Activities of daily living (ADL) is a term that was first coined by Sidney Katz in 1950. Essentially, it refers to the basic functions that an individual must perform on a daily basis in order to be considered self-sufficient. By better understanding the level of independence of patients with debilitating illnesses like COPD, osteoporosis, or Alzheimer’s Disease, medical professionals are able to make better decisions for their patient’s well-being such as recommending medical equipment or an assisted living facility. Activities of daily living are generally divided into five distinct categories:

Personal Hygiene - bathing, grooming, hair care, and oral health

Continence - using the bathroom

Dressing - the ability to select clothing and dress for different occasions

Feeding - the ability to eat and drink

Ambulating - the ability to walk and move around independently

When it comes to managing your daily life with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), it’s very important to consider how your condition affects your ability to live independently. Studies have shown that ADLs can be very challenging for respiratory patients because they can lead to dyspnea (shortness of breath) and oxygen desaturation, meaning the percentage of oxygen in the blood is lower than what it should be.

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In this post, we’ll take a look at the importance of supplemental oxygen for carrying out activities of daily living. We’ll also show you why portable oxygen concentrators are the best device to use for maintaining your freedom and independence. If you have any questions about these units, please feel free to leave a comment or reach out to our respiratory specialists.

What is a Portable Oxygen Concentrator?

A portable oxygen concentrator is an electronic device used to administer medical-grade oxygen. POCs are the most state-of-the-art oxygen units on the market because they’re extremely lightweight and versatile. Using a POC, you’ll be able to go more places and do more things than if you had a standard compressed oxygen tank or liquid oxygen tank. Since they’re electronic devices, you simply need to have access to a source of power in order to recharge your batteries. You’ll never have the need to reach out to an oxygen company ever again to refill or deliver new tanks to your home!  

One of the greatest benefits of owning a portable oxygen concentrator is that they’re approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for in-flight use. What this means is that you can take your POC with you on any commercial flight within the United States. This is a freedom that COPD patients never had in the past because compressed oxygen tanks and liquid oxygen tanks are not allowed on flights for safety reasons. Upgrading your old outdated oxygen device to a portable oxygen concentrator quite literally opens up a world of possibilities! Without further ado, let’s take a look at why activities of daily living are so much easier when you have a portable oxygen concentrator.

Reduced Shortness of Breath

The human body has a complex system for managing breathing rate and breathing depth. Breathing is part of something called the autonomic nervous system which regulates involuntary physiologic processes like heart rate and blood pressure. However, you also have the ability to take control of your lungs through voluntary breathing. Exercises like deep breathing or controlled breathing are great for teaching you how to use your lungs more effectively.

One of the primary factors that affect respiratory rate is how much carbon dioxide is in the blood. When you are unable to expel air from the lungs fully — a problem that’s common among COPD patients — CO2 begins to build up in the bloodstream. This change in CO2 levels is detected by chemoreceptors which send a message to the medulla oblongata (the control center for the lungs) to increase respiratory rate. Other factors that affect respiratory rate and depth include atmospheric pressure, intra-alveolar pressure, and body temperature.

If you have COPD, interstitial lung disease, or any number of other respiratory conditions, the best way to reduce feelings of breathlessness is by increasing the concentration of oxygen in the lungs. By doing so, you will stabilize CO2 levels in your blood and the chemoreceptors will never send a message to your brain that you need to breathe quicker or more heavily. What this means when it comes to activities of daily living is that you won’t need to stop to catch your breath so frequently.

Using a portable oxygen concentrator throughout the day will prevent you from becoming breathless and thus reducing your chance of experience a COPD exacerbation. Many people find it difficult to keep up with their friends or loved ones because they need to stop to rest frequently. But with a portable oxygen concentrator, you can easily adjust the amount of oxygen you’re receiving based on how you’re feeling. It’s important to speak with your doctor, however, who will tell you what oxygen levels are acceptable.

Improved Mental Alertness

Your ability to complete daily tasks like eating, bathing, and cooking is equally reliant on your mental ability as it is your physical ability. When the oxygen levels in your blood are low this may result in brain hypoxia, also known as cerebral hypoxia, or low oxygen levels in the brain. Symptoms of brain hypoxia include temporary memory loss, impaired motor functions, confusion, lightheadedness, and more. 

Maintaining a “sharp” mind with age is notoriously difficult and living with a respiratory condition like COPD can make it even more challenging. However, by carrying a portable oxygen concentrator with you wherever you go and keeping your oxygen saturation at a healthy level, you’ll be able to rule out one potential cause of cognitive decline as you go about your daily life. Studies have found that there is a correlation between disease severity and cognitive decline, so the more you can do to slow the progress of COPD, the better off you will be in terms of your mental health as well.

A portable oxygen concentrator will provide you with a convenient and reliable source of oxygen as you go about your day. POCs like the Inogen One G5 and Caire FreeStyle Comfort simply need to be turned on and then you can adjust the flow setting however you need it. Then all you need to do is set it and forget it. Your POC will provide you with a steady supply of oxygen all day allowing you to go about your day with your oxygen needs out of mind. This will afford you the freedom to focus your attention on what you’re trying to accomplish rather than worrying about whether your needs are met.

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Another reason mental alertness is so important is for your safety. People experiencing cognitive decline, more specifically dementia, are at a higher risk of experiencing a fall. Like we discussed in a previous blog post, experiencing a fall, whether it’s inside or outside your home can be dangerous. Studies have also found that dementia patients are at a greater risk for car accidents. Whether you’re driving to the store or just doing chores around the house, maintaining your oxygen levels will keep your mind sharp so that you can navigate safely. 

Improved Exercise Tolerance

As you’re likely already aware, a healthy exercise routine is paramount to any COPD treatment plan. While exercise is important for everyone, it’s especially important for people with chronic lung conditions who need their lungs to perform as optimally as possible. Studies show that exercise increases the strength and function of muscles meaning that they require less oxygen. In other words, any form of exercise will benefit you in the long run. But if you want the best exercise routine, speak with your doctor about pulmonary rehabilitation. This is a type of exercise routine that focuses on your lungs and respiratory system as a whole.

