuable to jot down your emotions, to do lists, write down goals, and stories. Writing ignites a creative part of your brain, that like your muscles need exercise. 

Even if you haven't written anything down for years, it is never too late to pick up a pen and paper and write down your struggles, achievements and everything in between. 

You will be surprised how helpful it is to make decisions when you create a pros and cons list, or how writing down something that happened to you that day can enhance your memory. 

Exercise in the Water 

We hear all the time that oxygen patients also require exercise as treatment. But for many, exercise can cause a lot of other issues throughout the body. 

People with COPD may have muscle or bone conditions that make exercise painful and high impact workouts can be impossible. Water exercises give you the alternative for a less stress induced workout on the body. 

A 2013 study found that water-based exercises might increase a person’s exercise capacity and quality of life. In people with COPD and physical disabilities, water-based exercises were more effective than both land-based exercise and no exercise.

The researchers suggested that these effects might be due to the unique properties of water, which support body weight through buoyancy and provide resistance to increase exercise intensity

Breathing with Purpose to Avoid Excess Anxiety

Avoiding stress and anxiety are two big ones when it comes to easing COPD symptoms. Breathing can be directly related to relaxation or lack there of. 

Anxiety will come up for the patient and caretakers for everyone with chronic illness. The very real stressors that come with chronic illness include medical emergencies, financial worries, everyday care issues.

So these stressors are unavoidable, and the emotional distress can trigger a physical reaction that may lead to you being hospitalized for exacerbated symptoms, known as a COPD flare up. 

Naturally when humans feel afraid or upset, the heart rate, and blood pressure increase, this causes the breathing to speed up. Anxiety and fast breathing means more shortness of breath. For people with respiratory disease who already suffer from shortness of breath, this can generate even more anxiety, which causes further shortness of breath…It’s a toxic cycle.

So how can you and your caretaker help each other learn to relax in these moments? Try following three basic relaxation techniques from the Crossroads Hospice online resource center: 

Take 10 minute to do each of the following breathing techniques:

1. Deep breathing. Sit comfortably, feet on the floor. Put one hand on your chest, the other just under your ribs. Breathe slowly through your nose, counting to five. Only the hand at your belly should rise. Exhale slowly, counting to five. Repeat.

1. Muscle relaxation. Lie down or sit comfortably. Starting with your toes, tense and relax your muscles, moving up your body to calves, thighs, etc. Count to five while tensing and to 30 while relaxing. Notice the difference between tense and relaxed.

1. Visualization. In a quiet place, lie down or sit comfortably. Imagine yourself at your favorite place of tranquility (beach, mountains, etc.). Bring in as many elements of the place as you can: what you would be seeing, smelling, hearing, touching.

Managing Fatigue Effectively

It's common for COPD patients and oxygen users to “run out of gas” even when doing simple things around the house.

You can learn to conserve energy—The energy that keeps you awake and moving around—so you are able to enjoy activities and exercise that you love to do for longer.

Try getting into the rhythm of this simple strategy- Understand that you have a limited amount of energy each day. If you’re mindful of how you use that energy by creating a daily routine, for chorus, everyday necessities, any medical treatment, and exercise and life’s pleasures.

Plan out your days with the pace for each activity. Keep these tactics in mind:

• DON’T rush, allow plenty time for what needs to get done.

• Alternate activity with rest.

• Divide large chores into smaller tasks spread across the day or week. 

• Work smarter by minimizing trips up/down stairs, shopping with a list and in as few stores as possible, cook in bulk and freeze the leftovers, after bathing, rest in a terrycloth bathrobe instead of drying with a towel. These little things conserve a lot of energy over time. 

• Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. You can order your medications and groceries to be delivered.Throughout the day, look for opportunities to sit down, and minimize time walking, lifting, and bending (use extensions bending and reaching).

• Sit down while cooking, cleaning, bathing, dressing, or grooming face and hair, have a stool or seat handy in multiple rooms of your house.

• Stay organized and lay out supplies at waist height so everything is within easy reach before you start cooking, cleaning, bathing, or dressing.

• Use an elevated toilet seat, a grabber for objects, and elongated handles on shoe horns, brushes, and dustpans.

By learning how to operate at a mild pace with lots of helpful tools throughout your house, daily life gets easier and easier, and your tank of energy will get you further and further the more you conserve energy.

Overview

Of course, none of these simple everyday changes listed above will make much of a difference if you are lugging around a heavy oxygen tank, or are stressed and worried about getting your next oxygen delivery. 

First step to getting your second chance at a healthy and active life after being prescribed oxygen, is getting an oxygen device that can help you through life, rather than holds you back. 

