Asthma and COPD are often confused, but they are two very different diseases. Even though they both cause similar respiratory symptoms, they affect the lungs in distinct and different ways.

COPD is an age-related disease that usually affects smokers and people with long-term exposure to toxins that damage their lungs. Asthma, on the other hand, is often inherited and affects children, teens, and adults of all ages.

Understanding the differences between these two respiratory conditions is important for adults who experience chronic respiratory symptoms, especially if they have already been diagnosed with asthma. While asthma and COPD are separate conditions, in some cases, asthma can cause or contribute to COPD.

COPD is one of the most under-diagnosed and commonly mis-diagnosed diseases, so it's important for doctors and patients alike to be knowledgeable about what sets it apart. That's why, in this article, we're going to show you how to recognize and distinguish the differences between asthma and COPD.

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Asthma Versus COPD

It is difficult to tell asthma and COPD apart by symptoms alone. Serious symptoms like coughing and difficulty breathing can be caused by asthma, COPD, or a combination of both at the same time.

Here are some of the symptoms that asthma and COPD share:

• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath
• Rapid breathing
• Bronchial spasms
• Chest tightness and discomfort

Despite their similarities, from a medical standpoint, it's vital to be able to tell the two diseases apart. Both asthma and COPD require different medical approaches and respond to different treatments and medications.

Moreover, in some cases, people with asthma are actually more prone to developing COPD later in life. Studies show that about forty percent of people with COPD also have asthma, so it's vital for patients to understand the relationship between the two conditions.

In this next section we're going to help you do just that by explaining the causes and symptoms of asthma and COPD. Next, we'll break down the many differences between asthma and COPD and explain the characteristics that distinguish them from one another.

By the end of this article, you'll have a much better understanding of how the diseases are similar and different and be better able to tell the two conditions apart.

Understanding COPD

COPD can be a difficult disease to understand, partially because it is an umbrella term that encompasses two separate but related conditions: emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Both are chronic, incurable lung conditions, usually caused by smoking.

Emphysema occurs when the air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs get damaged, causing lung function decline and over-inflation in the lungs. People with emphysema have difficulty absorbing enough oxygen and pushing all of the air out of their lungs.

Chronic bronchitis occurs when the airways become inflamed, thickened, and narrowed due to inflammation and excess mucus. Most people with COPD have some combination of both emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Both chronic bronchitis and emphysema cause similar symptoms that get worse and worse over time. While proper treatment and a healthy lifestyle can slow down disease progression, they can't stop COPD from inevitably getting worse.

Over time, COPD leads to more serious complications like pulmonary hypertension, heart failure, respiratory failure, and death. But with a healthy lifestyle and high-quality medical treatment, many people with COPD are able to live and stay active for many years.

Common Symptoms of COPD:

• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Chest Tightness
• Shortness of breath
• Thick or excess mucus
• A chronic cough that produces phlegm (especially in the morning)
• Frequent respiratory illnesses and infections
• Fatigue
• Unintended weight loss
• Swelling in hand, ankles, feet, and legs (edema)

Understanding Asthma

Unlike COPD, which usually shows up later in life, asthma can be inherited and often shows up in early childhood. Most people discover they have asthma after they experience an exacerbation, often in reaction to an allergen or respiratory infection.

People with asthma don't have symptoms all the time. Asthma symptoms usually only show up in response to an environmental trigger, which is often pollen, smoke, or cold air. Because of this, asthma is often considered to be an allergic disorder.

When someone with asthma is affected by a trigger, it causes the muscles in their lungs and airways to violently constrict in an attempt to keep irritating molecules out. This causes a fit of coughing and wheezing that often requires medication to stop.

Asthma attacks can be life-threatening if not treated quickly. Most of the time, treatment involves inhaling bronchodilators and corticosteroids to control inflammation.

Common Symptoms of Asthma:

• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain and tightness
• “Asthma attacks” consisting of coughing and wheezing that are worsened by illnesses and allergies

How to Tell Asthma and COPD Apart

Differences in Age of Onset

Many people first start to show symptoms of asthma in early childhood and get diagnosed with the disease at an early age. Some people grow out of their asthma symptoms, but many people continue to have the condition throughout their adult life.

COPD, on the other hand, is an acquired disease that doesn't show up until later in life. It's a result of cumulative damage to the lungs and airways over many years, and is usually diagnosed after the age of forty.

Symptoms are usually mild in the early stages of COPD, but get more and more severe with time. In the later stages of the disease, people with COPD usually exhibit severe respiratory decline and need supplemental oxygen to breathe.

While asthma symptoms might be exacerbated by allergies and other triggers for short periods of time, the symptoms don't usually get worse with time. In-between exacerbations the symptoms usually disappear, and the disease doesn't usually progress into anything more serious.

Differences in Causes

COPD is usually caused by exposure to smoke, pollution, and other substances that damage your lungs.  In fact, about 90% of COPD cases are caused by smoking tobacco.

Common Causes of COPD:

• Smoking cigarettes and other forms of tobacco
  
  
• Long-term exposure to other sources of smoke, including wood-burning stoves, cooking fumes, and secondhand smoke.
  
  
• Long-term exposure to respiratory irritants like bacteria, mold, and chemical fumes (e.g. in the workplace).
  
  
• Exposure to respiratory toxins like asbestos and radon
  
  
• Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Disorder, a genetic disease that causes thickened mucus in the lungs, airways, and other parts of the body.

The causes of asthma, on the other hand, are not as well understood. Like COPD, asthma can result from lung damage due to exposure to respiratory toxins. However, this is actually the least common cause.

Asthma is much more likely to show up early in life, before the lungs have a chance to accumulate any serious damage. Instead, asthma is more likely to be the result of genetics, early childhood respiratory infections, or allergies.

Common Causes of Asthma:

• Genetic-linked Asthma: Asthma linked to a family history of asthma and other allergic disorders like hay fever and eczema
  
  
• Illness-induced Asthma: Asthma caused by recurrent respiratory infections or serious lung infections early in life
  
  
• Allergy-induced Asthma: Asthma caused by airborne irritants and allergens like pollen, mold spores, dust mites, and pet dander
  
  
• Occupational Asthma: Asthma caused by long-term occupational exposure to smoke, dust, or chemical fumes and gases

Differences in Symptoms

As you can see, asthma and COPD symptoms can seem very similar on the surface. However, if you pay closer attention to these symptoms and when they occur, you can better tell the difference between the two diseases.

For example, the most common symptoms of both asthma and COPD are coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. These symptoms tend to show up early on in both diseases, but the frequency of these symptoms differs between the two.

People with asthma tend to only show symptoms when they're triggered by an exacerbation. Once the exacerbation has been treated with medication, the symptoms usually disappear.

People with COPD tend to experience chronic symptoms that don't ever completely go away. While certain triggers and exacerbations can make their symptoms much worse, COPD patients generally face milder symptoms of coughing and breathlessness every day.

