If you have COPD, you're probably no stranger to feeling drained, tired, and lethargic. Fatigue is a common problem for COPD patients, and a serious one at that. Fatigue is a common culprit behind exercise avoidance and sedentary living, which causes many patients to experience a quicker physical decline.

Fatigue is often used as a synonym for feeling tired or exhausted, but it's actually different in several ways. First, fatigue isn't necessarily related to activity or quality of sleep; you can feel fatigued even if you haven't done anything tiring and even if you get plenty of rest at night.

Fatigue is a kind of whole-body exhaustion that takes “feeling tired” to a new level. It hurts your ability to concentrate, drains your energy, and often worsens anxiety. Fatigue makes you feel too tired to do things that you usually enjoy, and can make simple things like dressing, reading, or leaving the house feel like monumentally difficult tasks. Often, fatigue is a sign that your body is having trouble keeping up with its energy needs.

Fatigue can make everything feel like a chore, like you have to drag yourself to every activity and social engagement. Some patients feel so fatigued every day that they stop exercising, isolate themselves in their homes, and give up on healthy lifestyle habits and treatment goals that are necessary for their well-being.

That's what makes fatigue such a major concern for COPD patients and the doctors that treat them. When left untreated and unmanaged, fatigue discourages many people with COPD from doing the very activities that would help preserve their health and quality of life.

In this article we're going to help you beat COPD-related fatigue by giving you thirteen useful tips for reducing fatigue and maximizing the amount of energy you have to invest in your life every day. But first, let's look at what causes fatigue and how it affects the lives of people with COPD.

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Causes of COPD-Related Fatigue

COPD is a chronic, continually-progressing disease, and simply managing the symptoms alone can get exhausting. But there are several specific ways in which the disease causes patients to suffer from fatigue.

COPD-related problems like decreased lung function, lack of exercise, and lack of oxygen all result in fatigue. Unhealthy habits can also make it worse; a poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, and lack of sleep all contribute to COPD-related fatigue.

Let's take a closer look at some of the main causes of fatigue for COPD patients.

Lack of Exercise

COPD symptoms can make exercise very difficult, which can start you on a negative cycle of exercise avoidance, fatigue, and physical decline. The less you exercise, the more breathless and fatigued you will feel, which then makes it more and more difficult to stay active.

This is partially due to loss in physical strength, but fatigue is also directly related to the lung function decline that happens when you don't get enough exercise. The more your lung function is reduced, the more easily you become winded, and the more likely you are to have low-blood oxygen levels and fatigue as a result.

Hypoxemia

Having blood oxygen levels that are too low is known as hypoxemia, and it's a condition that causes your body to feel very fatigued. This discourages many people with COPD from being as active as they should be, even though exercise is essential for keeping your lungs and body strong.

Hypoxemia is often treated with supplemental oxygen, which delivers extra oxygen to your lungs so that your blood oxygen saturation doesn't drop too low. If you experience frequent fatigue, your doctor can evaluate your blood oxygen to see if supplemental oxygen is right for you.

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Lack of Sufficient Nutrients

COPD causes uncomfortable symptoms that make it difficult for many patients to eat properly. Patients with inflated lungs due to emphysema, in particular, have difficulty breathing when they eat.

Because of this, many patients avoid meals and don't get enough calories and nutrients. This is especially common in the later stages of COPD.

People with COPD also tend to need more calories because of their declining lung function. Damaged lungs aren't able to absorb as much oxygen with every breath, and have to work harder to keep your blood oxygen levels up. This results in your lungs and the muscles that support them working overtime when you breathe.

Studies show that the breathing muscles of people with COPD use up to ten times the amount of energy compared to people with healthy lungs. This means that most COPD patients burn extra calories just walking, living, and breathing.

Because of this, many people with COPD have to eat a higher calorie diet to supply their lungs and breathing muscles with the nutrients they need. This helps them meet their daily nutrient requirements, have more energy, and experience less COPD-related fatigue.

How to Beat COPD Fatigue and Have More Energy Every Day

Depending on the severity of your COPD and how active you are, you might find even simple, everyday tasks difficult to do. If you're not careful, fatigue can quickly lead to a sedentary lifestyle and an even quicker decline in your physical ability.

Maintaining your physical mobility is key for maintaining a good quality of life, which is why treating COPD-related fatigue is so important. If you can reduce your fatigue, you will have more energy and strength to live a healthy, active life.

There are a variety of treatments for COPD-related fatigue and daily habits you can practice to boost the amount of energy you have every day. Continue reading for a variety of different ideas, including dietary tips, lifestyle habits, and exercises that can help you overcome COPD-related fatigue.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Photo by Sgt. Andy Bellami

As we've mentioned before, lack of exercise is a major contributing factor to COPD-related fatigue. When you avoid physical activity, it causes your muscles to atrophy, and even weakens the muscles you use to breathe. It also causes your lung function to decline, increasing COPD symptoms and making it harder for your lungs to supply enough oxygen to your body.

Luckily, there is a special type of class designed to help COPD patients who struggle with this exact problem. It's called pulmonary rehabilitation, and it uses a variety of hands-on methods to help you increase your strength, endurance, and quality of life.

Pulmonary rehabilitation classes are usually six to eight weeks long and often held as group lessons. Classes are generally run by a team of social workers, dietitians, and medical professionals that are knowledgeable about chronic respiratory diseases. Classes include exercise instruction, lessons on breathing exercises and medications, and opportunities to learn a variety of useful skills that will help you stay active and maintain your independence with COPD.

Here is a list of some of the benefits you can receive from taking a pulmonary rehabilitation class:

• Improved blood circulation
• Reduced breathlessness
• Deeper breathing
• Improved physical fitness and exercise endurance
• Improved mood and motivation
• The skills for proper COPD dieting
• Reduced chance of COPD exacerbations and hospitalizations
• Increased mobility and ability to do daily activities
• Knowledge about COPD medications and treatments
• Improved quality of life

Regular Exercise

People with COPD often feel like they don't have enough strength or energy to devote to exercise. However, if you start getting regular physical activity, you're more likely to have more energy, not less.

Regular physical activity is a cornerstone of COPD treatment because it keeps your body, lungs, and breathing muscles strong. It also helps battle anxiety, fatigue, and certain kinds of chronic pains.

When fatigue makes you feel the most like staying in bed, that's when you need to get up and be active the most. Staying sedentary will only make you feel worse; you have to get your body moving in order to overcome fatigue and find the energy you need to start your day.

If you're not used to exercising, you can start with light stretching, walking, and body weight exercises like leg lifts. Try taking up an active hobby, like biking, gardening, or swimming for extra physical activity.

Don't get sucked into a negative spiral of exercise avoidance, which inevitably leads to worsened symptoms, worsened fatigue, and accelerated physical decline. You should try to stay as active as you can for as long as you can, and always follow the exercise plan recommended by your doctor.

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Don't Skip Breakfast

Breakfast is an essential part of a healthy morning routine and will give your body a nutritional boost of energy. If you have COPD, it's especially important to start off your day with a nutritious, balanced meal of fruit, protein, and whole grains.

Eating food in the morning gives your metabolism a jump-start and can help you feel awake, energized, and alert during the day. Don't skip breakfast or wait too long to eat, otherwise you're likely to feel tired sluggish, and fatigued.

Minimize Stress

Living with constant stress not only eats away at your mental resources, but it drains your physical resources as well. Stress is a huge contributor to fatigue, and it's a common problem for people with COPD.

If you experience an excessive amount of stress, changing your habits and environment can make it easier to cope. You can relieve stress through physical activity, meditation, spending more time with loved ones, eating a healthy diet, journaling, and more.

Try to identify stress-inducing people, situations, and environments in your life that you have control over. Then, work on finding solutions that allow you to avoid, minimize, or cope calmly with the things that cause stress in your life.

If you are dealing with chronic stress-induced fatigue, don't hesitate to talk to your doctor about mental health services and resources that are available in your city. Consider joining a support group, seeing a therapist, or asking a psychologist about medications that might help with your anxiety.

Eat Nutritious, High-Calorie Foods

Increasing the amount of calorie-dense foods you eat is a great way to make sure you meet your daily calorie requirements. High-calorie foods are particularly helpful if you're struggling to get enough calories because of breathlessness, appetite loss, or trouble keeping up with a high-calorie diet.

If this sounds like you, then you may need to add more healthy, calorie-dense fats and proteins to your diet. Foods like yogurt, cheese, and ice cream, for example, are great options that you could eat as part of a meal or as a stand-alone snack.

It can also help to prioritize the highest-calorie foods first. For example, if you often find yourself unable to finish your food at mealtimes, eat the most nutritious, calorie-dense items on your plate first. It can also help to avoid drinking liquids before or during meals, that way you're less likely to feel bloated and breathless, and you'll have as much room in your stomach as possible for food.

Here are some nutritious, high-calorie foods that can help you meet your daily calorie needs:

• Milk
• Yogurt
• Cheese
• Ice cream
• Nuts (e.g. almonds and walnuts)
• Nut butters (e.g. peanut butter or almond butter)
• Eggs
• Olive oil and other vegetable oils (e.g. sunflower oil)
• Smoothies
• Protein shakes

As a final tip, eating small meals instead of large ones can make it easier to get enough calories without ever feeling too full. Try eating five or six smaller meals spread out throughout your day instead of the traditional, larger meals at breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Care For Your Mental Health

Anxiety and depression are common mental health issues that come along with COPD. Coping with the diagnosis alone can be difficult, and the stress of managing the disease and losing physical independence can be difficult to weather on your own.

