GCE Group is a world leader in healthcare equipment including oxygen concentrators, oxygen regulators, hospital ward equipment, and resuscitation devices. In the video above, we take a look at their flagship portable oxygen concentrator, the GCE Zen-O Lite.

Despite being a lesser-known brand in the United States, GCE’s portable oxygen concentrator holds its own against top-rated oxygen devices like the Caire FreeStyle Comfort and the Inogen One G5. The GCE Zen-O Lite has a number of unique benefits to offer which can help oxygen patients regain the freedom and independence they deserve.

Watch the video above to see a full unboxing of the GCE Zen-O Lite and continue reading to learn more about the outstanding benefits of this portable oxygen concentrator.

New Ways to Customize Your Oxygen Delivery

When it comes to total oxygen output, the GCE Zen-O Lite is nothing to joke about. On a maximum flow setting of 5, the Zen-O Lite puts out 1,050 milliliters per minute (ml/min) of oxygen, the same as the Caire FreeStyle Comfort, our top selling portable oxygen concentrator. However, one of the unique benefits of the Zen-O Lite is that it has half settings rather than whole settings like most POCs on the market. In other words, you have twice as many flow rates to choose from.

When you’re out and about, having this freedom can be life-changing. Whether you’re simply going for a walk or doing something more strenuous, you can adjust your oxygen flow on the fly to suit your needs. However, before making any changes to your oxygen flow, be sure to discuss your oxygen needs with your doctor. Inhaling too much or too little oxygen can put you at risk of exacerbation or oxygen toxicity. View the table below to learn about the oxygen output for each flow rate on the Zen-O Lite.

Designed for an Active Lifestyle

Being diagnosed with a chronic lung disease like COPD can feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. The thought of not being able to get around like you used to can be a significant challenge to overcome. But the truth is, many oxygen patients are using outdated oxygen equipment that’s holding them back from living life on their own terms. 

While oxygen tanks have long been the standard for home oxygen delivery, they simply don’t meet the needs of modern oxygen users. Oxygen tanks are heavy, bulky, and difficult and expensive to refill. While liquid oxygen units solve some of these issues, they’re still incredibly expensive and difficult to use. And above all, neither oxygen tanks or liquid oxygen devices are approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) so you won’t be able to take a flight while using oxygen.

The GCE Zen-O Lite, on the other hand, weighs in at only 5.5 pounds and it’s very compact at only 9.25” H x 9.8” W x 3.8” D. Using this POC is comparable to carrying an average purse or handbag and it has a sleek and uniform design that doesn’t draw attention like oxygen tanks do. What’s more, every GCE Zen-O Lite comes included with a convenient and comfortable carrying case that will keep your device secure when you’re on the go. You’ll also get an accessory bag to carry things like extra batteries, an external battery charger, and your AC and DC power supplies.

Easy to Set Up and Use

In this day and age, the last thing anyone needs is something that’s going to further complicate their lives. From working to paying the bills, you already have enough to worry about, so it’s understandable if you want an oxygen delivery device that doesn’t add any unnecessary obstacles to overcome throughout your day. Fortunately, the experts over at GCE have specifically designed the Zen-O Lite with these needs in mind.

Straight out of the box, you’ll see just how easy this portable oxygen concentrator is to use. There are only five buttons on the Zen-O Lite in total: one to power the device on and off; one to display your battery life; one to adjust alarm settings; and two to adjust your flow rate up or down. Replacing the battery is as simple as pressing the tab on the bottom of the unit to remove the panel.

While the video above will show you exactly how to unpack and start using the GCE Zen-O Lite, we recommend reading through the user manual at some point. It will provide you with important details about your device such as what the different alarms mean, how to maintain and clean your device, and other useful information.

Reliable and Durable

As you’re probably well aware, your oxygen needs don’t simply go away. When you buy an oxygen device, you need something that will be suitable for you in the long term, not just a couple of days or weeks. Many COPD patients require supplemental oxygen 24/7, so they need an oxygen device that can keep up with these high demands.

Thankfully, the GCE Zen-O Lite is an extremely durable, reliable, and well-built machine that can run around the clock without issue. If you use oxygen while you’re sleeping, you can rest assured that the Zen-O Lite will closely monitor your breathing and ensure that you receive the optimal bolus of oxygen to help you sleep restfully. Since GCE is a global leader in oxygen technology, you can be sure that your concentrator is built with the most high-quality parts.

Give Us a Call Today!

Here at LPT Medical, we’re proud to offer GCE products like the Zen-O continuous flow portable oxygen concentrator and the Zen-O Lite pulse dose portable oxygen concentrator. These oxygen machines have stood the test of time and enabled thousands of people across the country to regain their freedom and independence while still receiving the oxygen they need. It’s important to us that you receive an oxygen device that meets your needs and budget, so be sure to reach out to our oxygen concentrator specialists if you have any questions or concerns.

GCE Zen-O Lite Specs:

Winter and cold season are right around the corner, and it's important if you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that you avoid pneumonia and remain healthy this season.

COPD is the third leading cause of death in the United States, and pneumonia is the eighth leading cause of death in the U.S. Contracting pneumonia could be deadly for someone with COPD. Check out the following information to stay healthy this upcoming fall and winter!

Who is most at risk for developing pneumonia?

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Young children, cigarette smokers, and adults over the age of 65 with certain medical issues, including COPD, are at the highest risk of developing pneumonia.