Another difference is in the nature of the cough. Asthma tends to cause a dry cough that comes with bouts of breathlessness and wheezing, while COPD tends to cause a wet, phlegm cough that appears every day, independent of breathing difficulties.

Differences in Triggers

Besides examining potential causes and specific symptoms, another way to tell asthma and COPD apart is by their triggers. Some of the triggers for worsened asthma and COPD symptoms are the same, but some are unique.

As we've mentioned, asthma symptoms tend to be severe and show up in response to weather, allergens, and heavy physical activity. COPD symptoms, on the other hand, are chronic and milder, although exposure to extreme weather, exercise, allergens, and other respiratory irritants can worsen symptoms to a degree.

However, these irritants usually only trigger slightly worsened coughing and breathlessness in people with COPD, not an actual exacerbation. True exacerbations are much more serious and are usually only caused by respiratory illnesses and infections.

Severe asthma exacerbations, on the other hand, can be easily triggered by minor environmental irritants like cold air and pollen.

Common Triggers for Asthma Exacerbations:

• Allergens
• Exercise
• Cold air

Common Triggers for COPD Exacerbations:

• Respiratory infections
• Respiratory illnesses like the cold, flu, or pneumonia
• Exposure to pollutants and lung irritants

By paying attention to what activities and environments cause your symptoms to act up, you can often determine whether asthma or COPD is the more likely culprit. Keep a look out for distinguishing triggers and make sure to report any new symptoms or sensitivities to your doctor as they come up.

Asthma Can Increase Your Risk for COPD

Despite being distinct and separate diseases, in some cases asthma and COPD are intimately related. Studies show that up to forty percent of people with COPD also have asthma, which indicates that people with asthma are at a much higher risk for the disease.

Doctors and researchers aren't quite sure what might cause people with asthma to develop COPD (known as asthma-COPD overlap syndrome), but it might have to do with the chronic respiratory inflammation that asthma causes. Severe, untreated asthma, researchers postulate, might cause changes in the lungs and airways that reduce lung function over time.

If their lung function has already been affected, people with severe, untreated asthma may be even more prone to developing COPD. This is especially true if they smoke or are exposed to other respiratory irritants over a long period of time.

To the best of medical knowledge, the best way to prevent asthma-related COPD is early asthma treatment and symptom management. Asthma patients who are diagnosed early and get medicine to treat their symptoms usually don't experience complications later in life.

Diagnosing COPD

COPD symptoms tend to show up later in life, usually after the age of forty. Symptoms often start with coughing and breathlessness during exercise, which prompts many patients to visit their doctor to determine the cause.

The doctor will then do a general physical exam and test the patient's lungs. To do this, doctors use a special lung test called a spirometry test.

To do this simple test, the patient takes a deep breath and then blows as hard as they can into a spirometer. Based on the spirometer's score, the doctor can tell how much the patient's lung function has declined, if at all.

Based on the spirometry results, the physical exam, and the patient's age and smoking history, the doctor will determine whether COPD is an accurate diagnosis. If the patient is over forty, has decreased lung function, and is a current or former smoker, COPD is very likely.

Unlike asthma, COPD does not respond completely to treatment with medications like steroids and bronchodilators. An asthma patient's lung function tends to return to normal after treatment, whereas COPD patients experience a permanent loss in lung function that cannot be restored with medications.

While COPD symptoms can be treated with medicine, they never quite go away completely. The damage that the lungs have already sustained can never be undone.

Diagnosing Asthma

Asthma symptoms often show up by the age of five, starting with bouts of wheezing and dry coughing. These ailments usually prompt a visit to the doctor, who does a general physical exam and listens to the patient's lungs for wheezing and abnormalities.

The doctor will note any allergies the patient has along with any additional respiratory symptoms.  Doctors also use spirometry tests to check overall lung function in suspected asthma patients.

If asthma is suspected, the doctor will then prescribe an inhaled bronchodilator medication (inhaler) for the patient to use if the symptoms show up again. If the patient responds well to the medication and the symptoms disappear quickly after using their inhaler, the doctor will usually diagnose the patient with asthma.

Medical Treatments for Asthma and COPD

Treatment approaches to asthma and COPD are both similar and different. Asthma treatment focuses on using medication to treat asthma symptoms exacerbations when they come. COPD treatment, on the other hand, tend to focus on exercise, diet, and lifestyle changes that can strengthen the lungs and prevent further respiratory decline.

Bronchodilators are a type of inhaled medication used to reduce coughing and wheezing by opening up the airways and making it easier to breathe. Both people with asthma and people with COPD use bronchodilator medications to treat immediate respiratory symptoms, and it's a primary method of treatment for COPD.

People with asthma usually also take inhaled corticosteroid medications on a regular basis to help manage inflammation and prevent exacerbations. While COPD patients sometimes take corticosteroids as well, it's not as common for long-term treatment.

As the disease progresses, people with COPD often end up needing to use supplemental oxygen therapy in order for their lungs to absorb enough oxygen to meet their body's needs. This is rarely needed for people with asthma except in the midst of a severe exacerbation. This is because asthmatic lungs are generally healthy and able to absorb enough oxygen on their own in normal circumstances.

In the latest stages of the disease, some COPD patients are eligible for lung reduction surgery or lung transplant surgery. These are last-resort measures that are usually only used if a patient is unable to survive on their own without them.

Lifestyle Treatments for Asthma and COPD

Treating asthma usually doesn't require any major lifestyle changes besides not smoking and avoiding respiratory irritants. Asthma patients focus mainly on controlling inflammation and preventing exposure to triggers that result in exacerbations.

COPD, on the other hand, requires a myriad of lifestyle changes and a tailored treatment plan. The most important thing to do is to quit smoking, but after that a healthy diet, exercise, and medications take priority. Although continued respiratory decline is inevitable for most people with COPD, these lifestyle changes can slow down the disease's progression and improve their ability to breathe.

Obviously, people with asthma can benefit from a healthy diet and lifestyle, too. Both people with asthma and COPD should never smoke, stay physically active, and eat a balanced diet full of fruits, veggies, and lean protein.

Staying hydrated is also very important for managing a respiratory illness like asthma or COPD. Water thins out the mucus in your airways, making it easier to breathe, and keeps the rest of your body's functions running efficiently.

Exercise is also very important, but especially for people with COPD. People with asthma should get plenty of physical activity too, but for people with COPD it is vital to prevent further physical and respiratory decline.

Disease Outlook for Asthma and COPD

People with asthma generally only have to worry about avoiding their triggers and treating inflammation with medication. While poor lifestyle choices like smoking and exposure to respiratory irritants can sometimes make asthma worse, most people with asthma live healthy lives and experience no decrease in lifespan.

COPD, on the other hand, tends to slowly worsen over time no matter how well it's treated. Quitting smoking and building healthier habits can improve your lifespan and quality of life, but it cannot prevent the disease from continuing to progress.

