Regular physical activity is a vital part of keeping yourself healthy if you have COPD. Unfortunately, the very nature of the disease makes exercise more difficult, with fatigue and breathing difficulties being some of the major symptoms.

Because of this, doctors have long recommended pulmonary rehabilitation to COPD patients who have trouble staying active or getting enough exercise. Pulmonary rehabilitation classes are designed to help people with breathing disorders learn how to work out and stay healthy while keeping their symptoms under control.

Unfortunately, there are often not enough spaces in pulmonary rehabilitation programs to accommodate every patient who needs to attend. In fact, many patients in rural areas don't even have the option of attending pulmonary rehabilitation without driving many hours from where they live.

Another problem with pulmonary rehabilitation classes is the cost. One study found that the average patient has to pay more than $2,000 just to participate in a single group pulmonary rehabilitation class.

Because of this, many people with COPD and other respiratory diseases who could benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation classes have to do without, either because all the classes in their area are full, there are no nearby programs at all, or because they simply cannot afford the cost. However, researchers have begun identifying alternatives to pulmonary rehabilitation so that more patients with respiratory diseases like COPD can get the treatment they need.

For instance, certain exercise techniques, like Tai Chi and yoga, can be very effective for helping patients with COPD build their exercise tolerance and improve their symptoms. Patients often need help from trained instructors to learn how to exercise well, and attending these types of exercise classes can provide the structure and learning environment that people with COPD need.

While attending an actual pulmonary rehabilitation is still the ideal choice when possible, studies show that techniques like Tai Chi can be just as beneficial for improving your physical health. In this post, we'll introduce you to these techniques and show you how you can use them to improve your fitness, build up your exercise tolerance, and reduce your COPD symptoms.

Tai Chi for COPD

Tai Chi is a lesser-known type of exercise in western countries like the United States, but it has long been recommended to people with COPD for both its mental and physical benefits. It is an exercise style made up of many different “forms,” or poses and movement techniques, that focus on balance, muscle control, and breathing.

The origins of Tai Chi lie in ancient China, where it was originally used as a form of self defense. It is still used today, often as type of gentle, low-impact exercise meant to improve physical fitness and psychological health.

There are many different Tai Chi styles, each of which focuses on a different aspect of the technique. Some forms of Tai Chi emphasize physical strength, some emphasize martial arts, and others put more focus on the meditation and breathing aspects of Tai Chi.

Although Tai Chi is traditionally grounded in the Chinese philosophies of Qi and yin and yang, you don't have to understand or subscribe to these belief systems in order to practice the technique. The exercise techniques alone have been shown to confer a variety of health benefits, especially for people with age-related diseases.

What Makes Tai Chi Special

Tai Chi is considered a wonderful exercise technique for seniors and people with chronic diseases. This is because it uses slow, low-impact movements that are perfect for people with limited strength and physical mobility.

Sometimes described as “meditation in motion,” Tai Chi is known for its integrated mind-body techniques. The different Tai Chi forms are practiced using relaxed, fluid movements that don't stress your muscles and train you to focus on the sensations you feel in your body.

Tai Chi is made up of a variety of different forms, which are individual sets of movements and poses that make up the physical aspect of Tai Chi. Some forms are short and simple, requiring just a few discrete movements at a time, while some are longer and more complex.

Just about anyone can practice Tai Chi, and the techniques can be modified for people with disabilities or people with limited strength and endurance. However, its focus on mindfulness and breathing makes it particularly helpful for people with respiratory diseases like COPD.

Tai Chi not only helps you stretch and tone your muscles, but it teaches you how to manage your thoughts and breathing as you exercise. This makes it a perfect exercise for COPD patients who have trouble exercising without experiencing breathlessness and fatigue learn how to better control their breathing and exercise more effectively.

You can also use the breathing and relaxation techniques you learn from Tai Chi in a variety of circumstances outside of Tai Chi practice. It can help you calm yourself when you feel anxious, steady your breathing when you feel short of breath, and translate the breathing techniques you've learned to other physical activities to reduce your symptoms and increase your endurance.

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Studies on Tai Chi and COPD

Health researchers have long been interested in Tai Chi as a form of exercise to improve strength and overall health. More recently, a number of studies have looked at the potential of Tai Chi as a treatment for COPD and come up with encouraging results.

One of the most recent studies, which was published in the journal Chest, found that patients who practiced Tai Chi for twelve weeks showed improvements in muscle strength, respiratory symptoms, and their ability to exercise without feeling breathless. What's more, the patients who did Tai Chi saw just as much improvement, if not more improvement, than patients who attended a standard pulmonary rehabilitation program for the same length of time.

The participants in this particular study used a type of Tai Chi known as the 24-form Yang style, which they practiced for five hours total every week. However, other forms of Tai Chi are also effective, as an academic review of the research on Tai Chi for COPD shows.

A Cochrane review looked at a number of studies on Tai Chi and COPD and found that Tai Chi was just as effective at reducing shortness of breath as standard COPD treatments. And although the evidence for this was not conclusive, the studies also appeared to reveal a slight advantage of Tai Chi over typical treatments, with participants who practiced Tai Chi having slightly better lung function and being able to walk further without feeling too short of breath.

The Cochrane review also found that there were no negative side effects or adverse events from practicing Tai Chi in any of the studies they reviewed. They concluded that “Tai Chi is safe to practice in people with COPD,” although it's still always best to check with your doctor before you starting any new exercise routine.

The American Lung Association also recommends Tai Chi as a form of light exercise and a way to reduce the psychological and emotional stress that many people with COPD suffer. They encourage patients who experience chronic anxiety, fatigue, or frequent COPD symptom flare-ups to try Tai Chi as a way to improve their physical and mental well-being.

Here is a quick run-down of all the major benefits you can get from practicing Tai Chi:

Benefits of Tai Chi

• Teaches you how to regulate your breathing while exercising and doing physical activities
• Puts minimal strain on muscles and joints
• Helps you minimize shortness of breath when you walk and work out
• Can improve your lung function
• Reduces stress and anxiety
• Improves mood and energy
• Improves exercise endurance
• Increases muscle strength and tone
• Increases balance and flexibility

Practicing Tai Chi

If you're interested in trying Tai Chi yourself, the best way to do it is to join a group Tai Chi class. While it is certainly possible to learn and practice it on your own, the help and skill you can gain from having an actual Tai Chi instructor is indispensable.

One of the major benefits of learning Tai Chi in a class is that it gives you the opportunity to get in-person feedback and encouragement. Your instructor can answer your questions, help you learn difficult movements, and correct your form so you learn the proper techniques.

Then, once you've built up your skills to a comfortable level, you will be able to practice Tai Chi effectively on your own. There are even many Tai Chi exercise DVD's and online instructional videos that you can use to and follow along with at home.

As you look around for classes and instructional videos, it helps to know which of the Tai Chi styles you'd like to learn. There are five styles total, but two of them—the Chen style and the Yang style—are the major parent styles from which all the other styles of Tai Chi are derived.

Here's a quick breakdown of the differences between these two main styles to help you as you seek out resources for learning Tai Chi.

The Two Major Tai Chi Styles:

• Chen Style: This is the oldest style of Tai Chi, which is often considered the most difficult. It combines quick, powerful movements along with slow ones and tends to require more strength and skill than other styles.
• Yang Style: This is the most popular form of Tai Chi today and it is practiced as a form of low-impact exercise all across the world. This style uses only slow, flowing movements and is known for its relaxing effects. The 24-form Yang style is a version of this style that uses simpler movements and is more accessible to people with chronic diseases and disabilities.