When you’re exercising, the rate and depth of your breathing increase because your muscles need more oxygen. What’s more, your heart rate and blood flow increase in order to get that oxygen to the parts of the body that are being worked the most. Not only do your muscles need this oxygen in order to provide them with energy, but oxygenated muscles tend to recover and rebuild faster than muscles that do not get oxygen. So your body will feel more prepared to go through a strenuous exercise the next day. 

Without a doubt, portable oxygen concentrators are the best oxygen device for exercising. Most pulse dose concentrators weigh around 5 pounds and are no bigger than a handbag or purse, so taking one with you when you do your exercise routine is hassle-free. Concentrators like the Caire FreeStyle Comfort also have a lot of carrying options available for them so you can find one that works best for the type of workout you’re doing. The custom carrying case, for example, is great for walking or hiking, but if you’re doing something more involved like weight lifting, you might want to go for the FreeStyle Comfort backpack.

Improved Mobility

Mobility is oftentimes one of the most discussed issues when it comes to aging, and for good reason. The older we get, the more likely we are to suffer from debilitating conditions like osteoporosis, arthritis, impaired strength or balance, or dementia. COPD only makes these conditions worse by adding breathlessness, chest pain, and chronic fatigue to the mix. Sometimes, there isn’t one particular way of dealing with these issues, but instead, COPD patients should work with their doctor and loved ones to find the best solution for them.

While portable oxygen concentrators certainly don’t “solve” mobility issues, they can definitely help. Old outdated oxygen devices like oxygen tanks are extremely heavy and awkwardly shaped making it nearly impossible to navigate your home with ease. But when you upgrade to a POC, you’ll have a machine that you can carry around the house all day while completing chores and never feeling the need to set it down for a rest. If you use a mobility aid like a walker, wheelchair, or electric wheelchair, you can easily set your POC on your mobility for even more convenience and comfort.

Another benefit of having a portable oxygen concentrator is that it’s easier to prevent your oxygen tubing from getting tangled or tripping over it as you walk. Whether you carry your POC on your shoulder or your back, you won’t need to use long oxygen tubing. But since oxygen tanks are so heavy, you’ll need to use a rolling cart, meaning you’ll need to use much longer oxygen tubing. Many people find that their oxygen tubing gets tangled and wrapped around things while using an oxygen tank which is not only frustrating but dangerous as well.       

Conclusion

Activities of daily living are essential tasks that we need to perform each day in order to be independent. If COPD prevents you from doing one or more of these tasks, then you may need to consider hiring a part-time or full-time caretaker. Alternatively, you could invest in a medical oxygen device like a portable oxygen concentrator which allows you to extend your freedom and independence. Many COPD patients feel like they’re taken back in time when they get their first POC because they are able to do things they never thought would be possible after being diagnosed with COPD. 

One important thing to note is that oxygen is a controlled substance in the United States. In other words, you will need to have a prescription for medical oxygen from your doctor in order to purchase a portable oxygen concentrator. Whether you have a prescription or not, your best course of action is to give our respiratory specialists a call here at LPT Medical. If you don’t have the required paperwork to purchase a POC, we can reach out to your doctor for you. We’ll also walk you through the process of choosing a portable oxygen concentrator from start to finish. We’re also happy to announce that we now offer assistance with Medicare and medical financing so you can save as much money as possible on a new, used, or refurbished unit.

Give us a call or email us today for more information!

The Caire Freestyle Comfort is one of our highest in demand portable oxygen concentrators and for good reasons!

To name a few: 

- Its light weight 

- Its has powerful pulse flow operation 

- It has a long lasting battery 

- It has two battery options for longer battery life 

- The batteries are rechargeable 

- it is durable and rated to last a long time with minimal maintenance   

- Easy to travel with and FAA approved for air travel! 

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Watch this unboxing video to learn about what you will receive when you purchase a Caire Freestyle Comfort from yours truly, LPT Medical! 

The Caire Freestyle Comfort was designed with lifestyle in mind, if you are interested in traveling, exercising, or simply being more independent you need a device like the Freestyle comfort! 

Lightweight and Compact Design 

First and foremost, the Freestyle Comfort is lightweight, and only weighs 5 pounds. What does this mean for you, the oxygen user?

Five pounds is approximately the same as a half carton of soda pop, you will be able to carry your oxygen with you wherever you go without having to worry about getting exhausted from pulling a heavy cumbersome tank behind you. 

A lightweight device gives you freedom to enjoy things you once loved to do again! 

Not only is the device lightweight, it is also compact and sleek. It is a simple and elephant design, that won’t take up much space whether you sling it around your shoulder and let it rest on your hip, or if you opt to use the Caire backpack for easy transportation, the Freestyle Comfort will never get in your way! 

Battery Power Is Unmatched 

The battery power of the Freestyle comfort is compared to the best Inogen systems that are available today! That's saying a lot, because the Caire Freestyle Comfort by Respironics is competing with Inogen, the best oxygen brand out there! 

The average battery life of a portable oxygen concentrator on a setting of 3 is around 1-2 hours, and then you’ll have to recharge it! The Freestyle can last 3 hours with the 8 cell-battery 6 hours with the 16 cell-battery on a pulse flow setting of 3!

Longer battery life means more time with oxygen, but don't worry, when the battery runs low you can simply plug it into your wall outlet or use the DC charging cable and plug it into your car’s cigarette lighter and continue to use the device! 

If you don’t want to stay still and charge your device, no need to fret! You can get the external battery charger, and charge one of your extra batteries, so that you can simply switch your batteries when one runs low, and there ya go, more freedom to go and do as you please!

Powerful Pulse Flow Settings

The oxygen output is the very first priority when buying a portable oxygen concentrator because you obviously need an oxygen device to give you the medical grade oxygen you need to reach healthy oxygen levels. 

The Caire Freestyle Comfort gives you oxygen anywhere from 210 ml/min to 1050 ml/min which is a setting of 1-5. This covers most oxygen patients that need a pulse flow oxygen device, with wiggle room to increase the oxygen output if needed. 

What You Will Get with Your Caire Freestyle Comfort 

When you purchase a Caire FreeStyle Comfort, you are not only getting the portable oxygen concentrator, it will come with some additional accessories that will help you make the most out of your oxygen therapy device, as well as a 3 year warranty!