How do you contract pneumonia?

Pneumonia is most normally caused by the exchange of bacteria, viruses, and on occasion, but less commonly, fungi. Often those individuals who contract pneumonia due to a fungi struggle with suppressed immune systems.

Many of these viruses and bacteria exchanges are preventable with a plethora of helpful vaccines such as vaccinations for: 

• Influenza
• Pneumococcus
• Measles
• Pertissis, or Whooping Cough
• Haemophlilus influenza type b (Hib)

How do I know if I have pneumonia?

Symptoms of pneumonia appear very similar to symptoms of COPD. It is extremely imperative that if you struggle with COPD you are aware of the symptoms of pneumonia.

Such symptoms include:

• A fever over 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit
• Shaking chills
• Changes in breathing patterns (shortness of breath or more rapid breathing)
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• A cough with an increased amount of sputum (mucus)
• A cough with a change in color of sputum (mucus)
• More rapid heart rate
• Pain in one area of the chest from deep breaths

As you can see, if you have COPD, many symptoms of pneumonia look similar to those of COPD. Oftentimes people with COPD aren't sure if the symptoms they are showing are from pneumonia or worsening or exacerbated COPD.

Unfortunately, many individuals will wait to seek treatment which can be fatal or lead to longer hospitalizations. If your COPD symptoms change slightly or worsen, contact your doctor immediately. This preventative action could stop the pneumonia in its early stages and thwart further health complications and even death.

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What are some ways I can avoid pneumonia?

There are several ways you can avoid pneumonia when you suffer from COPD. The following list consists of comprehensive methods you can carefully apply to avoid contracting pneumonia:

• Be sure to check in with your doctor or healthcare provider for your regularly schedule appointment so you both can keep a close eye on your COPD and if it potentially worsens.
  
  
• Every year, get a flu shot at your local pharmacy or grocery store. They can administer flu shots easily and often for free.
  
  
• Check with your doctor or healthcare provider to see if you are due for a pneumonia shot. A pneumonia shot can help considerably reduce one's risk of developing pneumonia.
  
  
• Wash your hands regularly with soap and water and carry hand sanitizer with you if you don't have regular access to soap and water throughout your day.
  
  
• Be sure to especially avoid crowds during cold and flu season.
  
  
• When you are in public areas and crowded spaces, avoid touching your eyes, mouth, and nose to prevent the spread of germs throughout entire body.
  
  
• Make sure to get adequate sleep. When the body is well rested, you are at a lower risk of getting sick. Aim for at least 7-8 hours per night.
  
  
• Regular exercise can benefit your body in multiple ways, especially in boosting your immune system, which can help in avoiding pneumonia.
  
  
• Eating a healthy diet filled with plenty of fruits and vegetables is beneficial in avoiding infection.
  
  
• Don't smoke. If you haven't already, work on quitting. Smoking makes it much harder for your lungs to ward off infections like pneumonia. Smoking may also impact one's awareness of worsening COPD symptoms that may in fact be pneumonia.

Complications with your COPD do arise if you develop pneumonia. Long term and permanent damage may occur; however, early treatment can aid in decreasing these potential outcomes. It is imperative that you know how pneumonia can affect your lungs.

Indeed, inflammation from pneumonia can limit airflow throughout the lungs which can further damage lungs; thus, if you have COPD and pneumonia you are at a notably greater risk of respiratory failure. Respiratory failure is a response from the body it isn't obtaining enough oxygen or expelling enough carbon dioxide.

A deprivation in oxygen, or what is known as hypoxia, can lead to additional complications for individuals diagnosed with COPD such as:

• Damage to kidneys
• Various cardiovascular issues including stroke and heart attack
• Irreversible brain damage

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So how is pneumonia treated in patients with COPD?

• To begin, the patient with symptoms of pneumonia and/or worsening COPD will be admitted immediately to a hospital
  
  
• Your doctor may order chest-x-rays, CT scans, blood work, and/or may take a sputum (mucus) sample in order to diagnose the patient properly.
  
  
• A doctor may prescribe the patient antibiotics which are administered intravenously at the hospital. Added antibiotics may also be prescribed for you to take at home.
  
  
• A doctor may prescribe glucocorticoids, a medication taken via an inhaler, a pill, or an injection. This medication helps to reduce inflammation in the lungs, thus assisting your breathing.
  
  
• A doctor may prescribe other medications in nebulizers and/or inhalers to help you breathe better and manage their own COPD symptoms.
  
  
• Supplemental oxygen and ventilators may also be prescribed for you to utilize in order to increase your body's oxygen flow.

Symptomatic awareness and precautions can help you treat and avoid contracting pneumonia. With early detection of pneumonia, you will experience fewer complications and hopeful outcomes if diagnosed with pneumonia.

Tune into your body and keep a close eye on your COPD symptoms as the temperature drops and the weather transitions towards winter. Use some of the aforementioned prevention methods to evade pneumonia as cold and flu season approaches! As always, keep in contact with a trusted doctor or healthcare provider as you continue to monitor your COPD.

When you live with COPD or another chronic respiratory disorder, managing your symptoms and getting enough oxygen is an everyday struggle. You might worry about getting enough supplemental oxygen, or fear that your blood oxygen levels drop too low at times.

But what if there was an easy way to make sure your body is getting enough oxygen any day, any time, from the comfort of your own home? Luckily, all you need is a small, hand-held device called a pulse oximeter, and you can do just that.

COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is a group of progressive lung diseases, the most common being emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

There are several benefits of mind-body exercise for people with chronic conditions, and even more specific exercise can be done if you have a chronic respiratory disease like COPD that are designed to stretch your muscles and open your airways. 

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In studies done looking at the benefits of yoga and tai chi for COPD patients showed how yoga postures, breathing exercises, and tai chi movements gave COPD patients overall improvement to their quality of life, and physical tests showed that their lung function improved!

Tai Chi

Tai chi may be the best exercise for you If yoga feels too hard and meditation feels too easy. Tai chi is a good balance between the two. Studies show that Tai Chi has a number of benefits for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). 

How can tai chi help with COPD?

Tai chi is a combination of slow flowing movements linked with breathing, and it is an ancient Chinese martial art. This is a great practice for COPD patients in any stage of the disease, because Tai chi exercises can be done standing or sitting. 

This is also a great exercise option if you have limited resources, because no special equipment is needed. You just wear loose clothing, you need about a yoga mat's worth of space to preform the movements!

It may seem as if these movements are extremely easy, but the power you generate from the motion of the poses and the connection with your breath cultivates strength. It's great too, because these exercises are low-impact.

Not only does tai chi help strengthen your body, it can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.

There has been a lifetime of experiments and research that explains how tai chi can help people with medical conditions like heart disease, osteoarthritis, and Parkinson’s disease. And now it is known that tai chi has significantly improved the quality of life for people with COPD. 

It is also very likely that if you decide to join a pulmonary rehabilitation program that tai chi will be an effective part of your program.

Research about tai chi and COPD 

Tai chi is commonly known to help many people with certain chronic conditions, and so there were additional studies done that would prove whether or not tai chi could improve the quality of life for people with COPD. 

In an experiment, they tracked 120 people with COPD, half of the people were put on a traditional pulmonary rehabilitation program, and the other half were enrolled in a tai chi class. 

In conclusion, the group of COPD patients who did tai chi had better scores in a survey about their respiratory health and they also performed better during a respiratory walking test. 

Do you want to start doing tai chi? 

If you think tai chi sounds interesting, the first step will be to get in contact with your doctor, talk to them about tai chi and whether or not  this is a good exercise for you personally. Talking with your health care team is also a great way to learn about tai chi classes in your local area, and they may be able to recommend one. 

They can also recommend online classes that would be a good fit for your respiratory level! 

Tai chi has become very popular and during the pandemic, online workout courses became much more common, so if you like to exercise in the comfort of your home rather than go to a class, you could find classes to take online. Try searching for “beginner tai chi” or “tai chi basics” or “tai chi for people with respiratory health issues”. 

There are usually tai chi classes at your local health club or gym, at community centers, or senior citizen organizations. You can also check your local hospital or healthcare center for a tai chi program.

Yoga

Yoga can be a great form of exercise if you have COPD because it is low-impact and can help to improve both your mental and physical health.

Yoga stands to benefit your health by:

• Lowering blood pressure
• Increasing relaxation and self-confidence
• Reducing stress and anxiety
• Improving fitness

Yoga will help you stay fit, flexible, and relaxed. There are different degrees of yoga classes, and there are specific yoga classes taught for people who are diagnosed with health conditions like COPD.

Yoga is a combination of physical postures and breathing techniques. Meditation and relaxation can be a big part of certain yoga practices as well.

The Physical Yoga Postures

Performing the physical postures of yoga can help improve your body’s ability to perform physical activity and will increase your:

• range of motion
• balance
• flexibility
• strength

Yoga postures can ultimately improve your energy levels and clear your mind from worry, and they also cultivate strength in your muscles and lungs.

Breathing Techniques

Breathing techniques can help utilize your breath more efficiently and teach you how to use your lungs more fully. Yoga is so great for COPD patients because these breathing exercises as you do the postures encourages your breath work outside of yoga and in your everyday life.

Benefits of Yoga for People with COPD

If you have COPD, taking a regular yoga class could be too much physically, and so modified versions of yoga have been developed so that you are capable of the practice without over-exercising. 

Modified yoga classes are created with the health needs of people with COPD in mind and should provide you with a gentle, easy, and effective way to manage your health and emotional well-being.

The gentle stretches help to improve fitness and flexibility, while breathing exercises give you skills to manage any attacks of breathlessness. The techniques you learn should also be easy enough so you can practice at home.

Breathing techniques can help you manage symptoms of breathlessness by strengthening your respiratory muscles even when you are not doing yoga! The benefits of yoga spread into your daily life, and help you breathe better but will also help you manage stress and anxiety. 

Yoga teaches you how to indulge in deep relaxation through breathing and meditation techniques. This helps to relieve stress and tension.

Before taking any yoga class, even if it is a class for people with your health condition, always consult your healthcare provider to get clearance before practicing any form of exercise. If your class is a normal yoga class that was not designed for people with COPD, check that your yoga teacher understands your needs as a person with COPD.

The right yoga teacher will show you how to breathe correctly in order to enhance your yoga practice and will give you modifications of poses that you are capable of doing. 

You can try some of these yoga postures which can help you build strength and encourage healthy breathing:

Standing Mountain Pose

Stand tall to open up your chest. Your arms can be raised. or left at your sides.

Standing Backbend

This pose also helps to open up the muscles of your chest but needs to be practiced carefully to avoid muscle strain and breathlessness.