If you are not familiar with Tai Chi or have limited strength and mobility, you may want to start with the simpler, 24-form yang style. This is the style used in one of the more recent studies on Tai Chi and COPD and is also one of the most common forms practiced in the West.

According to research on Tai Chi and COPD, you should start to see results after about four months of taking classes and practicing at home. Then, if you find that it works well for you, you can continue to use Tai Chi as part of your regular exercise regimen to improve your COPD.

Examples of Tai Chi Forms for COPD

If you think you might be interested in trying Tai Chi, it can help to get a better idea of what it looks like in practice. Here are a few examples of some common Tai Chi movements along with videos to show you how they are done.

Holding Up the Sky

This is one of the most popular Tai Chi forms that is practiced all across the world, and it is a great exercise for beginners. It helps you consciously control your breathing rhythm and put it in sync with your body's movements.

Closing Posture

This form is a great cool-down exercise that can help you relax and steady your breathing. It can also be a great meditative exercise for reducing stress and anxiety.

Windmill Exercise

This Tai Chi form is a slow, relaxing exercise that stretches and tones the muscles in your arms, shoulders, and chest. It can also help you work on your breathing rhythm and open up your chest cavity to give your lungs more room to expand.

Yoga for COPD

Yoga is another form of exercise that studies show can help COPD patients improve their symptoms and their ability to exercise. Similar to Tai Chi, yoga is a thousand-year-old discipline that uses breathing and meditation practices along with low-impact physical activity as an essential part of its practice.

Yoga originally came from India and is made up of two main “pillars”: asana and pranayama. Asanas are the body postures or poses that make up the physical exercise portion of yoga, while pranayama is the deliberate practice of controlling and regulating your breathing.

When most people think of yoga, they think of the asana portion and familiar poses such as “downward facing dog” or the “tree” pose. These poses and the slow, fluid movements you use to transition between them are powerful, yet low-impact exercises that can help you build balance, strength, and muscle control.

However, true yoga practice encompasses much more than the body postures and the flowing movements you use to transition between them. Traditionally, yoga is meant to be a whole-body wellness discipline that promotes mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing.

What Makes Yoga Special?

Yoga is a fantastic exercise for COPD patients because it low-impact, slow-paced, and teaches you how to better control your breathing. Other things that make yoga unique are its mental and meditative practices, which are interwoven with the postures (asanas) and breathing techniques (pranayamas).

The wonderful thing about yoga is that it is accessible to just about anyone, even the elderly and people with chronic illnesses and pain. The different poses, or asanas, are generally simple to perform, and the more advanced positions can be modified for lower strength and skill levels.

The slow, steady movements make most yoga routines easy for people with breathing difficulties to follow without feeling short of breath. However, despite the fact that it is a slow, low-impact exercise, yoga still confers many physical benefits, including better muscle tone, respiration, and cardiovascular health.

image credit: Ryderwear

The different yoga asanas work out a variety of different muscle groups in your arms, legs, shoulders, back, and core, helping you strengthen your body and improve your balance and flexibility. Some studies even show it can help with chronic pain and cardiovascular disease, afflictions that commonly affect people with COPD.

Pranayamas, on the other hand, are meant to help you observe, control, and extend your breaths in time with your movements, and is one of the major features of the exercise that makes it so useful for people with COPD. Being able to regulate and control the rhythm of your breathing is an important skill that can help patients with breathing disorders strengthen their breathing muscles and reduce shortness of breath.

The mental and emotional aspects of yoga are also represented by pranayama, which trains you to calm your mind and body through deep breathing and meditation. Yogic breathing teaches you to focus your mind on your breaths and bodily sensations and get rid of unnecessary thoughts.

Because of this, yogic breathing is a tool that you can use and practice anywhere to reduce anxiety, clear your mind, and steady your breathing. Whenever your mind feels cluttered with negative thoughts and emotions, or you feel anxious or stressed out, you can use the skills you've built through yogic breathing to relax your body and calm your mind.

Studies on Yoga and COPD

Research on yoga as a potential treatment for a variety of diseases has increased in recent years as the practice has become more popular in western societies. As part of this new wave of interest, several studies have been done to evaluate yoga as a potential treatment for COPD, with very positive results.

The meditative and breathing aspects of yoga, in particular, have been shown to help patients with COPD breathe easier and more efficiently while they exercise. One study, published in the Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention, found that patients were able breathe more slowly and deeply during yoga lessons.

The most promising result, however, was that patients actually showed improvements in their blood oxygen saturation levels during the yoga sessions. This indicates that yogic breathing could not only help patients control and regulate their breaths, but can also improve their overall breathing and respiration efficiency.

Another study found that practicing pranayama (yogic breathing) alone yielded positive results in patients with COPD. Compared to a control group, who only received pranayama education, those who actually practiced pranayama with trained coordinators showed minor improvements in their walking endurance and lung function measures.

Additionally, yoga as an exercise seems to be particularly suited for people with respiratory diseases like COPD who tend to find other exercises tiring and difficult to do without experiencing shortness of breath. Because of this, some researchers even think that yoga could be an effective alternative to pulmonary rehabilitation. Most agree, at the very least, that the practice represents a “tremendous opportunity” for patients with COPD.

One academic review that looked at a variety of different studies on yoga and COPD concluded that, although the evidence was limited, it all points to the encouraging conclusion that yoga training can improve both lung function and exercise capacity in people with COPD. In the future, researchers hope to develop custom yoga programs that are designed specifically to help people with breathing disorders improve their respiration and overall physical health.

Although most of these are still early studies, they show the real-world potential of yoga and yogic breathing as a tool to treat respiratory disorders like COPD. More research is needed to better understand the effects of yoga and whether or not it is an effective replacement for pulmonary rehabilitation, but for now it seems to be a safe and promising option for patients.

Here is a quick run-down of some of the major benefits you can gain from practicing yoga:

Benefits of Yoga

• Improved lung function
• Improved muscle tone
• Improved balance
• Improved core strength
• Improved range of motion
• Reduced anxiety
• Lower blood pressure
• Increased ability to relax and reduce stress
• Improved quality of life

Practicing Yoga

If you have difficulty exercising and experience frequent shortness of breath, practicing yoga can be an effective way to improve your symptoms and exercise endurance. Especially if you are unable to participate a pulmonary rehabilitation program, finding a reputable yoga class could help you achieve many of the same benefits.

By far the best way to practice yoga is by joining a class led by an experienced practitioner. Even better would be to join a yoga program designed specifically for people with breathing disorders or COPD if there are any options in your local area.

Either way, it's best to start with a group class before attempting to do yoga on your own at home. There's no substitute for in-person instruction; it helps you ensure that you're using the correct posture and positions and allows you to master techniques at a level you couldn't reach without feedback from a skilled practitioner.

Pranayama, in particular, is often considered an advanced technique that most people cannot master without proper instruction. However, once you've become confident in your skill, you should be able to reap many of the same benefits of yoga by practicing it at home.

Some people find that taking regular yoga classes is more fun and effective than doing it alone, and continue to take classes even after they've learned the basics. In most places, you can find many different types of yoga classes with different styles and skill levels, so that anyone can find a yoga class they can learn from, whether they're a beginner or advanced.

If you finish taking a yoga class and decide to give it a go on your own, there are thousands of resources you can use to help you practice yoga at home. You can find plenty of instructional DVD's, YouTube videos, and books that can help you hone your technique an

In this day and age, it’s becoming increasingly more difficult for people to pay their medical bills. Whether it’s a simple visit to the doctor’s office or a major medical procedure, most people have no idea where they’ll be financially after everything is said and done. And there’s certainly no exception when it comes to purchasing oxygen therapy devices like home oxygen concentrators, portable oxygen concentrators, or CPAP and BiPAP machines.