However, many people with COPD are able to live good, fulfilling lives in spite of their disease. This depends partially on an early diagnosis, but primarily on how well you comply with your COPD treatment plan.

How much physical activity you get, how well you manage your symptoms, and how well you practice other healthy lifestyle and diet habits can have a major effect on your body's strength and ability to cope with the disease.

Conclusion

If you are an adult with worrisome respiratory symptoms, it can be difficult to get an accurate diagnosis. One reason for this is the fact that both asthma and COPD share identical symptoms and sometimes share a common cause.

Both asthma and COPD are relatively common diseases, which makes it all the more important for more people to be able to recognize and seek treatment for both. The relationship between the two conditions can be complicated, and it's important for patients and their loved ones to be aware.

Now that you've learned more about the two diseases, you will be better equipped to help yourself, your friends, and your loved ones get proper diagnosis and treatment for their respiratory symptoms. While you should always defer to a doctor for a final diagnosis, this knowledge is vital to help the estimated thirteen million people with COPD who are still un-diagnosed get the medical attention they need.

While neither disease can be cured, the symptoms of asthma and COPD can be reduced and controlled with the right kind of care. The earlier someone with asthma or COPD gets an accurate diagnosis and begins treating their disease, the easier it is to stay healthy and maintain a good quality of life.

Chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) are diseases within your airways and other parts of your lungs. Some of the most common CRDs are chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, occupational lung diseases, and pulmonary hypertension. In this particular article we are focusing on COPD, but a lot of the information can be related to other CRDs.

There are a lot of basics your doctor will tell you about COPD once you are diagnosed, but as with anything in life, there are some things that cannot be explained, and instead you learn from experience.

Once you are diagnosis with COPD, there is no straight path you take, there are left turns and right turns obstacles big and small, all of which you will learn to go through. You will learn how to find ways to live with this disease, and we are here to not only help you live with COPD, but live a high quality life with COPD.

You will learn along the way, what COPD triggers are the most harmful to you and how to avoid them, you will learn what foods cause bloating in your body, and how to fit exercise into your daily routine.

While your doctor may suggest healthier habits and give you tips for living a healthier lifestyle, you are the one who has to go home and live with COPD, so you will have to determine how to follow your doctor’s advice in the most effective way possible, and this isn’t always black and white.

We designed this resource guide to help you navigate the reality of living with COPD, if something applies to you take it, if not leave it behind. Everyone is different and COPD affects every individual differently so it is important to listen to your body and mind to get the best possible treatment for your COPD.

COPD is commonly Misdiagnosed

One of the most important things to discuss about COPD, is the diagnosis. First of all, in many cases, people who have COPD are not to be diagnosed until the disease has progressed into a more severe state. More than 16.4 million people have been diagnosed with COPD, but millions more may have the disease without even knowing it.

It is increasingly common to miss the warning signs of COPD early on, as the beginning stages can often be chalked up to “getting older”. Therefore, COPD is often not found until the disease is very advanced, when there is something clearly wrong. This is alarming, and serious action should be taken to prevent it because COPD is a progressive disease, meaning it gets worse over time. If you catch COPD warning signs early, the sooner you can start to treat COPD and slow down the deterioration in your lungs.

Some of the symptoms of COPD are similar to the side effects of “getting older.” If you think you have even mild symptoms of COPD, tell your doctor as soon as possible so they can test you.

Here are some early warning signs to look out for:

• Shortness of breath, especially during physical activities
• Wheezing
• Chest tightness
• A chronic cough that may produce mucus in a clear, white, yellow or greenish color
• Frequent respiratory infections
• Lack of energy
• Unintended weight loss (in later stages)
• Swelling in ankles, feet or legs

You should be considered for diagnosis of COPD if you experience symptoms of a chronic cough, sputum production, dyspnea and a history of exposure to risk factors for the disease.

To diagnose your condition, your doctor will look into you medical and family history before they look at your signs and symptoms. You should also bring up any exposure you've had to lung irritants — especially if you smoke cigarettes or are exposed to cigarette smoke a lot smoke. 

Be Careful to Avoid COPD Flare Ups

If you have COPD, you are also likely to experience COPD exacerbations, during which your symptoms become worse than the usual day-to-day symptoms. These episodes can be long-lasting and persist for at least several days, and in some cases you may need to seek medical attention.

There are many triggers of COPD exacerbations, and your trigger may be different than someone else's, but here is a list of some common triggers that you can work to avoid:

• Smoking
• Second-hand smoke
• Air pollutants
• Dust
• Dust mites
• Clean products such as bleach
• Indoor allergens like animal dander
• Outdoor allergens like hay and pollen
• Cold dry outdoor air during winter
• Hot moist steam from showers

If you have COPD it is best for you to avoid these triggers listed above. We wrote a resource guide for people who want to create a COPD safe living space inside their home, you can read it by clicking here.

There is No Cure for Chronic Lung Diseases

CRDs including COPD are not curable, however, various forms of treatment are available. Certain treatments such as supplemental oxygen therapy, can improve shortness of breath and help control symptoms and increase the quality of life for people with the disease. 

COPD gets worse over-time, and without the proper treatment, COPD will cause major health issues, and even lead death. 

COPD is Commonly Cause by Smoking and Air Pollutants

In addition to tobacco smoke, you can also develop COPD by inhaling other risk factors including air pollution, occupational chemicals and dusts, and frequent respiratory infections during childhood.

COPD is Diagnosed by Your Doctor with a Series of Tests

Common COPD tests are as follows:

Lung (pulmonary) function tests

These tests measure the amount of air you can inhale and exhale, and whether your lungs deliver enough oxygen to your blood.

Chest X-ray. A chest X-ray

X-rays can show emphysema, one of the causes of COPD. An X-ray can also exposure or rule out other lung problems or heart failure.

CT scan. A CT scan of your lungs can help detect emphysema and help determine if you might benefit from surgery for COPD. CT scans can also be used to screen for lung cancer.

Arterial blood gas analysis

This is a blood test which measures how efficient your lungs are transferring gases. So this test specifically looks at the oxygen in your blood and the removal of carbon dioxide.

Laboratory tests

Lab tests will not be used to diagnose COPD, however they can be used to find the cause of your symptoms, and rule out other respiratory conditions.

Spirometry

This is a test designed to diagnose chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), so it measures how deeply you can breathe and how fast air can move into and out of your lungs. Low results from a spirometry test can be consistent with COPD, but also may not be specific to COPD because it can be caused by other lung diseases and poor performance during testing.

Because COPD develops slowly, it can be hard to diagnose COPD accurately, which is why it is frequently diagnosed later in life, mostly in people 40 years or older.

You Can Treat COPD

While there is no cure from COPD, or other CRDs, you can treat your disease and ease the symptoms. With the correct treatment, medications, and healthy habits you can even slow down the progression of your COPD.

Oxygen therapy is one of the COPD treatments that can extend your life expectancy.