Talk to your doctor about your oxygen device options and how your prescription will work day to day, and then call us at LPT Medical at 1(800)-946-1201 so we can help you find a device that fits your needs and lifestyle. 

If you or someone you love suffers from a chronic respiratory disease, you might be curious about supplemental oxygen therapy. Whether you are already using supplemental oxygen or you think that you might need it, it's helpful to learn more about the therapy and the benefits it could have for you.

Oxygen is an effective medication for a variety of chronic respiratory conditions, including COPD and cystic fibrosis. It improves your ability to breathe and can also prevent a variety of serious health conditions, including respiratory failure, heart attacks, dementia, and even death.

Unfortunately, many patients struggle to comply with oxygen therapy and don't use their supplemental oxygen as often as they should. This is partially due to the fact that oxygen therapy can be very uncomfortable to use, especially if you have to use it continuously every day.

But if you are ever prescribed supplemental oxygen, it's vital to be diligent about the therapy and always use it as prescribed, even if it's difficult to get used to at first. You may feel less discouraged, however, if you take the time to fully understand how important the medication is to your health.

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That's why, in this guide, we're going to tell you all about the benefits of supplemental oxygen therapy and what it can do for people with chronic respiratory diseases. We'll show you how it can improve your physical endurance, your ability to breathe, your ability to sleep, and many other factors that affect your quality of life.

Most importantly, we'll show you why it's important to keep up with your oxygen therapy and not give up when you feel discouraged. When you can appreciate supplemental oxygen as the life-improving and life-saving medication it is, it's easier to understand why it's worth the trouble to do.

Supplemental Oxygen 101: What It Is, How it Works, and Why It's Important

Supplemental oxygen therapy helps you breathe better, but it does much more than that. Even though it is just a gas, medical oxygen is actually a potent medication that affects both your cardiovascular system and your lungs.

Before we dive right in to the many benefits of supplemental oxygen therapy, let's take a quick look at how exactly oxygen therapy works. We'll explain how it affects your body in general as well as how it helps people with specific respiratory conditions.

To skip this and jump ahead to the benefits, you can go ahead and click here.

How Does Supplemental Oxygen Therapy Work?

The primary purpose of supplemental oxygen therapy is to improve your ability to breathe. It's an effective way to get more oxygen flowing through your body when your lungs have trouble absorbing enough on their own.

In the most basic sense, oxygen therapy works by taking oxygen from a concentrated source (like an oxygen tank) and delivering it to you via a long, plastic tube. You breathe it in to your lungs through an oxygen mask or a nasal cannula, which is a smaller oxygen delivery device with two short tubes that rest just inside your nostrils.

This works because the air that comes from your oxygen source contains a much higher percentage of oxygen than the air you breathe normally. This means there's more total oxygen available for your lungs to absorb when you inhale.

Your lungs then transfer this oxygen to your blood, where it gets pumped around your body so your different cells and organs can use it. By using supplemental oxygen, you helps ensure that there's enough oxygen available to meet your body's needs.

Oxygen therapy allows you to breathe air that is up to 99 percent pure oxygen. That's a lot of oxygen compared to the proportion in the air you normally breathe, which is about 21 percent.

Oxygen-rich air is easier to breathe and easier for the air sacs in your lungs to absorb. This allows your lungs to work more efficiently and prevents your blood oxygen levels from falling too low.

Healthy lungs generally don't have any problem getting enough oxygen from regular, ambient air, but people who use supplemental oxygen usually don't have healthy lungs. Oxygen therapy is usually only necessary when there's not enough healthy tissue in your lungs to absorb the amount of oxygen your body needs.

This usually happens when a large number of air sacs are unable to function, whether it's caused by permanent lung damage or the effects of a temporary illness. When this happens, providing extra oxygen-rich air allows the functioning lung tissue that's left to absorb more oxygen than it would from the ambient air.

This allows you to breathe more efficiently and get more oxygen molecules into your bloodstream. That is the ultimate goal of supplemental oxygen therapy: to keep your blood oxygen saturation at a healthy level when your lungs can't do it alone.

Who Needs Supplemental Oxygen Therapy?

Because it's basic purpose is general—to help struggling lungs absorb more oxygen—supplemental oxygen can treat a variety of health conditions that affect the lungs. That includes serious respiratory infections that impair the lungs' ability to function, as well as chronic breathing disorders like asthma and COPD.

Doctors prescribe supplemental oxygen therapy for the following health disorders:

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Pulmonary Fibrosis
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Pneumonia
• Severe Asthma
• Sleep Apnea

Supplemental Oxygen for COPD

Of all the respiratory conditions that require supplemental oxygen, COPD is the most common by far. In fact, nearly 82% of medicare patients on long-term oxygen therapy have COPD.