Usually, the first thing people ask when they contact an oxygen concentrator company is, “are portable oxygen concentrators covered by Medicare?” Although you can seek reimbursement for oxygen equipment from Medicare, it’s important to note that they won’t always accept your claims. Unfortunately, as important as oxygen therapy devices are in people’s lives, insurance companies often see them as “luxury items.”

On the other hand, private health insurance company policies vary widely, so you’ll need to get in touch with them to see how it works. However, even when they do cover oxygen therapy devices, you often need to be covered by a specific plan or meet a set of criteria before they will help pay for it.

It’s important to know exactly what your options are when it comes to purchasing an oxygen concentrator or a similar oxygen therapy device so that you can save as much money as possible and don’t end up with the short end of the stick. In the following sections, we’ll outline all you need to know about medicare, private health insurance, and purchasing an oxygen therapy device. Follow the links below to skip to relevant sections of the post.

• Health insurance terms
• Does Medicare cover oxygen equipment?
• Filing a claim for out-of-pocket expenses
• Saving money on oxygen equipment
• Conclusion

Health Insurance Terms You Should Know

Before you get started with purchasing an oxygen therapy device, there are several terms that you need to become acquainted with that will help you out when filing a claim with your health insurance company. Although it’s pretty straightforward for the most part, Medicare and private health insurance companies may use different terms to describe the same concept.

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Portable oxygen concentrators can be judged on a number of aspects: weight, design, durability, and oxygen output. But the aspect that seems to get the most attention these days is battery life. Battery life is defined as the length of time that a mobile oxygen device can run on a full battery until it’s fully depleted.

In general, a portable oxygen concentrator with a long battery life will afford more freedom and independence to the user whereas ones with less battery life are more likely to keep you homebound.

It’s easy to take for granted having a travel oxygen concentrator that can last for many hours without needing to replace or charge the battery, but it wasn’t always like this.

In fact, several decades ago, portable oxygen concentrators didn’t exist and the few oxygen devices that were available needed to be plugged into a wall in order to run. If they were ever unplugged, they would turn off.

Due to the rapid advancement of battery technology, however, oxygen patients are able to experience a lot more liberty in the way they live and go about their days.

Instead of being restricted by the length of their wall outlet, they can go out of the house and explore for hours, and sometimes even days on end without having to stop to charge or replace their battery.

Since battery life is such an important subject in this day and age, we felt that many oxygen users would benefit from an “oxygen concentrator battery life comparison post.” Today, we’ll take a look at the best POCs for battery life in 2022.

While it’s important to take battery life into consideration before purchasing a POC, you also need to consider other aspects like oxygen output and weight. Be sure to fill out the contact form at the side of the page so we can discuss these aspects with you.

Why Do Most Portable Oxygen Concentrators Use Lithium-Ion Batteries?

There are many different types of batteries in use today, including but not limited to lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, lithium, and alkaline. However, chances are, you’ve heard the term “lithium-ion batteries” a lot more frequently. This is because lithium-ion batteries are eco-friendly, compact and lightweight, and they have a high energy density, meaning they put out a lot of energy for their size.

This makes lithium-ion batteries the ideal battery for electronic devices such as cellphones, laptops, and yes, even your portable oxygen concentrator. What’s more, lithium-ion batteries have progressed very quickly since their invention in the 1990s, so we’re likely to see oxygen concentrator battery life increase even more in the near future.

Why is Pulse Flow Better for Battery Life?

One obstacle you’ll come across when deciding on a concentrator is understanding the difference between pulse flow and continuous flow. While there are many benefits to continuous flow oxygen concentrators, they will almost always provide you with less battery life than a pulse flow oxygen concentrator — this has to do with the way each one works

Portable oxygen concentrators can be judged on a number of aspects: weight, design, durability, and oxygen output. But the aspect that seems to get the most attention these days is battery life. Battery life is defined as the length of time that a mobile oxygen device can run on a full battery until it’s fully depleted.

In general, a portable oxygen concentrator with a long battery life will afford more freedom and independence to the user whereas ones with less battery life are more likely to keep you homebound.

It’s easy to take for granted having a travel oxygen concentrator that can last for many hours without needing to replace or charge the battery, but it wasn’t always like this. In fact, several decades ago, portable oxygen concentrators didn’t exist and the few oxygen devices that were available needed to be plugged into a wall in order to run. If they were ever unplugged, they would turn off.

Due to the rapid advancement of battery technology, however, oxygen patients are able to experience a lot more liberty in the way they live and go about their days. Instead of being restricted by the length of their wall outlet, they can go out of the house and explore for hours, and sometimes even days on end without having to stop to charge or replace their battery.

Since battery life is such an important subject in this day and age, we felt that many oxygen users would benefit from an “oxygen concentrator battery life comparison post.” Today, we’ll take a look at the best POCs for battery life in 2021.

While it’s important to take battery life into consideration before purchasing a POC, you also need to consider other aspects like oxygen output and weight. Be sure to fill out the contact form at the side of the page so we can discuss these aspects with you.

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Why Do Most Portable Oxygen Concentrators Use Lithium-Ion Batteries?

There are many different types of batteries in use today, including but not limited to lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, lithium, and alkaline. However, chances are, you’ve heard the term “lithium-ion batteries” a lot more frequently.

This is because lithium-ion batteries are eco-friendly, compact and lightweight, and they have a high energy density, meaning they put out a lot of energy for their size. This makes lithium-ion batteries the ideal battery for electronic devices such as cellphones, laptops, and yes, even your portable oxygen concentrator.

What’s more, lithium-ion batteries have progressed very quickly since their invention in the 1990s, so we’re likely to see oxygen concentrator battery life increase even more in the near future.

Why is Pulse Flow Better for Battery Life?

One obstacle you’ll come across when deciding on a concentrator is understanding the difference between pulse flow and continuous flow. While there are many benefits to continuous flow oxygen concentrators, they will almost always provide you with less battery life than a pulse flow oxygen concentrator — this has to do with the way each one works.

A continuous flow oxygenator works similar to a compressed oxygen tank. When you turn it on, it will put out a constant stream of oxygen through the nasal cannula. The problem with this method of oxygen delivery is that most of the oxygen that’s being put out is not actually being inhaled meaning your battery will run down quickly and you’ll be using more electricity.

On the other hand, pulse dose portable oxygen concentrators have a built-in technology that allows it to closely track your breathing and only put out oxygen when you inhale. Since the device isn’t working as hard to get you oxygen, the battery will last much longer. You’ll also save a lot of money on energy bills if you like to charge your POC at home. This is why we chose to only put pulse flow portable oxygen concentrators on this list.

CAIRE Freestyle Comfort Battery Life 

In this day and age, the name “Caire Inc.” is practically synonymous with the word “quality.” While they may not be the most popular or recognizable portable oxygen concentrator company out there, they’ve been operating somewhat behind closed doors to bring oxygen patients new technologies and devices that improve their lives and offer them more freedom than ever before. 

Over the years, CAIRE has brought us outstanding oxygen machines including the NewLife Elite, NewLife Intensity, and Companion 5 home oxygen concentrators, the Eclipse 5 continuous flow portable oxygen concentrator, and their most recent, the FreeStyle Comfort pulse flow portable oxygen concentrator.