Portable oxygen concentrators run off battery power, and the Caire FreeStyle comes with the 8-cell Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery. If you want a more powerful battery, you have the option to get the large Caire FreeStyle 16-cell battery. You will also get an AC adapter and the DC car adapter, which allows you to charge your device in a traditional wall outlet, or in the car using the cigarette lighter. If you want another way to charge your device, you can purchase the Caire Freestyle external battery charger separately. With the external charger you can keep your batteries charged no matter where you are in the world.

When you buy a Caire FreeStyle Comfort, you will also receive the Caire FreeStyle custom carrying case that comes with a convenient shoulder strap. You can also opt for another carrying method with the Caire Freestyle comfort backpack, this way you have several options to choose from when you carry your device with you. 

With the purchase of the Caire FreeStyle Comfort, you will receive:

• 8-Cell Battery 
• AC Charging Cable
• DC Charging Cable
• Caire Freestyle Custom Carrying Case 
• Tubing
• Filter
• Manual
• 3 year long warranty

Any Questions? 

Oxygen devices can be confusing, there are a lot of brands and all of the machines offer something different. Understanding what you need and what is going to service you best is not always obvious. You can learn a lot in a conversation from the most experienced oxygen distributors out there!

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If you want to learn more about what the Caire Freestyle Comfort can do for you, call 1(800)-946-1201. We would also be happy to teach you more about other devices that we have to offer which may work even better for you depending on your lifestyle and oxygen requirements! 

If you don't already know how beneficial oxygen therapy is for people with COPD and other respiratory chronic conditions this blog post will explain all of the reasons this therapy can make such a big difference their lives. 

We understand that it may seem like oxygen therapy is an invasive aspect of your daily routine, however supplemental oxygen offers the user freedom, energy, and livelihood, it also adds years to your life!

That being said, it is important to discuss the side effects of oxygen therapy and how we can work with you to make it more comfortable.

If you are looking at your oxygen device every morning and dreading using it, you are not taking advantage of what this therapy has to offer you.

If done correctly, you could start to see your oxygen device as a ticket to anywhere in the world, as independence from caretakers and hospitals, your breathing device should give you life and excitement for the future.

In order to address all of the positive aspects of oxygen therapy it is essential that we discuss the drawbacks and how you can overcome the negative aspects. Simply put, there are obstacles that you may need to overcome while getting used to your breathing device.

There are some aspects of your day that will become the “new normal”. Lastly, there are certain discomforts and side effects associated with oxygen therapy. That is why we are going to discuss ways to normalize your oxygen therapy and help you adjust to daily life.

How to overcome oxygen therapy obstacles

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One of the first and biggest obstacles you may face after being prescribed home oxygen, is education, this means learning about your illness and how oxygen will affect you.

It is critical you are willing to handle new and sometimes confusing pieces of machinery along with the medical jargon and language about your condition.

We have a great blog titled “COPD Education is Key: 15 Questions you Need to ask your Doctor” that can help you understand some of the questions about your breathing capabilities and what this means when you are looking to buy an oxygen device.

This is a great place to start if you want to understand more about COPD testing, symptoms, and treatments.

After you are capable of communicating with your doctor effectively, you can begin to understand their reasoning as to why you qualify for oxygen therapy, and how you can get the most out of this COPD treatment method.

The next obstacle you must overcome is choosing the oxygen therapy device that is best for you and your lifestyle. This is complicated because everyone is different and everyone’s COPD affects them differently.

Therefore, it is important you talk to a respiratory specialist who can ask you questions about your lifestyle and your oxygen prescription in order to match the perfect oxygen device to your specific needs and wants.

A specialist works with a number of people everyday, they know oxygen devices inside and out, so once they have an understanding about you and your oxygen prescriptions they will be able to match you with a device that will help you get back to your daily routine!

Our respiratory specialists will connect you with a portable oxygen concentrator because a portable oxygen concentrator (POC) is going to be the most cost-effective way to administer oxygen to manage your COPD. If you purchase your POC there are no recurring costs, you will never have to worry about refilling your oxygen tanks, and they are simple and user friendly!

Simply by utilizing a portable oxygen concentrator rather than an oxygen tank or oxygen canisters, you are saving money while minimizing a lot of the obstacles that come with oxygen tanks.

Portable oxygen concentrators are also much safer to use because there is no reserved compressed liquid or oxygen gas that would otherwise create a fire hazard. Instead, the concentrators extract the surrounding air, purify, and condense it into the medical grade oxygen that you breathe in.

That being said, there are still certain adjustments and challenges that come with you oxygen concentrators.

One of the best ways to overcome any obstacle is to learn more and educate yourself about the subject. Knowledge is power, and that is why we’re now offering a FREE Thrive eLearning Course with the purchase of your Inogen One G5 portable oxygen concentrator.

We know how important pulmonary wellness is, but this means more than just having a great portable oxygen concentrator; it requires you to make other lifestyle changes involving your diet, exercise routine, and more.

In an effort to help you with all aspects of your pulmonary wellness regimen, we wanted to give this immersive learning experience to our customers so they can educate themselves beyond the oxygen therapy and adjust other complicated aspects of life while dealing with COPD or other respiratory diseases.

Thrive is an accessible, all-in-one online training course that aims to provide you with simple, practical, and actionable tips for managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

With this program, you’ll also have access to one-on-one counseling with certified pulmonary experts, support group opportunities, online learning courses, and much more! Below is a full list of what you’ll receive:

• Direct access to a private support group (patients, caretakers, and experts)
• Years of COPD and respiratory illness knowledge
• Step-by-step disease management regimen
• Best selling e-books and guides
• Step-by-step breathing exercises
• Learn about exacerbations and how to prevent them
• Speak with a nutritionist about refining and improving your diet

COPD symptoms can only be managed with impeccable lifestyle choices. This ePulmonary Advanced Online Workshop will help you get back on track and locate any anomalies in your COPD treatment plan.

The Inogen One G5 will provide you with the oxygen and freedom that you need to live life on your own terms, but this training program will make you unstoppable!

This Thrive ePulmonary Online Training Program is a $497 value, but we’re offering it for FREE! Order your Inogen One G5 today and experience the freedom you want and deserve! Fill out the blue box to the right of your screen, or call a respiratory specialist at 1-800-943-1201 and find out how you can purchase a Inogen One G5 portable oxygen concentrator.

Your goals for oxygen therapy

Your goal when it comes to oxygen therapy should be to continue as many of your usual activities as you can!