Fatigue is a common symptom associated with both depression and anxiety, and is sometimes a major factor in COPD-related fatigue. That's why neglecting your mental health is not an option; caring for yourself and your emotions is necessary for both your physical and mental wellbeing.

If you suffer from chronic anxiety, depression, or are having trouble coping with COPD on your own, don't hesitate to seek help. You can talk to your doctor, therapist, or any other licensed mental health professional to get advice, support, and prescription medication if you need it.

You can also find support in group therapy, both in person and online. Your doctor or another mental health professional could help you find mental health support groups and other services in your area, or you can join one of several COPD and lung disease support groups online.

Eat a Lung-Healthy Diet

Did you know that eating a diet high in carbs can actually strain your lungs? That's right, foods high in carbohydrates make your lungs have to work harder to breathe compared to foods high in healthy fats and proteins.

Because of this, you should try to limit the amount of carbohydrates in your diet and replace them with more lean proteins and healthy fats. This will help your lungs work more efficiently, which lowers your risk of experiencing low blood oxygen levels and hypoxemia-related fatigue.

In this way, eating fewer carbs can actually give you more energy and reduce fatigue caused by low oxygen levels in your blood. However, you still need a limited amount of carbs in your diet, and cutting them out completely would cause malnutrition and even worse fatigue.

When you do eat carbohydrate-rich foods, make sure they contain complex carbohydrates instead of simple carbs. Choose things like whole-grain breads and whole-wheat pastas, which contain complex carbs, instead of white breads and pastas, which are stuffed with simple carbs.

Simple carbohydrates cause your blood sugar to spike and fall rapidly, which gives you a limited burst of energy that quickly gives way to fatigue. Avoiding all simple carbs, including sugars, helps keep your blood sugar stable and prevents sudden blood sugar spikes that ultimately lead to fatigue.

Avoid Caffeine

Caffeine might give you energy and help stave off fatigue in the short run, but too much can make you feel worse. Many people get addicted to the caffeine “high,” but end up crashing and feeling even more tired, anxious, and fatigued later on.

Caffeine can also hurt your ability to sleep, which will sap your energy reserves even more if you suffer from chronic fatigue. It's best to avoid caffeine when possible, or to wean yourself off of it for good. At the very least, be careful to cut off your caffeine intake at least six to eight hours before bedtime.

Make Sure You Get Enough Vitamin D

Many people who suffer from fatigue are actually deficient in vitamin D, and correcting the deficiency can significantly improve fatigue. In fact, it's common for doctors to prescribe vitamin D supplements for people with fatigue-related disorders.

It just so happens that vitamin D deficiency is particularly common in COPD patients—up to 66 percent of patients are deficient—and it is a common factor contributing to COPD-related fatigue. Studies show that vitamin D deficiency also affects patients' bone strength and ability to breathe, and that supplemental vitamin D can help improve exercise endurance and strengthen the muscles used for breathing.

If you have COPD and suffer from chronic fatigue, you should talk to your doctor to get tested for vitamin D deficiency. Your doctor can determine if a deficiency is causing your symptoms and prescribe you a vitamin D supplement if needed to correct it.

But you don't always need a supplement; minor vitamin D deficiencies can often be corrected by increasing the amount of vitamin D in your diet and by spending more time in the sun. Just letting the sun touch your skin for ten to twenty minutes a day is enough to give you a significant boost of vitamin D.

Most people should get anywhere from 400-800 IU, or 10-20 micrograms, of vitamin D per day. People who don't spend much time in the sun will need to get most of their Vitamin D from their diet.

There are several kinds of foods that naturally contain vitamin D, and even more that are fortified with extra vitamin D. Here are some good dietary sources of vitamin D you should know:

• Egg yolks
• Cheese
• Salmon
• Mackerel
• Tuna
• Sardines
• Beef liver
• Cod liver oil
• Cereals fortified with vitamin D
• Milk or yogurt fortified with vitamin D
• Orange juice fortified with vitamin D

Supplemental Oxygen

If you have advanced COPD and are experiencing chronic fatigue, it might be because your blood oxygen is low. In the later stages of COPD, many patients have to use supplemental oxygen to prevent hypoxemia and hypoxemia-related fatigue.

Supplemental oxygen is not right for everyone and has to be prescribed by your doctor. Some people need supplemental oxygen all the time, while others only need it during exercise, exacerbations, or while they sleep.

If you are having trouble breathing and getting enough oxygen at night, you might need nighttime oxygen to help you sleep better and keep your blood oxygen levels up while you sleep. You might also want to get tested for sleep apnea, a breathing-related sleep disorder that causes your body to be starved of oxygen at night, leading to daytime sleepiness and fatigue.

Your doctor will be able to test your lung function, your oxygen saturation, and review other information to determine whether you need supplemental oxygen and whether or not your insurance will cover the cost. In some cases you can use other treatments, like medications, exercise, or breathing techniques, to improve your breathing efficiency, instead.

Take Hydration Seriously

Dehydration doesn't feel good; it can cause headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. And what's worse, if you have COPD, not getting enough water can make symptoms like coughing and breathlessness worse, too.

Water has a multitude of benefits; it helps thin out your mucus, supports healthy metabolism, and lubricates your lungs and airways to prevent irritation. Staying hydrated also keeps your energy levels up, improves your mood, and can even prevent illnesses and infections.

Many sources recommend drinking up to 6-8 cups of water a day, but it varies greatly from person to person and depends on your age, sex, weight, and more. The CDC recommends drinking water whenever you feel thirsty.

If you have trouble drinking enough water, you can try keeping an extra large water bottle with you throughout the day. Use it to motivate yourself, make hydrating as convenient as possible, and to help you keep track of how much you drink.

Often, people who are dehydrated feel sluggish without even knowing why. When you feel particularly lazy or fatigued, try drinking a large glass of cold water. Wait a few minutes and, chances are, you'll feel much better and have more energy afterward.

Conserve Your Energy for What Matters

While you should always try to be as active as possible in your daily life, in the later stages of COPD it is usually necessary to start cutting out some activities and active responsibilities. That might mean delegating certain tasks to friends and family members, hiring help, or using tools and techniques to reduce the amount of effort that daily tasks require.

As you lose mobility and have less strength and energy during the day, time and energy-saving tips can be life-savers. If you can find ways to simplify tasks and responsibilities like cooking, cleaning, and running errands, you'll have more energy for the activities you enjoy.

You can increase your energy to a certain extent through effective COPD treatment and using the methods on this list, but your mental and physical energy stores will still be limited. That's why you need to know when to rest and take it easy so you don't overexert yourself or have to give up on important activities.

It's important to save enough energy during the week to stretch, exercise, and socialize. If you conserve your energy wisely, you will be more likely to be able to find the strength to participate in other healthy activities like sports, hobbies, and social outings. These kinds of activities are necessary for maintaining a healthy body, healthy mind, and enjoying your life to the fullest.

Learn to Recognize Fatigue

When you wake up and feel sluggish, or when you feel breathless and tired, you might not realize that the reason is fatigue. If you don't understand fatigue and how it differs from other types of malaise, it's easy to mislabel it as as anxiety, illness, hunger, physical exhaustion, or lack of sleep.

The problem with this is that, if you attribute fatigue to something else, you could steer yourself toward solutions that won't be effective. For example, mistaking fatigue as physical exhaustion could lead you to avoid exercise, when in reality exercise could actually reduce your fatigue.

Fatigue is more than simply feeling a little tired or run down, but the symptoms are often generic and vague. This makes fatigue sometimes difficult to spot.

Here are some of the most common symptoms of fatigue:

• Chronic feelings of sleepiness and tiredness
• Loss of appetite
• Irritability and mood swings
• Sore, aching, or weakened muscles
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Blurred vision
• Difficulty concentrating
• Slowed movement and reflexes
• Lack of motivation

When you feel tired and lethargic, take time to think about your sleep quality, recent heavy exercise, or anything else that could be causing you to feel run down. If you can rule out other causes, there's a good chance the culprit is fatigue.

When you know that you're suffering from fatigue, you can start to address it by putting some of the techniques we've discussed in this article to use. You should also talk to your doctor if you experience chronic fatigue. Your doctor can evaluate your blood oxygen, medications, and suggest other treatments that can start you on the path to regaining your energy and joy in life.

Conclusion

Recognizing and treating fatigue is a key part of managing COPD. Luckily, there are many effective ways for people with the disease to manage their fatigue and find the energy they need to participate in life to the fullest.

Even though fatigue is still somewhat poorly understood, there are plenty of non-drug treatments that can help many people with COPD beat, or at least manage, their chronic fatigue. More solutions will likely emerge as doctors and researchers continue to develop a better understanding of the causes and effects of COPD-related fatigue.

By watching your diet, exercise, hydration, and taking care of your mental health, you'll be much better able to keep your body strong and combat th

The wise Greek philosopher Heraclitus once said, “the only constant in life is change.” And while we aren’t always in charge of the outcome of our life, we’re always in control of the effort we put into it.