However, not all people with COPD need supplemental oxygen, and many don't begin oxygen therapy until they reach the later stages of the disease. Doctors usually prescribe oxygen when a COPD patient experiences chronically low blood oxygen levels, known as chronic hypoxemia.

This usually happens when your blood oxygen saturation regularly falls below about 88 to 90 percent (healthy levels are 95% or higher). At this point, oxygen therapy is necessary to bring your blood oxygen saturation back up to healthier levels.

This is important, because chronic hypoxemia is a dangerous health condition that can cause serious damage to your heart and lungs over time. Oxygen can also treat general COPD symptoms by helping you breathe better and keep respiratory symptoms like shortness of breath under control.

Some COPD patients need to use supplemental oxygen 24/7, while others only have to use it during specific activities that cause their blood oxygen levels to drop. For example, some people with COPD only use oxygen when they sleep or do physical activities that strain their lungs.

Sometimes COPD patients need to use oxygen temporarily during emergencies or to help them recover from lung infections or major symptom flare-ups (known as exacerbations). However, once they have to depend on supplemental oxygen for regular disease maintenance, most patients need to continue using it for the rest of their lives.

If you have COPD, you are likely to need oxygen therapy eventually, even if you don't use it right now. Researchers estimate that at least twenty percent of people with COPD use long-term oxygen therapy, and most patients end up using supplemental oxygen at some point during the course of treatment.

People who have cystic fibrosis and pulmonary fibrosis suffer from similar lung problems as people with COPD. They often use supplemental oxygen for the same reasons, including to treat hypoxemia and relieve shortness of breath.

Supplemental Oxygen for Asthma and Lung Infections

People with asthma usually don't have to use supplemental oxygen regularly like people with COPD. However, some asthma patients may need oxygen therapy to help them breathe during or after a very severe asthma attack.

Asthma attacks are generally the result of severe inflammation in the lungs which can prevent them from absorbing oxygen efficiently. During life-threatening emergencies, supplemental oxygen can help the lungs absorb enough oxygen to prevent serious complications or death.

The same is true for people suffering from severe lung infections like pneumonia. The illness can become so severe that the lungs no longer function sufficiently on their own without the help of supplemental oxygen therapy.

Supplemental Oxygen for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea is a common sleeping disorder among healthy adults and among people with asthma and COPD. It occurs when you stop breathing for short periods of time repeatedly during sleep.

This is usually caused by the muscles in your throat relaxing so much that they collapse, blocking air from flowing through your airways. This inhibits your breathing, or makes it stop altogether, for up to minutes at a time, which can deprive your body of oxygen during the night.

This problem can usually be corrected by wearing a special mouthpiece or by using a CPAP or BiPAP machine to keep your airways open while you sleep. However, some people with sleep apnea also use supplemental oxygen to help them breathe easier through the night.

Many experts believe that supplemental oxygen alone is an unnecessary and less effective treatment for sleep apnea, and should only be used in combination with a CPAP/BiPAP machine. Some people with co-occurring sleep apnea and COPD use this combined method to help them maintain healthy blood oxygen saturation levels at night.

The Benefits of Using Supplemental Oxygen

Photo from rick on Flickr.

Improves Your Respiratory Symptoms

We've briefly explained already how supplemental oxygen helps you breathe better and helps your lungs absorb more oxygen. We've also mentioned how this can prevent hypoxemia, a condition that occurs when there's not enough enough oxygen in your blood to meet your body's oxygen needs.

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What we haven't discussed yet is what effect this can have on the respiratory symptoms you experience every day. Fortunately, studies show that supplemental oxygen can actually help you feel better in general and improve your quality of life.

For example, many studies have shown that that oxygen therapy can improve shortness of breath in people with COPD, especially when used during physical activity. In fact, according to the American Thoracic Society and other researchers, oxygen therapy may be even more effective than bronchodilator medications at reducing shortness of breath caused by COPD.

Other studies have shown that supplemental oxygen can effectively reduce psychological ailments like anxiety and depression, as well as improve health-related quality of life in people with COPD. It can also reduce your chances of experiencing a COPD exacerbation, and help you recover if you do.

By helping you breathe more efficiently and reducing strain on your lungs, supplemental oxygen can help you feel much more comfortable in general. It may also help you feel more safe and secure as you go about your day; you'll know that you always have an oxygen source nearby in case your symptoms flare up and you find yourself struggling to breathe.