These oxygen concentrators offer oxygen patients the liberty to choose how they want to live their lives while ensuring that their oxygen needs are always met.

The Caire FreeStyle Comfort was released last year and has more than held its own against other portable oxygen concentrators currently on the market. With this portable oxygen concentrator, it was clear that Caire wanted to go all out with their battery.

On the lowest flow setting, the FeeStyle Comfort battery lasts up to 16 hours on average! That’s the best battery life of any portable oxygen concentrator on the market.

The greatest thing about the long-lasting battery in the FreeStyle Comfort is that even people with high oxygen needs can experience true freedom. On a setting of 5 (1,050 ml/min of oxygen), you’ll still be able to get up to 4 hours out of one charge.

This is in stark contrast to most other pulse flow POCs which will only give you an hour or two of freedom on the max setting. Below is a table showing the battery life of the Caire FreeStyle Comfort.

CAIREview™ Telehealth Technology

Telehealth is a rather new term used to describe the use of a digital medium to administer health-related services. When it comes to oxygen equipment like the Caire Freestyle Comfort, telehealth often comes in the form of mobile applications that connect to portable oxygen concentrators via Bluetooth or some other wireless technology.

CAIREview™ is one of the most advanced telehealth services offered by an oxygen manufacturer and it can be used for free, exclusively with your Caire Freestyle Comfort. Once it’s set up with your device, it will allow for 24/7 monitoring of your device no matter where you are in the world.

The data that’s sent includes machine function, oxygen usage, and device integrity. No personal data is sent and you can rest assured that you will be connected to a secure network.

While the mobile application is not required in order to use the telehealth aspect of your Caire FreeStyle Comfort, it is recommended if you want to make the most of it. The app will gather information about your oxygen concentrator usage such as flow rate, oxygen delivery, and battery usage. Then, at any time, you can download the information and make adjustments to your oxygen treatment accordingly.

Another outstanding aspect of this feature is that it will allow the oxygen supplier to troubleshoot your medical oxygen machine remotely. If there is a simple fix to a problem that you’re having with your device, you won’t have to waste valuable time and money shipping it to a professional to have it fixed.

You’ll also be notified if components like the columns, filters, or batteries need to be replaced. This way, you’ll always be getting the most out of your portable oxygen concentrator. 

Caire FreeStyle Comfort Accessories

One of the greatest things about battery powered oxygen concentrators is that you’re always able to carry a backup battery if you need more time. Since the Caire FreeStyle Comfort comes with two different battery options and two different battery charging options, you’ll be able to customize your oxygen therapy experience to your liking.

The Caire FreeStyle Comfort Comes with the smaller 8-cell lithium-ion battery. This battery offers up to 8 hours of use on a setting of 1. With the battery attached to the device, its dimensions will be 7.3 inches wide x 3.1 inches deep x 10 inches high. And your portable oxygen concentrator will weigh in at only 5 pounds with this battery attached. 

The battery that’s sold separately from the Caire FreeStyle Comfort is the 16-cell lithium-ion battery. With this battery, you’ll have up to 16 hours of battery life on a flow setting of 1. The dimensions of your POC will be 7.3 inches wide x 3.1 inches deep x 11 inches high and this extended battery will only add one additional pound to the overall weight of your device.

The Caire FreeStyle Comfort comes with both AC and DC power cables. The AC power cable will allow you to charge your battery operated oxygen concentrator in any wall outlet and the DC power cable will allow you to charge your POC in any car power outlet.

So, whether you’re going to be at home for a bit or you’re going on a road trip, you’ll be able to charge your oxygen machine wherever you go. Just remember that if you’re traveling out of the country, you’ll need to bring a charging adapter because the Caire FreeStyle comfort AC charging cable is meant for U.S. wall outlets only.

With the long battery life of the 8-cell and 16-cell batteries, lightweight design of the unit, charging options, and built-in telehealth technology, the Caire FreeStyle Comfort is one of the best portable battery operated oxygen concentrators the market has to offer.

What’s more, Caire Inc. has a long history of success when it comes to customer satisfaction, making it possible for more oxygen patients around the world to experience true freedom and independence.

LifeChoice Activox 4L Battery Life

The LifeChoice Activox 4L is an oxygen concentrator produced by Inova Labs. This company was recently acquired back in 2016 by the world’s leading innovator of sleep-disorder breathing care, ResMed.

ResMed currently has a large lineup of world-leading patient interface products including the AirCurve 10 and Stellar non-invasive ventilators, and the Astral™, an award-winning life support platform. So, the acquisition of Inova Labs was a natural next step for them when it comes to providing patients with high-quality and innovative new products.

One of the unique things about the LifeChoice Activox 4L is that it operates using an internal battery. This battery can be charged just like the battery on the Caire FreeStyle Comfort, but it can’t be removed without sending it into the manufacturer. What’s more, you’ll also have the ability to attach an external battery to it which can extend the battery life by a couple of hours.

The good thing about the internal battery is that it’s very powerful, offering up to 10 hours of battery on a flow setting of 1. However, the downside is that if something malfunctions with it, you’ll need to either send it in for repairs or rely on the external batteries which aren’t as powerful.   

Auto Mode and Pulse Wave Delivery

One of the reasons the Activox 4L has such a great battery life is because of the auto mode and the pulse wave technology that are built into it. Auto mode is a system that’s designed to detect changes in your breathing rate.

So for example, if you were to start walking up a hill and your breathing rate increased, the oxygen output will adjust to that. Pulse wave will detect how long you’re inhaling each time and deliver oxygen throughout your entire breath. This way, you’re receiving oxygen with each inspiration and no oxygen is ever wasted.

Inogen One G5 Battery Life

Inogen is quite possibly the most recognizable brand when it comes to portable battery operated oxygen concentrators. While they don’t have as long of a history as medical oxygen supply companies like Respironics or AirSep, they’ve made a greater impact due to the level of innovation that each of their battery powered portable oxygen concentrators has brought to the table.

Back in the early 2000s when home oxygen concentrators were the primary medical device of choice for most patients, Inogen set their sights on pulse flow technology. Inogen believed that there was no reason oxygen patients shouldn’t be able to experience the same freedom and independence as everyone else. As a result, they’ve become the primary driving force that drives the oxygen industry forward each year.  

Inogen Connect Application

Similar to CAIREview, the Inogen Connect is a mobile phone application that can be connected to your portable oxygen concentrator via Bluetooth. The main difference is that the Inogen Connect does not have the telehealth aspect which allows the oxygen manufacturer to view information about your device from anywhere in the world.

Instead, the Inogen Connect will show real-time information about your device such as battery life, column status, and filter status. You’ll also be able to access a digital version of your Inogen One G5 manual so that you don’t have to keep track of your paper one.

If you’re looking for a portable oxygen concentrator for sale in 2022 you’ve likely put a lot of time and effort into your research. We created this blog for you to make your life easier while shopping for a portable oxygen concentrator that— first and foremost — meets your oxygen demands, but also one that is affordable, lightweight, and easy to use. 

This is often easier said than done because many sites offer knockoff or low-quality oxygen therapy devices that don’t live up to their hype. One good way to avoid these scams is to do some research on the brand of oxygen concentrator you’re interested in. 

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Brands like Inogen, Respironics, and AirSep are some of the most trusted on the market. There is a lot of information on the internet about these companies, so if you search a brand and can’t find any information on them, it’s best to look elsewhere. 

Luckily, here at LPT Medical, we only sell portable oxygen concentrators from the most trusted brands in the world

In this guide, we’ll be taking a look at the lightest pulse flow portable oxygen concentrators available to you in the year 2022. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to leave them in the comment section below, or call 1 +(800)-946-1201.