Eating healthy foods that do not cause bloating will help you feel less short of breath.

Exercising or walking regularly strengthens your airways and lung muscles, which helps you manage COPD symptoms more effectively.

Medications, like short-acting bronchodilator help open your airways to make breathing easier in emergency situations, and during a COPD exacerbation. Medications can make the recovery process easier.

If you Need Supplemental Oxygen your Doctor will Prescribe it to You

Supplemental oxygen therapy is a life saving treatment for respiratory patients with low blood oxygen levels. You can be administered oxygen through a liquid oxygen tank, compressed oxygen gas canisters, or a portable oxygen concentrator (POC). All of these methods feed oxygen to the user through an oxygen nasal tub or face mask.

The biggest difference between each of these methods is the tanks and canisters have a finite amount of oxygen that must be refilled, whereas a POC takes ambient air from its surrounding and purifies it into medical-grade oxygen. POCs also runs off of batteries so it will have to be re-charged.

Oxygen therapy will be prescribed to you by your doctor after undergoing tests that will measure your current oxygen intake and transfer of gases in your lungs. If you have Hypoxemia, meaning you have low blood oxygen levels, your doctor will prescribe you a flow rate and give you recommendations for an oxygen device.

You will then want to get in contact with an oxygen device distributing company, possibly in your local area. For example you can google search something like, Denver, Colorado oxygen supplies, and LPT Medical will pop up, same goes for Boca Raton, Florida oxygen equipment. This is one way to find portable oxygen concentrators for sale near you, but you can also order POCs from around the nation and they can be shipped to you.

If you are going to be using an oxygen tank, it is essential there is an oxygen delivery company near your home, because they will have to come and replace empty tanks with filled tanks weekly.

LPT Medical is a family owned and operated business, and while we do a lot of local oxygen sales in Denver and Boca Raton, we also work with customers nationwide. If you are in the market for a portable oxygen concentrator, call us at 1-800-946-1201 so we can help find you an oxygen device that fits your needs.

Too Much Oxygen Can be Dangerous

The reason it is crucial to go through a licensed oxygen distributor like LPT Medical, is because we make sure to look at your doctor’s prescription before we recommend an oxygen device to you.

We would recommend devices like the ARYA portable oxygen concentrator to an oxygen user with a pulse flow rate of 630 - 840 LPM. On the other hand, if you need a continuous flow of oxygen of about 0.5 - 1.0 LPM you would need a device like the Respironics SimplyGo.

If you started to take oxygen more often than your doctor recommended or upped the dosage, you would start to experience something called oxygen toxicity or oxygen poisoning, and this is very dangerous. The first sign of oxygen toxicity, manifests in your Central Nervous System, and you may start to experience things like:

• Visual changes
• Tunnel vision
• Ringing in the ears
• Nausea
• Twitching (especially of the face)
• Behavioral changes (irritability, anxiety, confusion)
• Dizziness

If you continue to use excessive amounts of oxygen, pulmonary toxicity will begin to occur as a result of too much oxygen in your system. After a certain amount of time with too much oxygen saturation tracheobronchitis or inflammation of the upper airways will start to negatively impact your respiratory system.

There will be a decline in your lung function, alveolar damage, and soon acute respiratory distress syndrome will onset. This could all eventually lead to collapse of your alveoli, also known as atelectasis.

The bottomline is that it is very important to follow your oxygen prescription as an oxygen patient. Other folks at risk of oxygen toxicity are deep sea divers. Be sure to ask your pulmonary doctor and respiratory specialist any questions you have, and clearly communicate your confusion.

Your Oxygen Prescription Will Vary Depending on the Severity of you Your Disease

It is possible that you will have to adjust your oxygen levels while you exercise, compared to while you rest. Some people will need to use oxygen 24/7 and others may only need it while they are exerting themselves physically.

All of this will depend on your condition, so you can’t always ask for advice from others who also have COPD or another oxygen user. Their oxygen dosage may be completely different than yours. The best way to get the most out of your oxygen therapy is to understand you and your condition, your oxygen prescription, and how to use your portable oxygen concentrator or oxygen tanks.

An oxygen concentrator is a device that administers medical-grade oxygen to a patient via a nasal cannula. Oxygen concentrators are used to treat a variety of respiratory ailments including COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, and pneumonia. There are a wide variety of oxygen concentrators on the market that suit people with different wants and needs, but it can be somewhat daunting choosing a concentrator if you’re not sure what to look for.

Earlier this year, we put out a great comprehensive guide for choosing a portable oxygen concentrator in 2020. If you’ve never used supplemental oxygen before or you’re switching to a concentrator from compressed oxygen or liquid oxygen, this guide will teach you everything you need to know about choosing the perfect oxygen machine for you.

In this post, however, we’re going to be looking at one oxygen concentrator in particular — The Inogen One G3 Portable Oxygen Concentrator. Ever since its release in 2012, this portable oxygen machine has been one of the most popular choices for oxygen patients everywhere. Despite being released 8 years ago, the Inogen One G3 still holds its own against newer concentrators like the Inogen One G5 and the Caire FreeStyle Comfort.

Keep reading if you’d like to learn more about how the G3 works and some of its key benefits. And if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to fill out the contact form at the side of the page. One of our respiratory specialists will reach out to you and guide you through the process of choosing an oxygen concentrator.

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High Oxygen Output

As an oxygen user, the most important thing you need to do is ensure that your oxygen device meets your needs. For example, someone with stage 1 COPD will not need a high concentration of oxygen while someone with stage 4 COPD will need significantly more oxygen. Every device has a different oxygen output, so you’ll need to do your research before committing to anything.

Fortunately, the Inogen One G3 provides oxygen users with a very high oxygen output. On its maximum setting of 5, the G3 puts out an impressive 1,050 milliliters of oxygen per minute (ml/min). While this may not sound like a lot, you need to consider the fact that the G3 is a pulse dose concentrator, not a continuous flow concentrator. What this means is that oxygen is only administered when the user inhales.

For example, at an average breathing rate of 20 BPMs and a continuous flow oxygen concentrator with a 3 liter per minute (LPM) output, you would only inspire 1 liter of oxygen each minute. This is the equivalent of 1,000 ml/min, slightly less than the output of the Inogen One G3. In other words, the G3 has about the same oxygen output as a 3 LPM continuous flow concentrator. If this is confusing, be sure to check out our pulse flow vs continuous flow comparison guide for more information.

While the Inogen One G3 has a higher oxygen output than most pulse flow units on the market, you’ll need to speak with your doctor first to ensure this is the right machine for you. Most people won’t even need to go beyond a setting of 2, but in rare cases, someone may require very high oxygen flow. In which case, you may need to upgrade to a newer oxygen concentrator. 