Nobody chooses to be diagnosed with COPD, but if it does happen, you’ll need to adapt, adjust, and start planning for the future rather than looking to the past. Implementing simple lifestyle changes like an improved diet, exercise routine, and oxygen therapy will help you achieve the best health outcome possible.

Investing in high-quality oxygen equipment that meets your doctor’s recommendations should be your first priority when you’re diagnosed with COPD. Ensuring that your lungs are properly saturated with oxygen means every organ in your body will have the oxygen it needs to stay healthy, and in turn, you’ll feel much better throughout your day-to-day life. 

Two of the hottest portable oxygen concentrators currently on the market are the Inogen One G3 and the Caire FreeStyle Comfort. In this post, we’ll compare them so that you have a better idea of which one will meet your lifestyle and medical needs. If you have any questions about portable oxygen concentrators for seniors, feel free to visit our contact page and either give us a phone call or send us an email. One of our respiratory specialists will reach out to you.

What is a Portable Oxygen Concentrator?

A portable oxygen concentrator, portable oxygen generator, or O2 concentrator, is an electronic device that delivers medical-grade oxygen to the user. Unlike an oxygen tank or liquid oxygen tank which has oxygen stored inside of it, portable oxygen concentrators take in ambient air, remove impurities, and output high purity oxygen.

Portable oxygen concentrators are much lighter than oxygen tanks meaning respiratory patients are able to experience a lot more freedom and independence in their daily life. Rather than being stuck at home all day and night, oxygen patients are no able to get out and enjoy all of the things they did before they were diagnosed with COPD.

One of the greatest things about portable oxygen concentrators is how quickly they advance. Just several decades ago, POCs were clunky machines that had to be wheeled around with a rolling cart. They were also very power-hungry, so batteries didn’t’ last more than a few hours with a full charge. But since then, these machines have come farther than we could’ve imagined.

There are two different kinds of portable oxygen concentrators: pulse dose and continuous flow. Think of pulse dose like using a drinking straw; when you inhale, you receive a set amount of water. However, continuous flow is more like using a drinking fountain; the water comes out of the spout regardless of whether you’re drinking it or not. Just like drinking from a straw, pulse dose portable oxygen concentrators are much more efficient because there is no wasted oxygen. As a result, these machines are much smaller and lighter than their continuous flow counterparts.

Both the Caire FreeStyle Comfort and the Inogen One G3 are pulse dose portable oxygen concentrators.

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Maximum Oxygen Flow Setting

If you’re trying to decide between the Caire FreeStyle Comfort and the Inogen One G3, the best place to start your search is with the maximum flow setting of each device. Unfortunately, flow settings aren’t consistent across all portable oxygen concentrators, so you’ll also need to take a look at the total oxygen output of each device on its highest setting in order to compare them fairly.

The FreeStyle Comfort has 5 pulse flow settings with a maximum oxygen output of 1,050 milliliters per minute (ml/min). The Inogen One G3, on the other hand, has two different versions: an older model and a newer model. The newer model has the same amount of flow settings and same output as the FreeStyle Comfort, but the older version only has flow settings 1 through 4 and a maximum oxygen output of 840 ml/min. It’s important to make this distinction, especially if you’re buying a G3 that is used or refurbished. When it comes time to replace the sieve beds (filters) in your device, you’ll also need to know what model of G3 you have because they are not interchangeable.

Since the FreeStyle Comfort and G3 are both pulse flow concentrators, you need to be careful when comparing them to continuous flow oxygen concentrators. If you have a continuous flow concentrator that delivers 3 LPM of oxygen, you have to remember that most of that oxygen is wasted. Whereas on a pulse dose unit, all of the oxygen that is being administered is being inhaled by the user. There are a lot of variables to consider so it’s best to consult your doctor and keep a pulse oximeter handy to ensure your blood oxygen levels are normal while you’re using your oxygen machine of choice.

Battery Life

One of the most common reasons for buying a portable oxygen concentrator is the improved freedom that it offers oxygen patients. Throughout the better part of the 20th century, being diagnosed with COPD meant being bound to your home for the rest of your life. However, with the advent of portable oxygen, it’s easier than ever before to get out and enjoy your life without having to worry about whether or not your oxygen needs are met.

Portable oxygen concentrators depend on reliable and powerful lithium-ion batteries to power them. Fortunately, battery technology has been improving rapidly within the past couple of decades due to an increased demand for things like mobile phones and even electric cars. This technology also allows devices like the G3 and FreeStyle Comfort to deliver medical grade oxygen anywhere in the world without constantly being plugged into the wall.

In the grand scheme of things, the Inogen One G3 and FreeStyle Comfort are industry leaders when battery life is a concern. Each unit offers two different battery options: an 8-cell version and a 16-cell version, with the latter offering twice as much battery life as the former. Each device comes with a single 8-cell battery, but it can usually be upgraded to the 16-cell version for a small cost.

Below is the expected battery life for both oxygen machines:

Inogen One G3 Battery Life:

Caire FreeStyle Comfort Battery Life:

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Weight and Size

COPD is a condition that affects people of all ages; but generally speaking, it’s also a condition that has a bigger impact on older adults and seniors than it does on younger generations. Aging is associated with difficulty walking, back pain, and chronic pain, so there’s no sense in COPD patients carrying around heavy and bulky oxygen machines if they don’t need to. 

The Inogen One G3 weighs in at only 4.7 pounds making it one of the lightest concentrators you can buy. The Caire FreeStyle Comfort isn’t too far behind, however, weighing just 5 pounds with the 8-cell battery. It should be noted that if you upgrade to a larger 16-cell battery, this will add a little bit of weight.

Size is also an important factor to consider. With a bulky and awkwardly shaped device, you may have trouble navigating busy areas and you might find it difficult or impossible to store. Fortunately, both of these portable oxygen concentrators are about the size of a purse or handbag, meaning they’re small enough for convenience but not so small that you’re going to lose them. 

The dimensions of the Caire FreeStyle Comfort are 10” H x 7.3” L x 3.1” W and the dimensions of the Inogen One G3 are 8.25” H x 8.75” L x 3.0” W. Both portable oxygen concentrators come with an adjustable carrying strap so that you can rest the device under your shoulder when you walk without it impeding your movement. And if you’re interested there are other carrying accessories such as the G3 backpack and the G3 Rolling Backpack. 

Regardless of which option you choose, both of these devices are light and easy to carry. They also offer plenty of other alternatives if you don’t want to use the standard carrying case that comes with each device.   

FAA Approval

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is an organization that manages many of the commercial flight regulations in the United States. One of the most important things they have control over is the safety protocol that all airlines must follow in order to keep their passengers safe during the flight.

In the past, oxygen machines were strictly prohibited on airplanes because they were bulky and posed a significant fire hazard. Oxygen tanks, specifically, have no built-in safety features and they’d be difficult or impossible to store under the seat for takeoff and landing. Fortunately, over time, oxygen manufacturers began to implement more safety features into their concentrators and now, most of them are approved for in-flight use.

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You’ll be happy to know that both the Caire FreeStyle Comfort and Inogen One G3 are approved by the FAA. It’s recommended, however, that you contact your airline at least 48 hours before your flight to notify them about the type of oxygen device you will be bringing. When you arrive at the gate, be sure to check-in at the customer service desk. Most airlines will require you to have at least 1.5 times as much battery life as the duration of the flight, so you may have to either upgrade to a bigger battery or have a second one on hand.

Additional Features

We’ve gotten to the point with oxygen concentrators where manufacturers are starting to get really creative in dealing with specific issues that oxygen users face. A great example of this is a program called CAIREview™ which was created specifically for the Caire FreeStyle Comfort portable oxygen concentrator.

CAIREview™ is a data-tracking software that keeps track of exactly how much oxygen you’re using and for how long. In order to view this information, you just need to install the app on your phone and follow the instructions to connect it to your FreeStyle Comfort via Bluetooth. You can also send this information directly to your physician or oxygen supplier for interpretation. In certain cases, your oxygen supplier can even troubleshoot issues with your device remotely.

This technology is known as telemedicine and it’s becoming increasingly popular, ensuring that people stay connected to health professionals no matter where they are in the world. If you’re interested in learning all the ways telemedicine is helping COPD patients check out this article we wrote a couple of months ago.

Unfortunately, the Inogen One G3 doesn’t have too much to offer in the way of additional features. While Inogen did come out with a similar program called “Inogen Connect,’ it wasn’t introduced until the Inogen One G4 came out. This is not necessarily a bad thing, however, as many patients are only interested in using the core functions of the device.

Usability

Last but certainly not least, it’s important to take a look at the usability of each device. While there are many different facets of usability, when it comes to portable oxygen devices, you’re going to want something that doesn’t cause any unnecessary problems while you’re away from home. There’s nothing worse than having to pull out your user manual or call up your oxygen supplier in the middle of your vacation or leisure time in order to figure out how your device works.

Luckily, both Inogen and Caire Inc. spent years designing these oxygen machines in order to make them more user-friendly and hassle-free than ever before. For the most part, these oxygen concentrators have a hands-free operation. Simply turn the device on, select your flow rate, and enjoy the freedom that comes with knowing your oxygen needs are covered no matter where you are. 