What is a Pulse Flow Oxygen Concentrator?

Portable oxygen concentrators are generally divided into two different categories: pulse flow and continuous flow.

Pulse dose portable oxygen concentrators are much more technically advanced than their continuous flow counterparts because they offer a system that delivers oxygen in boluses (doses) only when it’s needed by the oxygen patient. 

Alternatively, continuous flow units put out a constant stream of oxygen irrespective of the user’s breathing.

It’s important to understand the difference between these two devices because the most “lightweight portable oxygen concentrators” are pulse dose devices. This type of oxygen delivery isn’t advised for all patients.

You maye require continuous oxygen flow to treat your respiratory condition so you should first speak with your doctor or pulmonologist and consider the pros and cons. Read on to learn about some of the lightest pulse flow units on the market.

The AirSep Focus

The AirSep Focus portable oxygen concentrator is one of the  lightest weight portable oxygen concentrators. Weighing in at just 1.75 pounds, you’ll be amazed at what AirSep has been able to pull off with this small portable oxygen concentrator. 

In fact, it’s so small that it can be worn on your belt or stored in a purse! AirSep was one of the first companies to produce an FAA-approved oxygen concentrator, so it’s no surprise that they were able to accomplish this feat as well.

The dimensions of the AirSep Focus are just 6.4” H x 4.8” W x 2.5” L, so this oxygenator is as small as it is light. Because of its form factor, many oxygen patients and retailers have given it the name the “mini portable oxygen concentrator.” 

Owners of the AirSep Focus find that they’re able to do more and achieve more due to the device’s small and lightweight design. Rather than having to lug around a heavy and bulky oxygenator, many people forget they’re even wearing their Focus.

Pretty much the only downside to the AirSep Focus is that it only goes up to a flow setting of 2 with a maximum oxygen output of 330 ml/min. Unfortunately, this isn’t enough oxygen to suit many oxygen patients, so it would not be uncommon if this particular device won;t work for you and your condition.

Regardless of this downside, it’s pretty remarkable what AirSep has been able to accomplish, and it’s innovative design gives us a glimpse into the future of what could become of other concentrators in the future.

The Inogen One G4

The Inogen One G4 is another pulse flow portable oxygen concentrator praised for its extremely lightweight design. At 2.8 pounds, it’s just over a pound heavier than the AirSep Focus — still very light for a modern POC. 

It’s also the lightest portable oxygen concentrator to offer pulse flow settings 1 to 3 (630 ml/min of 90% (+6%/-3%) oxygen). So it is slightly more powerful than the mini AirSep device listed above.

One major benefit of the Inogen G4 over the AirSep Focus is that it offers almost twice as much oxygen output and one additional flow setting. While you likely won’t want to wear the G4 on your belt, it will still feel very light compared to the large majority of concentrators on the market. 

So, if you experience back pain or another issue but still require a higher oxygen output, the G4 may be a better option for you.

Last but certainly not least, the G4 is backed by the Inogen brand, one of the most trusted and reliable portable oxygen companies in the world. 

Since the early 2000s, Imogen has been pushing the industry standard higher and higher by offering some of the most useful and convenient oxygen devices ever made. 

As opposed to the bulky and heavy oxygen tanks of the past century, Inogen knew it was time for a change. Each machine they release has unique features and strengths so they’re always worth looking into.

The Inogen One G5

The Inogen One G5 is the latest pulse flow portable oxygen concentrator by Inogen. It was released in the summer of 2019 and is widely considered to be the best portable oxygen concentrator currently on the market. 

Aside from offering the highest oxygen output of any pulse flow unit and the longest battery life behind the CAIRE Freestyle Comfort, it is also one of the lightest portable oxygen concentrators weighing in at just 4.7 pounds.

When compared to the AirSep Focus, the Inogen One G5 weighs quite a bit more — almost 3 pounds more to be exact. But there’s a reason for this! The G5 has a total oxygen output of 1260 ml/min as opposed to the Focus’ 330 ml/min. 

With the basic single battery that comes with the G5, it lasts about 6.5 hours on one charge whereas the Focus battery will only last about 1.5 hours.   

So yes, the Inogen One G5 weighs quite a bit more than the Focus, but in terms of efficiency and power, the G5 is miles ahead of the AirSep Focus. 

While it may be tempting to choose the lightest portable oxygen concentrator you can find, it’s worth taking all aspects into consideration before making a final decision. Check out this post to learn more about how the G5 has revolutionized oxygen therapy.

Another great aspect of the Inogen One G5 is all of the oxygen accessories you can get to make the most of it. Unlike most oxygen companies, Inogen loves to provide their audience with plenty of options for customizing their oxygen use allowing for more freedom, comfort, and ease-of-use. 

Some of our favorites include the Inogen G5 backpack which allows you to carry plenty of personal belongings with your G5; and the external battery charger which enables you to charge two G5 batteries at once — one on the G5 and the other on the external charger. 

The Inogen One G3

Yes, you read that right — another Inogen concentrator has made it onto this list! Why? Because the Inogen One G3 only weighs 0.1 pounds more than the Inogen One G5. In the grand scheme of things, this is a pretty negligible amount especially when you have many other factors to consider when choosing a POC. 

Despite being released all the way back in 2015, the G3 remains very relevant in the year 2022 which is due, in part, to its lightweight design.

Similar to the Inogen One G5, the G3 is an all-around great oxygen machine. It offers up to 4.5 hours of battery life with the 8-cell battery and it delivers up to 1050 ml/min of 90% oxygen with flow settings 1 through 5. So, despite its lightweight design, the G3 offers plenty of power for COPD patients with higher oxygen demands. It’s also pretty small at just 8.25” H x 8.75” L x 3.0” W.

Believe it or not, the biggest competitor of the G3 is the G5. While Inogen is focused on making each one of their concentrators better than the last, they also want to offer a variety of oxygen generators that meet different needs. What this means is that older portable oxygen concentrators like the G3 will still be relevant many years into the future. 

You can also rest easy knowing that Inogene will support these concentrators with repairs, replacement parts, and warranties as long as oxygen patients like you find use in it.

LifeChoice Activox 4L

Last but certainly not least, we have the LifeChoice Activox 4L portable oxygen concentrator. This is one of only two oxygen machines released by ResMed, but it’s arguably the best they have to offer! 

At just 4.8 pounds, the LifeChoice Activox 4L weighs the same amount as the Inogen One G3, but it offers some additional features that many oxygen users may find appealing.

Rather than coming with an external battery that attaches to the device, the Activox 4L comes with a powerful internal battery that can last up to 10.25 hours on a flow setting of 1! 

In other words, you’ll be getting over twice the battery life of the G3 straight out of the box and you won’t even have to lug around any additional weight. Combined with the external battery, the Activox 4L offers an incredible 15 hours of battery life on a setting of 1!

Conclusion

Out of all the factors to consider when choosing a portable oxygen concentrator, weight is one of the most important. Some patients experience back pain or other health issues that prevent them from carrying a lot of weight so it’s important that these people are able to get the oxygen they need without overburdening themselves. 

Other oxygen patients want lightweight portable oxygen concentrators because they’re easier to carry and don’t cause you to become out of breath so quickly.

No matter your reason for wanting a light portable oxygen concentrator, the ones listed above are the best the market has to offer. However, there are plenty of other factors to consider before purchasing a POC, so stay tuned to our blogs if you’d like more comparison articles like this. 

