Believe it or not, oxygen has been used for medical purposes for quite some time. The first recorded use of medical oxygen was in 1885 when it was us

ed to treat pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses. But back then, oxygen therapy wasn’t what it is today. Doctors were unaware of exactly how oxygen should be used, what it could treat, and the best way to administer it.

At the turn of the 20th century, medical oxygen saw some major advancements. A nasal catheter was invented to improve the way oxygen was administered and scientists learned of the benefits of oxygen when treating chronic lung conditions like COPD. Due to the rapid advancement of aircraft technology before World War 2, oxygen masks were implemented into planes, allowing pilots to fly at higher altitudes.

In the 1970s, a number of studies were conducted that aimed to determine the necessary duration of oxygen therapy in order to maximize its clinical benefits. Oxygen tanks — still bulky and cumbersome — could finally be prescribed for in-home use. And despite the limitations, respiratory patients were able to experience significant relief from their symptoms.

At the start of the 21st century, portable oxygen cylinders provided some freedom for respiratory patients; but without making them bigger and heavier, people had a very limited amount of oxygen to work with. What’s more, there were still many safety concerns when it came to carrying compressed oxygen in public areas. It wasn’t until the invention of the portable oxygen concentrator that people could expect to retain all their freedom and independence while receiving the oxygen they need.

After nearly 20 years of refinement and improvement, portable oxygen concentrators have become the industry standard. POCs like the Inogen One G5 are so small and lightweight that they can fit inside a purse. Because oxygen concentrators contain no compressed oxygen, they’re much safer and more convenient to use in your day-to-day life. 

In this post, we’re going to take a look at just how far oxygen therapy has come and how the Inogen One G5 has revolutionized the way oxygen patients live.

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What is the Inogen One G5?

The Inogen 1 G5 is the latest pulse flow portable oxygen concentrator produced by Inogen. It’s the newest in a line of POCs that has aimed to make oxygen therapy more convenient and accessible for the average person. The term “pulse flow” refers to the way oxygen is delivered. Rather than putting out a constant stream of oxygen, these devices closely monitor a patient’s breathing pattern and administer oxygen only when it’s needed.

The Inogen One G5 works by drawing in air through its intake vents. Nitrogen — which makes up about 80 percent of the air we breathe — is removed from the air and pure oxygen is sent out through the nasal cannula. This device receives its power from a battery pack that’s attached to the bottom of the unit. Once it’s depleted, it can easily be charged with a car or wall outlet or replaced with another battery.

While oxygen tanks are still in use today, they’re primarily used in hospitals where portability isn’t an issue and patient safety can be closely monitored by a medical professional. Oxygen tanks are not recommended for in-home use because they’re a major fire hazard and they’re costly to refill.

High Oxygen Output

Oxygen has a wide range of uses when it comes to treating both acute and chronic respiratory illnesses. Medical oxygen is used to:

• Help with resuscitation
• Assist with artificial ventilation and life support
• Maintain cardiovascular stability
• Restore tissue oxygen tension (partial pressure of oxygen)
• And provide a basis for most anesthetic techniques

The amount of oxygen that’s administered to a patient is very important. For example, a COPD patient who receives too little oxygen is more likely to feel out of breath throughout the day. Whereas a COPD patient who receives too much oxygen may begin to exhibit signs of oxygen toxicity such as nausea, anxiety, and dizziness.

The Inogen One G5 proved that it’s possible to not only provide oxygen users with a high flow of oxygen on-the-go, but that they’ll be able to monitor it and adjust it to the level prescribed by their pulmonologist. As of now, the Inogen One G5 has the highest oxygen output of any pulse flow portable oxygen concentrator on the market and it provides enough oxygen for the vast majority of respiratory patients. The chart below shows the G5’s oxygen output versus other high flow pulse flow units on the market.

One of the greatest things about pulse flow concentrators with a high oxygen output is that it prevents many oxygen patients from needed to switch over to continuous flow portable concentrators. While there are many reliable and effective continuous flow POCs out there, they tend to be much bulkier and difficult to transport than their pulse flow counterparts. These units are designed for people with late-stage COPD who need significantly more oxygen. The Inogen 1 G5, however, proved that it’s possible to offer higher oxygen outputs without losing the benefits of being a pulse flow unit.

Safe and Secure

It’s hard to believe that people have been using oxygen tanks for so long considering how dangerous they are. In fact, we’ve put together a whole guide on using oxygen safely whether you’re using an oxygen tank or an oxygen concentrator. So what exactly makes oxygen tanks so unsafe and oxygen concentrators like the G5 so much more safe?

One of the main reasons they’re so dangerous is because they contain compressed gas. In other words, the oxygen is forced into a cylinder so that the molecules are packed as closely together as possible. Aluminum oxygen tanks are usually filled up to around 2,000 pounds per square inch (PSI). That’s about 50 times as much pressure as the air inside your car’s tires! As you can imagine, carrying around a tank with this much compressed air is very dangerous because it can explode if it’s not handled carefully.

Another reason this is so dangerous is because oxygen is a major fire hazard. Oxygen itself cannot light on fire, but it makes everything it’s exposed to more flammable. This is known as an “oxidizer.” This does not mean that anyone exposed to smoke or fire will burst into flames, but if a fire does start near an oxygen tank, the flame will be fed by the oxygen.

The reason the Inogen One G5 is so safe is that it contains no pressurized oxygen. If you drop it on the ground, you won’t have to worry about it exploding or leaking oxygen. Unlike an oxygen tank, the Inogen One G5 does not put out a constant stream of oxygen. It only puts out a bolus of oxygen when it detects a breath. So, if you happen to take the nasal cannula off and leave it, you won’t have to worry about oxygen coming out of the device.

Easy to Carry and Use

Another important thing to note about oxygen tanks is that they will never become smaller or more compact. Oxygen can only be compressed so much and if it’s compressed too much, it could be even more of a hazard to your health and well-being. Liquid oxygen tanks partially solved this issue because instead of oxygen being stored as a compressed gas, it’s stored as a compressed liquid. Since oxygen expands 860 times when converted to a gas, liquid tanks are much smaller. 

The biggest downside to liquid oxygen is that it needs to be stored in a special container that keeps it at a very low temperature. This can be costly and it’s also expensive to have it refilled regularly. Liquid oxygen units partially fixed the problems with compressed oxygen tanks, but not fully. Unlike both liquid and compressed oxygen, portable oxygen concentrators allow you to carry a lightweight device anywhere you go with an infinite supply of oxygen. All you need is an outlet to be able to charge your batteries.

Out of all of the pulse flow portable oxygen concentrators on the market, the Inogen One G5 is one of the lightest, smallest, and easiest to carry. Weighing only 4.7 pounds with the single-cell battery, the G5 is no heavier than a handbag or purse with a couple of your personal belongings in it. Also, unlike oxygen tanks, the Inogen G5 has a very natural box-like shape that won’t get in your way as you walk and go about your day. You’ll be able to carry it on your back, at your side, or even simply carry it in your hands.

The Inogen One G5 has a built-in control panel on the top of the unit so that you can adjust your oxygen delivery on the fly. Many G5 accessories like the G5 custom carrying case are designed so that you can access the controls without ever removing the device from your shoulder. What’s more, if you have a smartphone device, you can download the free Inogen Connect app which connects to your G5 via Bluetooth. This app will provide you with important information such as your battery life, column status, and troubleshooting info. 

Ample Battery Life

Battery life is another important thing to consider when purchasing an oxygen therapy device. It goes without saying that compressed oxygen tanks do not have batteries. If you use any type of oxygen tank, you’ll be limited by the amount of oxygen that the tank can hold. However, when you use a portable oxygen concentrator, you’re only limited by how long the battery lasts. Fortunately, oxygen manufacturers have been able to produce batteries that last a long time on one charge. The Inogen One G5 can last up to 13 hours while using the double-cell battery!