Seated Forward Folds

These poses help strengthen your respiratory system.

Standing Side Bends

These bends will help strengthen your diaphragm while also improving the flexibility of your rib cage.

Breathing exercises 

Breathing correctly brings more oxygen into your blood and cultivates vital energy for your muscles and brain. Good breath helps your mind and body.

Pursed-lip breathing and diaphragm breathing are two of the most common breathing techniques for COPD and both have roots in yoga. They are often taught to people with COPD as part of their pulmonary rehabilitation program.

Exercising safely with COPD 

Yoga and Tai Chi are generally safe ways to get in shape, but there are always things to be aware of, and if you have COPD be sure to take these precautions just to be sure.

Ask your doctor before performing any new exercise, they will have advice for practicing your exercise safely and considering your oxygen levels be able to recommend how much exercise you should be getting, so you get enough but also not too much. Your healthcare team may also have yoga classes or tai chi classes for COPD in your area.

Check the credentials of any yoga instructor or tai chi teacher before you begin classes and make sure they know about your condition and health needs before beginning the class.

The best thing about yoga and tai chi, is that you are practicing your own exercise, and there are no expectations to do anything that is uncomfortable or harmful to your body. Therefore, you should avoid any poses that restrict your breathing and put pressure on your diaphragm. Examples of yoga poses you should avoid are Child’s Pose or the Plough. 

Yoga and tai chi are exercises meaning your heart rate could increase and your breathing can also speed up. Be prepared for this, and keep your inhalers or portable oxygen device close by when practicing tai chi, yoga, or any form of exercise.

Stop exercising immediately if you experience shortness of breath while exercising, taking breaks and allowing yourself to catch your breath is a helpful tool to use when you are experiencing an exacerbation or flare up. Use your medication and rest until you feel well enough to begin again.

Exercise for COPD Patients 

It is way too common for COPD patients to not get enough exercise, and this is because they think that feeling breathless and tired is bad for their lungs, but this is not true. For COPD patients, it is crucial to get some exercise daily. Without exercise you will become less physically fit, and your breathing will get worse. 

Overview 

Exercises that are incredibly important for COPD patients include aerobic exercises, strength and conditioning, and breathing exercise. Yoga and tai chi are two forms of exercise that help with all of those aspects of exercise and they also help improve flexibility and mental health! 

Tai Chi and yoga are two forms of exercise that can help COPD patients improve their blood pressure, help with relaxation and self-confidence, reduce stress and anxiety, and will help improve their overall fitness.

Keep an open mind and if your doctor agrees that yoga or tai chi would be a good option to improve your health, give it a try!

Curious about the Inogen One G4? If you are, you may be wondering things like:

1. What oxygen accessories come with this portable oxygen concentrators
2. Which oxygen accessories are sold separately
3. How to use the Inogen One G4 properly
4. The perks of owning the One G4

Read this blog and watch this video below!

After watching this video, read this blog for information we gathered from our expert respiratory specialists to help you know everything you need to know about the One G4! 

Inogen One G4 Portable Oxygen Concentrator

Inogen, you have probably heard the name whether you have been an oxygen user for sometime now or have recently been prescribed oxygen and are looking into your oxygen device options. 

Inogen systems were the first FAA-approved portable oxygen concentrators, this was an innovative and life changing development in the oxygen therapy sector, and since then Inogen has continued to release exciting and cutting edge products for oxygen patients. 

Inogen recently released the Inogen One G4 which has quickly become one of the most popular oxygen units on the market. And just like the Inogen One G2 and the Inogen One G3, the Inogen One G4 is reliable and packed with user-friendly technology. 

Continue reading to learn more about all of the Inogen One G4 features! 

Life with the Inogen One G4 

Whether you’re looking for a portable oxygen concentrator to make your everyday life easier or if you want something that will give you the freedom to travel anywhere you can dream of, the Inogen One G4 should be at the top of your list.

What Comes With Your Inogen One G4: 

• Inogen One G4 Portable Oxygen Concentrator
• Single Battery
• AC Power Supply
• DC Power Supply
• Custom Carrying Case
• Shoulder Strap
• Tubing
• Filter
• Manual
• 3 Year Warranty

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Addition Inogen One G4 Accessories:

• Single Battery
• Double Battery
• AC Power Supply
• DC Power Supply
• External Battery Charger
• Custom Carrying Case
• Shoulder Strap
• Particle Filter

The Lightest weight Portable Oxygen Concentrator Available 

The One G4 weighs 2.8 pounds and stands at 7.2” H x 5.91” L x 2.68” W, meaning that the G4 is the smallest and lightest portable oxygen concentrator to offer pulse flow settings 1-3.

The small size and light weight makes the Inogen One G4 perfect for any occasion, and you don't have to worry about using it everyday because Its compressor is rated to last 20,000 hours. 

It’s small enough to carry virtually anywhere without physical strain to you or your body. The One G4 is the perfect travel companion, you can go by foot, plane, boat, car, etc. it has never been easier to be on the move with oxygen than it is with the G4.

You will receive a padded shoulder strap with the purchase of your One G4. This will help you be comfortable carrying your Inogen One G4 to the doctors, through the airport, or at the store. And at 2.8 pounds, you will use very little energy to carry your oxygen with you!

Great Battery Life 

One of the biggest perks of owning a portable oxygen concentrator in general, is having an oxygen device that runs on battery power. Portable oxygen concentrator will utilize the air surrounding the device so you never run out rather than a finite amount of oxygen that would come in a tank or reservoir. 

