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Articles for category COPD360coach

What is the Difference Between Emphysema and Lung Cancer?


This article was reviewed by Senior Director of Community Engagement and COPD360social Community Manager, Bill Clark, as well as certified staff Respiratory Therapists on February 5, 2020.


Dear COPD Coach,
My doctor has told me I have end-stage emphysema. Is that the same as Stage-4 cancer?

Sincerely,
Concerned

Dear Concerned,

Lung cancer and emphysema are not the same things. While both lung cancer and emphysema can be caused by smoking or exposure to dangerous substances, they cause different problems in the lungs and require different treatments.

Lung cancer occurs when there is an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the lungs. These cells do not contribute to the normal action of the lungs, and these abnormal cells actually get in the way of healthy lung function and prevent a person from breathing well – worsening over time.

Emphysema is an illness that falls under the umbrella of COPD and occurs when the tiny alveoli in the lungs are damaged. This damage makes it increasingly difficult for the alveoli to perform their main task of exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide as a person breathes in and out.

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Tags: cancer emphysema health lung stages
Categories: COPD360coach

Costs of Supplemental Oxygen


This article was reviewed by Senior Director of Community Engagement and COPD360social Community Manager, Bill Clark, as well as certified staff Respiratory Therapists on January 31, 2020.


Dear COPD Coach,
My husband has COPD and uses supplemental oxygen 24 hours a day. We also use an air cleaner in the room he spends the most time in. I have noticed that our electric bill has been much higher since he started using oxygen. Since we are on a fixed income, is there anything we can do to help with the cost?

—Costs and COPD

Dear Costs,
While today’s concentrators and air cleaners are more efficient than they once were, the cost of running them still adds up, and can be difficult for people on a fixed income. With regard to the concentrator, there is little you can do to cut the costs of operating the unit. However, there are a couple of options available to you. There are air cleaners on the market that can be adjusted to reflect the size of the room, which means you can “dial the unit back” if the room is smaller. There are also units available that either have timers or can be set to an automatic mode to speed up when movement in the room occurs.

As far as the cost of running the concentrator, you might be able to deduct the electricity cost as a medical expense on your taxes.

However, it is important to note that you can do this only if you itemize. In any case, you need to talk with a tax professional to determine your status. If the air cleaner is prescribed by your doctor, it is possible to deduct this cost also.

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Tags: concentrators COPD costs MeAndCOPD support
Categories: COPD360coach

Questions about Inhalers


This article was reviewed by Senior Director of Community Engagement and COPD360social Community Manager, Bill Clark, as well as certified staff Respiratory Therapists on January 31, 2020.


Dear COPD Coach,
I have a question on taking medications. I use a powdered inhaler twice a day and use a rescue inhaler throughout the day. My hardest time breathing is in the morning, but I am afraid that I am not able to breathe deeply enough to make the powdered inhaler effective when I first wake up. I also have to bring up a lot of mucus in the morning, and I am afraid that all the medications are doing is coating the mucus. Do you have any suggestions?

—Perplexed

Dear Perplexed,

The one thing that is true about COPD is that it is not the same for all patients. Many COPD patients experience problems breathing in the morning, while others tend to have worsening symptoms later in the day. If you have a bronchitis component to your COPD, you might well be experiencing mucus plugs in the morning that restrict your breathing.

If this is the case, you should discuss this with your doctor. I also experience mucus plugs after awakening, and it seems at this time is when I need the medications most. Mucus plugs are when the mucus you produce gathers in one area blocking your airway. You are also correct in assuming that the mucus you are experiencing might well be restricting the medicines. When you are out of breath to begin with, it is hard to generate enough strength to inhale the powdered inhaled deep enough to be effective.

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Tags: help powdered inhalers questions support
Categories: COPD360coach

Is Asthma COPD?


This article was reviewed by Senior Director of Community Engagement and COPD360social Community Manager, Bill Clark, as well as certified staff Respiratory Therapists on January 31, 2020.


Dear COPD Coach,
I was only 7 years old when I was diagnosed with Asthma. I was exposed to second-hand smoke from an uncle who was a heavy chain smoker, and he used to share my room at the time. I’m 30 years old now and am starting to experience more attacks and it seems my medications are sometimes useless. When I am experiencing an attack it feels like I’m between the moment of life and death until I get that gasp of air into my lungs. My grandfather was diagnosed with lung cancer at 72 and passed away months later. He was also a very heavy smoker and even used to grow his own tobacco.

Should I start seeing a Pulmonary Doctor? I must admit I do get embarrassed when I get these attacks in front of friends and family because they all make me feel like I have some kind of disability, and my self-pride takes a hit because I’m still young and I shouldn’t be going through this, but what can I do? I never asked for this. What steps should I start making... because I don’t know where to start.