The bottom line is that it’s much easier to recharge a battery than it is to refill an oxygen tank. Using the AC charging cable for the Inogen One G5, you’ll be able to charge your oxygen generator in any wall outlet. If you’re in another country, simply purchase an adapter that works for whatever country you’re currently in. On the other hand, if you’re taking a car trip or you’re going to be in the car a lot, you can use the DC charging cable to charge your oxygenator in the cigarette lighter.

Oxygen tanks are much more difficult to deal with once they run out of oxygen. Instead of simply plugging it into a wall outlet, you’ll need to go out of your way to find an oxygen refill station. You can use your own oxygen refill machine if you want, but those cost thousands of dollars and they are not portable. Alternatively, you could go to a company that specializes in oxygen tank refills which could put you out of the way of where you’re going. 

FAA Approved

If you had told someone from the previous millennium that they’d be able to carry their oxygen therapy device on an airplane, they’d probably look at you like you were crazy! Airlines are picky enough as it is when it comes to what you can carry onto the airplane so an oxygen device would be out of the question.

Fortunately, times have changed for the better and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has become much more lenient on what you can take on the plane. But more importantly, oxygen concentrators have become much safer and easy to use. Since POCs like the Inogen One G5 are so small, you can easily store it under the seat when the plane is taking off or landing. If you need to go to the bathroom during your flight, you’ll be able to walk down the aisle without bumping into people or wearing yourself out.

While there are other oxygen concentrators that are FAA approved, the Inogen One G5 is much safer to have as a carry-on item. Take for example the SeQual Eclipse 5. This is a continuous flow oxygenator that’s approved by the FAA for in-flight use. While it is considered “portable,” when it comes to flying with it, you’ll find that it’s much easier to just stay home. Weighing in at 18.4 pounds, it’s almost five times the weight of the Inogen One G5! That’s much too heavy to carry over your shoulder or on your back. Instead, you’ll need to trail it behind you using a specially designed carrying cart. 

Reliable and Durable

Reliability is very important when it comes to oxygen therapy. The majority of oxygen patients need to be hooked up to their oxygen devices 24/7 so it’s only natural to purchase a machine that can run all day and night. You’ll be happy to know that the Inogen One G5 was designed for just that. With a processor that’s designed to work for 20,000 hours without repairs, you won’t have to worry about the integrity of your device when you need it the most.

The Inogen One G5 is also very durable compared to other pulse flow oxygen concentrators. Most patients are surprised when they pick it up for the first time because it has a very small form factor but it feels solid and sturdy. All the internal components are protected by a hard outer shell that prevents everything from moving around while you’re on the go.

Plenty of Ways to Customize

If there’s one thing you should know about Inogen, it’s that they go above and beyond to ensure that each and every oxygen user is able to live life on their own terms. One of the ways they do this is by offering a variety of accessories that you can use to customize your experience. 

One of the most important things to consider is the way you carry your G5. Everyone has their own way of carrying a POC and that’s why Inogen has released products like the G5 custom carrying bag and the G5 backpack. The custom bag is for people who don’t want to carry personal belongings. It’s great for a quick trip to the grocery store or to a friend’s house. The G5 backpack, on the other hand, provides ample room for personal belongings. It’s great if you’re going on a long trip around the world.

The G5 external battery charger is another great accessory to invest in. This device allows you to charge your G5 batteries without them being attached to the unit. If you’re on the go frequently, this is great for helping you keep your batteries charged all the time even if you have two or more of them. It’s light enough that you can toss it in your G5 backpack for when you move onto the next destination.

Conclusion

As you can see, the Inogen One G5 is nothing short of revolutionary. Oxygen concentrators have been around for several decades now, but each one has had significant faults that set them back. For example, the AirSep Focus is the lightest oxygen concentrator ever produced at just 1.75 pounds, but it only offers 1.75 hours of freedom before you need to go charge it again.

The Inogen One G5 broke the mold by offering a great battery life, lightweight design, and the highest oxygen output of any POC on the market. It’s also one of the newest portable oxygenators released by Inogen, so you can expect it to be supported for many years to come if you ever need repairs or replacement parts.

It's hard to imagine the feeling of being breathless until you’ve experienced it yourself. Your lungs gasping for breath, and unable to prepare proper blood oxygen levels is not only uncomfortable, but unbearable and terrifying.

Chronic respiratory conditions that inhabit normal breathing capacity in your lungs is one of the many ways people experience breathlessness on a day-to-day basis. These conditions include COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, severe asthma attack, pneumonia, pneumothorax (collapsed lung), and sleep apnea.

On their own, COPD and obstructive sleep apnea contribute to tens of thousands of American deaths every year, and still the two conditions can occur together and cases where they overlap have increasingly harmful effects on the health of patients.

There are a number of ways to treat COPD and sleep apnea, but one method that has been proven to prolong life and increase the quality of life is utilizing oxygen therapy. Oxygen therapy is something that your physician will generally prescribe to you. It is supplemental oxygen you can use at home everyday.

Whether you use oxygen-gas cylinders, liquid-oxygen devices, or an oxygen concentrator you will find that after getting used to using your device, that you can finally breathe at normal rates and enough oxygen can enter your lungs.

By utilizing oxygen therapy you will experience less shortness of breath doing everyday activities such as walking up and down the stairs, gardening, and cooking. As a result, you will be encouraged to try new things like going to pulmonary rehab classes, and exercising more consistently.  Additional activity throughout your daily life will encourage better self-management of COPD and symptoms and improve your quality of life.

But the question remains: What method of supplemental oxygen is the most effective? And which device is right for your lifestyle and oxygen requirements?

If you enjoy being capable of getting around more independently, traveling long distances, going on vacations, and if you are a relatively active person who enjoys physical activities and exercise, an oxygen tank is not the best option for you.

An oxygen tank will limit your ability to accomplish all of those things. On the other hand, a portable oxygen concentrator will open up opportunities and give you the portability you are looking for in order to be more active, travel more, and give you reassurance to be more independent managing your COPD or other respiratory condition.

Here are the reasons you should invest in switching from an oxygen tank to a portable oxygen concentrator or if you are in the market for the first time for an oxygen therapy method.

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For people who have COPD, living in a clean environment should be a top priority. Because the disease makes the lungs hyper-sensitive to irritants, even small amounts of dust and allergens can set off coughing fits and make daily COPD symptoms worse.

Unfortunately, there are many places in your home that can trap particles that irritate your lungs, and it can be difficult to track them all down. Harmful particles can accumulate in your carpet, furniture, and all the nooks and crannies of your home, where they lie in wait until they get stirred up into the air you breathe.

One of these hidden sources of respiratory irritants could be your bedding, which is an oft-overlooked hot spot for dust and allergens. Many people don't realize how quickly their pillows, mattresses, and bed sheets can accumulate hazardous particles that can trigger COPD symptoms.

In this article, we're going to show you how to get rid of dust, mold, dust mites, and other particles in your bedding and keep them away for good. That way, you can rest assured every night knowing your lungs are protected while you sleep.

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A Very Real Hazard

It's easy to underestimate the dangers that respiratory irritants in your sheets, pillows, and mattress can pose for your lungs if you have COPD. However, based on how much time you spend in and around your bed, it should not be difficult to imagine how being exposed to them night after night could affect your lungs on a daily basis.

Because you spend so much time in your bedroom, keeping it clean and lung-friendly should be one of your top priorities. Most people spend a minimum of seven to eight hours in their bed every night, and it can have a significant affect on your ability to breathe if you are surrounded by hazardous particles and allergens while you sleep.

If you don't take special precautions, dust, mold, pollen, and other irritants that live in your bed enter your lungs at night when you breathe. This can inflame your lungs, causing you to wake up with worse symptoms that can last throughout the day.

That's why it's so important to give your bedding some extra attention if you have COPD. Just being more careful and deliberate in the types of fabrics you use and how you care for them can go a long way toward improving your COPD symptoms.