A rechargeable lithium-ion battery give you peace of mind because as long as your device is charged, you will have oxygen, and there is no more waiting around for your tanks to be refilled or replaced. 

The battery is what adds the real weight to any portable oxygen concentrators, so the bigger the battery the heavier the device will be. If the oxygen device requires a lot of energy, as a continuous flow portable oxygen concentrator does, the battery must be bigger and the device will be heavier. 

So the 2.8 pound One G4 has a relatively small battery compared to the Respironics SimplyGo which is the lightest weight continuous flow portable oxygen concentrator, however the battery life is surprisingly good for how small this machine is!

Being less restrictive with its oxygen settings and by giving you up to 5 hours of battery life, the Inogen One G4 set the bar high for competitors to follow.

The One G4 is compatible with two different batteries, a single battery and a double battery. The Single battery weighs less than the double battery, but it does not last as long. 

With the single battery, you can get up to 2.25 hours of use on a single charge on a setting of 2 and your Inogen One G4 will weigh just 2.8 pounds. This setup is perfect for making trips to the doctor’s office, running to the store, doing things around your house, and exercising.

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The double battery, on the other hand, gets up to 4.5 hours of use on a single charge. Despite doubling your battery life your Inogen One G4 will weigh a mere 3.3 pounds with the double battery installed. This setup will give you the freedom and independence to travel, go to sporting events, or get dinner and see a movie.

Pulse Flow Oxygen Output

Oxygen output is the most important aspect of your portable oxygen concentrator. Your oxygen device must be able to give you the amount of oxygen you need to maintain healthy oxygen levels day and night. Oxygen flow is measured in liters or milliliters per minute. 

Here are the flow setting options you have with the One G4, the One G4 only offers pulse flow operation. 

Flow Setting Oxygen Output (milliliters per minute)

Setting 1:  210 ml/min

Setting 2: 420 ml/min

Setting3: 630 ml/min

Approved for Nighttime Use

Even though the Inogen One G4 is a pulse flow portable oxygen concentrator it is still approved for nighttime use while you sleep because it is equipped with Intelligent Delivery Technology. Now, the G4 won’t work for everyone at night, but as long as you don’t require a CPAP or BiPAP machine to sleep it should work for you!

Inogen’s Intelligent Delivery Technology is more sensitive when detecting your breath and it is more efficient at delivering your oxygen to ensure minimal amounts of your oxygen get wasted.

Here’s how Inogen’s Intelligent Delivery Technology works:

To make suer that you get all of the oxygen you require and the oxygen is not wasted, Intelligent Delivery Technology delivers your oxygen within the first 400 milliseconds after your G4 detects your breath. This almost guarantees that you are receiving the full bolus dose of oxygen.

When you sleep, breathing rate slows so the Intelligent Delivery Technology monitors your breath rate and it will increase or decrease the amount of oxygen in each bolus dose depending on your breath rate and the oxygen setting you are using.

This guarantees you are getting your required oxygen!

If you aren’t sure if the Inogen One G4 will work for you at night, you can always speak with your doctor about it or get a sleep test to make sure before you try it yourself.

Easy to Operate

Just like the other Inogen concentrators, the Inogen One G4 is simple and easy to use. The control panel is equipped with a backlit LCD screen and large push buttons.

The backlit LCD screen is easy to read in direct sunlight or in the dark. It displays vital information like your flow rate, your remaining battery life, and it will notify you if anything is wrong with your concentrator. And the font is large and easy to read so you won’t have to squint to see what it says.

Operating your G4 is simple. The control panel only has 4 push buttons:

Power Button (standard power symbol)

Flow Rate Up Button (plus sign)

Flow Rate Down Button (minus sign)

Audible Alarm Button (bell)

Changing batteries on your G4 is quick and easy too! The G4 batteries are equipped with easy push-to-release tabs that allow you to change your battery in seconds. And you won’t have any difficulty getting your replacement battery installed. To make the process as easy as possible, Inogen engineered the battery slot to have a track that ensures your battery perfectly aligns with your concentrator.

Three ways to Charge the Batteries

Recharging your Inogen One G4 batteries is fast and convenient. You have a total of three different charging options to choose from:

1. AC Power Supply
2. DC Power Supply
3. External Battery Charger

The AC power supply is the most common charging option. It charges your batteries faster than the DC power supply and you can use your Inogen One G4 on all 3 oxygen settings while you recharge. The AC power supply is equipped with a 110v power cord allowing you to plug it into any wall outlet. You can use it at home, in your hotel room, on a cruise ship and even some of the newer airplanes have 110v outlets at every seat.

While your Inogen One G4 is plugged into the AC power supply you will have an unlimited amount of oxygen. So, make sure you plug your G4 into the AC power supply if you plan on using it to sleep.

The DC power supply gives you the ability to power your concentrator and recharge your batteries on the go! It is equipped with a 12v power cord so you can plug it into the cigarette lighter or 12v outlet in your vehicle. You can take it in your car, truck, RV, or on your boat!

While your Inogen One G4 is plugged into the DC power supply it will recharge and supply you with oxygen on all 3 settings. However, if you are using your G4 while it is plugged into the DC power supply it will take longer to recharge. Remember to turn your vehicle on before plugging your G4 into the DC power supply otherwise, you might blow a fuse or drain your vehicle’s battery.