You should work with your doctor and oxygen supply company to get oxygen equipment that will allow you to do every activity you still enjoy. Choosing the right type of equipment for you and your lifestyle is crucial — the right portable oxygen equipment can play a major role in improving your quality of life, starting by relieving a lot of your symptoms.

Oxygen therapy works to relieve breathlessness, so that you can exercise and get outdoors more often. Not only does oxygen therapy give you the accessibility to do more it also gives you more time! By this, I mean that oxygen therapy studies from multiple sources suggest that long-term oxygen therapy extends the life expectancy of COPD patients with low blood oxygen levels.

Even though there are a lot of great aspects associated with oxygen therapy, there are side effects that you should be aware of, so that you know how to handle it.

Get comfortable, oxygen therapy is your new normal

Side effects of oxygen therapy may include:

• The skin around the face mask or nasal cannula can get irritated.
• The inside of your nose might become dry.
• You may get nosebleeds once in a while.
• In the morning, you may wake up tired or with a headache.

In some cases, you can avoid these side effects by adjusting the amount of oxygen you get, meaning that you should continue to speak with your doctor about your oxygen prescription.

The equipment you use may need to be changed if you’re having constant problems and irritation, but most of the time there is just a small adjustment period where your body has to get used to the new normal.

If you’ve ever used a bulky and cumbersome continuous flow concentrator or an oxygen tank, you know that they’re anything but user-friendly.

While both methods do offer you the oxygen you need, it doesn’t feel like they were built with your comfort in mind.

If you are looking for a portable oxygen concentrator that was designed to be comfortable, The Caire Freestyle Comfort got its name for a reason; it was specifically designed to be comfortable to wear and use.

This oxygen unit has a curved design that fits the natural shape of your body. While you’re walking, it will stay at your side instead of sliding around and interfering with your natural movements.

All of the buttons for your oxygen control as well as the power switch are conveniently located on the top of the unit and the batteries can be easily pulled off the bottom of the unit for replacement.

The Caire Freestyle Comfort is one of the lightest portable oxygen concentrators on the market, weighing in at just 5 pounds with the 8-cell battery and 6 pounds with the 16-cell battery.

This means you’ll be able to carry your oxygen unit without ever experiencing back pain or unnecessary strain that can ruin your day.

There is some adjusting you have to get used to when you first get started on your oxygen therapy regime, but soon enough your life with your trusted POC will be the new normal. A big part of enjoying life while using oxygen therapy is having the right equipment.

This means having a POC that meets your oxygen requirements but also allows you the freedom and opportunity to travel, exercise, and socialize.

The other aspect, is education and this means learning about you disease and how it should be managed on a daily basis along with your oxygen therapy.

The bottom line when it comes to oxygen therapy is that it is a blessing in disguise. When you are diagnosed with COPD you might think that you should try to go as long as possible before you have to start using oxygen.

But the truth is, once your doctor prescribes you oxygen therapy, if done correctly, you should start to see improvements in your mood, energy, and overall quality of life.

As we mentioned in this article, there are still side effects, but having an oxygen device that is designed to be comfortable and easy to use will help with those adjustment periods where you are learning how to manage and avoid certain irritations.

Also always be patient and kind to yourself, allow yourself time to learn about oxygen therapy before you let yourself hate it. If you need help adjusting or think that your oxygen device is not right for you, give us a call at 1-800-946-1201 or reach out over social media and we will gladly mentor the oxygen user on best practices.

COPD is a complex disease, and to manage it effectively you need more than just your primary care doctor. In most cases, it takes a team of several medical specialists to provide high-quality care for people with COPD.

While this might seem like a lot at first, each doctor you work with is an important part of a comprehensive COPD treatment strategy. Working closely with all of them is the best way to preserve your health and maintain a good quality of life with your disease.

Your COPD treatment team is there to you manage your disease in a variety of ways; they can help you breathe better, live healthier, and treat any other symptoms and complications you may face. However, this team works best if you take an active role in your treatment and understand what they do.

That's why, in this post, we're going to help you get to know your COPD treatment team a little better. We'll go over each of the different medical professionals involved in treating COPD, as well as what role each specialist plays in the varying stages of COPD diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment.

Our goal is to help you gain a functional understanding of what exactly each member of your treatment team is there to do for you. That way, you can better understand your disease, your treatment plan, and take full advantage of what each professional has to offer.

What Does a Typical COPD Treatment Team Look Like?

Although COPD is primarily a lung disease, it actually affects many different parts of your body, including your heart, and bones, and immune system. It can also lead to a variety of serious health complications, including depression, hypoxia, and heart attacks.

Because of this, it makes sense to have doctors that specialize in a variety of different health issues on you COPD treatment team. Additionally, the doctors you work with are likely to change over the course of your treatment, as your disease progresses and your symptoms change with time.

At a minimum, every person with COPD should have regular visits with a primary care doctor and a pulmonologist. However, every case of COPD is different, and the type of treatment you need will depend on your medical history, your symptoms, and the severity of your disease.

These are some of the different types of medical professionals that participate in COPD treatment teams:

• Primary care doctor
• Pulmonologist
• Respiratory therapist
• Exercise specialist
• Mental health therapist or psychiatrist
• Nutritionist or dietitian

Your COPD Treatment Team: Who They Are and What They Do

Managing a chronic disease like COPD is no simple matter, and you should familiarize yourself with each doctor in charge of taking care of your health. In the following sections, we'll take a closer look at at each of these specialists so you can better understand what they do as part of your COPD treatment team.

What Do Primary Care Doctors Do For COPD?

Your primary care doctor is the person you will most likely see and work with the most throughout your COPD treatment. Primary care doctors don't generally specialize in a particular area of medicine, but they play one of the most important, and most involved, roles on a COPD treatment team.

More often than not, primary care doctors are the first ones to recognize the symptoms and actually diagnose COPD. After diagnosis, they continue to play a vital role in monitoring and managing the disease.

In fact, your primary care doctor may be the only doctor you need to see during the early stages of COPD. It's often not until the disease gets much worse, and more serious symptoms and complications appear, that you need to add other medical professionals to the team.

However, primary care doctors often struggle to find the time and resources to provide extensive COPD care, which is why many experts recommend using a “team approach” whenever possible. They believe that multidisciplinary care, which involves respiratory therapists, pulmonologists, and other medical professionals earlier on in treatment, could improve the standard of care for all people with COPD.