You might also find that you have more energy to be active and do everyday tasks when you use supplemental oxygen. Having low blood oxygen makes you feel drowsy and foggy, but these symptoms should at least partially recede when you use oxygen therapy to restore healthier blood oxygen levels.

Reduces Your Risk for Heart Disease and Other Health Complications

Every tissue and organ in your body needs oxygen, which is why hypoxemia is so dangerous to your health. When your blood oxygen levels are low for long periods of time, it can cause a variety of serious health complications. 

Left untreated, hypoxemia is extremely hard on both your lungs and your cardiovascular system. This can lead to high blood pressure, pulmonary hypertension, heart failure, and heart attacks. Less commonly, hypoxemia can also cause a rare blood disorder known as secondary polycythemia, which happens when your body creates an excess of red blood cells in an attempt to compensate for low amounts of oxygen in the blood.

However, supplemental oxygen therapy reduces your risk for these health conditions by increasing your blood oxygen saturation. While this may not completely reverse your hypoxemia, it can reduce it by helping your lungs more adequately meet your body's oxygen needs.

Makes Exercise Less Difficult

Without supplemental oxygen, many people with COPD and other chronic respiratory conditions cannot exercise very well on their own. That's because physical strain increases the amount of oxygen your body needs, forcing your lungs to work harder and making it more difficult to breathe.

However, supplemental oxygen works as an aid to help you breathe better when you walk, exercise, or do any kind of physical activity. This can help you get around easier, be more active, and exercise better than you could before.

Here are some of the main ways that supplemental oxygen affects your ability to exercise:

• Improves your exercise tolerance, which is your ability to complete physical activities
• Improves your exercise endurance, which is your ability to walk or do other physical activities for extended periods of time
• Reduces respiratory symptoms and discomfort during exercise
• Allows you to exert yourself harder and do more intense exercises

Oxygen therapy does these things primarily by relieving shortness of breath and keeping your blood oxygen levels up while you exercise. This makes it possible to to exercise longer and do more intense physical activities without having to stop due to breathlessness or fatigue.

When combined with an exercise training program, research shows that supplemental oxygen amplifies the physical benefits, especially the ability to exercise for longer periods of time. Studies show that supplemental oxygen also boosts endurance by improving muscle metabolism and efficiency, which allows your muscles to work harder without getting fatigued.

While many of these studies focus on people with COPD, research shows that these benefits hold true for people with a variety of respiratory diseases, including pulmonary fibrosis and cystic fibrosis.

Overall, supplemental oxygen makes it easier to exercise in general and improves your ability to do more strenuous physical activities that you might otherwise feel too breathless to complete. In this way, supplemental oxygen also makes it easier to build the strength and endurance you need to live a healthy lifestyle in spite of your respiratory symptoms.

This is one of the greatest benefits of supplemental oxygen, because it can help you maintain the physical mobility you need to participate in all kinds of activities and events. It's much easier to do just about everything when you can walk and move around without suffering from debilitating breathing problems.

When you don't get enough physical activity, you can lose your ability to get around and do normal daily activities, which can significantly affect your ability to manage your respiratory disease. But by allowing you to be more active, supplemental oxygen can help prevent this and variety of other complications that can result from inactivity, including heart disease and diabetes.

Getting more exercise sets off a wonderful snowball effect that can improve your health and your quality of life in a variety of ways. It can improve your physical endurance, your breathing efficiency, and make it easier to take care of yourself and maintain your physical independence.

In fact, research shows that exercise training can reduce respiratory symptoms like shortness of breath even more significantly than medication and oxygen therapy alone. By pairing oxygen therapy and exercise training together, you have a powerful tool that can help you stay active, get more fit, and reap the greatest possible benefits from your effort.

If you take the opportunity, the breathing boost you get from supplemental oxygen can help you develop the strength and endurance you need to do more of the things in life that you enjoy. It can also improve your daily life in general by allowing you to go out and about and take care of your health, work, and other life responsibilities more easily.

Improves Alertness and Cognitive Function

Supplemental oxygen therapy can not only improve your physical abilities, but it can also help you think, reason, and remember things better, too. That's because low blood oxygen levels can have subtle effects on the brain that supplement oxygen can correct.

When your blood oxygen saturation is low, it can make you feel foggy-headed, fatigued, and less alert. This can make daily life more difficult to manage and make it harder to keep up with healthy habits like exercise.

Chronic low blood oxygen levels can also lead to a condition known as mild cognitive impairment, which is extremely common in people with respiratory diseases, especially advanced COPD. Mild cognitive impairment affects your memory, your judgment, and increases your risk for psychological symptoms like anxiety and depression.