Although the external battery charger is an optional accessory, it is the most convenient charging option available for your Inogen One G4. It’s a single bay charger that gives you the ability to recharge your extra batteries without plugging your concentrator into a power supply. This means you can run errands, exercise, or go visit your friends and come home to a fully charged battery waiting for you!

Overview 

The Inogen One G4 is a great oxygen device if you need anywhere from 210 - 630 ml/min of oxygen during the day and/or night, and if you want a device that has great battery life!

If you have any questions about what you will receive with the One G4 or how to work this device, simply call 1(800)-946-1201, so a respiratory specialist may help you!

Although COPD is known primarily as a lung disease, some of its most serious complications have to do with the heart. People with COPD tend to struggle with a variety of cardiovascular symptoms and complications, including cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, and heart failure.

Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the US, and is also one of the most common killers of people with COPD. However, the risk of heart attacks and heart failure for COPD patients is significantly higher than it is in the general population, even in patients who don't have other heart problems.

Because of this, keeping your heart and cardiovascular system healthy is a critical part of COPD treatment. Keeping your heart strong can actually reduce COPD symptoms as well as prevent serious, life-threatening complications like heart attacks.

In this article, we're going to explain how COPD affects the heart and why the disease raises your risk of having a heart attack. We'll also show you what you can do to prevent heart attacks and keep your heart healthy with COPD.

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Symptoms of a Heart Attack

A heart attack happens when your blood vessels become so narrowed that it cuts off blood flow to the heart. This can happen as a result of a blood clot, high blood pressure, and clogged arteries, which are often the result of heart disease.

Doctors and researchers don't fully understand exactly why many heart attacks happen, or through what exact mechanism COPD causes sudden heart attacks. However, they do understand the major risk factors, which include smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, stress, and diabetes.

The earlier you get treatment for a heart attack, the more likely you are to survive and avoid serious, permanent damage to your heart. Because of this, it's very important to know the symptoms of a heart attack and how to recognize them, especially if you have COPD.

However, heart attacks don't feel the same for every person and the symptoms can vary widely from case to case. Some people experience severe chest pain or fainting, while some feel little pain or hardly any symptoms at all.

Some heart attacks happen suddenly, with little warning and few symptoms, but some develop slowly over the course of hours, days, or weeks. The most reliable symptom to look for is chest pain, especially chest pain that gets worse with activity and gets better with rest.

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

• Chest pain that may feel like any of the following: pressure, tightness, squeezing, or aching.
• Chest pain that spreads to your arm, neck, jaw, or back.
• Heartburn
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Shortness of breath
• Sudden dizziness or lightheadedness
• Fainting
• Cold sweating
• Fatigue

If you notice the symptoms of a heart attack, you should seek medical attention immediately. Have someone drive you to an emergency room or call 911 right away.

Don't ever ignore the warning signs of a heart attack; it's better to get checked by a doctor—even if it might be nothing—than to wait too long and risk suffering severe heart damage or death. Getting to an emergency room at the first sign of a heart attack will give you the greatest chance of recovery.

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How COPD Raises Heart Attack Risk

People with COPD tend to get heart disease earlier and are more likely to suffer heart failure and die from cardiovascular problems. Even COPD patients who don't have cardiovascular disease or other heart complications have a much higher risk of sudden cardiac death.

According to one study, living with COPD more than doubles your risk of sudden cardiac death, and the risk gets even higher for patients who have worse COPD symptoms and complications. Because of this, researchers are beginning to consider COPD an independent risk factor for heart disease and heart attacks, akin to high blood pressure and diabetes.


To understand why COPD causes heart attacks, you have to understand how the disease affects the cardiovascular system, including the heart, blood vessels, and pulmonary arteries (blood vessels in the lungs). These critical organs and tissues sustain damage over time as your body is affected by COPD, eventually leading to complications like cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, and heart failure.

The Heart-Lung Connection

Heart disease is a leading cause of death for all people in the US, not just people with COPD. However, COPD patients' heart problems are directly tied to their disease, which damages the heart in a specific way.

To understand how COPD causes heart problems, you have to first understand how the function of heart and lungs are intimately and inextricably linked. The heart and lungs work together in synchrony to supply your body with oxygen and remove waste, like carbon dioxide, from you body's tissues. If either organ is damaged, the other organ, and the whole cardiovascular-respiratory system, suffers too.

In fact, it's hard to overstate how much the heart and lungs rely on one another to function. The heart takes in oxygen-poor blood from the body and pumps it straight into the lungs to become oxygenated again. As the blood travels through the pulmonary arterties (blood vessels in the lungs), it absorbs oxygen and goes right back into the heart, where it pumps the now-oxygen-rich blood back throughout the body.

But in order to absorb oxygen, your blood must pass through the alveoli, the tiny air sacs in your lungs that allow oxygen to pass from the air into your blood. However, people with COPD have many damaged, non-functioning alveoli, so they aren't able to absorb as much oxygen as healthy lungs can.

COPD also causes inflammation in the lungs, which further damages alveoli and reduces the lung's ability to absorb oxygen even more. Eventually, lung function declines so much that the blood that passes through the pulmonary arteries doesn't get fully oxygenated, resulting in low blood oxygen saturation levels (a condition known as hypoxemia).

How COPD Strains the Cardio-Respiratory System

The main problem that people with COPD have is that their lung function is severely limited. Damaged air sacs and airway obstruction makes it difficult for the lungs to absorb enough oxygen causing serious respiratory symptoms and hypoxemia.