In most cases, your primary care doctor is responsible for assembling your COPD treatment team and knowing when you should see a specialist. He will also record your symptoms, lung function, and other important measures of health and keep track of how they change over time.

Regular COPD check-ups are generally conducted by your primary care doctor, who will likely perform most of your basic examinations and lung function tests. More specific, complex, or difficult-to-manage issues may be handed off to a more specialized medical professional.

However, many of the practical aspects of everyday COPD management, including implementing your COPD treatment plan, will likely be handled by your primary care doctor. It's his duty to treat new symptoms, prescribe medications, and advise you on the basics of diet, exercise, and lung-healthy living.

Your primary care doctor also helps coordinate the efforts of your whole treatment team and synthesize information from a variety of sources. He uses your medical history, test results, physical examinations, and recommendations from other health professionals to determine the best course of treatment.

Simply put, your primary care doctor is the linchpin that holds your treatment team together. That's why it's so important to work with a primary care doctor you trust and feel comfortable with; that person will likely be your primary caretaker and main point of contact when it comes to your health and your COPD.

What Do Pulmonologists Do for COPD?

A pulmonologist is a type of doctor that specializes in lung and respiratory health. This profession gets its name from the term pulmonary, which specifically refers to the lungs and respiratory system.

Pulmonologists are experts in both diagnosing and treating lung diseases and other conditions, such as infection and inflammation, that affect the respiratory tract. Some pulmonologists specialize even further to focus on specific respiratory disorders, like asthma or COPD.

Unlike most primary care doctors, doctors who specialize in pulmonology must undergo a significant amount of extra training specifically in pulmonary medicine. On top of a 3-year residency training in general medicine, board-certified pulmonologists must also do an additional two-year pulmonology fellowship and pass a standard pulmonology examination.

Many people with COPD, or whose primary care doctors suspect they may have COPD, are referred to pulmonologists for further evaluation. Their extensive experience and training in lung medicine allows pulmonologists to diagnose COPD more accurately and precisely assess the nature and severity of the disease.

When working as part of a COPD treatment team, a pulmonologist is primarily responsible for monitoring their patients' overall lung condition. That means conducting physical examinations, lung function tests, and ordering other types of medial screenings like blood tests, chest x-rays, and CT scans.

One of the most important skills pulmonologists have to offer is their expert ability to interpret test results and track changes in your lung health over time. They also use that information to determine the best forms of treatment to minimize COPD symptoms and slow the pace of lung function decline.

Pulmonologists also look out for signs of other respiratory problems, like lung nodules and infections, which are common in people with COPD. In some cases, pulmonologists also perform lung biopsies—a minor surgical procedure to collect and analyze a small piece of tissue from the lungs.

There is a newer type of pulmonology specialty, known as interventional pulmonology, that focuses specifically on treating lung disorders as part of a multidisciplinary team. This approach shows a lot of promise for improving treatment for chronic respiratory diseases, and makes interventional pulmonologists especially well-suited for COPD treatment teams.

What Do Respiratory Therapists Do for COPD?

Respiratory therapists are professionals trained specifically to treat people with chronic breathing disorders like COPD. Respiratory therapists can take on a variety of roles, but they often focus on educating their patients to manage the day-to-day struggles and symptoms of their disease.

Whereas pulmonologists primarily prescribe medication and treatments, respiratory therapists help patients put their treatment plan into action. On a COPD treatment team, a respiratory therapist's main responsibility is to help patients breathe better and teach them the skills they need to properly manage their COPD at home.

In order to practice, respiratory therapists have to have an associate's degree in respiratory therapy and be licensed by their state. Unlike pulmonologists, respiratory therapists are generally not doctors and don't undergo the many years of medical training and education needed to obtain a medical license.

License requirements for respiratory therapists vary from state to state, but all practicing professionals must complete a two-year respiratory therapy education program at a minimum. However, some respiratory therapy positions require extra education and training, and some professionals have bachelor's or even master's degrees and other certifications.

Experts in respiratory medicine believe that respiratory therapists can play a vital role in patient health, and that they should be included in every COPD treatment team. Some research even suggests that working with a respiratory therapists can reduce patients' risk for exacerbation and hospitalization.

A respiratory therapist can teach you how to use your medications correctly and how to minimize your risk for COPD exacerbations. They can also advise you on how to use oxygen and other as-needed medications more effectively to manage your symptoms throughout the day.

Respiratory therapists offer training in breathing techniques, airway clearance techniques, and other strategies to reduce symptoms like wheezing and shortness of breath. They also provide general counseling for smoking cessation and other lifestyle changes that can improve your COPD symptoms.

Most of all, respiratory therapists serve as knowledgeable, accessible resources for COPD patients to ask questions and receive support. They are particularly helpful for people with severe breathing problems that cause them to struggle with everyday tasks.

However, having a respiratory therapist on your team is worthwhile even during the early stages of the disease. Whether you're still learning the basics of living with COPD or you're managing serious health complications, a respiratory therapist can teach you strategies for controlling your symptoms and improving your quality of life.

What Do Exercise Specialists Do for COPD?

Working out and staying fit is a major challenge for a large proportion of people with COPD, especially for those in the advanced stages of the disease. Because of this, many patients benefit significantly from working with an exercise specialist like a physical therapist, personal trainer, or exercise physiologist.

In general, exercise specialists are trained to work with people who have physical difficulties and limitations caused by injuries, disabilities, and diseases. This makes them particularly well-suited to treat people with COPD, who often suffer from severe breathing symptoms that make physical activity difficult.

Physical Therapists

Physical therapists help people with COPD by guiding them through movements and exercises targeted at building strength and improving mobility. Their job is to understand your disease, your pains, and your physical abilities so they can help you exercise within those constraints.

Most professional physical therapists have to undergo a great deal of education in order to practice, and most have a masters or PhD in physical therapy. This gives them the expertise to both diagnose and treat injuries and other movement problems, including physical decline caused by COPD.

Physical therapy can be particularly beneficial for COPD patients who suffer from physical disabilities, limited mobility, or injuries like fractures caused by osteoporosis. Some patients have lived sedentary lives because of their COPD symptoms for so long that they need physical therapy to build up the muscle strength they need to exercise on their own.