Mild cognitive impairment is easy to miss, since the symptoms are often very mild. If you aware of it, you're likely to notice that you are more forgetful, make more impulsive decisions, or have trouble focusing your mind on complex tasks.

Fortunately, studies show that using supplemental oxygen can prevent cognitive decline, or at least prevent it from getting worse after it begins. Some studies even suggest that oxygen therapy can reverse the symptoms of mild cognitive impairment by improving blood flow through the brain.

Supplemental oxygen can also prevent mild cognitive decline from progressing to full-blown dementia, as many cases of cognitive impairment tend to do. This is an important benefit, since research shows that people with chronic respiratory diseases lik

Cold weather is right around the corner, depending on where you live, this can be a dreadful time of year for many people. Especially for people with conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). 

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Low Temperatures and nasty weather can cause COPD symptoms to get worse, which is why you have to be super careful and prepared for winter. The cold and dry air can ignite a flare-up and even require you to go to the hospital. According to a study, temperature extremes, below freezing, are particularly dangerous.

An influx of cold air into the lungs can trigger a number of negative responses in your lungs, and the cold air will narrow your airways.

When this happen you may experience the following symptoms:

• Dyspnea
• Wheezing
• Coughing
• Shallow breathing
• Increased mucus production
• Difficulty clearing airways

All of these symptoms are uncomfortable and can cause a COPD exacerbation and may require you to take a trip to the hospital if your symptoms don't improve. 

More snow and frozen sidewalks are just two of the many challenges we face during these winter months. On top of all of this, travel to and from the doctors office is sometimes impossible. Taking care of yourself and taking the necessary precautions during this time is crucial for your health and wellbeing. 

If you are an oxygen patient, meaning you have a pulmonary condition that restricts your ability to breathe the proper amount of oxygen into your body, this blog will be a great resource for you to help combat the cold weather and its effects on your body.

We will give you all of the tips and tricks for not only surviving the winter months, but how to create an environment in your home and mind that is nurturing and comforting!  

1. Getting Enough Exercise 

Exercise is a crucial part of COPD treatment and helps all people with or without respiratory illnesses.

Keeping your lungs strong also helps keep your muscles and bones healthy, so you can live a longer, happier life. In the winter exercise is especially challenging.

Driving in the snow can be so dangerous, even just walking to your car you risk the chance of slipping on ice. Driving to your pulmonary rehab course or to the gym might not be an option for you in the winter months. 

Here are some great alternatives, but check with your doctor before starting an exercise program:

2. Walk    

Just about everyone with COPD can walk, even if you don’t exercise much, walking is a great way to start. The best part is that you can do it anywhere, and it is still beneficial. If you have a treadmill, or space in your living room, simply just walking around your home can contribute greatly to your health. 

If it seems daunting, start with super small objectives and then add 30 seconds or 10 yards each day. This slow and short pace will still be so good for you.

While walking outside, try breathing through your nose instead of your mouth may also be helpful as this will warm the air before it reaches the lungs.

3. Bike

A stationary bike is a great option for people with COPD, especially when it is too cold or snowy outside to ride a bike outdoors. Being in the privacy of your home can also help a lot of people get over the fear of exercising in front of others, which is very common. 

A stationary bike is a safe way for people with COPD to reap the benefits of biking, without venturing too far away from their home. And if you need oxygen therapy, you are able to exercise with your portable oxygen concentrator tanks right next to you without carrying the extra weight with you on the bike. 

4. Weighting lifting 

Lifting light weights can help you maintain strength so you are able to do everyday things, like reach a high shelf or carry a gallon of milk. 

You can order cheap hand weights from amazon, stretchy bands, or just use water bottles or soup cans to try arm curls by following these simple steps:

1. Hold the weights at your sides palms forward
2. Breathe in
3. Lift toward your chest
4. Keep elbows down
5. Exhale slowly
6. Slowly lower your arms back down as you breathe in. 
7. Build up to two sets of 10-15 repetitions.

 any exercise makes you short of breath, stop and sit down for a few minutes.

5. Avoid Oxygen Delivery Delays 

Getting your oxygen delivered as an oxygen patient is something that you always have to worry about. In the winter, be weary of delivery delays and other weather impacts in delivery services! 

Keep an oxygen canister for emergencies on reserve for if your oxygen refill is delayed. 

If you have a portable oxygen concentrator, you will not have to worry about getting your oxygen delivered. Instead you might have to worry about power outages. 

Keep an extra oxygen concentrator battery or a charged battery on deck for bad storms where the power potentially goes out. An external battery charger would also be a helpful tool for these situations!  