Lightweight Design

Up until the early 2000s, oxygen concentrators were stationary units. In other words, they weren’t designed to be moved around, and in order to use them, you had to have them plugged into a wall outlet. While stationary oxygen concentrators still exist today, they’ve largely been replaced with portable versions like the Inogen One G3. What’s more, the G3 weighs in at only 4.8 pounds making it one of the lightest portable oxygen concentrators ever produced.

Since the G3 weighs little more than a small handbag or purse, you’ll feel comfortable slinging it over your shoulder and going wherever you need to go. Whether you simply want to go to the store to grab a few things or you want to go for a long walk in the park, the G3 won’t cause any unnecessary strain in your shoulders or back. This is especially helpful if you already suffer from back problems or similar issues.

Small Form Factor

Another aspect of portability is the size of the device. Chances are if your portable oxygen concentrator was bulky and hard to handle, you wouldn’t be able to get out of the home and travel very easily. Luckily, the Inogen One G3 has a nice compact form factor that’s easy to tuck under your shoulder allowing you to move freely. If you’re traveling in public areas such as a busy city street, it will be easier to navigate without bumping into other people.

Another reason it’s important to have a small portable oxygen concentrator is that they’re easier to store. Many people own both a home oxygen concentrator and a portable oxygen concentrator, so these people need to be able to keep their portable unit out of the way when they’re at home. The G3 is small enough that you can keep it out of the way but big enough that you won’t lose it.

You might be surprised to learn that the Inogen One G3 is approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the organization that oversees all commercial flights in the United States. What this means is that you can carry your Inogen One G3 on the plane with you as long as you notify the airline ahead of time and you have one and a half times the duration of your flight in battery life.

Everyone knows that flying these days can be uncomfortable due to a lack of legroom and personal space. However, you’ll be happy to know that the Inogen One G3 won’t take up any extra space. It’s small enough to slide under the seat in front of you or you can even hold it in your lap during the flight. If you don’t need it during the flight, you can even store it in the overhead compartment.

Durability

Just like your cell phone or laptop, portable oxygen concentrators are electronic devices. This means they have delicate components like processors that need to be kept in good condition in order to function properly. The good news is that Inogen took the time to create a machine that’s as durable as it is powerful.

All of the electrical components inside the Inogen One G3 are protected by a hard outer shell which is made from high-quality materials. If you happen to bump or scrape your G3, you can rest assured that it won’t hurt crucial parts inside the unit. While the G3 is durable, it’s not indestructible, so don’t intentionally drop it or cause harm to it. Since the G3 has a lot of air intake and output vents, it is not waterproof or water-resistant in any way.

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Battery Life

Portable oxygen concentrators are powered by lithium-ion batteries. These batteries are specifically designed to last and they can hold a charge long enough to keep you out all day long. The Inogen One G3 8-cell battery (which comes with the device) can last up to 4.5 hours on one charge. If you choose to upgrade to the larger 16-cell battery, you’ll get up to 9.5 hours on one charge. Note that using the 16-cell battery will slightly increase the weight of your device.

Oftentimes, battery life is the first thing people look for in a portable oxygen concentrator because without a great battery, you’re not going to be able to get out of your house long enough to live life on your own terms. Unlike with compressed oxygen tanks or liquid oxygen tanks, you’ll never “run out of oxygen.” Simply remove your battery and replace it with a fully charged one and you’ll be good to go.

One of the reasons the G3 has such a great battery life is because it’s a pulse dose oxygen concentrator. Like we mentioned before, this means that oxygen is only delivered when the patient inhales through the nasal cannula. As a result, the device can conserve a lot more energy while still providing you with the high concentration of oxygen that you need to stay saturated wherever you go.  

Easy to Use

The last thing anyone wants is to have another convoluted piece of technology to complicate their lives. From dealing with computer issues to having your calls dropped randomly, you may dread adding another electronic device to your life. The good news is that the Inogen One G3 was designed to be as easy as possible to use. There are only a few buttons on the entire device and you won’t have to spend weeks or months learning what they all do.

On the Inogen One G3 control panel (on top of the unit) you’ll find a power button to turn the device on and off, a backlight button, an audible alarm button, and two buttons to control the flow rate — that’s it! While the G3 is pretty straightforward, we recommend consulting the user manual whenever you get a new unit to educate yourself about the various alarms and settings available to you.

Two other things you’ll need to do with your portable oxygen concentrator are replacing the batteries and the air filters. Luckily, both of these processes are very simple with the G3 as well. Both of the air filters are found on the side of the unit and they can be removed without any tools for easy cleaning or replacement. The battery is attached to the bottom of the unit and all you’ll need to do is pull a tab on the side to remove it and replace it with a fully charged battery.

Quiet

While sound output should not be at the top of your priorities list by any means, it’s always nice to have a portable oxygen concentrator that doesn’t produce any unnecessary sound pollution. The Inogen One G3 comes in at around 39 decibels (dBA) on a setting of 2 making it better than average when it comes to overall sound output. 

Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions about how loud POCs are. Many people believe that they will no longer be able to go to church, the library, or any public place without disturbing people, but this couldn’t be farther from the truth. The Inogen One G3 is very quiet and what noise it does make is just a slight humming sound that likely won’t bother anyone.

Great Accessories

Accessories are the icing on the cake when it comes to portable oxygen concentrators. Everyone wants to find the oxygen concentrator that’s right for them, but if there are accessories that allow you to customize your experience, that’s even better! You’ll be happy to know that the Inogen One G3 has plenty of accessories you can use to make your oxygen experience even easier.

First up, we have the Inogen One G3 Rolling Backpack. It’s not very often that a rolling backpack is offered alongside a pulse flow oxygen concentrator because they’re all light enough to carry on your shoulder; however, the G3 is an exception here. This accessory allows you to either roll your G3 around behind you or carry it on your back using the adjustable shoulder straps. It also has ample room to hold your batteries, chargers, and other personal items.

Second is the standard Inogen One G3 Backpack. This is similar to the rolling backpack but it doesn’t have wheels. It has comfortable adjustable padded straps and plenty of room for G3 accessories and personal belongings. When the G3 is in this backpack, the control panel is easily accessible so you can make quick changes to your oxygen settings on the fly.

The third and final carrying option for the Inogen One G3 is the GO2 Carryall. If you’re someone who’s self-conscious about carrying an oxygen concentrator or you just want a carrying bag that’s a little more stylish, these are for you. The GO2 Carryalls look just like a purse or handbag, but the Inogen One G3 is concealed inside of it. They have mesh side panels that ensure your device gets enough air and there are two carrying options to suit your needs. These bags come in two different colors depending on your preference.

With the release of each of their concentrators, Inogen offers an external battery charger. This is a small device, about the size of your battery, that can charge either your 8-cell or 16-cell battery without it being connected to the concentrator. This is a great accessory to have because it allows you to charge two batteries at once: one on your G3 and the other on the external charger. This means you’ll be able to get out and get going faster than ever before.