Conclusion

The Inogen One G3 and the Caire FreeStyle Comfort are two of the best portable oxygen concentrators money can buy — and for good reason. Each provides oxygen users with ample oxygen output, a lightweight design, and a long battery life so you can stay out all day without worry. 

While the Caire FreeStyle Comfort has unique telemedicine software built-in, the Inogen One G3 has its advantages too. Since the G3 is a bit older, you might have an easier time finding a used or refurbished one or even a new unit on sale. There are a lot of different factors to consider, so be sure to visit our contact page and either give us a call or send us an email to speak with a respiratory specialist.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a broad umbrella term that’s used to describe over 100 different chronic lung conditions. Each of these illnesses is characterized by scarring and hardening of lung tissue, a process commonly known as “pulmonary fibrosis.”

The term “interstitial” refers to the space around the blood vessels in the small airways and the walls of the alveoli (the small air sacs in the lungs). ILD results when inflammatory cells accumulate in these areas, causing shortness of breath, chest pain, and a chronic cough. 

While all types of ILD are separate and often have different causes and risk factors, they are all considered “restrictive lung diseases.” This means that they all decrease the total volume of air that the lungs can hold or they’re caused by a problem related to the expansion of the chest during inhalation.  

If you’re interested in learning more about the different types of ILD, their symptoms, causes, and treatment options, as well as how they compare to other chronic pulmonary diseases such as COPD, read on. The more educated you are about your lung health, the better you will be able to deal with symptoms if they arise.

What are the Different Types of Interstitial Lung Disease?

A lot of the confusion around interstitial lung disease is due to the fact that there are so many conditions listed under this umbrella term. Rather than going through every single disease, it’s more practical to divide them all into subgroups based on how they’re contracted. Once you understand each of the different subsets of ILD, you’ll be able to adjust your lifestyle choices accordingly to reduce your risk of contracting them.

Occupational or Exposure-Related ILD

The first type of ILD, occupational or exposure-related, is also one of the most common. Just like the name suggests, this type of ILD is caused by exposure to harmful substances like smoke, metals, or chemicals, often found in unsafe working environments like factories, mines, or construction sites.

These illnesses can be particularly dangerous because they often develop over many years of exposure with little or no side-effects at first. In the past, business owners were not required to implement safety protocols that would protect their workers from these harmful substances, but this all changed in the late 1900s. 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was founded in 1971 which is a government organization that oversees many of the work-related safety laws and regulations in the United States. In particular, the OSHA has set their sites on ILD prevention because it’s a problem that’s been overlooked for so long.

If you contracted ILD while working, you may be able to file an occupational disease workers’ compensation claim. These laws typically vary based on the state you’re in, but generally speaking, you can receive monetary compensation as long as your doctor can provide you with a note indicating that your disease was caused by your job.

Below are some of the most common types of occupational ILD:

Asbestosis

For many people, the first thing that comes to mind when they think of occupational disease is asbestosis. This is the condition that results from the inhalation of asbestos particles often used in things like cement, fire-resistant coating, pipe insulation, drywall, and more. Since the 1970s, however, asbestos has become heavily regulated especially concerning its use in home and consumer products. 

The reason asbestos poses such a hazard is that the microscopic fibers it releases can become lodged in the lungs causing permanent damage and fibrosis. There is no ‘safe’ amount of asbestos you can inhale before it starts to damage the lungs, so it’s imperative to use a respirator any time you have to handle it. There are six different types of asbestos — actinolite, tremolite, anthophyllite, crocidolite, amosite, and chrysolite — all of which are known to cause asbestosis.

Asbestosis should not be confused with mesothelioma which is a type of cancerous tumor that forms in the lung due to asbestos poisoning. The life expectancy of mesothelioma patients is much shorter than that of an asbestosis patient.

Silicosis

Silicosis is a type of ILD that’s caused by tiny crystals called silica. It’s commonly found in the mining, steel, construction, and roofing industries, and much like asbestos, these particles become deeply embedded in the lungs, leading to permanent and irreversible damage.

According to the OSHA, about two million people are exposed to crystalline silica through construction work across 600,000 workplaces in the country. Employers are required to follow a strict set of regulations that limit workers’ exposure and they’re also required to provide a specific type of respirator that filters out silica crystals. 

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Treatment-Related ILD

Believe it or not, interstitial lung disease can occur as a side-effect of certain medications or drugs; this is referred to as treatment or drug-related ILD. Some of the most common medications associated with ILD include chemotherapy, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and heart medications. 

Chemotherapy Medication

Bleomycin is a type of antitumor antibiotic commonly used to treat conditions like Hodgkin lymphoma and germ cell tumors. Approximately 10 percent of patients who receive this drug contract pulmonary fibrosis and it’s associated with a number of other lung injuries including hypersensitivity pneumonitis and pneumonia.

It’s not known exactly why bleomycin can cause lung damage, but research indicates that it may be related to oxidative damage, genetic predisposition, and elaboration of inflammatory cytokines. Other chemotherapy medications that can cause lung damage include carmustine, busulfan, and cyclophosphamide.  

Immunosuppressant Drugs

Just like the name suggests, immunosuppressant drugs help to slow or block immune responses in the body. This is important for people with an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the patient’s own organs. Some common immunosuppressant drugs include azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, and azathioprine and they all have the potential to cause collateral lung fibrosis.

Heart Medications

A study found that people who use amiodarone to treat abnormal heartbeats had a 5 to 7 percent chance of developing pulmonary fibrosis. Among the patients who develop fibrosis of the lungs, there is a fatality rate of about 10 to 20 percent. Multaq (dronedarone) is often used as an alternative to amiodarone due to its lower risk of lung injury.

Biologic Agents

A biologic agent is a medication that’s made from living organisms. It’s typically used to treat cancer, but it can treat other diseases as well. Biologic agents such as alemtuzumab (Lemtrada), trastuzumab (Herceptin), and bevacizumab (Avastin) are known to cause ILD. However, since these are used to treat serious illness, the benefits may outweigh the risk.

Autoimmune Disease ILD

Your immune system is responsible for protecting your body from foreign substances like bacteria. In a healthy person, immune cells (lymphocytes, neutrophils, and monocytes) prevent infection and keep your body healthy. However, in someone with an autoimmune disease, the immune system mistakenly identifies its own cells as “foreign” and attacks them.

There are many different types of autoimmune diseases. Some of them target a specific organ like the lungs, while others may be systemic meaning they can cause damage to the body as a whole. Autoimmune disorders typically can’t be cured, but they can usually be managed with a precise treatment plan focused on suppressing the immune system and reducing inflammation.

Women are far more likely to develop autoimmune diseases, making up about 78.8 percent of those affected. While there are several reasons why this is the case, it’s mainly due to genetics. 

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease that affects about 1.3 million Americans. RA primarily attacks cells in the joints such as the hands, feet, wrists, and knees and causes chronic inflammation and swelling. People with RA tend to have difficulty standing, walking, and living an otherwise normal life.

In a number of patients, rheumatoid arthritis has been known to manifest itself in other parts of the body such as the lungs, heart, and eyes. In particular, fibrosis of the lungs and interstitial lung disease have been known to significantly increase the mortality rate of rheumatoid arthritis patients. According to a medical report, the expected survival rate of someone with RA and ILD is about 3 years on average. 

Lupus

Lupus shares many of the same symptoms as rheumatoid arthritis, but they are not the same disease. While lupus can lead to inflammation and swelling in the joints just like RA, lupus is more likely to affect the internal organs and skin. The pain caused by RA also tends to increase and then dissipate whereas the pain from lupus usually remains constant. There are four different types of lupus:

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) — the most common type of lupus.

Neonatal lupus — a condition that affects infants

Drug-induced lupus — caused by prescription drugs

Cutaneous lupus — primarily affecting the skin

Just like RA, lupus can affect the lungs. According to the Johns Hopkins Lupus Center, 50 percent of people with SLE will experience lung complications. These complications include the following:

Pleuritis — This is when the pleura (the membrane surrounding the lungs) become inflamed. If fluid begins to form and leaves the membrane, this is known as pleural effusion.

Acute Lupus Pneumonitis — This is a rare condition that can have serious complications for lupus patients. it’s known to cause sharp pain the chest, a dry cough, and shortness of breath. If acute lupus pneumonitis isn’t treated immediately, it could result in permanent lung scarring.

Chronic (fibrotic) Lupus Pneumonitis — This is essentially the same as acute lupus pneumonitis but it occurs over several years rather than abruptly. While both these conditions are interstitial lung diseases, chronic lupus pneumonitis is more comparable to other ILDs like occupational and treatment-related.

Pulmonary Hypertension — Although this condition is not technically considered an ILD, it’s important to know about if you have lupus. PH is a type of high blood pressure that affects the arteries leaving the heart. This damages the heart because it’s working harder to pump blood and it can damage organs throughout the body if they aren’t getting oxygen.

Scleroderma

Your body is composed of a variety of “connective tissues” like collagen, fibers, and other tissues that give each organ its shape and elasticity. Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease that alters your body’s production of these tissues. 

While this may seem harmless at first glance, it’s important to note that most organs, especially the lungs, depend on their shape and consistency in order to function properly. For example, your lungs need to be elastic in order to expand and take in air. And if your skin gets too thick, it can begin to block blood vessels, requiring your heart to work harder to pump blood throughout the body.