6. Meal Prep and Grocery Shopping 

Eating and diet are very important aspects of your COPD treatment. Eating foods that don’t bloat or put more pressure on your lungs is crucial to combat exacerbations and other health related issues. 

In the winter, you can meal prep for the week to avoid multiple grocery store trips, and also to maintain a healthy diet. Here are some helpful tips for winter dishes that will help you maintain a healthy weight throughout the winter: 

Eat protein-rich foods

Eat high-protein, high quality foods, such as 

• grass-fed meat
• pastured poultry & eggs
• fish — particularly oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, and sardines.

Complex carbohydrates

complex carbohydrates are your friend because these foods are also high in fiber. FIber helps improve the function of the digestive system and blood sugar management.

Make a chili or soup with some of the following ingredients:

• peas
• bran
• potatoes with skin
• lentils
• quinoa
• beans
• barley
• fresh produce

You can also do fresh fruits for breakfast but some are more suitable than others, here is a list of some good ones:

• Avocados
• Tomatoes 
• Bananas
• Oranges  

Vegetables are always a good option, they contain vitamins, minerals, and fiber. These nutrients will help to keep your body healthy, again some vegetables are better than others for people with lung conditions: 

• Dark leafy greens
• Asparagus
• Beets
• Potatoes

A healthy diet won’t cure COPD, but eating right will help your body fight off infections, including chest infections that may lead to hospitalization. Avoiding the hospital in the winter and at all times of the year is always the goal. Eating healthfully will help you reach this goal and it will give you energy to exercise and improve your mood too.

7. Get a Face Mask For Keeping Cold Air Out of Your Lungs 

Breathing in the cold air can irritate your lungs, restrict your airways, causing increased symptoms and in some cases exacerbations. 

By covering your nose and mouth with a scarf and breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth you will warm the air before it reaches your airways. 

A CT Mask is specifically designed for people living with COPD or asthma to help with breathing in cold air while outdoors.

8. Staying Warm Inside Safely 

Keeping your home at a comfortable temperature is important, but if you have COPD or asthma, don’t use fireplaces. The wood can cause smoke build-up which can also aggravate your respiratory symptoms.

While you are indoors, the air humidity should be around 40%. If you live in a particularly dry area, you can reach this humidity with a humidifier.

9. Avoid Infections  

To reduce your chances of visiting the hospital this winter, avoid infections. You can do this by washing your hands often and thoroughly. And to make sure you stay up-to-date on recommended vaccinations, especially for the flu and pneumonia.

The Cleveland Clinic also recommends that you:

• stay hydrated
• practice good hygiene
• keep your home sanitized
• avoid crowded places and people who are sick to reduce your risk of getting an infection
• If you do get a cold or the flu, it’s important to treat it as soon as possible.

There are also outbreaks of flu in periods of cold weather, so protect yourself against infections and take advantage of the free flu vaccine you are entitled to!

Overview 

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By following these steps, you will have a better chance of staying healthy over the cold winter months.

These tips and tricks can take some getting used to but once you are able to nail down a winter routine and execute your COPD treatment effectively in the winter and only takes a little bit of patience after that for spring to roll around again!

If you are shopping for a portable oxygen concentrator, us here at LPT Medical are here to help! We have an inventory of pulse flow and continuous flow devices, all of which are top on the line and reliable devices that will get you through any season!

We also have oxygen accessories that we sell separately so if you need an extra battery, external battery chargers, tubing we got you covered!

Just call us anytime at 1(800)-946-1201 

If you live with COPD, asthma, or a similar chronic condition, it can sometimes feel like you’re walking on eggshells. These diseases cause the lungs, airways, and other areas of the body to become very sensitive to “triggers” like air pollution, infection, injury, and more. In certain situations, even your pulmonary rehabilitation routine can exacerbate these symptoms; this is why it’s always important to keep your doctor informed about what you’re experiencing.

Oftentimes, COPD patients may encounter symptoms that are seemingly unrelated to their lungs. These are called “complications” because they are not common symptoms of lung disease but lung disease can often be a catalyst for things like heart disease, vascular disease, and even mental health disorders like depression or anxiety.

One frequent, but often overlooked complication of COPD is something called peripheral edema. The term “edema” refers to swelling in the body, usually due to the buildup of fluid and the term “peripheral” refers to areas away from the center of your body such as your legs, hands, or arms. In this post, we’ll help you better understand what peripheral edema is, what causes it, and what steps you can take to mitigate it. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section below so we can get back to you.

What is Peripheral Edema?