Conclusion

All around, the Inogen One G3 is one of the best portable oxygen concentrators on the market, despite releasing many years ago. It provides a high oxygen output for people with severe respiratory illness, it’s very easy to carry and store, it offers a long battery life, and it’s supported by many great accessories to help you make the most of it.

If you’ve never used oxygen before, it’s important to first speak with your doctor. He/she will help you determine the ideal flow setting to maximize the health benefits of supplemental oxygen. You’ll also discuss how often you should use oxygen and whether or not you should use it while you sleep. 

Once you’ve spoken with your doctor, don’t hesitate to give our respiratory specialists here at LPT Medical a call. We’ll walk you through the process of choosing an oxygen concentrator that takes into account your lifestyle and preferences. Fill out the contact form at the side of the page to get started.

Last year, we were very happy to announce that we would be selling the Caire FreeStyle Comfort, the latest pulse flow portable oxygen concentrator by Caire, Inc. This concentrator was miles ahead of anything that Caire had manufactured in the past, and it even held its own against the most popular oxygen concentrator on the market: the Inogen One G5.

One of the reasons we continue to support the FreeStyle Comfort is that it’s backed by a company that prioritizes quality above all else. Whether you have COPD, cystic fibrosis, or any other chronic lung condition, you need an oxygen device that you can rely on wherever you go and for many oxygen patients, the FreeStyle Comfort has been the best oxygen concentrator for that.

If you keep up with our blogs, however, you know that we like to approach every subject from as many angles as possible in order to give you a better understanding of your needs and the industry as a whole. In this post, we’re going to be comparing and contrasting the Caire FreeStyle Comfort portable oxygen concentrator and standard compressed oxygen tanks. As always, if you have any questions, be sure to leave them in the comment section below, or feel free to give us a call and address them with one of our respiratory specialists.

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Oxygen Output

Supplemental oxygen isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Every oxygen patient has varying degrees of lung function and as a result, everyone requires a different amount of oxygen in order to stay healthy. For example, someone with stage 1 COPD may only experience a small amount of airway obstruction, so they might only need to use oxygen for an hour or two a day. However, someone with severe stage 3 or 4 COPD may need to use oxygen 24 hours a day.

Another important factor to consider is the “grade” or “purity” of the oxygen you’re inhaling. Earth’s atmosphere is made up of only about 21 percent oxygen. The rest of the atmosphere is composed of various other gases including nitrogen, argon, and carbon dioxide. Medical-grade oxygen, on the other hand, always has over a 90 percent purity rating. This should not be confused with “recreational” oxygen which is sold in canisters and doesn’t require a prescription to purchase.

Both portable oxygen concentrators, like the Caire FreeStyle Comfort and oxygen tanks put out medical-grade oxygen. In fact, oxygen tanks are refilled with something called a HomeFill Station which operates like an oxygen concentrator. The main difference between the two is that an oxygen tank will allow you to put out oxygen at a higher flow rate. This is ideal for people with severe lung impairment, but it’s not necessary for the vast majority of respiratory patients.

Another thing to note is that the Caire FreeStyle Comfort is a pulse dose machine. What this means is that oxygen is only administered when the user inhales rather than continuously flowing out of the device like with an oxygen tank. Because of this, many people underestimate the value of pulse dose oxygen concentrators. The FreeStyle Comfort puts out 1,050 milliliters per minute of oxygen which is roughly the equivalent of 3 liters per minute on a continuous flow device such as an oxygen tank.

Ultimately, it will be up to your doctor or pulmonologist whether you should use the Caire FreeStyle Comfort or an oxygen tank. While oxygen tanks tend to be the default for many people, they are not necessarily the best option, especially for people who want to maintain their freedom, independence, and mobility while on oxygen.

Portability

If you think about it, “portability” has been a defining feature of this millennium so far. Ever since the early 2000s, we’ve seen technology become smaller, lighter, and more powerful than ever before; this is really no different when it comes to O2 devices. Just several decades ago, oxygen concentrators were mostly only used in the home. While there were portable versions, they were cumbersome and difficult to maneuver. 

Fast forward to today and you’ll find that oxygen patients have a wide variety of lightweight portable oxygen devices to choose from. The AirSep Focus is the lightest portable oxygen concentrator ever produced, weighing in at just 1.75 pounds! However, it’s only able to go up to a pulse flow setting of 2 (330 ml/min), so it may not be enough oxygen for many patients.

The Caire FreeStyle Comfort, however, is the perfect balance of both portability and power. It weighs in at only 5 pounds and it’s able to output over three times as much oxygen as the AirSep Focus. Its dimensions are only 10” H x 7.3” L x 3.1” W, so it’s also very small, compact, and easy to carry. Whether you’re just going for a walk in the park or you’re going on a long vacation, you’ll find that the FreeStyle Comfort is as easy to transport as a small purse or handbag.

Unlike portable oxygen concentrators, oxygen tanks haven’t gotten any smaller in the past couple of decades. Oxygen can only be compressed a certain amount before it becomes too dangerous to use, so the size of your tank directly correlates with the amount of oxygen you will have access to. While there are “portable oxygen cylinders” they will only offer you several hours of freedom before they need to be refilled.  

Safety

Safety should always be the first priority when choosing an oxygen device. Unfortunately, oxygen manufacturers have not always been able to provide this to their patients. Oxygen is considered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be a controlled substance. First and foremost, oxygen is an oxidizer meaning it makes everything it’s exposed to more flammable.

Secondly, it is possible to overdose on oxygen and experience something called oxygen toxicity. This condition is characterized by lightheadedness, fatigue, muscle twitching, and nausea. Prolonged exposure to high levels of oxygen can even be deadly. This is why it’s so important that oxygen is used exactly as instructed by your doctor.

While oxygen tanks are mostly safe to use, they still pose more of a safety risk than pulse dose oxygen concentrators like the Caire FreeStyle Comfort. For one, oxygen tanks are stored at very high pressures of around 2,000 to 3,000 psi (pressure per square inch). This makes them a huge explosive hazard whereas oxygen concentrators do not pressurize oxygen at all.

Another reason oxygen tanks are more dangerous is that they are continuous flow. When you release the pressure valve on an oxygen tank, oxygen will constantly flow out of the nasal cannula until you turn it off. This is dangerous because if it were exposed to fire it would oxidize it making it burn more. This can be somewhat remedied by using a pulse dose conserver which can be attached to the top of the tank, but there’s still a chance it could be leaking oxygen.

Finally, the weight and size of oxygen tanks are a potential hazard. Oxygen tanks are made of metal and they’re usually very heavy and bulky. If one happens to fall on you while you’re removing it from storage it could cause serious injury. Its bulkiness can also make it a tripping hazard and make it difficult and stressful to transport.

The Caire FreeStyle Comfort doesn’t have most of these issues because it’s so light and portable. You can easily carry it on one shoulder without it causing back pain and you’ll never have to wheel it around using a rolling cart. Since it’s so small, it’s very easy to store and keep somewhere that you’ll remember where it is.