Exercise Physiologists

While physical therapists focus more on helping patients perform specific movements and exercises, exercise physiologists take a slightly more general approach. Instead of focusing on physical strength alone, they specialize in using physical activity to improve their patients' diseases and overall health.

Exercise physiologists need a bachelor's degree at a minimum to practice, but many job positions require a master's degree or higher. In practice, exercise physiologists do a lot of the same things physical therapists do; they design physical activity programs, coach patients through specific exercises, and monitor patients' progress over time.

However, exercise physiologists generally have less education than physical therapists, who often have a doctorate degree. Because of this, exercise physiologists generally focus their skills on big-picture strategies to improve health and wellness, rather than treating specific injuries.

Exercise physiologists often perform stress tests and monitor measures of their clients' physical health, such as lung function and cardiovascular fitness, to better understand their patients' conditions. Then, they design and implement exercise programs specially tailored to their clients' individual needs and goals.

Personal Trainers

It generally takes much less medical training and education to become a personal trainer compared to the other exercise specialists we've discussed. Personal trainers only need a certification—not a degree—to practice, and personal trainer certification programs are much shorter and much less rigorous than degree programs for physical therapy or exercise physiology.

However, even though personal trainers are not as specialized in treating injuries and diseases, they can still help people with COPD in a variety of ways. For example, a physical therapist can help you kick-start a new workout routine, teach you proper exercise techniques, and provide both physical and emotional support during workouts.

Exercise Specialists in COPD Treatment

Exercise specialists play an important role in COPD treatment because they teach patients the skills they need to stay active in spite of their disease. In many cases, they craft personalized exercise plans for patients and guide them through exercises and other activities to help them achieve their goals.

An exercise specialist might walk you through specific exercises, stretches, and breathing exercises that are appropriate for your physical abilities and medical needs. An exercise specialist can also help you hone your physical technique and maximize your breathing efficiency to stave off respiratory symptoms while you work.

Learning these skills is vital for every person with COPD, since regular physical activity has a major influence on physical health, mental health, and even lung function. By helping you life a more active lifestyle, professional exercise specialists can help you breathe better, get around better, and build the strength you need to live a good quality of life.

Many people begin seeing an exercise specialist when their COPD progresses to the point that light activities like walking make it difficult to breathe. When their symptoms get this bad, many patients struggle to do normal tasks, don't know how to manage exercising on their own, and begin a negative downward spiral into inactivity.

At this point, professional help allows many people with COPD to build the technique and strength they need to walk, do daily activities, and live a more active lifestyle. This allows them to better manage your symptoms and reduce their risk for a variety of other health complications, including physical injury, heart disease, and accelerated COPD progression.

What Do Diet and Nutrition Specialists Do for COPD?

Eating a healthy diet and getting enough nutrients is a major challenge for many people with COPD. Many patients, for example, experience breathing symptoms and chest discomfort that make eating enough at meals a difficult and uncomfortable chore.

In these cases, malnutrition is a real threat that can worsen COPD symptoms and lead to other serious health complications like osteoporosis. On the other hand, COPD also makes it difficult to exercise, which both leads to weight gain and makes it much harder to get rid of excess weight.

Because of this, many people with COPD end up needing to work with a diet or nutrition expert to get their weight on track. These specialist help people with COPD change their eating habits, maintain a healthy BMI, and get the nutrients they need to keep their lungs healthy and strong.

They do this by educating their patients about proper nutrition and what a healthy diet looks like. They also help patients set nutritional goals and design personalized meal plans to help them stay on track.

Dietitians and nutritionists can also help people with COPD overcome specific nutrition-related challenges caused by their disease. For example, they can put together specialized, high-calorie diet plans and eating schedules for patients who normally struggle to eat enough food.

Although the terms dietitian and nutritionist are often used interchangeably, there are some notable differences between the two professions. Most importantly, dietitian is a regulated, legally-certified profession, while nutritionist generally is not.

Dietitian vs. Nutritionist

The main things that distinguish a dietitian from a nutritionist are education andlegal regulations. While one is not necessarily better than the other, dietitians are more heavily regulated than nutritionists in many US states, and must meet higher educational standards.

To practice legally in the US, any professional who calls himself a dietitian has to be registered with the Commission on Dietetic Registration. In order to qualify, dietitians must have a 4-year degree from an accredited degree program focusing on human physiology and nutrition science, 1,200 hours of practical internship experience, and pass a standardized nutrition examination.

However, there are no federal requirements or regulations in the US that restrict who can call themselves a nutritionist. Some states have imposed their own requirements and registration processes for nutritionists, but other states don't regulate the practice at all.

Because of this, dietitians are often considered to be the more skilled and trustworthy of the two specialties. This is not always the case, however, which is why education and experience are the most important factors to consider when you look for a diet and nutrition expert.

In general, dietitians are more likely to have an educational background that qualifies them to offer specific medical guidance to people with serious diseases and health conditions. As a result, dietitians are usually the best choice for technical tasks like designing special diet plans and monitoring their effects.

Nutritionists, on the other hand, are often best suited for more educational and advisory roles. Consulting a nutritionist can be a great way to get practical and personalized diet, nutrition, and general wellness advice.

Pulmonary rehabilitation

Photo from U.S. Air Force, Senior Airman Kristin High

We can't talk about exercise and nutrition specialists without also bringing

"Quality over quantity", we all know the saying, and there is a reason us here at LPT Medical are so keen about “quality” here is why: 

The better quality product the happier the customer and the more we can grow! We are not in the business of cutting corners because no one is getting anything positive out of the type of market. 

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If we can promise to offer our customers high quality portable oxygen concentrators we are doing our jobs right. In order to feel confident in our sales, we only work with reputable manufacturers in the industry.

This means we source products from brands like Inogen, Respironics, and others that we know from years of experience are going to fulfill our oxygen patients needs, but also give them a freedom and quality of life they wouldn't get with another oxygen device like an oxygen tank.

In this blog, we aren't talking about why and how portable oxygen concentrators are better than oxygen tanks. Instead we are discussing which types of portable oxygen concentrators are going to add value to you lives and which brands will not.

We get a lot of inquiries about the prices of portable oxygen concentrators, and it makes sense, these oxygen device aren’t cheap, and they are very rarely covered by insurance or medicare. 