“Peripheral edema” is the medical term for swelling in the limbs of the body. It can occur anywhere in the body, but it most commonly occurs in the lower legs or feet. Usually, edemas develop slowly over a couple of days or weeks, but in rare instances, it can happen over the course of a couple of hours. Many patients don’t realize there is swelling until they experience pain or they aren’t able to put on their shoes, shirt, or pants.

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There are six types of edema, but only three of them are known complications of COPD. These include peripheral edema, pulmonary edema, and pedal edema. Let’s take a look at each of the six types of edema to see how they compare.

Lymphedema

Lymphedema usually occurs in one of your legs or arms. Cancer patients who have damaged lymph nodes or people who have had them removed for cancer treatment often experience this symptom. Lymph nodes are an important part of the immune system because they block harmful substances, but if they are damaged they may cause your body to retain fluids, thus causing edema.

Cerebral Edema

Cerebral edema tends to be the most serious type of edema because it occurs in the brain. Some common causes of cerebral edema include head injuries, blood clots, tumors, and allergic reactions. Cerebral edema can often be life-threatening, so it’s best to seek immediate medical attention.

Macular Edema

The macula is at the light-sensitive area at the center of the retina in your eye. Macular edema occurs when blood vessels in this area begin to leak fluid and sometimes blood. If macular edema is left untreated, it can lead to permanent damage to the eyes or even blindness. If you’re experiencing pain in your eyes, a sharp headache, blurry, or impaired vision of any kind, you should immediately contact your doctor.

Pulmonary Edema

Pulmonary edema is the buildup of fluid in the lungs. This is most often caused by heart conditions like a heart attack, hypertension, or narrowed heart valves. Acute pulmonary edema which comes on quickly can be serious and even life-threatening, especially in patients who already have a chronic lung or heart disease.

Pedal Edema

This type of edema is found in the lower legs and feet. There are several known causes of this type of edema including venous edema which is the retention of low-protein fluid and increased capillary filtration. The second most common cause of pedal edema is lymphatic edema which we discussed earlier. These two different causes of pedal edema can either work independently or together to create swelling in the feet.

Peripheral Edema

The term “peripheral edema” is a little broader than the terms used above. While the others describe a specific type of swelling caused by a known condition, peripheral edema can occur in many parts of the body and it has many different causes.

What are the Symptoms of Peripheral Edema? 

The primary symptom of peripheral edema is swelling in the extremities. This swelling is usually drastic enough that it will be noticeable by you or your loved ones, and as the swelling increases, you’ll likely have trouble putting on your shoes or clothing without having to force them on.

Another symptom of peripheral edema is reduced mobility. If you’re like most COPD patients, you’re probably trying to stay active in order to preserve your lung function and keep your muscles strong and efficient. If you’re developing peripheral edema, you may feel your legs becoming heavier or you may notice that you lose your sense of balance more easily than you did before.

In some, but not all cases, people with peripheral edema may experience pain and tightness in their legs or feet. As the amount of fluid increases in the affected area, you may notice the skin becoming shiny and red. You might also experience something called “pitting.” This is when you press on an area of your skin and the indentation remains there longer than it would on a healthier part of your body. Since the fluids that your legs or feet are retaining would normally be flushed out of the body, you might also see an increase in your body weight.

What Causes Peripheral Edema?

Peripheral edema has a variety of different causes. If your edema comes and goes within a day or two, this is likely a sign of a less serious underlying condition. But if the edema is chronic and it only seems to get worse as time goes on, this is likely a sign of a more serious underlying condition. Either way, it’s important that you speak with your doctor right away and be thorough about the symptoms you’re enduring. Since there are so many potential causes, peripheral edema is very difficult to diagnose accurately. As a result, the more information your doctor has, the better diagnosis he/she will be able to provide. Below are some of the top causes of peripheral edema.

Injuries

If you’ve ever had a fracture, strain, sprain, or bruise, you know that it’s usually accompanied by some swelling and pain. This is because your body releases white blood cells and other fluids to the area in order to repair the damage. Depending on the severity of the injury, it may take several days or weeks for the swelling to subside. 

Prolonged Sedentary Behavior

Physical activity plays an important role in maintaining a healthy vascular system. Even moderate exercise that slightly raises your heart rate has significant benefits when it comes to promoting healthy circulation. However, as we age, it becomes increasingly difficult to exercise regularly. This sedentary lifestyle can affect blood flow throughout your body and lead to fluids building up in your extremities. Especially your legs. 

High Sodium Intake

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the average American consumes about 3,400 mg of sodium per day but the recommended daily intake is 2,300 mg a day. Unfortunately, sodium plays a major role in the retention of fluids in your body and it can have adverse effects on your body’s ability to flush out toxins. Consuming high amounts of salt through processed foods can cause peripheral edema and if you’re already experiencing edema, it can make it worse.