The type of ILD caused by scleroderma is called pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). This is a result of small blood vessels in the lungs called pulmonary arteries, becoming narrow and constricted. Since PAH is caused by pulmonary fibrosis, it’s considered a progressive lung disease. Symptoms are not likely to improve on their own, so a refined treatment plan is necessary. 

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Pulmonary Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is a very rare condition characterized by tiny clumps of inflammatory cells called granulomas. Sarcoidosis usually appears on the skin, but pulmonary sarcoidosis forms on the lungs. Usually, the granulomas go away on their own, but if they don’t, they can cause permanent scarring and obstruction in the lungs. It can also result in a condition called bronchiectasis which is when the lungs are frequently infected.

Idiopathic ILD

The term “idiopathic” denotes a disease or condition that has an unknown cause. If your doctor believes you may have idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), he/she will perform a number of tests to rule out any potential causes. If no cause is found, you may be prescribed standardized IPF treatments like nintedanib, an anti-fibrotic drug, or pirfenidone, an anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory drug. As you can imagine, not knowing the root cause of IPF makes it much more difficult to treat. 

What are the Symptoms of Interstitial Lung Disease?

The above list gives examples of just a few of the interstitial lung diseases there are and what causes them. Researchers are constantly working on understanding the prognosis of lung fibrosis and how it can be treated more effectively. But if you want to limit the damage caused by interstitial lung disease, it’s important to recognize the warning signs early on.

As aforementioned, symptoms of ILD can develop over the course of many years so it’s imperative that you take all respiratory symptoms seriously and consult with a doctor as soon as possible. ILD is a chronic disease, so the damage that’s caused by it is irreversible. However, the sooner it’s recognized, the sooner your doctor will be able to provide you with treatments that will prevent it from progressing as quickly.

The two most common symptoms of ILD are shortness of breath and a dry cough. Excess mucus is not usually a symptom of ILD, but it could be a sign of COPD or another chronic lung disease. Other symptoms of ILD include whole-body fatigue, fast breathing, deformity of nails, or rapid weight loss.

How is Interstitial Lung Disease Treated?

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Many people are surprised to find that exercise is a key part of treating ILD. While heavy exercise can exacerbate respiratory issues, controlled and precise training routines can help improve endurance, strength, and regulate weight. Pulmonary rehabilitation programs are run by health professionals who can educate you about how your lungs work and what steps you can take to improve your quality of life with ILD.

Medications

There are many medications used to treat ILD, so it’s hard to say what your doctor will prescribe. However, some of the most common medications for ILD include corticosteroids, pirfenidone, nintedanib, as well as anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory drugs. If your ILD is caused by something like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), you may be prescribed medication that limits this, preventing further damage to the lungs. 

Oxygen Therapy

Oxygen therapy is the administration of medical-grade oxygen through a nasal cannula or oxygen mask. Most ILD patients are prescribed periodic or 24/7 oxygen because it helps ensure the lungs are fully saturated with oxygen. There are many different oxygen therapy machines on the market, but most people prefer portable oxygen concentrators like the Inogen One G5 or the Caire FreeStyle Comfort. These units are lightweight, reliable, and allow oxygen patients more freedom in their daily life. 

Surgery

Lung biopsy is a fairly common procedure for anyone with ILD. This is when a medical professional surgically removes a part of the affected lung in order to take a sample and study it. This can help your doctor better understand how you contracted ILD, and what medication you can take to reduce your symptoms. In very rare and severe cases, your doctor may recommend a lung transplant surgery which is the full removal and replacement of the lungs.

What’s the Difference Between Interstitial Lung Disease and COPD?

Interstitial lung disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are commonly confused, likely due to the fact that they have very similar symptoms. Both are characterized by a chronic cough, fatigue, reduced exercise tolerance, and shortness of breath. However, where these conditions differ is in their causes, risk factors, and the type of damage that is done to the lungs.

Like ILD, COPD is an umbrella term, but instead of 100s of conditions, COPD is made up of just two: emphysema and chronic bronchitis. In emphysema patients, the walls of the alveoli begin to collapse preventing the proper exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from the blood. Emphysema can also cause air to become trapped in the lungs so that it can’t be expelled correctly. Chronic bronchitis is when the bronchial tubes, the airways that lead to the lungs become damaged and start to swell.

COPD is an “obstructive” lung disease, meaning it prevents the patient from expelling air correctly. ILD is a “restrictive” lung disease, meaning it prevents the patient from inspiring air properly. 85 to 90 percent of COPD cases are caused by smoking while ILD is caused by a whole variety of things. While smoking is a risk factor for ILD, it is not a primary causal factor. 

Treatment for COPD and ILD may look similar and it usually starts with eliminating the factor that’s causing the lung damage. Smoking cessation is imperative in both cases but it’s especially important for COPD patients. Oxygen therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation, and lifestyle changes are commonly used to treat both conditions, but COPD patients may need additional medications like bronchodilators to reduce swelling in the airways.

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Conclusion

While interstitial lung disease denotes hundreds of different conditions, it is still possible to significantly reduce your risk of contracting it. First and foremost, you should quit smoking and always wear a respirator if you have to work in dangerous industrial environments such as mines, construction sites, or factories. Take care to also follow all OSHA regulations that your company requires.

Secondly, if you have an autoimmune disease like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, you should visit your doctor frequently in order to keep it under control. Untreated inflammation and immune reactions can lead to damage and scarring of the lungs.

Lastly, if you’re experiencing respiratory symptoms like breathlessness, chest pain, or a chronic cough, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor right away. Respiratory symptoms lasting more than a couple of days are considered “chronic” and might be a sign of a serious underlying condition. 

If you have COPD or any respiratory or circulatory disease that inhibits your lungs or heart from producing enough oxygen for your body you have probably been prescribed supplemental medical oxygen. Oxygen treatment increases the amount of oxygen that flows into your lungs and bloodstream. If your COPD is severe, and your blood oxygen levels are low, getting more oxygen can help you breathe better and live longer.

You have a lot of options when it comes to choosing a method for oxygen treatment, and ultimately your decision should be made adhering to your doctor's prescription recommendations and then addressing your personal goals and financial responsibilities. This article will help you in determining how to weigh your options.

Your doctor may prescribe a range of oxygen flow rates for a range of different conditions, such as:

• COPD
• Pulmonary fibrosis
• Severe asthma attack
• Pneumonia
• Pneumothorax (collapsed lung)
• Sleep apnea

 

Flow rates are based on your personal diagnosis and how low your blood oxygen levels are for different activities, such as during rest, sleep, or exercise.

 

 

It is very important that you follow you doctor's instruction exactly how they are prescribed, because using too much or too little oxygen can have consequences.

 

There are a few different delivery methods involved when it comes to taking supplemental oxygen therapy.

 

Delivery methods include:

1. Oxygen concentrators:
2. Oxygen-gas cylinders
3. Liquid-oxygen devices

 

So what are the benefits and proof that treating COPD and other diseases using supplemental oxygen improves your quality of life?

 

Benefits of treating COPD with supplemental oxygen

Supplemental oxygen therapy has been proven to give you more energy, and reduce the risks of heart failure and lung disease. You can also take extra oxygen while you exercise to perform better and have less shortness of breath. Supplemental oxygen has also been proven to enhance your mental awareness and overall mood.

 

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After you get used to living with supplemental oxygen, the long-term treatment may improve your quality of life.

 

The two most popular supplemental oxygen treatment methods are oxygen tanks and portable oxygen concentrators (POC) and while both methods can deliver oxygen to your body, a POC is much more convenient and offers you more freedom and independence.

 

 

 

How oxygen concentrators work:

As mentioned above, oxygen tanks require constant refilling, and those costs will add up. Oxygen concentrators take air from the surrounding area and turn it into concentrated oxygen, this will never need to be refilled, instead it runs off battery power, so it's always prudent to have a spare battery as well as an AC/DC adapter.

 

 

Comparing oxygen tanks to oxygen concentrators

 

The most obvious reason as to why you would choose a POC over an oxygen tank is because you do not need to get it refilled. Refilling your oxygen tank is very time consuming and not to mention very expensive, especially in the long-run.

 

Everyone’s first hesitation of buying an oxygen concentrator is the up-front cost, however if you compare the amount you spend on refills every year with an oxygen tank, the amount of money and time you save purchasing an oxygen concentrator in the long run will outweigh the costs associated with an oxygen tank.

 

The other aspect to be weary of when comparing oxygen concentrators to oxygen tanks, is understanding what your oxygen needs are.

 

Ask yourself these questions after consulting with your doctor:

1. What type of flow: Pulse flow or continuous flow, is right for your body?
2. What are all of your expenses associated with an oxygen tank per year?
3. How much independence are you searching for?
4. Are you interested in increasing your physical activity?
5. Do you want to travel soon?

 

 

What type of flow: Pulse flow or continuous flow, is right for you?

If you answered pulse flow, a POC might be the best choice for you because pulse flow units don’t need to put out as much oxygen, and so these units tend to be much much smaller and lighter and they also have longer battery life so you are able to be mobile longer.