Hypoxemia is very bad for your body, and the heart tries to compensate for the low blood oxygen levels by pumping faster and harder. This increases the blood pressure in your lungs, which in turn creates extra back-pressure on the heart as it tries to squeeze extra blood into the pulmonary arteries.

Over time, the back-pressure that it puts on the heart causes the heart to swell and enlarge. This makes the heart walls weaker and makes it even more difficult for your heart to pump blood. These lung problems get worse and worse over time, all the while putting more and more strain and pressure on the heart.

This cycle continues, and, over time, makes your heart larger, weaker, and less effective at pumping blood through your body. As your COPD gets more severe, so does the strain on your heart, which significantly increases your risk for heart attacks and heart failure.

Pulmonary hypertension can also happen when blood vessels in the lung become narrowed and stiffened, as a result of airway obstruction caused by COPD. This also causes high blood pressure in the lungs and creates back-pressure in the heart every time it tries to pump blood into the pulmonary arteries.

Over time, this enlarges and weakens the heart, making it more and more difficult to pump blood through the lungs. If the heart becomes too weak and enlarged, it can fail, causing right-sided heart failure.

COPD and Cardiovascular Disease

Recent studies have shown that cardiovascular disease is much more common in people with COPD than was once believed. Researchers believe that this may be directly related to inflammation rather than breathing problems related to COPD.

COPD causes chronic inflammation throughout the body, not just in your lungs. One of the places this inflammation does the most damage is in the arteries, where it leads to plaque build-up and cardiovascular disease.

Beacause of this, inflammation is another major factor contributing to the increased incidence of cardiovascular disease in COPD patients. Cardiovascular disease includes high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, coronary artery disease, and artherosclerosis.

How to Reduce Your Risk of Heart Attacks and Heart Failure if You Have COPD

Now that you understand how COPD causes heart attacks and cardiovascular complications, you need to know how to protect your heart from the strain caused by the disease. Luckily, there are plenty of things you can do in your everyday life to strengthen your heart and improve your cardiovascular health.

In this next section, we'll show you how to make heart-healthy choices and reduce your risk of having a heart attack if you have COPD. We'll give you a variety of tips and techniques for reducing your risk of COPD-related heart complications including how to monitor your blood oxygen, eat a heart healthy diet, and how to exercise for a healthy heart.

Stop Smoking

A history of smoking is a major link in the relationship between COPD and heart attacks. In fact, people who smoke are up twice as likely to suffer a heart attack compared to non-smokers.

Smoking also leads to high blood pressure and significantly increases your risk for cardiovascular disease. It also affects the balance of cholesterol in your blood and causes plaque to build up in your arteries.

That's not even mentioning the devastating effect that smoking has on your lungs, especially when you already suffer from COPD. Smoking will worsen your symptoms, increase your risk of having COPD exacerbations, and lead to quicker lung function decline.

If you need help to quit smoking, talk to your doctor about quit-smoking medications or programs in your area. You can also visit the CDC's website for a variety of quit-smoking materials and links to smoking cessation guides from the American Lung Association, American Heart Association, and the American Cancer Society.

Prevent COPD Exacerbations

Exacerbations are a major cause of heart attacks in people with the COPD. In fact, experiencing an exacerbation can significantly increase your risk of a heart attack for days or even weeks after after you recover.

One study showed that a patient's heart attack risk is more than doubled for up to five days after an exacerbation. This likely happens because exacerbations cause an increase in a variety of COPD symptoms responsible for putting extra strain on the heart.

Increased respiratory symptoms experienced during an exacerbation, like worsened airway obstruction and shortness of breath, can lead to hypoxemia and put a great deal of pressure on the heart. Exacerbations also tend to increase inflammation in the body, including the blood vessels, which can worsen cardiovascular disease and raises your risk of heart attack.

Exacerbations are also very difficult to recover from, and in some cases results result in a permanent worsening of COPD symptoms. This is bad for both your heart and lungs. By reducing the number of exacerbations you experience, you may be able to preserve your lung function longer and prevent permanent increases in the level of strain that the disease puts on your heart.

Other studies have shown that respiratory infections can increase heart attack risk even in people who don't have COPD. One study found that people who have experienced heart attacks in the past are up to seventeen times more likely to have a heart attack within a week following recovery from a respiratory infection.

This shows how serious of an effect respiratory problems can have on the heart in the short term, and highlights why it's so important for people with COPD to minimize their symptoms and avoid getting sick. Even a minor respiratory illness can cause exacerbations and make COPD symptoms much worse, which can quickly lead to life-threatening events like respiratory failure or a heart attack.

Exacerbations are usually caused by respiratory illnesses and infections, but they can also be caused by exposure to respiratory irritants like allergens and air pollution.

Here are some more tips for preventing COPD exacerbations and heart attacks:

• Too much mucus in your lungs and airways can trap bacteria and cause you to get sick. To prevent mucus build-up and reduce airway obstruction, use airway clearance techniques to move the mucus up and out of your lungs and airways.
• Avoid spending time with or near anyone who is sick, including children. Whenever possible, stay away from sick people's homes and belongings until they have fully recovered.
• Protect yourself from germs when you're out in public places. Wash your hands after touching public surfaces and carry hand sanitizer with you for when you can't use a sink.
• Avoid going to crowded places during the winter months when many contagious illnesses spread. Try to schedule visits to museums, convention centers, concerts, and sporting events outside of cold and flu season or go when they are less crowded.
• Protect your lungs from respiratory irritants like pollution, allergens, dust, and mold. They can cause exacerbations, worsen inflammation, and make your symptoms worse.
• Daily symptom management is key for preventing COPD exacerbations. Make sure you follow your COPD treatment plan carefully and take your medications as prescribed every day in order to keep your symptoms under control.