As always, if you have any questions, be sure to leave them in the comment section below or fill out the form on the side of the page so that one of our respiratory specialists can reach out to you. 

We created another holiday blog from LPT Medical, and this one's dedicated to all of the oxygen patients out there! After writing a blog about 2020 holiday gift ideas for people with COPD we decided that we also wanted to create a blog specifically for respiratory patients that utilize supplemental oxygen therapy.

If you are unfamiliar with supplemental oxygen therapy, it is a life saving treatment for people who have hypoxemia, which ultimately means they have very low blood saturation levels. Hypoxemia can be cause for concern because low oxygen levels can cause complications in body tissue and organs. Normally, a PaO2 reading below 80 mm Hg or a pulse ox (SpO2) below 95 percent is considered low, and in these cases, people will normally be prescribed long-term oxygen therapy.

Ultimately, oxygen therapy is prescribed to people who can’t get enough oxygen on their own. Lung conditions are the main causes that prevents the lungs from absorbing oxygen, including:

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Pneumonia
• Asthma
• Heart failure
• Cystic fibrosis
• Sleep apnea
• Lung disease
• Trauma to the respiratory system

Depending on the severity of the lung condition, oxygen can be administer to slow the progression of chronic illnesses adding years to people's lives, and it also helps everyone who suffers from a lung condition live more active healthier lives.

There are a few ways that oxygen therapy can be administered to the oxygen user. These methods include:

1. Oxygen in metal tanks
2. Liquid oxygen
3. Portable oxygen concentrator
4. Home oxygen concentrator

Depending on which method your loved one uses, you can buy little gifts or plan on doing some helpful tasks that make thoughtful holiday gifts.

So, once you determine which type of oxygen device they have, come back to this article, you will find 19 gift ideas for your loved one who uses oxygen.

So let's get into it!

Gift Ideas for Someone on Oxygen

1. Gifting a POC to a loved one with an Oxygen tank

If you are unfamiliar with oxygen therapy products in Denver, CO, portable oxygen concentrators (POC) are the most modern and efficient form of oxygen delivery, over liquid oxygen and oxygen tanks. Portable oxygen concentrators are lightweight, run on a rechargeable battery, and you can take them on airplanes, unlike their counterparts- tanks and liquid oxygen, both are bulky and unsafe to take on a plane.

If your loved one still used an oxygen tank, but would qualify for a portable oxygen concentrator, there are a lot of benefits they could reap by switching from oxygen tanks to a portable oxygen concentrator. First and foremost, if they like to travel, having portable oxygen concentrators is much more reliable for extended periods of time and not having to re-fill the device is much more efficient for extended stays away from home.

There are two kinds of portable oxygen concentrators, one is a pulse flow and the other delivers continuous flow. The most popular pulse flow portable oxygen concentrators on the market are the Inogen One G4 and the Carie Freestyle Comfort. These are in high-demand because of the efficiency and lightweight designs. They are so easy to carry, either with the custom carrying case or in a backpack, but they also offer powerful pulse flow settings, and they can cover most oxygen patients' needs that need pulse dose oxygen flow, and even have some wiggle room should their oxygen prescription increase over time.

With all of this being said, not everyone qualifies for a POC, depending on their oxygen prescription a POC may not be able to fulfill their requirements, in which case they will use oxygen tanks that they have to get refilled bi-weekly.

The other reason people use oxygen tanks rather than POCs is due to the up-front cost associated with a POC. Even though POC are much cheaper in the long-term, because tanks have recurring costs, people shy away from the price tag even though they could be saving thousands of dollars over the course of their life.

Portable oxygen concentrator costs vary depending on the unit in question. There are a lot of products and brands making these oxygen devices, and it can get overwhelming and confusing. So we created a guide that will help narrow down your options and give you the most trusted names in oxygen therapy products.

With all of this in mind, you can discuss with your loved one the potential of upgrading from a tank to a portable oxygen concentrator. This is a wonderful opportunity to give your loved one the gift of freedom and independence, and it is something you can both do together. For more information about the process, purchasing options, warranties call a LPT Medical respiratory specialist at 1-888-416-3855.

Gift Ideas for a Loved One With a Portable Oxygen Concentrator

If you have a loved one with COPD or another lung disease that requires them to be on oxygen 24/7, their oxygen device is with them everyday all day, so the most obvious gift you can get them is something to make their portable oxygen concentrator even better!

A portable oxygen concentrator is a battery powered medical device that does require a doctor’s prescription when you buy from a licensed distributor. These machines are lightweight and dynamic, and can even be taken on airplanes, unlike oxygen tanks and canisters.

Here are some gift ideas that make having a portable oxygen concentrator even easier:

2. An Extra Battery

Oxygen tanks require refills, therefore a delivery company comes and refills empty tanks or replaces empty tanks with filled ones, at least once every two weeks depending on how much oxygen they need.

Every time oxygen is delivered it costs money and time. With a portable oxygen concentrator, all you have to do is charge the batteries!

The batteries can be charged while the user is resting and using the device. However, having an extra battery for a POC has a multitude of benefits. The first being, they can keep an extra battery on them, for extended trips away from home. This way, when their device is running low on battery, they can simply switch the dead battery with a fully charged battery, and they can stay out longer, worry free.

The extra battery is also great to have in the case of emergencies.

3. POC backpack

One of the best aspects of having a portable oxygen concentrator, is the ability to travel and move around so easily! Depending on the device your loved one has, they also likely have a custom carrying case that came with the device when they bought it!

While the custom carrying cases are great for some, backpacks can make caring for their POC along with their belongings even easier. Depending on which POC your loved one has, you can get the matching backpack so the device fits securely into its designated place.

Here are links to some of the Inogen models that are very popular among oxygen users:

Inogen One G3 Rolling Backpack by Portablez

Inogen One G3 Backpack

Inogen One G5 Backpack

Inogen One G4 Backpack

Caire FreeStyle Comfort Backpack

The Bellhop

4. GO2 Carry all Inogen One G3 Carrying Bag

The Inogen One G3 is a very popular oxygen device, and because it is an older model, many people still use their One G3, and many people are still buying new ones.

The GO2 Carryall Inogen One G3 bags combine the versatility and lightweight design of the custom carrying case with plenty of additional space for your car keys, wallet, cell phone, and your Inogen G3 accessories. That is not all, the G3 Carryalls are also very fashionable, and it looks more like a purse than a medical carrying case. You can get the carry bag in a black or brown color.

5. External battery charger

While their POC will come with one battery, and AC and DC charging cables, no device comes with an external battery charger. So if your loved one does not have an external charger, this makes a great holiday gift.

Rather than relying on an AC or DC power supply to keep the Inogen One G4 running, with the external chargers, it is easy to swap out a depleted battery for a recharged one at any time. The Inogen One G4 External Battery Charger plugs right into any wall outlet and can charge your single or double batteries quickly and safely.

This will allow you to make sure the battery in your Inogen One G4 is as fresh as possible at all times before you leave your home, and it will also allow you to take an extra battery with you when you're traveling so that you don't run out of power.

The benefits of having a external charger, rather than simply relying on the AC and DC power cords are as follows:

• Charge single and double batteries
• Charges faster than AC and DC power supply
• Indicator to see when your battery is fully charged

6. Larger battery

If your loved one has a POC they will have at least one battery, but with many POCs, there is the option to get the smaller battery or upgrade to a bigger longer-lasting battery. If they only have one small battery, purchasing a compatible larger battery could make a thoughtful holiday gift this year.