The Hazards Hiding in Your Sheets

According to a microbiologist from the New York School of Medicine, beds are uniquely prone to collecting all kinds of nasty and potentially hazardous substances. “You have spores of fungi, bacteria, animal dander, pollen, soil, lint...” he says, along with skin cells, oils, cosmetics, and bodily secretions, among others.

While some of these are simply gross, others can actually be dangerous for your lungs, especially if you have COPD. Dust mites, mold, pollen, and pollutant particles, in particular, can inflame your lungs, cause uncomfortable symptoms, and exacerbate your COPD.

Dust Mites

Wherever there's fabric, there's a good chance there is an invisible army of dust mites living in the fibers. Dust mites live off of dead skin, dust and fibers, and thrive in places like your carpet, furniture, and—you guessed it—your bedding.

Dust mites particularly like anything that's made with plush or layered fabrics like pillows, comforters, mattresses, and thick blankets. These items tend to trap lots of dust and dead skin for the little bugs to to munch on.

While they don't affect everyone, dust mites cause many people to experience symptoms like coughing, sneezing, and nasal congestion when they're around. If you have COPD and are sensitive to dust mites, exposure to the mites in your mattress and bedding can inflame your lungs and airways and make your COPD symptoms worse.

Mold

Mold is another respiratory irritant that could be lurking in your pillows, mattress, or bed sheets. Exposure to mold can irritate your lungs and cause a variety of uncomfortable symptoms, including coughing, wheezing, nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, and even skin irritation in some cases.

Some people are more sensitive to mold than others, but patients with COPD should be careful to steer clear of damp, moldy environments. That includes looking out for mold growth in your home, including in your fabrics and bedding.

Bed sheets, blankets, and other fabrics can get moldy after you wash them if you leave them sitting in the washer too long or don't dry them out quickly enough. You can usually tell if they've grown any mold because they'll have a musty, mildew odor, even after they've dried.

Your mattress and pillows can collect mold, too, if they get get wet for any reason. That's why it's important to avoid spilling water in your bed and to dry up any damp spots immediately.

If you live in a humid climate, things will get damp easier and dry out more slowly, which means you'll need to be even more on the lookout for mold and mildew. It's also important to know that mold is almost guaranteed to grow in any place that stays damp for more than 24 hours, no matter where you live.

Keeping your bed free from mold is important for protecting your lungs and keeping respiratory symptoms at bay. If you have musty sheets or hidden mold in your mattress, it can cause your COPD symptoms to flare up and hurt your ability to breathe every day.

Pollen, Pollution, and Other Particles

When you go outside or spend time in a place with poor indoor air quality, any dust, pollen, or particle pollution you encounter sticks to your hair, clothes, and skin. If you aren't careful when you go home or get into bed, you can scatter these harmful particles around your home, into the air, and in your sheets.

Pollen and pollution levels tend to fluctuate between seasons and even from day to day, so your risk may change depending on where you live and the time of year. The particles can get in by hitching a ride on your person or by blowing in through open windows throughout the day.

If you have COPD, these allergens and pollutants can be especially dangerous, making it difficult to breathe and triggering COPD symptom flare-ups. Because the disease makes your lungs more sensitive to even small amounts of these irritants, it's important to take steps to minimize them in your bed and in your home.

How to Know if Your Bedding is the Problem

Many people experience worsened COPD symptoms at night and in the morning because they have trouble breathing while they sleep. In many cases, changing your sleeping position, using nighttime oxygen, or getting diagnosed and treated for sleep apnea can solve this problem.

However, sometimes worsened nighttime and morning COPD symptoms is a sign that there's something in your house or bedroom that's irritating your lungs while you sleep. This can cause you to experience worsened breathlessness during the night, which can make it difficult to fall asleep and deprive you of oxygen when you do.

As a result, you may wake up congested, fatigued, and feeling like your lungs and airways are inflamed. You might notice that your COPD symptoms are worse in the mornings and get better as the day goes on.

If this happens to you, make sure you talk to your doctor to make sure that you don't need nighttime oxygen or have an underlying sleep disorder or other problem. If the problem persists, it could be a sign that your bedding is exacerbating your COPD symptoms at night.

If so, then following the tips in this article to clean and care for your bedding could make a huge difference in how you feel every day. By removing a major source of respiratory irritants, it could make a significant difference in your ability to breathe and keep your COPD symptoms under control.

If you've taken care of your bedding, talked with your doctor, and you still notice your symptoms getting worse after spending time in your bedroom or at home, the air inside your house might be polluted. It could be a sign that you need to do a deep, whole-house cleaning and maintenance check to eradicate any other hidden sources of lung irritants in your home.

Here are some of the major symptoms of exposure to indoor respiratory irritants. If you experience these symptoms when you're at home, especially if they get worse after sleeping in your bed, it could be a a strong sign that your bedding is making your COPD worse:

Symptoms of exposure to indoor irritants (e.g. mold, dust mites, and other particles in your bedding):

• Nasal congestion
• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath
• Sneezing
• Itchy or runny nose
• Itchy and watery eyes
• Irritated, itchy skin or rashes

How to Keep Your Bedding COPD-Safe

Clean Your Sheets Often

The best way to get rid of the bulk of allergens and respiratory irritants is to wash your sheets, blankets, and covers often. It generally takes a week or more for them to accumulate in significant amounts, so a thorough wash once a week should be sufficient.

However, if you're like most people, you probably only change your sheets every couple weeks at most, or maybe even less often. Even though most people know they should wash their sheets more, it's an easy task to forget and neglect.

If you tend to put off washing your sheets or struggle to keep up with laundry, try to carve out a specific time in your schedule every week to throw all your bedding in the wash. Just be sure to use very hot water so it sanitizes the fabric and kills any mites or mold spores.

However, comforters and duvets can be washed less often since they don't usually come into direct contact with your skin. It's usually fine to wash these heavier top blankets about once every month or so.

Get an Extra Bedding Set

It's difficult to wash your sheets, pillow cases, and blankets often if you only have one set. To reduce the hassle, invest in a second bedding set so you can simply switch them out when one needs to be cleaned.

This makes it easier to change your sheets frequently and can really come in handy when there's an unexpected mess or spill in your bed. Just make sure to store your extra set of sheets and blankets away in a cool, dry place, preferably in a sealed container or linen bag.

Avoid Materials that May Trigger Allergies

Certain types of blankets and pillows are more likely to cause respiratory symptoms than others. For example, pillows and duvets stuffed with down feathers can trigger respiratory symptoms and breathing problems in people who are sensitive to the material.

If you experience worsened breathlessness or other COPD symptoms at night, you might want to check whether or not you are allergic to any of the materials or stuffing in your bed. If any of your pillows or blankets contain down or other allergy-triggering materials, try removing and replacing them with cotton-stuffed versions to see if your symptoms improve.

However, if you've removed any potential allergy-causing materials and still feel worse at night, then it's a good sign that something else is irritating your lungs. It could also be a sign that you are particularly sensitive to dust mites and need to dust mite-proof your bed.

Purchase Mattresses and Pillows that are Resistant to Dust Mites and Other Allergens

The types of fabrics and materials used in your bedding can make a big difference in how susceptible they are to dust mites and mold. Some materials tend to attract these respiratory irritants more readily, while others are more resistant.

If you have COPD, you might consider replacing your mattress and pillows with hypo-allergenic, dust mite-resistant versions. These products are made with materials designed to keep dust mites and other hazardous, lung-irritating particles from ever getting into their fibers in the first place.

Especially if you suffer from allergies, asthma, or are sensitive to dust mites and particles, getting hypo-allergenic products could help eliminate many of the irritants that trigger COPD symptoms at night. You may find that you sleep better, breathe better, and feel better during the day when you're not breathing in inflammatory particles all throughout the night.

Many hypoallergenic pillows and mattresses are made of allergy-resistant materials like latex, bamboo, and silk. You can often find them at department stores, mattress retailers, and in many shops online.

