An Oxygen Concentrator Could Be The Answer For Your COPD Symptoms
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) refers to two lung diseases; chronic bronchitis and emphysema. These diseases are characterized by obstruction to airflow that interferes with normal breathing. Physicians prefer the term COPD because both of these conditions frequently co-exist. Many COPD symptoms are caused by the body’s attempt to compensate for a damaged respiratory system.
Keep reading to find out how an oxgen concentrator can be used to treat COPD.
COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States according to the American Lung Association. Smoking is the primary risk factor for COPD with approximately 80 to 90 percent of COPD deaths caused by smoking. Typically, COPD is not diagnosed until the fifth decade in life.
In 2004, over 11 million adults aged 18 and over were estimated to have COPD. A major cause of hospitalization for our increasingly aged population is COPD. In 2004, the cost of healthcare expenditures for COPD was over $37 billion dollars.
There are four stages of COPD. Each stage of COPD is based on symptoms and measured loss of pulmonary function, or the lungs ability to breathe. Pulmonary Function Testing, or PFT measures the restriction of airflow during exhale. The forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) is the amount of air that can be forcefully expelled in the first second of exhalation. This is an indicator of airway obstruction and disease progression. The predicted value for an individual is based on age, gender and height. Normal is 80% or greater of the predicted value.
| Four Stages of COPD:
1) Mild Stage 1 – mild reduction in airflow 2) Moderate Stage 2A FEV1 – 50% to 80% of predicted 3) Moderate Stage 2B FEV1 – 30% to 50% of predicted 4) Severe Stage 3 FEV1 – less than 30% of predicted |
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Warning Signs and Symptoms of COPD:
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Severe COPD Symptoms:
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If you have severe COPD and low levels of oxygen in your blood, you are not getting enough oxygen on you own. Your physician may recommend oxygen therapy using an oxygen concentrator to help with your shortness of breath. You may need supplemental oxygen all the time or just occasionally. If you have severe COPD, using extra oxygen for more than 15 hours a day can allow you to:
If you have symptoms of COPD, you should see your physician immediately. |
Latest Advancements in Oxygen Concentrators
Receiving oxygen therapy today is nothing like it was years ago. Inventive products allow you to travel freely and not have to lug around embarrassing tanks of oxygen.
A constant healthcare issue for most people, over the years has been knowing that treatment is available only to those who can afford it. But as product develpment progresses, solutions become more available. Today there are oxygen concentrators affordable to most people, that can plug into your car, run on batteries, even go on airplanes. Many of these new concentrators are even smaller and lighter than the dangerous oxygen therapy cylinders or tanks that have been seen rolling around behind COPD patients for the last several years. With the help of insurance or medicare, these new portable oxygen concentrators are becoming affordable to greater numbers of people suffering from COPD.
Where Can You Find Affordable Oxygen Concentrators?
On this website, we present our findings for the most advanced and valuable investments for people experiencing COPD. Check out our preferred selection of portable oxygen concentrator systems and see how they can improve your health and still allow you to lead an active lifestyle. If you would like to find out if you qualify for a portable oxygen concentrator for little or no out of pocket cost, click Free Consultation on the top menu and answer a few questions. The information you provide will allow our staff to find out answers you may not be able to get anywhere else.
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