Depending on the device they have, you will want to make sure that you get the battery compatible with their device. Most pulse flow devices have the option to upgrade to a larger battery that can last almost twice as long, without having to be switched out or recharged.

You can find links to larger batteries for some of the most popular devices here:

Inogen One G5 Double Battery

Inogen One G4 Double Battery

Inogen One G3 16-Cell Battery

Caire FreeStyle Comfort Large Battery

7. Thrive E- Learning Course

If your loved one did not purchase their oxygen device through LPT Medical, it is possible they weren’t offered this incredible educational course with the purchase of their oxygen device.

The Thrive E-Learning Course is an expert led, Pulmonary education course. Students learn the necessary knowledge and tools to slow chronic disease progression. Respiratory disease should not stop anyone from doing the things they love, this course helps individuals get back to an active and healthy lifestyle.

8. Air Purifier

Someone with COPD needs to breathe clean air as much as possible, this reduces symptoms and even helps to slow down the progression of COPD. So how do you get someone you love clean air in a world filled with wildfires, pollution, dust mites, and some many other irritates?

A high quality air filter is renowned for its ability to remove almost all airborne particles from the air indoors. Having an air filter can relieve allergy symptoms, improve sleep and help improve overall health, for people suffering from COPD an air filter is a wise decision to improve their quality of life not just within their own home, but it will improve their health and wellbeing so they can spend more time outdoors if they chose to.

9. Lung Health Meter

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Keeping track of one’s health is crucial for someone with COPD. Because this disease is chronic and progressive, it is very helpful for doctors and the pulmonary health team to have updated notes on how the disease has progressed since the last time visiting the doctor.

One of the most important tests when measuring respiratory health is the pulmonary function tests, which can be taken with a forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). A Lung Health Meter can store up to FEV1 240 readings, so tracking pulmonary health over time is easy.

10. Fingertip Pulse Oximeter

11. Ultra-Breathe Compact Breathing Exerciser

It might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about what a respiratory patient needs- but exercise is necessary to maintain good health and slow the progression of COPD. Regular exercise is crucial to maintaining respiratory health, yet finding a balanced exercise that challenges COPD patients without exhausting them can be difficult.

A compact breathing exerciser boosts respiratory performance and it is a great device for those who suffer from shortness of breath by providing breathing resistance that is easily adjustable for varying lung fitness levels.

12. Bike or Home Exercise Bike

As we mentioned before, exercising is crucial for anyone who is looking to improve their muscular strength and endurance, and this includes COPD patients who want to better their respiratory health. That being said, for people with COPD, it can be very challenging to exercise.

An exercise bike gives them the opportunity to work out their cardiovascular system from the comfort of their own homes. An exercise bike does not have to be a demanding work out and it is especially gentle on the joints compared to other workouts.

13. Walking Shoes

.A nice pair of walking shoes is a great gift for a person with COPD because walking is just about the single most important activity a person suffering from chronic lung illnesses can possibly do.

Even if they walk more indoors than outdoors, having a supportive walking shoe with good traction can help them feel motivated and confident to walk safely around their home or neighborhood.

14. COPD Healthy Cookbook and COPD guide books

There’s no known cure for COPD but there are things you can do to live and breathe better and eating healthy is one. Healthy COPD oriented cookbooks can help someone you love, live better with COPD.

When you can't breathe, nothing else matters, what might help is knowing that about 16 Million Americans suffer from COPD as well, and there are a lot of resources, including books, available with tips and tricks on how to manage this disease.

Helpful books about COPD can be about how it affects the patient’s breathing, books about the most up-to-date medication and treatment options, self-help books about how to track symptoms and medications. Books that give the reader breathing techniques to improve oxygen intake or strategies for healthy nutrition and gentle exercise. Or, books about what to eat and what to avoid, with lists of key COPD foods. Lastly, books with stories from others who also have COPD can help pass the time spent in quarantine, and remind them that they are not alone in this.

Free Gifts

15. Your Time

If there is one thing that respiratory patients and people with chronic illness value is time spent with their loved ones. Spending quality time, playing cards, watching a movie, or if you are socially distancing from you family members at this time, simply chatting over FaceTime or Zoom calls can make a big difference and qualifies for one of the best holiday gifts you could offer someone this year.

16. A Favor or Two

Accomplishing the most basic everyday tasks can be increasingly difficult for people who have a chronic lung condition. Work like gardening, cleaning the house, grocery shopping, and cooking take a lot of energy to accomplish and on top of doing the chores, having a hard time breathing on top of that, chores become nearly impossible. Offering to help with one or two of these tasks can make the holidays much more enjoyable, and if you get to spend quality time with that person, it's like two gifts in one.

17. Communication

A phone call, text, or email is a great way to receive love and caring from family members of people with lung conditions. It can truly make a day or even a week to hear from a loved one and know you are being thought of. Communication is so easy (and cheap) … why not make someone’s day with a quick note?

Other Little Gift Ideas

18. Roomba

The Roomba is a great gift for our friends and family that have a hard time vacuuming on their own. Vacuuming and pushing and pulling is too much for oxygen patients, especially if they also have to maneuver their oxygen tank around with them. Vacuuming can also bring up dust and allergy triggers that can induce a COPD exacerbation.

19. Wireless Earbuds

Wireless earbuds are a great gift for oxyg

Chronic respiratory disease is debilitating to say 

the least, the nature of a chronic illness is that it is not curable, and it will progress if gone untreated. Treating a chronic illness is a battle in itself because it involves exercising, eating properly, quitting habits, and creating new healthy ones

Treating Respiratory Disease

Exercise is not easy for respiratory patients, but getting in daily exercise is essential for keeping your lungs working at their capacity and to maintain muscle strength. Unfortunately, even just a walk can feel overwhelming for many patients who struggle to breathe. 

Eating properly for a respiratory disease, although, can be difficult, is an essential part of treating respiratory disease. Sugar is highly addictive, and sugary and foods with a lot of carbohydrates are bad for your breathing because it can cause bloating and gas that disrupts the respiratory tract, making a bad situation even worse.

Quitting bad habits most importantly means quitting smoking. Just about 85 to 90 percent of COPD patients have COPD due to their smoking habits or being exposed to second-hand smoke. 

If you smoke and you have been diagnosed with a respiratory disease, it is NOT too late to quit, in fact it is more important for your well being than ever before to quit. Oxygen therapy and quitting smoking are the only treatment options that if accomplished correctly will add years to your life. 

The other risk factors for respiratory illness include exposure to air pollution, so it could also be helpful to minimize exposure to allergens like pet dander, pollen, ragweed and other common allergens, pollution, and wildfire smoke.

Many chronic illnesses also require patients to take certain medications, some of which have side effects and require delicate attention to detail. For example chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients are often prescribed bronchodilators. 

Bronchodilators are medications that usually come in inhalers — they relax the muscles around your airways. There are many forms of bronchodilators long-acting and short-acting, some should be taken daily, others only in the case of a COPD exacerbation. 

Taking medication correctly can be the difference between treating your disease independently and frequent visits and pesky phone calls to the doctor’s office. 

Lastly, and most importantly, oxygen therapy to be used as a treatment for COPD can add years to patients live’s if they suffer from a specific degree of hypoxemia. 

This means that at a certain point in a COPD patient's disease, their blood oxygen level will be so low that they will require supplemental oxygen therapy to help them breathe and get their blood oxygen levels back to as normal as possible. 

Long term oxygen therapy patients can get their oxygen in one of three ways- either utilizing a liquid or gas oxygen tank or by using a portable oxygen concentrator.  