Medications

Every drug, medication, or supplement has side-effects. Some drugs can cause or contribute to edema either by impairing lymph drainage or increasing the amount of fluid that is filtered from the blood capillaries into various tissues throughout the body. Here are a few of the medications that might cause complications:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Blood pressure medication
• Corticosteroids
• Hormones
• Diabetes medication
• Antidepressants

How Are Peripheral Edema and COPD Linked?

Peripheral edema is common in COPD patients. While COPD does not directly cause edema, it can result in a medical condition called pulmonary hypertension which causes peripheral edema. Oftentimes, when a COPD patient experiences swelling in the hands, legs, or feet, they don’t associate it with their lung condition. It’s often shrugged off as a sign of aging or they may take Benadryl or a similar drug thinking it’s an allergic reaction. Ideally, if you ever experience unusual symptoms it’s best to consult your doctor rather than trying home remedies because this may exacerbate the issue.

Pulmonary Hypertension

The function of the right side of the heart is to receive oxygen-poor blood and pump it into your lungs. As it passes through the lungs it is re-oxygenated by alveoli (tiny air sacs) then it moves through the left side of the heart to be pumped through the body. Pulmonary hypertension occurs when the blood pressure in your lungs is too high, thus resulting in strain on the right side of the heart. If this issue persists the heart can become overworked and enlarged, resulting in a condition called cor pulmonale. 

Cor Pulmonale

Cor pulmonale is more commonly called right-sided heart failure and it’s usually an urgent medical condition. According to Medscape, COPD patients who develop cor pulmonale have a 30 percent chance of living for 5 years. Peripheral edema is sometimes, but not always, the result of cor pulmonale, so it’s imperative that you visit a doctor even if you don’t believe your swelling is due to any serious underlying condition.

COPD leads to pulmonary hypertension and eventually cor pulmonale through a process called hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV). This is a type of vascular remodeling that results in the constriction of vascular smooth muscle due to low partial pressure of oxygen (Po2). In other words, if your lung function is impaired due to emphysema or chronic bronchitis, the arteries in your lung will respond by reducing their size which will increase blood pressure.

Since pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale put so much strain on the heart, you may see the problems manifest in other areas of the body. Due to the force of gravity, blood and other fluids often start to pool up in extremities, primarily the feet and lower legs. If this is the cause of your peripheral edema, your doctor will need to treat your underlying lung problems and vascular problems in order to reduce the swelling. Supplemental oxygen therapy and blood thinners are often prescribed to treat pulmonary hypertension if you aren’t already on them.

How to Prevent Leg Swelling With COPD

If you want to prevent leg swelling with COPD, your best bet will be to follow your COPD treatment plan. Pulmonary rehabilitation is extremely important for preventing swelling because not only will it improve your endurance, but it will also strengthen your heart muscle, improve circulation, and reduce body fat which is a known contributor to peripheral edema. To combat leg swelling, your doctor may advise that you increase the amount of time spent doing pulmonary rehab, or he/she might advise that you split your exercise routines into shorter, more frequent intervals.

Hydration is another key treatment for leg swelling caused by COPD. Plasma, the primary component of your blood is made up of 90 percent water. And water is what keeps blood flowing freely throughout your body without clotting or pooling. So, it goes without saying that drinking more water will improve your circulation and keep you healthy. Most doctors will recommend around 8 to 12 glasses of water a day for the average COPD patient.

Last but certainly not least, you need to watch what you’re eating. Diet plays an extremely important role in your vascular health so eating the right food can relieve a significant amount of stress on your heart and thus prevent peripheral edema. Aside from staying hydrated, you’re going to want to consume less salt and sodium. What’s more, studies have shown that when coupled with a diet rich in calcium, magnesium, and potassium, low-salt and low-sodium diets are more effective. 

Conclusion

If you’re currently experiencing swelling of the hands, legs, or feet with COPD, you’re not alone. This phenomenon can occur for a variety of reasons, most of which are not life-threatening. In fact, many seniors, even ones who are generally healthy, can experience it. But due to the fact that swelling can be a sign of pulmonary hypertension or right-sided heart failure you should plan on talking to your doctor as soon as possible, just to be safe.

In the meantime, you should plan on closely following your COPD treatment plan that you worked out with your doctor. While home remedies may help ease the discomfort and swelling a bit, the best way to treat peripheral edema is to treat the underlying disease that’s causing it. If you have any questions about what you read here, please feel to leave a comment or reach out to us.