Make Exercise a Priority

Getting regular physical activity every week is an essential part of keeping your heart and cardiovascular system strong. It also helps strengthen your muscles and increase your endurance, which can improve your mobility and allow you to live a fulfilling, active life with COPD.

Exercise strengthens your heart in many ways, including by reducing blood pressure, improving blood circulation, and reducing stress and anxiety. It can also prevent strain on your heart caused by hypoxemia by strengthening your breathing muscles and helping your body use oxygen more efficiently.

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that you get at least thirty minutes of exercise five days a week for a healthy heart. It doesn't matter much whether you do thirty minutes all at once, or break it up into a few ten-minute sessions to do throughout the day.

However, getting daily exercise doesn't mean that you have to join a gym or start lifting heavy weights. Even just walking, doing aerobics, or doing basic body weight or chair exercises is usually enough to stay in shape.

The most important thing is to do what you can manage and get moving right away. Even if you can't meet the AHA's guidelines, getting some activity is always better than getting none.

For example, studies show that walking as little as thirty minutes a day can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease by 18% and reduce your risk of heart attack by 35%. Some studies even show that walking is just as effective as running or jogging for preventing high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease.

COPD can make it difficult to exercise, but having the disease makes it more vital than ever to get more physical activity. It's necessary for your lungs, your heart, your overall health, and for maintaining your mobility and quality of life.

If you struggle with exercise because of severe shortness of breath or other COPD symptoms, talk to your doctor for advice. He might be able to recommend activities or exercises classes tailored to your ability level or refer you to a pulmonary rehabilitation class.

Monitor Your Blood Oxygen With a Pulse Oximeter

As we discussed earlier, people with COPD are particularly prone to experiencing hypoxemia, or low oxygen saturation levels in their blood. This happens when your lungs aren't able to absorb enough oxygen, and tends to occur most often during exercise, bouts of breathlessness, exacerbations, and during sleep.

Hypoxemia puts extra strain on both your heart and lungs and can lead to a variety of serious complications over time. That's why many COPD patients use supplemental oxygen; by providing concentrated oxygen to their lungs, it allows them to absorb more oxygen and prevent their blood oxygen saturation levels from falling too low.

One problem with preventing hypoxemia and using supplemental oxygen is that it can be difficult to know when your blood oxygen saturation falls below normal levels. Watching out for the external signs and symptoms of hypoxemia, like breathlessness and fatigue, is important, but they can be difficult to catch, especially if you experience chronic COPD symptoms every day.

Luckily, there's an easy, cheap solution for keeping an eye on your blood oxygen saturation levels and preventing hypoxemia: a home pulse oximeter. It's a small, non-invasive device that can read your blood oxygen levels by shining an infrared light through your skin.

Pulse oximeters are extremely simple to operate and can be used to check your blood oxygen saturation over and over. It takes only a few seconds to take a reading which makes it a great way to monitor yourself for hypoxemia throughout the day, especially when you sleep, exercise, or feel short of breath.

Your pulse oximeter can also help you learn when to use your supplemental oxygen if you've been prescribed oxygen therapy during the day. It can also give you an early warning of severe hypoxia, a medical emergency that occurs when your blood oxygen levels fall so low that it starves your organs of oxygen.

If you suffer from COPD-related heart problems, a home pulse oximeter can be an invaluable tool for monitoring your heart health and preventing heart attacks. By helping you keep your blood oxygen saturation at a healthy level and warning you when it drops too low, having a personal pulse oximeter could even save your life.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a type of special class designed specifically for people who have COPD and other respiratory diseases. It's a solution recommended often to patients who struggle with a variety of aspects related to their health and managing COPD, including those struggling with heart problems.

Pulmonary rehabilitation is one of the best ways to learn all about how to manage your symptoms and overcome all the different challenges of living with COPD. It's kind of like a variety show that covers all kinds of different, yet related, topics, except each class focuses on a different aspect of living with a respiratory disease.

Through pulmonary rehabilitation, you can practice and build up the skills that can help you keep your heart strong and prevent other COPD complications. Most courses cover most or all of the techniques for heart health that we will discussed in this article, including exercise, breathing techniques, stress management strategies, and proper medication use.

Pulmonary rehabilitation also helps you build the skills needed to keep your heart healthy and stave off COPD-related heart complications like heart attacks and cardiovascular disease. In fact, pulmonary rehabilitation is often referred to as “cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation” and is often recommended to people who have suffered cardiac events like heart attacks or heart failure.


Attending a pulmonary rehabilitation class is also great opportunity to learn from and ask questions to a variety of medical professionals who are knowledgeable about COPD. You'll also get to meet other COPD patients and the chance to get social and emotional support from your peers.

If you have trouble managing your disease or suffer from COPD-related heart problems, talk to your doctor about enrolling in pulmonary rehabilitation. You will need a referral from your doctor since classes are often in high demand and can sometimes be difficult to get into.

Eat a Heart-Healthy Diet