Read this blog linked to learn more about insurance and portable oxygen concentrators .  

So why are they so valuable, and also how can you afford one? 

As with anything, there are “knock offs”, which are cheaply made replicates of a high quality goods that are sold at a lower price point. This low price point is attractive to many buyers, but what they don't know is that these goods actually costing them more money in the long run because they either don’t work properly, break easily, or something else and they have to buy another.

In the case of an oxygen device, buying knock off branded portable oxygen concentrators won’t just cost you more money, it will cost you your life.

Long term oxygen therapy, when used to treat a chronic illness such as chronic pulmonary respiratory disease (COPD) is a life saving therapy, and when done correctly, oxygen therapy  adds years to a hypoxic patient's life.

To be “done correctly” in this context means that oxygen patients must be getting the proper dose of oxygen depending on the state of their condition and the potency of medical grade oxygen that they would be getting if their oxygen was sourced from the hospital in tanks, meaning at least 88% oxygen. 

The air we breathe normally has oxygen with other gases mixed in, one being Nitrogen. Normal air is sufficient for someone that is healthy and does not have a respiratory disease, but for someone who’s lungs do not work well getting enough oxygen filtered  through their lungs and into other parts of their bodies is insufficient.

Pure medical grade oxygen helps lung patients filter the air they breathe so that it can be pumped through their blood and into muscle and tissues efficiently. 

Oxygen Tanks 

This is why having an oxygen tank is an option for respiratory patients to get their medical grade oxygen. Oxygen tanks are filled with medical grade oxygen, and its components are different from the air we breathe normally. However there are many downsides to owning an oxygen tank:

Oxygen tanks are heavy and cumbersome. For oxygen patients who already have trouble getting around are subjected to carry a hunk of metal around with them. Medical grade oxygen should be helping them maintain a healthy lung capacity and give them the ability to breathe easier, but the weight alone can contradict all of the benefits supplemental oxygen therapy has to offer. 

Tanks also require consistent refilling, this takes away time and money from oxygen patients who may not have much of either of those things. Waiting around for the oxygen delivery service to come to your home and refill your tanks takes up precious time you could be spending on your own accord doing what you prefer to be doing.

Getting the tanks refilled also costs money every time, and while the costs seem relatively low, most patients get their tanks refilled every other week, so over the years these little payments add up drastically. 

Travel is also a major factor for oxygen patients, and with tanks, don’t even think about getting on an airplane. And if you do decide to travel by plane, be ready you spend an arm and a leg renting an oxygen device for the plane and once you land at your destination. 

Portable Oxygen Concentrators 

The best and most affordable alternative for oxygen therapy devices is a portable oxygen concentrator (POC), but the type and brand of POC matters a lot, because a low quality device is not going to give the oxygen user the benefits they need from oxygen therapy. 

In order to reap the benefits of a POC and oxygen therapy, one must be willing to pay for a high quality device. 

Watch this short video to learn about the basic difference between a cheap POC devices that anyone can buy off of amazon, and a medically approved device sold by LPT Medical: 

LPT medical is a licensed distributor of oxygen devices, meaning we requires a doctor's prescription for you to order an oxygen from us. This is important for a number of reasons:

First of all, you know you are getting a reliable oxygen device that operates properly, but you also get a 3 year long warranty on new devices that gives you the peace-of-mind if something malfunctions with your device you will be covered. You also know that the device is purifying you oxygen so that it is meeting your necessary requirements for oxygen therapy. 

If you are interesting in learning about the Caire Freestyle Comfort that is displayed in this video, or any of our other device, please call us at 1(800)-946-1201.

Anxiety can show itself in a number of ways for a multitude of different reasons. If you have COPD or another obstructive respiratory disease that makes breathing difficult, you may also experience anxiety related symptoms due to breathlessness. 

Mental health problems are very common in COPD patients: about 60% of patients with COPD have symptoms of anxiety and 40% have symptoms of depression. 

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Anxiety and depression can heighten COPD related symptoms like breathlessness, physical functioning, quality of life, exacerbation rates, length of hospital stays, and mortality. 

Both anxiety and depression amplify hyperventilation and cause panic attacks which will heighten the sensation of breathlessness. Also, if you have COPD and psychological difficulties you are less able to manage symptoms and treat your lung condition for a number of reason, two being that you are less likely to be physically active or attend pulmonary rehabilitation.

However, if you can recognize your mental and physical limitations, the psychological impact of your COPD is very treatable along with your physical COPD symptoms.

Treating COPD

Treating COPD is important not only for your physical health, but it is a step towards better mental health as well. For example, if you need oxygen therapy, following the guidelines of your oxygen perception is a necessary step that will make your life more easily manageable. If you're in the market for a portable oxygen concentrator be sure you are working with an oxygen licensed distributor like LPT Medical so you can have peace of mind that you are getting an oxygen device that will take care of condition in the most effective way possible. 

Other treatments include, taking your medication and understanding when and where you need to take certain inhalers through the day. This will help reduce stress and anxiety around your condition.

You should also be exercising, dieting, quit smoking and following other COPD treatments that have been proven to improve the quality of life for patients with COPD. 

Treating Anxiety 

Not being able to breathe can cause a lot of problems in your physical body but it also impacts your brain! Anxiety causes breathing to get worse, which causes more stress and anxiety, and then your breathing gets worse again, creating a toxic cycle of shortness of breath. 

Anxiety disorders, specifically generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) happen at a higher rate in patients with COPD compared with the general population and over 16 million Americans are diagnosed with COPD.  

Not surprisingly, anxiety can have a significantly negative impact on the quality of your life with COPD. 

In this blog we are discussing the potential to get help for your anxiety which can help you live a higher quality of life with COPD. If there is one thing you take away from this article, let it be that as a person with a chronic respiratory disease the very best thing you can do for yourself is to become educated about your disease. 

First thing is first, it is important that you understand where your anxiety is coming from. 

Deciphering Between COPD Induced Anxiety and General Anxiety 

It is very possible that you have COPD and anxiety from not being able to breathe properly, but it is also possible that your anxiety disorder is unrelated to your breathing problems, and is rooted in something else.

This would mean that the ideas laid out in this particular article may not be as beneficial as other resources that can explain other sources of anxiety that you are experiencing, but again could be worth the read because education is key.