Choose Hypo-Allergenic Sheets and Blankets

Unfortunately, putting hypo-allergenic covers on your mattress and pillows won't do anything to protect you from irritants in your blankets and sheets. Aside from regular washing, the only way to have irritant-free sheets is to get them in an allergy-proof material.

For example, silk is naturally resistant to a variety of allergens and respiratory irritants, including dust mites, mold, and mildew. Wool is another great bedding material that repels dust mites and other allergens, and it's perfect for keeping your bed warm during the cold, winter months.

If you tend to sweat or overheat at night, you should also look for fabrics that are breathable and good at wicking moisture away so your bedding doesn't get musty. Wool is fantastic at wicking away moisture and can help keep your mattress dry at night.

Here is a list of some the best hypo-allergenic and COPD-friendly bedding materials:

• Bamboo: anti-microbial and resistant to mold and mildew
• Latex: anti-microbial and anti-bacterial
• Silk: resistant to dust mites, mold, and mildew
• Wool: resistant to dust mites and great at wicking away moisture
• Down and Hypodown: naturally dust mite-repellant and lightweight (Do not use down if you have a down allergy; use synthetic down alternatives or hypodown instead.)

Protect Your Mattress and Pillows

The next best thing to buying a new, allergen-resistant mattress and pillow is getting dust mite-resistant covers for your bed. Sometimes called allergy covers or hypo-allergenic covers, they provide an extra barrier to prevent dust mites from infesting the inside of your bed.

Dust mite-resistant covers work because they use a finely-weaved fabric that's so tight that dust mites can't crawl through. This can be especially useful for preventing dust mites from proliferating in your mattress and pillows when the weather turns humid and damp.

For the best results, you should keep the cover tightly zipped on your mattress and pillows all of the time from the minute you bring them into your home. It's important to use the covers consistently, because thy will do nothing against any dust mites that take up residence in the fibers when the cover is not in place.

While some research casts doubt on the effectiveness of hypo-allergenic mattress and pillow covers, other studies show that they can reduce symptoms and complications in people with allergies and asthma. This indicates they are also effective for people with other breathing disorders, including patients with COPD.

In fact, the Lung Institute Recommends that COPD patients use zippered, dust-mite proof cases on their pillows and mattress to reduce their symptoms at home. Especially if you know that you are sensitive to dust mites, dust mite covers can be a simple and effective way to eliminate another COPD trigger from your bedroom.

Be Careful What You Track In to Bed

While cleaning your covers and replacing your pillows regularly is important, there is plenty you can do to minimize the number of hazardous particles that make it into your sheets in the first place. You can do this by being especially careful about what you track into your bedroom and what you wear when you go to bed.

The clothes you wear accumulate all sorts of particles throughout the day no matter where you go. Even if you avoid pollution and do your best to stay away from respiratory irritants, the fibers in your clothes are bound to trap a certain amount of dust, pollen, mold spores, and particle pollution.

That's why you should always remove your clothes before getting in your bed unless they're fresh, clean bedclothes that you just slipped on. Never get into bed wearing anything you've gone out in or even worn about the house.

Instead, always remove your clothes and/or change into fresh clothing before you crawl under your shets. That's the only way you can make sure that none of the hazardous particles in your clothes get transferred onto your sheets.

Here are some more tips for keeping respiratory irritants out of your bed:

• Try showering at night before bed, instead of in the morning, to remove any dust, pollen, or other particles from your skin and hair.
• If you like to wear any clothes to bed, make sure they are clean and wait to put them on until right before you get in.
• Don't allow your pets to sleep with you or get in your bed, especially under the sheets.
• Don't put clutter, dirty clothes, jackets, shoes, or other items on your bed.

Keep Your Bed and Bedding Dry

If you're sensitive to mold or dust mites, then it's important to keep your sheets, blankets, pillows, and mattress as dry as possible at all times. Damp and humid environments encourage dust mites to multiply and mold spores to grow in your sheets.

Because moldy fabrics don't usually look moldy, it can be easy to miss or underestimate. And since dust mites are invisible, you won't know if they've infested your sheets until they start triggering your COPD.

The first sign of mold growth is usually a damp, musty smell that may be very faint at first. It's a good idea to smell your blankets and sheets—or any clothing and fabrics, for that matter—for any hint of a moldy or mildewy smell before you put them on your bed.

Clean up any spills in your bed quickly and get damp spots to dry as fast as possible before mold has a chance to sprout up. Whenever you wash your blankets or sheets, make sure to put them in the dryer or hang them up to air dry immediately.

You should also avoid anything that makes your bedroom too humid, which could encourage mold and dust mites to multiply. If your shower is attached to your bedroom, make sure to close the door and run the ventilation fan or open a window to vent the humid air outside.

It should go without saying that you should dry your skin and hair off as much as possible before getting into bed, and that you should never set a damp towel on your sheets after you shower. If your hair is still damp at bedtime, wrap it up in a towel or put a thick towel over your pillow to protect it from getting wet.

If you do notice a moldy or musty smell in your bed or sheets, wash all of your bedding thoroughly with hot water and detergent to remove the mold. You can also add a cup or two of vinegar to the load during the rinse cycle to get rid of the musty smell.

For very moldy clothes or blankets, soak them in vinegar before putting them in the wash to kill most of the mold first. You can also wash your clothes with bleach or borax, although these methods can ruin or discolor fabrics if you are not careful.

Mold in your mattress can be more difficult to spot, but it can sometimes be identified by smell or by looking for spotting on the surface. If you find a small amount of mold or mildew on the surface of your mattress, you can usually take care of it by scrubbing it off with a mix of warm water and a cleaning solution like rubbing alcohol, vinegar, or bleach; just be sure to dry it off immediately after.

Laying your mattress out in a sunny spot can also help once you've removed all visible signs of mold. The sun's rays and heat will kill any leftover mold on or just under the mattress's surface.

Control the Humidity in Your Room

Many people with COPD struggle to breathe in humid weather, in part because humid air is hard on your lungs. However, many of the respiratory symptoms that COPD patients experience in high humidity could be the result of other respiratory irritants, like dust mites and mold.

That's because warm, humid weather creates ideal conditions for mold and dust mites to thrive and multiply in your home. Humidity also makes everything take longer to dry, further increasing the chances for mold growth on damp towels, sheets, and clothes.

If you live in a humid climate, or get a bout of humid weather, you should be extra diligent about inspecting your house for mold and keeping things like your clothes and sheets dry. You

Many people with COPD also struggle with anxiety. It's an understandable reaction to the daily worries and hardships of living with a chronic disease. However, for patients who don't find ways to treat their anxiety and manage it in healthy ways, that anxiety can grow to the point that it causes serious problems and affects many aspects of their lives.

One result of this chronic anxiety is panic disorder, or frequent panic attacks. A panic attack is, according to the Mayo Clinic, “a sudden episode of intense fear that triggers severe physical reactions when there is no real danger or apparent cause.”

Although they can be frightening and overwhelming, panic attacks are just that—panic. They aren't actually dangerous or life-threatening, even though they can trick your brain into thinking they are.

However, even though they are harmless in the short term, panic attacks are incredibly unpleasant to experience and can take a serious toll on your mental health. That's why treating anxiety and looking after your mental and emotional health is so important if you have COPD.

COPD patients are more prone to panic attacks for a variety of reasons, and the symptoms of COPD can make them even more difficult to manage and prevent. In this article, we're going to help you understand how panic attacks affect people with COPD and what you can do to recognize, manage, and prevent panic attacks in your own life.

What is a Panic Attack?

Panic attacks are explosive episodes of anxiety that often have no obvious cause. While they usually only last a short period of time—usually about ten minutes—those minutes can be absolutely agonizing.

In fact, the fear and physical symptoms of a panic attack are often so intense that panic attack sufferers believe they are experiencing a life-threatening problem like a heart attack. However, even though the symptoms can be terrifying, panic attacks are almost always harmless.