Understanding COPD as a condition that will affect the patient for the rest of their life is critical and this is a lifelong journey, meaning that once someone starts using oxygen therapy they will always need it, and they will not get better to the point where they can stop using it.

That is why experts and mental health professionals always advocate for oxygen patients to take advantage of the best oxygen therapy equipment available, because it is a tool that they will use for the rest of their lives. It will also save years of their lives if they are able to adhere to their prescription and maintain healthy oxygen levels during the day and at night. 

Presently, there are two types of devices that oxygen patients benefit from the most, pulse flow and continuous flow portable oxygen concentrators. Pulse flow portable oxygen concentrators offer the oxygen patients doses of oxygen when they are inhaling, and continuous flow devices deliver a constant flow of oxygen to the patient. 

Depending on the condition of the patient’s lungs and breathing capacity, they will be prescribed oxygen therapy; it is crucial for their device to meet their standards of oxygen output. 

In this blog we are talking about the one and only Carie Freestyle Comfort pulse flow portable oxygen device to treat patients that require a pulse flow of oxygen during the day! 

If you are a reader that is curious to know more about continuous flow oxygen devices, you can access these other resources by clicking on the links below: 

The Ins and Outs of 3 Continuous Flow Portable Oxygen Concentrators

Pulse Dose vs. Continuous Flow Oxygen Concentrators: The Ultimate Comparison Guide

Upgrading From an Oxygen Tank to the Respironics SimplyGo Portable Oxygen Concentrator

The Caire FreeStyle Comfort vs. The Respironics SimplyGo Portable Oxygen Concentrator

10 Major Advantages of The Respironics SimplyGo Portable Oxygen Concentrator

The Caire Freestyle Comfort 

The Caire Freestyle Comfort gives the oxygen patient not only what they need (oxygen) but what they want (freedom).

What You Need - Oxygen

No matter what type of oxygen device you are using, whether it is an oxygen tank or the best portable oxygen concentrator on the market, the device will give you what you need- medical grade oxygen.

There is valuable evidence of the survival benefits long-term oxygen therapy offers patients with COPD and those with severe chronic hypoxemia. 

It is well known that it is essential for oxygen therapy patients with COPD to use this therapy diligently for the long term in order to reap all of the benefits of the supplemental oxygen pumping through their bodies.

Benefits of Supplemental Oxygen 

For starters, the most obvious benefit the pure medical grade oxygen gives patients is how that additional oxygen can be processed by their bodies and lungs more efficiently, making it easier for the patient to breathe.

Breathing deeper and easier is not the only benefit. With a healthier blood oxygen level the oxygen patient is also rejuvenating their muscles so they are able to be more active and build strength rather than degrade in muscle mass. 

Once oxygen levels are back to normal levels, getting a good night’s sleep becomes easier. People’s moods and their attitude are less irritable and more positive because they are getting more oxygen to their brains and bodies are able to function more properly. 

Long-term oxygen treatment has obvious benefits and it has improved many patients' quality of life. It can help people to live longer who have severe COPD and low oxygen levels. The most obvious benefits are less shortness of breath and having more energy. However, too much of anything is too much, and it is also important that patients are not over oxygenated. 

There are also drawbacks of oxygen therapy, especially when it comes to the equipment and the limitations of the machines. 

Long-term oxygen therapy should be used for at least 15 hours a day with limited interruptions, therefore your oxygen equipment should realistically be your companion all day long everyday. 

In order to take advantage of oxygen therapy, it should be used 15-24 hours a day. Therefore, having a device that is going to take care of you all day, and for years to come is very important, you also want to have a device that is easy to use and doesn’t hold you back from reaching your potential. 

This is when it is important to think about not just what you need- oxygen, but to start thinking about what it is you want.

Do you want to travel? Exercise more? Start a new hobby? Become more independent? And then think about whether or not your oxygen device will allow you to do those things, or if it is holding you back.

If you are thinking that you are not able to accomplish goals because of your oxygen device, it is time to think about buying a Caire Freestyle Comfort, and here is why!

Lightweight Oxygen Devices 

The Freestyle comfort is one of the lightest oxygen therapy devices money can buy, and it doesn't sacrifice power! Compared to bulky and cumbersome oxygen tanks, the freestyle comfort is sleek, slim, and dynamic, so you can take it with you wherever you go. 

Not feeling weighed down by the extra machinery attached to you, you will feel more motivated to go for walks or get into a new exercise regime! 

The Caire Freestyle Comfort weighs a mere 5 pounds. For many people 5 pounds is not too much to carry with the Caire custom carrying case around their shoulder, but if that is still too hard to carry for you, purchasing a backpack to keep your portable oxygen concentrator is a great option. The backpack is also an easy way to get in a round of golf without being disrupted but your oxygen device! 

Battery Powdered Oxygen Devices 

Having a battery powered portable oxygen device is a game changer, but having a battery that also lasts all day long is life changing!!

Talk about freedom and carefree living, with the Caire Freestyle Comfort your battery could last you all day! Having a device that runs off battery allows you to go anywhere and everywhere without having to worry about running low on oxygen and no more depending on flaky and pesky oxygen delivery companies to come to your home and exchange your tanks. 

All you have to do is plug in your device while you are at home as you would with your cell phone, or if you are in the car or RV plug your device into the DC charging plug for an hour or two! Charging your device is easy, and with the 16-cell battery option, you could get even more life out of your device before having to plug in.

The Caire small battery lasts 8 hours on the lowest setting of 1, and it lasts 2 hours on the highest setting of 5. With the Caire large battery your device will last twice as long on every setting.

The rechargeable aspect of the device is great for oxygen users who are looking for a solution to dependency on others. 

Whether it is finding dependence from relying on an oxygen refill company or finally having independence and relief from relying so heavily on their caregivers, the long lasting battery life allows for the user to get out and accomplish their own errands and daily goals and simply be able to monitor their oxygen on their own. 

Because the device is so easy to charge, you won’t have to ask for help carrying your filled oxygen tanks. If your battery is running low, you can always keep an extra battery handy for peace of mind!

If you would like to buy a second battery, call LPT medical and speak to one of our respiratory specialists by calling 1(800)-946-1201.

Best Pulse Flow Oxygen Device on the Market 

The Freestyle comfort competes with any Inogen system, even the newest model, the One G5 and it is one of the most efficient and effective machines on the market. The Caire Freestyle Comfort offers an ultra-sensitive breath detection feature.

Rather than providing you with a constant stream of oxygen, the Freestyle Comfort delivers oxygen only when a breath is detected. This “bolus” of oxygen is precisely synced with your breathing ensuring no oxygen is wasted.

The Freestyle Comfort offers you 5 oxygen flow settings with a maximum oxygen output of 1050 ml/min. This is enough oxygen for the vast majority of oxygen patients, and for some, it provides plenty of room to move up if their symptoms progress. The Caire Freestyle Comfort is one of the top-tier pulse flow oxygen concentrators when it comes to total oxygen output.

Overview 

Remember that spending money on quality over quantity is good practice for saving money and improving your lifestyle. In the context of oxygen devices, it is wise to spend more money upfront on a device that will give you a higher quality of life rather than waste money monthly on an oxygen tank that will inhibit your ability to live life in the ways you want to. 

Oxygen patients should take advantage of the best oxygen therapy equipment available because they will be using oxygen for at least 15 hours a day and more likely 24 hours a day, for the rest of their lives.

If you would like to learn more about the Caire Freestyle Comfort or any other devices that LPT medical carries, please comment on this blog post or call us at 1(800)-946-1201

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