 

An average pulse flow portable oxygen concentrator will weigh around 5 to 6 pounds whereas the average continuous flow portable oxygen concentrator will weigh 10 pounds or more.

 

If you need continuous flow oxygen therapy you have the option to stick with an oxygen tank, because they will always offer a continuous flow of oxygen. But you could also decide on a continuous flow oxygen concentrator, like the DeVilbiss 5 Liter Home Oxygen Concentrator depending on what your priorities are. The next few questions will help you determine these.

 

You should know that many continuous flow POCs like the Oxlife Independence and the Respironics SimplyGo allow you to switch between continuous flow and pulse flow.

 

 

What are all of your expenses associated with an oxygen tank per year?

If you find that you are spending more on refilling your oxygen tank than it would cost to pay off a POC or home oxygen contractor, it may be time to switch to a more affordable option. A wise financial investment will provide you with long-term benefits to your health and peace of mind, and in this case, provides you with financial benefits as well.

 

Some people are satisfied with the refill process of their oxygen tank, and are not interested in managing the battery life of a concentrator, if this is the case for you, an oxygen tank still might be the best option and change may cause more confusion than necessary.

 

 

How much independence are you searching for?

If you are an independent person, an oxygen tank may be restricting you from doing everyday chores on your own either because the tank is too heavy or the cart doesn’t allow you to move around freely to do yard work, go grocery shopping, etc.

 

If you are eager to gain independence, the Caire FreeStyle Comfort is one of the most efficient portable oxygen concentrators currently on the market. The main selling point for this portable oxygen concentrator is its battery life and subsequently more freedom for you.

 

On a setting of 1, the FreeStyle Comfort can run up to 16 hours on one charge, which is currently the longest battery life offered by any portable oxygen concentrator.

 

Additionally, the FreeStyle Comfort goes up to a flow setting of 5, weighs in at only 5 pounds, so while you are carrying your oxygen unit you would be able to do your own daily tasks with no shortness of breath, and you would not feel fatigued from carrying it.

 

If you are looking to move around and do more things for yourself, a POC is a great option over an oxygen tank.

 

 

 

Are you interested in increasing your physical activity?

Physical activity has many benefits for lung capacity and is a common COPD treatment. If you're interested in becoming more physically active, switching from an oxygen tank to a POC may be the right choice for you.

 

Oxygen tanks are cumbersome and hard to maneuver, making any physical activity seem even more challenging that it already is for many people with COPD. Out of all of the pulse flow portable oxygen concentrators on the market, the Inogen One G5 is one of the lightest, smallest, and easiest to carry.

The G5 weighs about 4.7 pounds with the single-cell battery, the G5 is no heavier than a handbag or purse with a couple of your personal belongings in it. Also, unlike oxygen tanks, the Inogen G5 has a very natural box-like shape that won’t get in your way as you walk and go about your day. You’ll be able to carry it on your back, at your side, or even simply carry it in your hands.

 

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You would be able to take the G5 breathing device hiking, biking, and to pulmonary rehabilitation classes with ease and not have to worry about the added weight when exercising.

 

When it comes to exercise with the G5 you will not have to worry about your oxygen demands not being satisfied because the Inogen One G5 portable oxygen concentrator offers pulse flow settings of 1-6. So as your breathing rate and requirements change depending on if you are laying in bed or exercising, the Inogen One G5 has the ability to adjust to your oxygen intake needs.

 

 

 

Do you want to travel soon?

One of the most important aspects of a POC is that they can travel freely on most major airlines as instructed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). POCs are safe on airplanes because they do not contain pressurized oxygen like oxygen tanks do.

 

They simply take ambient air, remove nitrogen, argon, and other impurities, then put out medical-grade oxygen via the nasal cannula. POCs will not create an oxygen-rich environment, because it will only work when it detects your breath, so if you happen to drop the cannula, it won’t continue to put out oxygen.

 

With a POC you are also able to take a cruise or take a long road trip. Taking a cruise is one of the best ways to explore an area of the world that you’ve never been to before and it’s also a great way to catch up with friends and family while not exerting too much energy. While oxygen tanks are often permitted on cruise ships, this doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have a way to refill it.

 

If you want to take a long road trip, your POC will easily fit into the car and the space in front of your knees. Not to mention, you will also have access to a power source because the AC/DC charger has an adapter to fit into your car’s power source, so there is no stressing about recharging the battery or bringing along a few extra batteries for an emergency.

 

 

Your options explained

So far we have explained the benefits of treating COPD with supplemental oxygen therapy, and went over some questions you should consider asking yourself before switching from an oxygen tank to an oxygen concentrator.

 

Just to review, portable oxygen concentrators offer four other major benefits over traditional tanks:

1. They do not need to be refilled instead they just need to be recharged or have an extra battery on deck.
2. They’re lighter and easier to carry. Oxygen tanks can be big and heavy, but POCs are meant to be portable and only weigh a few pounds.
3. They’re safer. Oxygen tanks can leak oxygen and create an oxygen-rich environment, which is a fire hazard, and will not allow you to travel by plane.
4. They’re ultimately cheaper. An oxygen concentrator may cost more upfront, you will not constantly have to pay for oxygen refills, saving time and money in the long run.
   

 

Now, some of the benefits listed above may not apply to you because you may need a continuous flow of oxygen, in which case, oxygen tanks will deliver you oxygen on a continuous flow basis. This is necessary for individuals with very low levels of oxygen capacity in their lungs and severe COPD.

 

However, a tank is still not your only option.

 

Continuous flow portable oxygen concentrator: Respironics SimplyGo

The best option you have for a continuous flow oxygen concentrator is a Respironics SimplyGo Portable Oxygen Concentrator. The Respironics SimplyGo has been one of the top continuous flow portable oxygen concentrators on the market. It is small, weighing 10 pounds, but is also backed by one of the biggest names in the respiratory field, SimplyGo is as reliable as they come.

 

There are other very reliable home oxygen concentrators available as well. So you just have to determine whether a concentrator or oxygen tank is the right choice for you.

 

Oxygen tanks provide continuous flow oxygen, which means that if it is turned on, oxygen is flowing constantly, even while you are not inhaling or when you remove your nasal cannula or mask. An oxygen tank holds a limited amount of compressed or liquid oxygen, you can use this until it runs out, so you must get the tank refilled, or replace it.

 

An oxygen concentrator, compresses and purifies your surrounding air to provide an unlimited amount of medical-grade oxygen, as long as the oxygen concentrator has battery power.

 

Depending on the model, an oxygen concentrator can provide either continuous flow oxygen or pulse dose oxygen. A Respironics SimplyGo POC offers both settings. If you are using this concentrator in a pulse flow setting, you will have up to 6 hours of battery life and up to 1.8 hours of battery life on a continuous flow setting. Its compressor is rated to last 20,000 hours.

That being said, this portable oxygen concentrator is designed to run 24/7 365 and is warranted for up to 3 years, which offers you major advantages over an oxygen tank.

 

The SimplyGo will easily fit underneath the seat in front of you on the airplane, you can store it on the floor of your car or in the passenger seat as you drive, and when you don’t need to use it you will be able to put it in your closet without having to clear space for it.

 

One additional feature the SimplyGo has to offer is its sleep mode technology. Whether you’re on the airplane or relaxing in your chair at home, and you feel yourself dozing off, you can turn sleep mode technology on to ensure your oxygen gets delivered while you are sleeping.

 

When you turn sleep mode technology on your SimplyGo increases its sensitivity to detect your breath and it softens the pulse flow delivery so it doesn’t wake you up.If your SimplyGo doesn’t detect a breath or if you breathe through your mouth it will automatically switch back over to continuous flow to ensure you get your required oxygen.

 

 

An oxygen tank and continuous flow concentrator can be used in the same way—to provide supplemental oxygen to someone in need of continuous flow oxygen therapy— but the biggest difference between a continuous flow concentrator and an oxygen tank depends on what you prefer to be reliant on.

 

You can either rely on charging your concentrator’s batteries and being aware of nearby power source to plug in your machine to charge. Or you can consistently rely on refilling your oxygen tank with medical-grade oxygen and replacing your tanks with new oxygen when you run out.

 

With a continuous oxygen concentrator you are significantly lowering the risk of creating an oxygen-rich environment, which is a safety concern with many oxygen tanks.

 

 

It all come down to your needs and preferences

 

 

The first step in choosing your best supplemental oxygen therapy options is to discuss with you doctor what your flow rates needs are. Remember your flow rates may vary through the day and night and this should be taken into account as well.

 

Then, you will to financially address your investments, would you prefer paying the costs up front, or accumulating costs over a long period of time. Then do the math a determine which option is cheaper in the long-run.

 

While addressing you financials, you need to take into consideration all of your personal goals and address what option is better for maintaining your livelihood. Do you want to exercise more? are you interested in traveling?

 

We will be here when you are ready to discuss your options with a professional.

 

If you thought this article was helpful, please leave a comment and share with others so they may find their own insights into such a large decision.

"Is being barrel chested bad?" — In the later stages of COPD, some people with the disease begin to notice a barrel-shaped chest that, understandably, leads to concern. Although this is not always a serious issue, it can be a sign of emphysema, a type of COPD. 