Panic attacks and panic disorder tend to run in families, and are often triggered by intense anxiety. They are more likely to happen after experiencing stressful or traumatic life events and changes, such as diagnosis of a chronic disease, divorce, or the death of a loved one.

Panic attacks often come suddenly and unexpectedly, and nobody knows exactly why they happen. We do know, however, that panic attacks are inextricably linked with anxiety, and, in at least some cases, are the result of chronic anxiety building up to a breaking point.

The most obvious symptoms of panic attacks include a rapid heartbeat, chest pain, shortness of breath, and intense fear. A panic attack is triggered in part by your body's fight or flight response and is meant to help you respond to real danger. However, when you suffer from anxiety, panic attacks can happen when there is no real threat of danger.

In people who have COPD, panic attacks can happen as a result of health anxiety caused by living with the chronic disease. Episodes of wheezing and shortness of breath caused by COPD can be terrifying, and it's easy to mistake panic attack symptoms for the symptoms of a COPD.

In fact, COPD patients are up to ten times more likely to suffer from panic attacks than people without the disease. And while panic attacks are generally harmless in the immediate term, they can interfere with the treatment and management of COPD symptoms and make your COPD worse if not properly treated.


Here are some of the most common symptoms of a panic attack:

• Rapid, pounding heartbeat
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness or light-headedness
• Headache
• Nausea
• Sweating
• Chills
• Hot flashes
• Abdominal pain or cramping
• Trembling or shaking
• Tightness in the chest and throat
• Chest pain
• Feelings of dissociation or detachment
• Feelings of fear or terror
• Sense of impending doom
• Fear of death or of going crazy
• Numbness or tingling sensations

The Panic Feedback Loop

A panic attack can start unexpectedly at any time, and it is particularly frightening if you don't recognize it for what it is. Some people in the midst of a panic attack feel as though they are having a heart attack or like they are suffocating and can't breathe.

You might be driving down the road, making a sandwich, or lying in bed when a panic attack hits. They usually come with very little warning, and they can happen frequently or only on rare occassions.

As you can imagine, having COPD can make a panic attack even more frightening, since COPD is life-threatening disease that already makes it difficult to breathe. A panic attack can worsen COPD symptoms like wheezing and shortness of breath, causing even more panic as you struggle to breathe.

Because of this, many COPD patients who experience panic attacks assume that they are experiencing a medical emergency related to their COPD. It can be difficult to tell the difference between COPD symptoms and panic symptoms, which makes panic attacks harder to recognize.

This can cause a panic feedback loop, a downward spiral of anxiety, panic, and breathlessness that can make panic attacks more intense and more frequent. It's a difficult spiral to get out of, and the longer you are stuck in it, the harder it becomes to break free.

Here's what the panic feedback loop looks like:

• You start to feel anxious, fearful, and short of breath.
• When you notice those feelings, it causes you to become even more anxious.
• The increased anxiety triggers and even stronger fight-or-flight response, making the physical and emotional panic attack symptoms even worse.
• The worsened symptoms make you feel even more panicked and anxious, and the cycle continues.

When you're stuck in the panic feedback loop, the only way out is to seize back control over your body and mind. You can do this by using breathing techniques, mental techniques, and therapy to train yourself to respond to react to panic in more healthy, calming ways.

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How to Prevent Panic Attacks

At this point, you probably have a much better understanding of the mechanisms behind panic attacks and why they are so problematic for people with COPD. Now, you can build on that understanding by learning new skills and techniques to help you prevent panic attacks and manage them if they come.

Even though COPD symptoms like shortness of breath make panic attacks more likely and more difficult to control, you can still manage them effectively with the right knowledge and skills. If you can learn to recognize a panic attack when one hits, keep yourself calm and collected, and know what treatment options to seek, then you will find it much easier to manage your anxiety and your COPD.

Mind Over Matter

Panic attacks are self-feeding monsters, as we discussed with the panic feed-back loop. If you let fear and panic take over, it will only escalate your symptoms and make the panic attack even worse.

That's why slowing down and taking the time to get your thoughts back under control is one of the most important things you can do to stop a panic attack. It's difficult when you can hardly breathe and your mind is racing, but it's possible if you practice the following strategies:

Separate Yourself from Your Panic

When your heart is pounding and you feel paralyzed by fear, it is difficult to think clearly and rationally. To overcome the chaotic panic, you have to step back from it and find a way to ground yourself in reality.

It can help to remember that the emotions you feel during a panic attack are essentially irrational; they are unnecessary, out-of-proportion feelings triggered by an exhausted brain. When you're in the midst of a panic attack, remind yourself that you're not actually in danger, but simply experiencing a symptom of chronic anxiety.

It may feel like you're dying, or that your world is falling apart, but remember that the feeling is only temporary. Remind yourself that the panic will disappear soon, and even sooner if you can manage to calm yourself down.

Re-frame Your Panic

Instead of fighting against the panic, which can make you feel even more anxious and afraid, try to relax and let it wash over you instead. Remember that you have nothing to fear, that you are simply experiencing the symptoms of a panic attack, and accept the anxiety as an unavoidable symptom.

Although it might seem counter intuitive, struggling against the panic and telling yourself you need to calm down can actually make your panic attack worse. Instead, tell yourself that it's okay to feel anxious, and you will be able to help yourself feel less distressed.

Instead of thinking about the anxiety as a bad thing, re-frame it as something more positive and less scary. For example, you can use the panic attack as an opportunity to learn more about yourself and practice all the healthy coping mechanisms you've learned.

Positive Visualization

Positive visualization is a powerful tool that you can use to calm and redirect your mind away from anxiety and fear. It's basically a way to trick your brain into feeling more calm and letting go of distressing thoughts.

To practice positive visualization, all you have to do is picture yourself in a calm, pleasant, serene environment far away from unpleasant feelings and sensations. You might visualize yourself in a cozy, safe spot in front of a flickering fireplace, or relaxing in a warm, lush field far away from civilization and all of the stressors of modern life.

To be effective, your visualization needs to go beyond a simple image and should engage all of your five senses. Think about what it would actually feel like to be in your calming scene, including what you would hear, touch, smell, and taste if you were actually there.

Visualization can be as simple as taking a few minutes to sit quietly and reflect or as involved as a longer meditation session. For more information on positive visualization and instructions on how to start, you can use this comprehensive guide from the Calm Clinic.

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Try the 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Technique

Panic attacks can be overwhelming, filling your mind with so much fear that it's impossible to think clearly. It can make you feel like you are suffocating, going crazy, or like your life is in immediate danger.

In order to calm down, you need to pull your head out of the panic and convince yourself that you are safe. One way to do this is with the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique, a simple exercise you can use to reel in your fear and bring your mind back to the present.

Here's how you do it:

• First you need to pause, take a deep breath, and look around you at your present environment.
  
  
• Then, name five objects you can see in the space around you. It could be anything; a chair, a light switch, or a stain on the wall.
  
  
• Next, name four things that you can feel or touch around you. For example, you might be able to feel your hair tickling your face, your clothes brushing your skin, or feel the smooth texture of your cell phone with your fingers.
  
  
• Name three things that you can hear in your environment (not in your head). You might be able to hear a ticking clock, the whir of air through a vent, or the soft sound of your own breathing.
  
  
• Name two things that you can smell. It could be a stale smell of dust in the air, the smell of your perfume or cologne, or the smell of an object in the room.
  
  
• Finally, name one thing you can taste, whether it's the neutral taste of your tongue, a strong fragrance in the air, or the remnants of the last thing you ate or drank.

The point of this exercise is to force your brain to focus on what's real instead of the fear inside your head. It can be even more effective if you name the things out loud so you can hear them audibly as recite them in your head.

By forcing yourself to acknowledge the present and the physical environment around you, it's easier to stay calm and grounded. It helps you to convince yourself that you are safe and in no immediate danger in the midst of irrational panic.