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Your pulmonary health care team can help you find the root of your anxiety by performing certain tests, and with the help of psychologists that are trained in treating mental health disorders. 

Generalized Anxiety disorder most often looks like this:

• Persistent worrying or anxiety about a number of areas that are out of proportion to the impact of the events
• Overthinking plans and solutions to all possible worst-case outcome
• Perceiving situations and events as threatening, even when they aren't
• Difficulty handling uncertainty
• Indecisiveness and fear of making the wrong decision
• Inability to set aside or let go of a worry
• Inability to relax, feeling restless, and feeling keyed up or on edge
• Difficulty concentrating, or the feeling that your mind "goes blank\
• Fatigue
• Trouble sleeping
• Muscle tension or muscle aches
• Trembling, feeling twitchy
• Nervousness or being easily startled
• Sweating
• Nausea, diarrhea or irritable bowel syndrome
• Irritability

The tricky part is that COPD related anxiety can and often does look very similar. It is when treating anxiety where you have to be careful about where your anxiety comes from.

Treating COPD induced Anxiety  

There are now better methods for treating anxiety related to breathing complications.

Here are the 3 different anxiety treatment options within the context of COPD patients: 

1. Pharmacological
2. Psychotherapeutic
3. Pulmonary rehabilitation treatments 

Pharmacological 

There have been pharmaceuticals called nortriptyline, buspirone, and sertraline all of which have been found to reduce symptoms of anxiety caused by COPD. 

In a study, patients with COPD and depression were examined during a 12-week, randomized controlled trial of nortriptyline. Nortriptyline notably helped treat depression and showed valuable improvements in anxiety, certain respiratory symptoms, overall physical comfort, and day-to-day function. 

Buspirone (BuSpar) is a nonaddictive anti-anxiety medication that doesn’t interfere with your breathing. 

While sertraline has not been proven to improve in forced expiratory volume (FEV1) or depressive symptoms, COPD patients who were given a certain dose of sertraline did show some improvement in their daily activities. The effectiveness of sertraline with COPD or a related obstructive airways disease showed significant improvement in breathing abilities. A few patients in this study also showed some improvement in exercise capacity, depression and anxiety. 

Psychotherapeutic 

There are now specifically designed cognitive behavior therapy programs that take into account the unique difficulties of COPD patients like yourself. These specifically designed programs are catered to people with breathing difficulties and for many people, it is the best treatment available for COPD related depression and anxiety.

Cognitive–behavioral programs focus on relaxation and mindfulness practices to help reduce anxious symptoms. 

Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), which helps patients develop strategies for coping with anxiety and similar conditions, have been proven to help lower that anxiety and reduce the chances COPD patients will end up in the hospital.

It works best when behavioral therapy is done by nurses with expertise in lung conditions!

It is commonly known now that the importance of psychological treatment in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), has great potential benefits, yet clinicians do not always address this important issue.

This therapy is designed to understand patients’ current difficulties by linking a patient's environment, their physical symptoms, thoughts, emotions and behavior. 

Techniques will be used to tackle their current difficulties and teach the patient skills to identify unhelpful thinking or behavior which might be causing vicious cycles of anxiety and/or depression. Having a personal approach can help cultivate an understanding of the patient's problems so they are capable of identifying ways to overcome their problems and identify triggers so they can actively improve their quality of life.

Here are some of the steps a CBT program will go through with COPD patients: 

1.  Identify what triggers a patient's breathlessness: physical activities and/or psychological factors (fear or panic). 
2. Create a self-management plan to address physical and psychological difficulties.
3. Improve medical care, for example, identifying and addressing unhelpful thinking.
4. Planning and pacing activities, breathing techniques, distraction and relaxation can all help breathlessness alongside oxygen therapy. 

Patients with all levels of COPD severity who also experience symptoms of anxiety and/or depression can benefit from CBT, but it is up to your doctor and team of health professionals to get you the care you need. 

You should seek out appropriately trained respiratory healthcare professionals to undertake your CBT if you and your doctor determine that you would benefit from a a cognitive behavior program. 

One day, hopefully soon, the healthcare system will be able to provide safe and effective psychological care from an experienced person with the right skills to provide the treatment, but it is still a long process to implement this into a tradition COPD treatment plan. As a patient, being educated about this topic will help you advocate for your needs, and get to the therapeutic help you need.

Pulmonary rehabilitation treatments 

Multicomponent pulmonary rehabilitation programs can also hep to improve anxious symptoms.

Pulmonary rehab is a program that was designed to improve quality of life by:

• Decreasing respiratory symptoms and complications
• Encouraging self-management and control over daily functioning
• Improving physical conditioning and exercise performance
• Improving emotional well-being
• Reducing hospitalizations

The focus is partly to reduce physical symptoms of breathlessness by giving the your new exercises, breathing techniques, and dieting and habit forming skills, but these programs are also heavily focused on education and emotional health.

Pulmonary rehab gives you the tools to accomplish goals and strategies for managing your condition in a healthy way both physically and mentally. It is also a social group setting that gives you the chance to talk to other people in similar situations, which is good for your mental health. 

Finding Alternatives for Anxiety Medication 

People who don’t have COPD but do have anxiety are sometimes prescribed anti-anxiety medications but many of these drugs can negatively impact breathing if you do have COPD.

Anxiety medication can also potentially interact with other medications you use to treat your COPD. Not to mention, these medications can cause dependence and addiction problems as well.

Traditionally the typical treatment for COPD has been inhaled medication with goals to reduce airway obstruction. More recently, it has been recognized that good quality, holistic care of COPD should address all aspects of the condition including mental health and not merely focus on treatments aimed at improving airway obstruction.

If you have COPD and you also struggles with anxiety, some of the ideas laid out in this blog may help you manage these conditions! It could be beneficial for you to think about taking certain pharmaceuticals in order to reduce anxiety caused by COPD. You could also be benefiting from cognitive behavioral therapy and pulmonary rehabilitation courses that are designed with your conditions in mind. 

First and foremost, education is a game changer in treating and living with a chronic condition like COPD. Learning about your condition and how it can affect more than just your ability to breathe will give you insight into treating your disease more holistically and in-turn cultivates a healthier lifestyle moving forward. 

If you found this blog helpful, please share it with your friends and family and comment to let us know your thoughts!