While having a barrel chest alone isn't dangerous for your health, a barrel chest can be a sign of another serious problem. If you have COPD or know someone who does, then you should know what barrel chest is and how to recognize it.

In this post, we're going to tell you all about barrel chest, what causes it, and what it means for people with COPD.

What is Barrel Chest?

The main characteristic of a barrel chest is an especially wide, rounded chest cavity. For some people, a barrel chest is part of their natural body shape, while others develop a barrel chest over time as a result of an underlying medical condition.

Disease-related barrel chest usually develops as a result of strain, pressure, or damage to the rib cage that causes it to expand. This can be caused by underlying problems with the lungs, joints, or skeletal structure supporting the rib cage.

Barrel Chest Caused by COPD

Emphysema, a type of COPD, is one of the most common causes of barrel chest. This happens because enlarged lungs and chronic airway obstruction caused by COPD makes it difficult to push all the air out of the lungs when you exhale.

Usually your rib cage is very flexible so that it can expand when you inhale and contract when you exhale. When you have emphysema, however, some air stays trapped in your lungs even after you exhale, which exerts pressure on your rib cage as it tries to contract.

This is known as lung hyperinflation, and it prevents your rib cage from contracting all the way back down after you exhale. Instead, the rib cage is forced to stay open in a slightly expanded state. This results in the barrel-chested appearance and is usually associated with the later stages of COPD.

The trapped air that causes barrel chest can make it difficult to inhale, as stale, trapped air is already present in the lungs. This makes it more difficult to breathe and makes other COPD symptoms, like coughing and wheezing, even worse.

Trapped air can also cause changes to the shape of the diaphragm, causing it to become weaker and making belly breathing (diaphragmatic breathing) more difficult. As a result, many COPD patients rely heavily on their chest muscles, instead of their diaphragm, to breathe. This can cause problems like chest tightness and pain, and wear out the muscles you use to breathe more quickly, making COPD symptoms even worse.

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Barrel Chest Caused by Severe Asthma

Severe asthma can cause a barrel chest in a similar way to COPD. However, unlike COPD-related barrel chest, which generally doesn't develop until late adulthood, asthma-related barrel chest can appear in childhood.

This is because asthma can make it difficult to exhale fully and push all the air out of your lungs. This causes air to get trapped in the lungs just as it does in patients with emphysema, preventing the rib cage from contracting and causing a barrel-chested appearance.

Barrel Chest Caused by Arthritis

Arthritis is a disease that affects the joints, and it causes barrel chest in a different way than COPD or asthma. It wears down the joints in the rib cage that anchor your rib bones to your spine, making the rib cage less flexible.

Because of this, the rib cage can no longer expand and contract as easily as it is supposed to. Over time, this stiffness can prevent the rib cage from contracting altogether, forcing it to stay stuck in the expanded position. This causes the chest to have a wider, barrel shape.

Barrel Chest Caused by Calcium Deficiency

If you don't get enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet, it impairs your body's ability to repair and strengthen your bones. In severe cases of calcium deficiency, known as osteoporosis, the bones become so weak and brittle that minor bumps and falls can cause them to bruise and break.

Calcium deficiency affects the bones in your rib cage as well, causing them to become weak and misshapen. Over time, this can deform your rib cage and breast bone, changing the outward appearance and leading to a barrel-shaped chest.

Barrel Chest Caused by Genetics and Environment

As we mentioned above, sometimes barrel chest isn't caused by any disease or medical condition, but is  just a natural physique. Some people, men especially, are simply born with the genetics and physical characteristics that lead to a barrel chest.

A barrel-shaped chest physique is also common in certain populations of people that live at high altitudes, including native peoples in the Andes Mountains and the Himalayas. Researchers suspect that the barrel-shaped rib cage could be an adaptation to cope with the thinner air at high elevations.

Bodybuilders also can develop a barrel-shaped chest by bulking up the muscles in their chest. While this can sometimes look similar to a barrel-shaped chest caused by other medical conditions, it is not a medical concern.

For people who develop a barrel chest due to genetics or exercise, having a barrel chest doesn't require any treatment and is nothing to be concerned about. There are also some very rare genetic disorders that cause some babies to have a barrel chest from birth, as a result of a congenital abnormality in their skeletal structure.

Multiple Causes

Sometimes there is more than one cause behind COPD-related barrel chest. For example, severe asthma is a common risk factor for COPD, and patients who have both may have a greater risk of developing barrel chest as a result of both conditions combined.

COPD patients are also particularly prone to arthritis, which can contribute to a barrel chest in addition to lung problems caused by COPD. It is particularly important for COPD patients to get adequate calcium and vitamin D in their diets to prevent bone density loss and osteoporosis.

How to Treat Barrel Chest Caused by COPD

There is no treatment for barrel chest specifically, because on its own having a barrel chest is not bad for your health. What really matters is the underlying cause, and any treatment for barrel chest will focus on treating the underlying medical conditions that caused it.

In the case of emphysema, a barrel chest is a strong sign that your lungs are trapping a lot of air. The most effective treatment, then, is to treat the underlying COPD symptoms, especially trapped air in the lungs.

Follow your COPD Treatment Plan

Every part of a COPD treatment plan is designed to keep the lungs and the body as strong and efficient as possible. If you follow your treatment plan carefully, including eating a healthy diet and exercising, you can improve your COPD symptoms and prevent other symptoms like barrel chest.

However, there are specific breathing exercises for emphysema that can be very effective at helping you push all of the air out of your lungs when you exhale. These breathing exercises combined with other COPD treatments can reduce your risk of barrel chest and may even prevent a barrel chest from getting worse.

Practice Breathing Exercises

Pursed-lips breathing is an exercise that is very effective at helping patients with COPD control their breathing during exercise and any kind of physical activity. It can effectively ward off breathlessness and even prevent air from staying trapped in your lungs.

The purpose of pursed-lips breathing is to force air out through a small opening in your lips. This creates pressure in your lungs and airways when you exhale, which helps push any trapped air out of your lungs.

Most medical professionals recommend that people with COPD practice pursed-lips breathing every day and use it as often as possible, especially whenever they experience breathlessness or other respiratory symptoms. Pursed-lips breathing might also be able to prevent or delay the onset of emphysema-related barrel chest.

Here is how you practice pursed-lips breathing:

• First, find a comfortable place to sit or lie down and relax the muscles in your chest, shoulders, and neck.
• Inhale, breathing in for about two seconds.
• Next, purse your lips as if you were about to whistle or blow out a candle.
• Then, exhale through pursed lips for about four seconds (twice as long as your inhale).
• Repeat

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Get Plenty of Calcium and Vitamin D

People with COPD often have difficulty getting adequate amounts of nutrients, and especially calcium and vitamin D, from their diets. This is partially because of COPD symptoms that make it difficult to eat and prepare healthy meals, and partially because many patients have increased calorie requirements because of the strain the disease puts on their lungs.

Therefore, eating plenty of foods rich in calcium and vitamin D is a vital part of any COPD-friendly diet. Calcium is necessary for healthy bones and preventing arthritis, while vitamin D is necessary for your body to be able to absorb and process the calcium you eat.

By ensuring that your bones have plenty of nutrients to stay strong, you can prevent osteoporosis and osteoporosis-related barrel chest. That's why it's important to follow your COPD treatment plan and the dietary guidelines provided by your doctor.

• Milk and dairy products
• Soy beans and tofu
• Green, leafy vegetables (e.g. cabbage, broccoli, and okra)
• Nuts
• Calcium-fortified products like breads and cereals

Here are some foods you can eat to increase the amount of Vitamin D in your diet:

• Fatty fish (e.g. salmon, tuna, and trout)
• Fortified milk and orange juices
• Egg yolks
• Cod liver oil
• Vitamin D supplements
• Spend more time in outside; about ten minutes in the sun allows your body to absorb a significant amount of vitamin D through your skin

Conclusion

Whether or not your have COPD, it's important to be able to recognize what a barrel-shaped chest is and what it could mean. While having a barrel chest is not necessarily a health concern in itself, anyone who notices a barrel chest that develops over time should get evaluated by a doctor for potential underlying causes.

Even COPD patients who develop a barrel chest should get evaluated by their doctor. It could be a warning sign that your COPD is getting worse and your treatment plan needs to be adjusted.

Even if emphysema is the primary cause of barrel chest, other medical conditions, like osteoporosis, could also be contributing to the change in the rib cage's shape. That's why it's important not to ignore a barrel chest if you develop one, even if you think that it is most likely related to your COPD.

Now that you have a better understanding of what a barrel-shaped chest is and the medical conditions that cause it, you will be better able to recognize it in yourself and others and be better able to tell when it should be taken seriously. If you or someone you know has COPD, watching out for a barrel chest can help you better manage and monitor the disease.

In this fast-paced, busy world that we live in, it can be difficult to find the time or the means to practice mindfulness. From going to work to cooking dinner, dealing with family matters, and spending time with friends, we often don’t take the time to decompress and ensure that our thoughts and feelings are in line with what we’re trying to accomplish.

What’s more, if you have a chronic illness like COPD, the problem of having an overburdened mind is often compounded by physical symptoms like breathlessness, chest pain, and fatigue. Many COPD patients describe feeling “claustrophobic” or “confined” within their own body, leaving them little recourse but to focus on the negatives of their disease rather than the positives.