Distract Yourself from Your Panic

Finally, once you've reeled in your panic a bit and put things in perspective, you should try to take your mind off of the anxiety. Sometimes, simply distracting your brain from the physical and emotional sensations caused by the panic attack is enough to make the panic subside.

For example, try some simple mental exercises like counting up by multiples of three or reciting the alphabet backward. You can also try reciting a favorite poem, song, or bible passage to help keep your mind busy.

If you have the opportunity, you can also distract your brain with outside stimulation, such as listening to music or watching a video online. Anything that re-focuses your mind on something besides your anxiety can help you regain your sense of calm and control.

Tune in To Your Body

The earlier you can recognize a panic attack, the easier it is stop it. Sometimes you can even feel the signs before the panic hits, but recognizing those signs requires you to pay special attention to your body.

First, study the symptoms of panic attacks until you are confident that you can recognize them. Then, the next time you experience one, pay special attention to how your body feels and how the symptoms manifest for you personally.

Staying tuned in to your body and mind can help you recognize the first signs when something goes wrong. This is not only a way to recognize panic attacks, but also a good general habit to have to look after your mental health.

As soon as you recognize the warning signs or the symptoms of a panic attack, you can then begin to mentally fortify yourself against the panic. You can tell yourself that it is only a panic attack, and use mind-over-matter techniques to keep yourself calm.

Control Your Breathing

The most noticeable and frightening symptoms of panic attacks are the ones that make it difficult to breathe. Shortness of breath, hyperventilating, and light-headedness caused by a panic attack can cause you to panic even more, which only worsens the symptoms further and makes it more difficult to calm down.

This is especially true for people with COPD, who struggle with breathing difficulties on a daily basis. Patients who are already anxious about their life-threatening respiratory disease can easily fall into the panic feedback loop and get caught in the cycle of ever-escalating panic.

That's why one of the most effective things you can do when you're experiencing a panic attack is to get back control over your breathing. It's not always easy to do, but it's almost guaranteed to help you stay calm and make the panic pass sooner.

Rapid, frantic breathing sends panic signals to your brain, while breathing slow and steady signals your brain to calm down. One of the best ways to slow and control your breathing is with a technique called pursed-lips breathing, a common strategy recommended for managing breathlessness for people with COPD.

Image courtesy of hans van den berg on Flickr.

ThePursed-Lips Breathing Technique:

• Sit or stand up straight in a comfortable position. Relax your neck, shoulders, and chest.
  
  
• Take a deep breath in through your nose lasting about two seconds.
  
  
• Purse your lips, as if you were about to blow a kiss, and then breathe out slowly through your mouth for about two seconds (twice as long as the inhale).
  
  
• Repeat

Another helpful breathing technique is diaphragmic or abdominal breathing. It helps you learn to breathe with your diaphragm, rather than your chest muscles, which allows you to breathe more deeply and evenly. This not only helps with anxiety, but can also improve COPD symptoms by allowing you to breathe with less energy and strain.

The Diaphragmatic Breathing Technique:

• Lie down flat on your back or sit in a comfortable, upright position. Keep your neck, shoulders, and chest relaxed.
  
  
• Place one hand on your chest and one hand on your stomach so you can feel when they rise and fall. The goal of diaphragmatic breathing is to feel your stomach, but not your chest, expand and fall as you breathe in and out.
  
  
• Next, take a deep breath in through your nose, using your diaphragm instead of your chest muscles. You should feel the hand on your stomach rise while the hand on your chest stays still.
  
  
• Finally, breathe out slowly through your mouth. You should feel the hand on your stomach fall while the hand on your chest doesn't move at all.
• Repeat for several minutes.

Even though it is hard to think straight when you're in the midst of a panic attack, try to remember these simple, easy breathing exercises to help you stay calm. It can help to purposefully practice pursed-lips and diaphragmatic breathing when you're not anxious, that way it will be easier to remember how to do it when you feel panicked.

Do a Relaxing Activity

When you're experiencing a panic attack, it can be difficult to think about anything besides the frightening symptoms and the terror that's taken over your body. But sometimes, giving yourself a positive physical sensation or activity to focus on can take your mind away from your anxiety.

Simple, relaxing activities like reading, doodling, watching a favorite TV show, or coloring in a coloring book help give your hands and your mind something else to do besides focusing on the panic attack. You can also try activities that are tactile or give you a pleasant physical sensation, such as taking a warm shower, wrapping yourself in a soft blanket, or curling up with a hot cup of tea or hot chocolate.

Think Twice About Using Your Bronchodilator Medication

When you are having trouble breathing during a panic attack, it can be tempting to reach for your inhaler like you do when your COPD symptoms flare up. However, since the breathlessness is caused by panic, not COPD, your bronchodilator is unlikely to be much help.

In fact, bronchodilators act like stimulants and can make the panicked feeling more intense. They can end up increasing your heart rate, cause trembling and shaking, and make you feel even more anxious than you did before.

That's why it's important to learn other calming techniques to help you cope with the symptoms of panic attacks. Try using breathing techniques, meditation, or other relaxation techniques to bring your breathing back under control.

Mindfulness Meditation

Mindfulness meditation is a kind of mental exercise that helps you let go of worry and focus on the present. It's a technique that's highly regarded in the mental health field and is a common treatment recommended to people struggling with anxiety.

To practice mindfulness, you simply sit quietly for a set period of time and try to keep your mind calm and focused on the present moment. Try not to think any conscious thoughts, and let any worries or negative thoughts wash over you like water.

Mindfulness coaches often suggest focusing on your breathing and your body sensations as a way to keep your brain focused on the here and now, instead of what's going on in your head. It's a great way to learn how to stay calm when panic attacks strike and to cope with general breathing problems caused by COPD.

It's often easiest to begin practicing mindfulness meditation by following along with a written or audio-based guide. The University of California, Los Angeles has several free guided meditation audio classes you can use, or you can use the written guide at mindful.org that contains loads of useful tips and advice for getting started.

Seek Emotional Support

When you're in the midst of a panic attack, it can be extremely difficult to think straight, let alone calm yourself down. That's why it can help to call a close friend or family member for support.

It can help to tell your confidant ahead of time about your panic attacks and what they can do to help. Sometimes, just having someone there to ground you in reality and assure you that everything will be okay is enough to make a difference.

In fact, it helps to have someone you can go to for support anytime you feel anxious or depressed, even if it's not a full-blown panic attack. Having someone you can trust and talk to about your feelings is a wonderful form of therapy, and it can help you to begin healing your anxiety, which is the root cause behind most panic attacks.

Another great way to get emotional support is to join a support group for people with anxiety or people with COPD. Group therapy sessions are an opportunity to share your worries, struggles, and successes while learning from others who are facing similar har

Happy Winter Solstice! But for many it is not a “happy” time of year. The winter blues, winter funk, or seasonal affective disorder— Doesn’t matter what you call it, it can be debilitating.

So, while the days in the northern hemisphere are starting to get longer again, there is still a long winter ahead for those of us that live in cold states! 

Colder and dark days mean many Americans are beginning to feel the effects of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and on top of winter, is the ever present pandemic! 

SAD can make it more difficult to manage COVID-19 anxiety, and if you also suffer from respiratory diseases including but not limited to COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), pulmonary fibrosis, pneumonia, severe asthma attack, cystic fibrosis this seasonal depression, the cold weather, the pandemic— it is all piling up.

We created this guide that will give you several coping mechanisms designed to ease symptoms of seasonal affective disorder, COVID-19 anxiety, and respiratory disease. 

What is SAD? Do I Have It? 

SAD is a type of depression that is brought on by cold temperatures during the fall and winter months. People tend to go outside less frequently which leads to vitamin D deficiency resulting in mood changes and other symptoms of depression.