Cost-Effectiveness

When money is tight, every financial decision you make counts. On the surface, it may seem like oxygen concentrators are the cheapest form of supplemental oxygen. But when you take into consideration long-term costs, they’re actually one of the more expensive options out there. Conversely, portable oxygen concentrators, in general, are designed to save you a significant amount of money over time.

The Caire FreeStyle Comfort has a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $2,495, but it comes with a battery, AC and DC charger, carrying case and strap, and a 3-year warranty. What this means is that if anything that comes with your POC breaks or isn’t functioning properly within 3 years, you can have it replaced free of charge. This warranty can be extended to give you even more coverage and security.

Even if you don’t choose to extend the warranty, Caire builds their portable oxygen concentrators to last. On average, a new portable oxygen concentrator will last 5 to 7 years depending on how well the user takes care of it, and we’ve even seen them last much longer than that in certain cases. If you’re interested in learning how to clean and maintain oxygen equipment, we wrote a great post on this subject a couple of years back. You can find it here.

Another thing to note is that the Caire FreeStyle Comfort requires very little long-term maintenance. Whereas oxygen tanks need to be filled up every time they run out, oxygen concentrators simply need to be plugged into a wall outlet to recharge. You’ll never need to go out of your way to find an oxygen supplier to refill it and you won’t have to invest in a HomeFill Station which can break the bank.

Even if you purchase your Caire FreeStyle Comfort at the suggested retail price of $2,495 that works out to about $41 per month over 5 years or $30 a month over 7 years. However, if you take advantage of a sale, it will be even less than that! There are also a whole host of financing options you can use to make payments easier and you can even trade-in your oxygen concentrator whenever you’d like if you’re thinking of upgrading. On the other hand, you likely won’t get anything for trading in an oxygen tank and you may even have trouble finding someone to take it. 

Ease-of-Use

In this day and age, it’s more important than ever to simplify your life. No matter whether you’re old or young, poor or wealthy, most people just have too many things on their plate to worry about. For some people, simplifying could mean downsizing by getting rid of things that you don’t need or it could just mean replacing those things with ones that are easier to manage.

When most people try a portable oxygen concentrator like the Caire FreeStyle Comfort for the first time, they find that it’s much easier to manage for several different reasons. First and foremost, they work great as an all-in-one oxygen machine. Rather than using a portable oxygen cylinder while you’re out of the house and then having to switch over to your home oxygen tank when you get home, the FreeStyle Comfort can be used as both a portable and home unit.

Another factor contributing to its ease-of-use is the interface. Just like the concentrator itself, the interface is electronic and there are no knobs that you have to turn or worry about. Simply turn the device on and select the flow setting that you would like to use. If there are any problems, the device uses an alarm to notify you.

Durability

Respiratory patients depend on their oxygen. But what happens if you accidentally drop your oxygen device or bump into something? While the Caire FreeStyle Comfort may not look durable at first glance, you might be surprised to find that it’s very compact and solid. All of the delicate electronic components that keep the device running are protected by a hard outer shell that will protect from scratches and dents. The carrying case that comes with the device will also give some added protection. And since it’s light enough to carry on your shoulder, you’ll be able to navigate more easily without the chance of dropping it or bumping into anything.

While oxygen tanks are mostly made of metal, the nobs and nozzles on top of the tank are plastic. If any of these things are damaged, it could lead to a leak in the tank. Oxygen tanks are more prone to damage when you use a rolling cart because you aren’t always able to see what obstacles are in your way without looking behind you. Oxygen tanks also have an awkward shape that can make them difficult to handle.

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Final Thoughts

It’s not always easy to make decisions about your health as a COPD patient. There are many different oxygen devices for seniors and you may have no idea where to begin when it comes time to choose one. While oxygen tanks have been used for many years, they’re certainly starting to show their age when it comes to portability, cost, and general ease-of-use.

Portable oxygen concentrators, however, are more technologically advanced and offer you more freedom for you to live life on your own terms. The Caire FreeStyle Comfort is one of the newest POCs the industry has to offer and it doesn’t disappoint. Weighing in at only 5 pounds with a maximum oxygen output of 1,050 ml/min of oxygen, it will meet your needs wherever you are in the world.

A new study of more than 2000 individuals who are diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) found that patients struggle with a range of other physical and emotional symptoms, which go beyond the respiratory impairments that are well known to providers.

The study which was conducted by the Health Union national survey, ‘COPD in America 2017’, was released through COPD.net which is the Health Union’s online community. It found that, health care providers were often not very helpful in addressing issues related to the emotional impact that COPD patients were struggling with.

COPD is an umbrella term used to describe progressive lung diseases including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, where changes in the airways block the normal air flow in and out of the lungs causing shortness of breath. It is estimated that over 65 million people worldwide have moderate to severe COPD this is including 15 million adults in the United States.

Breathlessness is the most common and toughest symptom to manage according to 84 percent of the respondents, yet they also mentioned a number of other frustrations and problems that they face. 81 percent of the respondents reported experiencing fatigue and getting tired easily; 66 percent reported weakness and being tired while exercising and 52 percent reported pain, chest tightness and pressure.

Leon Lebowitz, respiratory therapist and COPD.net contributor explained that while a number of people may think that COPD is just a disease of the lung, the reduced oxygen as a result of lung damage can affect every part of the body. For instance, fatigue is exacerbated by the lack of oxygen making daily functioning more difficult.

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“It is a difficult balancing act. Breathing is the primary issue – it is what brings people to the Emergency Department,” Lebowitz said. “People often come in and say ‘if I can breathe, I can deal with everything else.’ For a person to adjust, they have to learn to pace themselves. So if they have a bad day, they take it easy, and when it is a good day, they enjoy life.”

Another mysterious yet frequently reported symptom is rib cramping. Thirty-nine percent of respondents reported that they had experienced this symptom the preceding month. 42 percent stated that they had spoken to their health-care providers about it, but 69 percent of this portion reported that they walked away from the visit without a solution or treatment for the problem.

“I wish my physician understood the cramping in my ribs. I feel that they don’t have an explanation as to why I get these cramps and they are very painful,” reported one of the respondents.

Keeping that frustration in mind, the survey also not surprisingly unveiled the emotional impact of COPD which often takes a back seat to the physical challenges, even though it can be more overwhelming than it is perceived.

For instance, 51 percent of the respondents reported problems with panic disorders or anxiety to their doctors, and only 40 percent of this portion mentioned that their doctor was effective in helping them manage it. Additionally, 24 percent have a mood disorder such as bi-polar disorder or depression.

“Depression is a real symptom of COPD,” said Michelle Vincent, COPD.net patient contributor. “Finding support groups was a huge boost. I like being able to talk to and get to know people who are going through the same things that I am. It makes me feel like I’m not alone. I like being able to give back to the community too.”