Ultimately, this mindset is not sustainable, so you’ll need to find some way to set your mind at ease. For many people, meditation is the best way to do this. Meditation is the use of various different techniques designed to train your mind to focus on a particular activity or thought. What results is that you’ll have more control over your mindset pertaining to your disease and its progression. 

In this post, we’ll discuss a variety of different types of meditation and we’ll give you some tips for implementing them into your life as a COPD patient. If you’re looking for further reading, check out our post about 6 Effective Breathing Techniques and Exercises for COPD and Techniques for Coping with COPD and Anxiety.

What is Meditation?

Many people live their whole lives without trying or even considering the use of meditation. It’s often written off as a religious or spiritual practice that’s not useful for most people. And while this is partially true — meditation is used in many religious traditions such as Buddhism — it’s actually more commonly used in a non-religious context.

According to Positive Psychology, meditation is a practice that’s been around for thousands of years, but it was first depicted by wall art paintings in India around 5000 to 3500 BCE. Meditation moved to the west as early as the 1700s, but it wasn’t until the 1900s that it began to be separated from its religious roots.

Today, the beneficial effects of meditation are well-studied and well-documented. The practice has been examined extensively by prestigious institutions and has yielded mostly positive results, especially when it comes to treating depression and anxiety. What’s more, other studies have shown a positive correlation between meditation and easing the pain caused by a chronic illness such as COPD. 

How Does Meditation Affect the Brain?

In this day and age, we have an incredible amount of technology that can be used to examine what goes on in the brain. Technology such as polysomnography has enabled researchers to study what goes on in the brain during sleep and has made it easier for doctors to diagnose conditions like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and insomnia. 

Similar technology has been used to study the brain during physical activity and even meditation. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is one such device that’s used to produce pictures of the anatomy and the physiological processes of the body. It allows researchers to precisely monitor changes in brain wave activity during different activities.

Brain waves are the electrical impulses which oscillate at different frequencies and at different wavelengths. Brain waves are altered depending on the state of consciousness that we’re currently experiencing. For example, if someone is wide awake, they will have different brain wave activity than someone who is in light sleep or deep sleep.    

Researchers have found that people who are anxious or tense they often have more high-frequency beta waves present. This includes people with mental disabilities such as ADD, ADHD, or learning disabilities, but it can also include people with chronic conditions like COPD who might experience a higher degree of anxiety than the general public. 

In many cases, trying to force these feelings out can exacerbate them, leading to a negative feedback loop. However, if you learn to influence brain waves through meditation and neurofeedback training, you can reduce feelings of anxiety. As we come to better understand brain waves and how to influence them, we will likely see more doctors prescribing it as an alternative to anxiety medication which always has some negative side-effects.

Can Meditation Alter the Course of COPD?

Now that you know meditation can be used to treat anxiety and depression caused by COPD, you’re likely wondering whether meditation can help alter the long-term prognosis of your disease. In other words, are there any physical manifestations of the benefits that we see from people who meditate regularly?

Unfortunately, it’s a little more complicated than a simple “yes” or “no” answer. Generally, meditation is accepted as an effective method for treating not only comorbid anxiety from COPD but physical respiratory symptoms as well. This study found that after 12 weeks of yoga training, many COPD patients saw improved lung function, inflammation, and quality of life.

Other studies, however, have cast more doubt on the effectiveness of meditation for COPD patients. This study found that meditation presenting emotionally-triggering skills such as mindful awareness to emotions or dyspnea can actually contribute to anxiety. However, both of these studies were limited by a small sample size.

Possibly one of the most popular forms of meditation for COPD patients is something called “movement meditation.” This practice focuses on being mindful of your body’s movements rather than focusing on the goal of the movement. According to a study found in COPD News Today, COPD patients practicing Tai Chi (a type of movement meditation) five hours per week saw more benefits after 12 weeks than those practicing standard pulmonary rehabilitation.  

While there is limited evidence suggesting that meditation directly improves outcomes for COPD patients, there are plenty of ways that it improves outcomes indirectly. Anxiety is a well-known contributor to the frequency and severity of COPD exacerbations and anxiety can cause sleep disruptions which can lead to fatigue and other factors that make COPD more difficult to cope with. Therefore, treating anxiety with meditation has undeniable benefits when it comes to COPD outcomes.

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What Types of Meditation Are There?

Focused Meditation

Focused meditation is a practice where you concentrate intently on one object, sound, tactile sensation, smell, or taste. This is often used as a sort of stepping stone to classical meditation which requires you to block all thoughts.

Focused meditation is a great place to start because it doesn’t require you to have an instructor and it’s very accessible for most people. By having a focal point of thought, you’ll be able to more easily control your internal dialog and catch yourself whenever your mind starts drifting. Another great thing about focused mediation is that you can start with shorter sessions. Just five minutes a day of focused meditation will get you started on the right foot.  

Movement Meditation

Like the name suggests, movement meditation is a type of meditation you do while you’re physically moving. It’s the perfect exercise for anyone who wants to experience a greater connection between their mind and body, as well as people who have difficulty concentration their thoughts while they are sitting still.

Movement meditation is one of the most popular types of meditation for people with COPD and other respiratory conditions because it helps them eliminate anxiety while mastering their breathing and motor functions. Movement meditation is also a great exercise to complement pulmonary rehabilitation routines because it can build endurance and muscle.

Tai Chi is one of the most practiced forms of movement meditation in the world and it’s especially popular among older adults and seniors who suffer from chronic illness. It originated in ancient China where it was originally intended as a form of fighting. However, over time, Tai Chi was adopted and developed by many different cultures, making it what it is today.

We’ve already written in great detail about Tai Chi and its many benefits for COPD patients, however, we’ll summarize it here for your convenience. Essentially, Tai Chi is a form of low-impact exercise that combines a variety of different poses with fluid and controlled movements. In other words, you won’t be moving your legs and arms around erratically without purpose; you’ll instead be focusing on making every movement meaningful.

Creating this mind-body connection is very important for people with COPD because as your disease progresses, it becomes increasingly difficult to control things like your breathing which are unconscious motor movements in people with healthy lungs. As such, it’s recommended that COPD patients learn Tai Chi as soon as they’re diagnosed because it will take some time to learn how this form of movement mediation works, and its benefits will increase exponentially as time goes on.

Tai Chi also has several undeniable benefits when it comes to mindfulness. One of the reasons anxiety and depression are so common among COPD patients is that they feel a loss of control. Chest pain, fatigue, breathlessness, and exacerbations caused by COPD cannot always be predicted, so Tai Chi affords these people the ability to be in full control of something. Many people swear by this, saying that it has renewed a sense of control and purpose in their life.

There are three different ways to practice Tai Chi: as an individual, in a group setting, or with an instructor. Currently, due to COVID-19, it’s recommended that you practice Tai Chi on your own, however, if you can find a group that takes social distancing measures seriously, this could be an option too. If you’re doing it on your own, this guide will be helpful in getting you started on the right foot.

Yoga can also be considered a type of movement meditation, however, whereas Tai Chi is more focused on the act of moving, yoga is more focused on the various positions. Another difference between the two is that Tai Chi is usually performed in a standing position while yoga is done on the ground. Since yoga requires a lot of strength and agility, it’s not always recommended for people who are physically impaired.

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Mantra Meditation

A “mantra” is a word, syllable, or phrase that’s repeated during meditation. This is very similar to focused meditation in that you’re concentrating on one specific thing, however, mantra mediation differs because there is usually a purpose or a meaning behind the sound that’s being produced. Mantras can also be repeated by the mediator whereas the sounds produced in focused meditation are usually external.

The idea behind mantra meditation is that every sound is a tool for transforming consciousness. So, instead of simply training your mind to concentrate, you’re also altering your state of mind rather than just your thoughts. The type of sound that you produce, its frequency, and volume will all be determined by what state of mind you’re trying to produce. One of the most popular types of mantra meditation is called transcendental meditation.

Mindfulness Meditation

Mindfulness meditation is directed at helping you be more present in the current moment. In other words, whereas focused meditation and mantra meditation are aimed at focusing on one specific sensation, mindfulness mediation is designed to help you better understand the urges and feelings you are currently experiencing.

Another core component of mindfulness meditation is understanding your breathing. Unlike with breathing techniques, there is no special way that you have to breathe. As the name “mindfulness” suggests, you should be focusing on how your breathing is in the current moment, not how you want it to be.

Benefits of Meditation for COPD Patients

Conclusion 

Mindfulness is something that many people struggle with. It’s easy to forget that an overworked mind that’s crowded with thoughts can not make decisions effectively. And living with this burden for months or years on end can be exhausting to say the very least.

There are many different types of meditation, but they’re all aimed at helping you control your thoughts and motor functions, and giving you the skills you need to live in the moment rather than being distracted by thoughts of the past or future.

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As a COPD patient, there is no understating the importance of effective meditation. If you become overwhelmed by negative thoughts about your disease, you may want to take a step back and start incorporating meditation techniques into your daily routine.

While meditation is by no means a replacement for your COPD treatment plan, certain types of meditation like Tai Chi and yoga can be used in tandem with your pulmonary rehabilitation plan and breathing techniques. But as always, be sure to check in with your pulmonologist to learn the best way to do this.