Here are some of the basic feelings of depression however this can look different from person to person. During these episodes, symptoms occur most of the day, nearly every day and may include:

• Feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness
• Angry outbursts, irritability or frustration, even over small matters
• Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities
• Sleep disturbances
• Tiredness and lack of energy
• Reduced appetite and weight loss
• Increased cravings for food and weight gain
• Anxiety, agitation or restlessness
• Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or self-blame
• Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things
• Frequent or recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts or suicide
• Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches

Mental disorders like anxiety and depression often coincide, these mental disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States.

SAD is categorized differently than depression and anxiety, while the symptoms are very similar, the reason in which you experience these feelings are rooted in the change of seasons. It is important to distinguish the difference between the two.

When distinguishing between a diagnosis of depression and depression with a seasonal pattern, it all comes down to timing!

A person suffering from major depressive disorder with a seasonal pattern would experience the common symptoms listed above common in winter months as opposed to the rest of the year. 

Being diagnosed with depression with seasonal pattern or SAD, you would have to experience:

1. At least two years of symptoms that become worse during a specific time of the year
2. The seasonal depressive episodes must significantly outweigh the nonseasonal episodes

If you are diagnosed with SAD it is likely you will be treated similarly with the same approach to someone who experiences depression. Therapy and the use of anti-depressant medications are commonly prescribed for someone with depression, whether seasonal or not.

It is recommended that people with SAD shouldn’t not go untreated nor wait out the depressive episode until the end of the season.

It's a harmful mentality that someone can endure a depressive episode for a period of several weeks during the winter months. Basic human functions will steadily decline and there is no good reason not to seek professional help to learn helpful skills for a more enjoyable life all year around.

SAD and COVID-19

SAD and COVID-19 are a recipe for depressive episodes and increased anxiety.

As we roll into another pandemic winter, the ever present seasonal affective disorder is being compounded by COVID-19 anxiety for many Americans.

Most Americans are still processing traumatic experiences from the events of the past year and a half, whether you have suffered the loss of a loved one or had a hard time coping with isolation and quarantine, the world in a pandemic can be a cruel and unruly place. 

In comparison the United States is in a much better position than last winter with the COVID-19 vaccine availability and current rollout of booster shots, however, the uncertainty of how the pandemic will continue to effect us can make the mental distress persist.

In a vicious cycle, SAD can make it even more difficult to cope with COVID-19 anxiety, and treating SAD can seem impossible under COVID-19 pressures.

Here are some ways to manage both issues simultaneously.

Managing SAD and COVID-19 Anxiety

If you’re feeling the double trouble of seasonal affective disorder and pandemic anxiety, experts recommend the following coping mechanisms that can help ease symptoms of both.

Maintain a routine

It sounds simple but having a semblance of a daily routine is very important, especially when things seem overwhelming. Having a few daily tasks to come back to when you feel overwhelmed gives you a sense of accomplishment.

Write down some small achievable goals to work towards each day. It is common to immediately feel like you're drowning in responsibilities, so begin your day by crossing goals off of your list. This can make a big difference in your attitude moving forward.

One goal you can make is to “make your bed” every morning. Once you’ve done that, acknowledge your accomplishment and continue moving through your day! 

Another goal can be to take 10 minutes out of every morning for deep breathing and stretching. Simply checking tasks off of a list can go a long way in reassuring yourself that you are capable. 

Try light therapy

Phototherapy, or light therapy, is a recommended treatment for seasonal affective disorder. It involves sitting or working near a light therapy box, which mimics natural outdoor light.

Sunlight is the best source of vitamin D, finding other ways to source this crucial vitamin is essential for your mood and mental health. You can do it with light therapy, foods you eat that are high in vitamin D, and supplements if your doctor approves. 

Get moving

Physical activity can improve mental health and overall well-being. Remember that exercise doesn’t have to mean going to the gym or taking a fitness class, just a little physical activity like taking a walk, doing some exercise at home, using a quick YouTube workout video — is all beneficial! 

Find your community

Unfortunately the pandemic is making it challenging to connect with people in person safely but you can still surround yourself virtually by people who support you, inspire you, or are just fun to talk online and over the phone.

Look for Facebook Groups or online forums. People are often posting their vulnerabilities to share and connect with others who have similar experiences to you! 

Bottling up your emotions is very unhealthy. Use your social circle for support. Sharing how you are feeling with your loved ones can help you, as well as help them, understand what you are going through! 

Practice meditation

A proven way to help ease symptoms of depression and anxiety is meditation. The power or mindfulness should not be underestimated, especially when talking about SAD and COVID-19 anxiety. Medications encourage people to slow down their thoughts and breathe deeply.

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Medication sounds easy, but to remain still, breathe, and trying to stay present is harder than it sounds, but as with anything, it just takes a little practice. Start with small goals and understand that medication is not an attempt to turn off your thoughts, but a way to slow down your thoughts and to be aware of your surrounding thoughts so you are more in control of them. 

There are a lot of new apps you can download on your smartphone or tablet that will help you get into the practice of mediation! 

Create a bucket list

Think about something you enjoy doing, it could be anything, write it down in a journal and make this your new bucket list! Having plans for enjoyable activities can help ease day-to-day stresses.

This could include doing a wine tasting from home, getting around to reading a new book, creating a weekly movie and dinner night, or starting a new hobby that sounds fun. 

Beyond these everyday activities and practices to help you ease SAD and COVID-19 anxiety, there are more drastic measures you can take. 

Managing episodes of anxiety and depression is possible with support, however some people do require professional help, and that is ok!

Seek professional help

It is very common that people with SAD and anxiety seek a mental health professional and have very positive experiences in doing so! Even if you did not need a to see a therapist before, the pandemic could have shifted a lot for you mentally, and it is never too late to adjust to these changes with the help of a mental health professional. 

63 percent of people previously diagnosed with depression and anxiety reported their associated symptoms were “worse” or “much worse” during the COVID-19 pandemic than they were before.

Affording Treatment or Medication 

Roughly 20% of people that responded to a GoodRx survey noted that they couldn't afford their medication during the pandemic. Also, 37 percent of respondents reported at least one issue related to administration of their medication, including missing, skipping, or rationing prescriptions; changing pharmacies; or having issues with a pharmacy refilling their prescription.

If you’re unable to afford your anxiety or depression medications, consider the following.

Shop around and look for coupons 

Take the time to research different pharmacies around you, prices vary depending on where you pick up your prescriptions. 

Contact the pharmaceutical company that makes your medication to ask for coupons or price reduction promo codes. Pharmaceutical companies also offer patient assistance programs to help people that are struggling to afford their medications.

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Request a 90-day supply

Ask your doctor to write a prescription for a 3-month supply rather than a monthly supply. Paying more upfront for your medication may reduce the total cost of the prescription.

Anxiety and Depression Due to Respiratory Illness 

On top of all of the covid-19 anxiety and SAD, if you also suffer from a common respiratory disease, you are not alone!

Nearly 37 million Americans live with a chronic lung disease like asthma and COPD, which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. 

If you require supplemental oxygen therapy, LPT Medical can help you ease the burden of dealing with heavy and cumbersome oxygen tanks. We have a wonderful selection of the newest and most reliable portable oxygen concentrators on the market! 

Having a lightweight portable oxygen device can change your way of life by creating opportunities for you to be more independent! Oxygen therapy can be a stressful and invasive form of therapy, so having a device that is compact in size, runs on battery power, makes oxygen therapy more doable! 

Adhering to the prescription your doctor gives to you is important to ensure you treat the hypoxia caused by respiratory illness. When your oxygen levels are too low, your mood and mental health can suffer. 

Here at LPT Medical, we are continually working to reduce the burden of living with lung disease by offering oxygen therapy products and oxygen therapy accessories that you can rely on for years. 

Overview 

These next few months will be cold and dark, that doesn’t mean you have to live in a constant state of depression. Seek help and treatment for SAD. Small everyday tasks can bring joy back into your life. 