A majority of the respondents stated that they did not feel confident that they could keep the emotional distress caused by COPD from interfering with their lives. Regardless of the challenge they faced, only 19 percent reported that they are currently involved in a COPD support group. A patient contributor from COPD.net said, “I wish my doctor would better understand the anxiety and stress I am feeling about it. He never helps me address this.”

The survey revealed that chronic coughing, having trouble sleeping and unintended weight gain were among the issues raised under the most challenging and frustrating symptoms the respondents faced. The respondents also reported that it was not easy to avoid COPD triggers since they are everywhere in the environment.

A flare can be triggered by almost anything especially strong scents and weather changes among many others. Examples of such triggers include mildew, smoke, mold, dust, chemical fumes, grass, cleaning products, perfumes and respiratory infections.

Thirty-five percent of the respondents found it to be somewhat easy to avoid the triggers, 27 percent reported that it was not easy at all, 25 percent reported that it was slightly easy, 12 percent reported that it was moderately easy and 1 percent found it to be very easy.

When a flare hits, it is very common for a patients to experience incontinence. It isn’t just the lungs that get affected during a flare, the breathlessness and the intense coughing causes incontinence in 59 percent of the respondents. In the survey, 19 percent reported experiencing incontinence often, 23 percent experienced it sometimes and 17 percent experienced it rarely. 41 percent did not experience it at all.

Many of those that experience incontinence find it to be very embarrassing and due to the shame that many sufferers feel, it is under-discussed, leading many to think that they are the only ones with the problem. Incontinence refers to the inability to hold your urine or bowel movements long enough to get to a toilet.

The fear of embarrassment prevents very many patients with COPD from enjoying various aspects of life and leads to them distancing themselves from other people. Incontinence should however not be seen as unacceptable or embarrassing behavior because it is an involuntary operation of the body.

When the respondents were asked to describe COPD in one word some of the descriptions included; irritating, avoidable, nasty, lonely, draining, thief, misery and nightmare. They expressed a lot of anxiety and fear over the future with COPD. It is however important to note that COPD is not a death sentence and that there are very many people that are willing to lend a helping hand at any given time.

“The results of this survey clearly illustrate why COPD.net has been so successful in providing support to people living with COPD,” said Tim Armand, president and co-founder of Health Union. “ The world of the COPD patients can seem a lonely, confusing and isolating place, but here they can find a community that understands, is willing to listen, and provides information they can use in their daily lives.”

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Studies find that use of disinfectants once every week can increase the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by as much as 32%. This according to a joint 30-year study by the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) and Havard University which found that the use of products such as glutaraldehyde, hydrogen peroxide, bleach, alcohol and quaternary ammonium compounds (quats) (commonly found in furniture and floor disinfectants) increased the risk of developing COPD by 22 – 32 % in an occupational setting.

Researchers looking at the incidence of COPD in more than 55,000 nurses in the US, found that the regular use of disinfectants has been linked to a higher risk of developing the disease.

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COPD which affects an estimated 30 million people in the United States is a group of lung conditions such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema which make it hard to breathe air into and out of the lungs. This is due to the narrowing of the airways as a result of blockage and inflammation in the lungs.

Symptoms caused by the blockage of the airways include; breathlessness, wheezing, chest pain and a chronic cough. It commonly affects heavy smokers over the age of 35 and can also be developed through exposure to second hand smoke and other lung irritants such as chemical fumes, dust and air pollution. It is strongly recommended that you wear a face mask should you be in contact with any of these at your place of work or your environment in general.

Nearly 120,000 people lose their lives to COPD every year in the United States making it the third leading cause of death in the country. An estimated 12 million people living in the United States are believed to be undiagnosed and unaware that they have the disease.

Dr. Orianne Dumas (PHD) from INSERM, Villejuif, France, told the European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress that certain tasks such as frequent exposure to disinfectants, cleaning surfaces and specific chemicals in disinfectants increased the risk of developing COPD by 22%. This is according to data from the Unites States Nurses Health Study II (NHS II) which was surveyed for 8 years.

“The potential adverse effects of exposure to disinfectants on COPD have received much less attention, although two recent studies in European populations showed that working as a cleaner was associated with a higher risk of COPD. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to report a link between disinfectants and COPD among other healthcare workers and to investigate specific chemicals that may underlie this association,” Dumas said.

“Our findings provide further evidence of the effects of exposure to disinfectants on respiratory problems and highlight the urgency of integrating occupational health considerations into guidelines for cleaning and disinfection in the healthcare settings such as hospitals.”

More than 100,000 nurses in the United States enrolled in the NHS II which began in 1989. Dumas and her colleagues analyzed data from those who were still working as nurses in the year 2009 and had no previous history of COPD. The number of nurses that fell under this category was 55,185 nurses. They were followed by Dumas’ group for a period of approximately eight years up until May, 2017. Within this period, 663 nurses had developed COPD.

Their exposure was evaluated through the Job-Task-Exposure matrix which assigned exposure to disinfectants by task or job and a questionnaire. Results were adjusted based on factors that might affect the results such as ethnicity, age, Body Mass Index (BMI) and smoking. The nurses were surveyed after every two years said Dumas.

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Mina Gaga, MD of the Athens Chest Hospital and ERS president-elect, said, “This study shows that you have to be careful when you are around substances known to be a lung irritant, and we also know that lung irritation may lead to development of COPD down the road.”

“We do tell people who work with these chemicals to use them properly and particularly not to mix them, but you can’t completely eliminate their use because there is a need to keep things clean with these agents,” she told MedPage Today.

She made a suggestion that people, “Use caution and use common sense: Open a window when using them. This is true for anyone, not just nurses in hospitals.”

Dumas said at the press conference that 37% of the nurses reported weekly involvement in the use of disinfectants to clean surfaces and 19% in the use of disinfectants to clean medical instruments. She reported a suggested association for weekly use of disinfectants to clean medical instruments.

In a separate study conducted in 2017, Dumas and her colleagues described disinfectants used by nurses, and investigate quantitative and qualitative differences according to workplace characteristics and region. Dumas’ group found that working in a hospital was tied to higher disinfectant use but lower spray use. Also, nurses working in a smaller hospital setting (50 to 200 beds) were more likely to use disinfectants and sprays. Finally, spray use was higher in the Northeast than in the West.

Dumas said, “These are preliminary findings and more research needs to be carried out. In particular, we need to investigate the lifetime impact on COPD of lifetime occupational exposure to chemicals and clarify the role of each specific disinfectant. We hope to receive funding from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to continue this important work.”

She added that, “Some of these disinfectants such as bleach and quats are used frequently in ordinary households and the potential impact of domestic use of disinfectants on COPD development is unknown. Earlier studies have found a link between asthma and exposure to cleaning products and disinfectants at home, such as bleach and sprays, so it is important to investigate further.”

Dr. Dumas put a lot of emphasis on the fact that since this was an observational study, the findings are not able to show that disinfectants cause COPD but that there is an association between some of the disinfectants which are used and the development of the disease.

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