If you are also struggling with COVID-19 anxiety and the pressure of dealing with and managing a respiratory disease, don’t give up. There are social circles available to you online that can help you cope with the very natural feeling you are having. 

There is light at the end of the tunnel, seasons will come and go, it is our hope that you consider some of the information within this blog to help you cope with the challenges of winter, COVID, and chronic respiratory disease. 

The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security reported in early 2020 that there were localized issues in securing enough oxygen to treat seriously ill COVID-19 patients.This was at the beginning of the pandemic, and predictions surrounding the availability of oxygen devices proved to be true in the following months. 

COVID-19 ran rapidly throughout the world, and it became clear that this virus most commonly attacked the respiratory system. This was cause for concern for everyone, but especially people with pre existing lung conditions, and other auto-immune diseases. 

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In this blog, we are going to take a look into how the pandemic changed the medical supplemental oxygen supply and how oxygen companies adapted to the increase in demand for oxygen. There will also be information about how you can protect yourself as an oxygen patient should there ever be a shortage of supplemental oxygen again.  

Breathing Devices Used to Treat COVID-19 

Breathing aid devices are used to help patients with acute respiratory problems caused by illness like pneumonia or diseases like COVID-19, asthma, and COPD. 

The most common oxygen breathing aids that are utilized for COVID-19 patients are ventilators, CPAP devices, and oxygen therapy devices. For oxygen therapy devices hospitals were able to use tanks and canisters 

For patients who have COPD or cystic fibrosis, two very common chronic lung diseases, they are prescribed supplemental oxygen which can be taken using at home oxygen therapy devices like the portable oxygen concentrators.

If you are a long term oxygen patient, you know your Peak Inspiratory Flow Rate (PIFR), and whether you need pulse flow or continuous flow.

COVID-19 patients who suffer from a severe reaction require a very high flow of oxygen therapy, usually five to ten times more oxygen than a mechanical ventilator… well…  it becomes quite clear why oxygen shortages were so common. 

In hospitals there are capacity limits on piped supplies of oxygen. Once, the hospital was overflowing with COVID patients who required too much oxygen, the hospitals resorted to using portable oxygen devices to treat COVID-19 patients, which subsequently caused oxygen cylinder shortages. 

Initially it was suspected that this problem could affect not only hospitals and patients inside, but also for those folks with lung conditions who rely on oxygen deliveries from their oxygen supply company at their homes. 

How the Oxygen Crisis Hit El Paso in 2020

There is no good time for COVID-19 cases to spike anywhere, but in El Paso this happened at the exact wrong time; new COVID-19 patients were streaming into hospitals, all of them needing high flow rates of oxygen to breathe. 

This sudden, and large extraction on the oxygen gas supply created countless issues, but mainly it froze the hospital's pipes and the vaporizers on oxygen tanks, the capacity to flow oxygen throughout the hospital's patients was reduced by as much as 70%.

So something had to be done and quickly. Local oxygen companies built pop-up tents with new oxygen pipes in hospital parking lots. 

Then there were more obstacles when they required more tubes, flow meters, nasal cannulas and portable cylinders required to make the gas breathable. This product was also in short supply.

In El Paso alone, the demand for oxygen cylinders at least tripled.

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How we Adapted to Oxygen Shortages Across the Country

Oxygen demand spikes correlated with areas where hospitals reached capacity. So as COVID-19 hot spots traveled from coast to coast the demands on oxygen followed.

Medical oxygen companies quickly became aware of what happens in COVID-19 hot spots as it did in El Paso and all over the US. Oxygen supply companies were able to go out and get oxygen from across the country from places where it was in supply or it was able to be shipped to places in need. 

The U.S. was able to alleviate these shortages by developing new ways of pooling oxygen resources.

Adapting to oxygen shortage was not easy because oxygen is not easy to transport. For it to be considered medical grade oxygen, it must be liquified and stored at minus 280 degrees Fahrenheit. To ship it requires special trucks.

Typically, oxygen is produced and shipped from the facility within around 100 miles of where it's needed. There are plenty of oxygen producers on the East Coast due to the large steel plants, but there are less out West. The lack of oxygen producers out west contributed greatly to the difficulties hospitals and states faced when trying to increase supply of oxygen.

In summary, Not everyone was worried about the shortage of oxygen, however we can relate to the anxiety because all of us are subject to the chaos of toilet paper shortages or even medical masks. The comparison is minimal at best, we can live without toilet paper, but we can’t live without oxygen...

There was a necessary cooperation that took place amongst members of the oxygen supply industry. Even when hospitals overflowed, companies were there ready to help sharing  information about what they'd learned earlier in the pandemic, and taught others how to build pop-up hospitals in order to quickly solve the problem of oxygen pipes freezing.

How Did Oxygen Shortages Affect Long-Term Oxygen Patients 

Oxygen gas is the support of all human life and for people with chronic lung conditions supplemental oxygen is the difference between surviving and feeling short of breath and incurring low oxygen levels. 

Oxygen therapy is absolutely crucial for lung patients as a breathing aid, with and without COVID-19. Oxygen therapy is generally received using tubes that go through the nose or with a face mask. 

The increased demand for new oxygen machines came primarily from COVID-19 patients who were getting large prescriptions for portable oxygen. But there were also patients who already had been reliant on portable oxygen cylinders to treat conditions like emphysema and COPD at home or in the hospital were still needed to get their devices refilled, amid the pandemic. 

New protocols and tactics were quickly developed to get oxygen into the hands of everyone that needed it. 

Luckily, oxygen device manufacturers were able to prepare and meet demands, both stimulating the oxygen device market but also getting patients the oxygen they need either to treat COVID-19 or a long term supplemental oxygen need for chronic lung conditions. 

Luckily, the United States was able to adjust to these circumstances, and help each other. This cannot be said for countries around the world. 

Even outside of a pandemic, oxygen patients are often reliant on their oxygen supply company. They expect and need their oxygen to be resupplied bi-weekly sometimes weekly depending on their prescription! 

Anything could happen when there are multiple “middle-men” involved in getting you your oxygen. There could be a bottleneck in the supply chain, management issues, or a global pandemic that could interfere with the delivery of your oxygen tanks at anytime. 

Relieving this stress is simple, and actually cost effective too!   

What Oxygen Device Should You Have to Ensure You Get the Oxygen You Need? 

There are three options you have when it comes to choosing an oxygen device, and the safest and most reliable option is a portable oxygen concentrator. These are also the most modern devices compared to liquid and gas oxygen tanks. 

These devices are the future of supplemental oxygen therapy. While tanks and canisters are ok to keep as a backup device, they do present many dangers and challenges for the oxygen user. 

1. Dependance on a medical oxygen company to get your oxygen refills 
2. Expensive to refill you tanks 
3. Creates a flammable oxygen-rich environment
4. Cannot travel on airplanes 
5. Heavy and cumbersome 

On the other hand, portable oxygen concentrators are oxygen devices that create a sense of independence and peace of mind. Should an oxygen shortage ever happen again, and the liquid and gas tank companies are not able to keep up with the demand, you will not have to worry about running out of oxygen. 

With portable oxygen concentrators, you will never run low on oxygen. These devices extract air from the surrounding area and use a rechargeable battery to filter the air into medical grade oxygen that you breathe in through the nose cannula or face mask. 

Overview 

The pandemic has shifted many people's mindset toward supplemental oxygen therapy. 

It is so valuable in today’s day and age to have an oxygen device that will give you the oxygen you need no matter what is going on in this crazy world of ours!

While oxygen supply companies stepped to the plate this time around, and they were able to supply oxygen to the hospitals in a time of desperation, we get feedback all of the time from LPT customers who say that their oxygen supply company can not be relied on. 

LPT Medical’s portable oxygen concentrator all come with a 3 year long warranty, and you are alway able to buy a second battery for emergencies. Owning a portable oxygen concentrator takes all of the stress out of oxygen therapy.