Thank you,
–Not Sure Where to Start

Dear Not Sure,

Your letter brings up an interesting topic: Is Asthma the same as COPD? The simple answer is no, although the two can overlap. In other words, it is possible to have a component of both.

The main difference between the two is that COPD is airway obstruction that is not reversible, or not fully reversible. Most cases of asthma are indeed reversible. With that said, there is a fair percentage of people with asthma that cross over that boundary into COPD. In some individuals, years of asthma flare-ups and lung irritation can cause permanent changes in the lungs, leading to COPD. You may well fall into that group.

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Tags: Asthma breathing lifestyle technique What is COPD
Categories: COPD360coach

Home Exercise Equipment for COPD


This article was reviewed by Senior Director of Community Engagement and COPD360social Community Manager, Bill Clark, as well as certified staff Respiratory Therapists on January 31, 2020.


Dear Coach,
I am thinking about getting a treadmill and exercise bike to use for home exercising. What should I look for?

—Shoes Are Made for Walking

Dear Shoes,

I’m glad you asked! There’s a wide range of features, as well as poor to excellent quality, to be found in exercise equipment, and there are definitely special considerations when you have COPD. It’s tempting to shop at a garage sale or thrift store for inexpensive equipment, but before you go, you should know what to look for – and what to avoid. Here are some tips to consider before you shop for a treadmill or bike to use at home.

Treadmill:

  • Make sure your treadmill is motorized. If you have COPD, it’s simply too much work to use a treadmill that requires you to push the belt yourself.
  • Get a treadmill that goes slowly enough. Remember, when you have COPD, exercise is not about speed, but endurance. In other words, you don’t have to go fast to get a lot of benefit. If your treadmill can go as slow as 0.6 MPH, that’s great. If not, a TM that goes as slow as 0.8 MPH will give most people with severe COPD a nice warm-up and plenty of room to go faster.
  • Make sure your treadmill will run at a flat level, with no grade (uphill). It’s good to have the option of adjusting the grade at a slight incline if you’re able. Try to get a treadmill with a padded walking surface; this makes a big difference in the comfort of your feet and how tired you become.
  • Choose a treadmill with an emergency shut off. This way if you were to trip and fall, the treadmill would automatically shut off, giving you a chance to get up and dust yourself off from a surface that’s not moving.
  • Look for equipment with side bars for balance, in addition to a support bar out in front of you.
  • Position your treadmill so you can look out a window with an interesting view, watch television or listen to music with a good beat. Reading and eating while on the treadmill are not recommended! Looking up and looking around while maintaining a firm (not tight) grip on the rails will help you keep your balance. Safety first!

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Tags: COPD equipment exercise machine pulmonary
Categories: COPD360coach

Milk Products and Mucus in COPD


This article was reviewed by Senior Director of Community Engagement and COPD360social Community Manager, Bill Clark, as well as certified staff Respiratory Therapists on April 18, 2020.


Dear COPD Coach,
I have always been told that if you have COPD you should not drink milk or milk products such as ice cream because it will produce mucus. Is this true? Why do I seem to have more problems with mucus since I was told I have COPD?

—Do Milk Products Affect COPD?

Dear Milk Products,
The idea that milk causes the body to produce mucus has actually been around for centuries. Finally, after all these years, studies have actually been performed to determine if this is indeed the case. The results were that milk does not cause the body to produce mucus, BUT it does cause the phlegm to thicken. It is believed that it is the fat content in the milk that causes this reaction. Milk has lots of benefits for the body, including being an excellent source of calcium and vitamins, so you have to weigh the benefits. There are ways to thin out the mucus, which will be mentioned later in this response.

Based on recent literature and studies primarily in asthmatics, there is some evidence that a dairy-free diet reduces mucus production. We do not know enough about COPD and dairy.

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Tags: airways breathing COPD milk mucous
Categories: COPD360coach

Is Pulmonary Rehab for Me?


This article was reviewed by Senior Director of Community Engagement and COPD360social Community Manager, Bill Clark, as well as certified staff Respiratory Therapists on February 4, 2020.


Dear COPD Coach,
My doctor advised me to start going to pulmonary rehabilitation. I have never been much into exercise, and the thought of going really scares me. I get so out of breath just walking, I can’t imagine being able to do any of the exercises. Here is my question. Will it improve my breathing, and how will I be able to do any sort of exercising if I get out of breath just walking from the car to the facility?

-Out of Breath

Dear Out of Breath,
I can certainly understand your fear of exercise. The fear and panic of SOB (shortness of breath) is very intimidating even for those who have dealt with COPD for a long time. Interestingly enough, these reasons are exactly why you should participate in a pulmonary rehabilitation program!

Why? First of all, pulmonary rehabilitation will not improve your lung function. It will, however, enable greater endurance and cause you to feel less out of breath during exertion. How can this be? Actually, it is pretty basic. The air we breathe provides fuel for not only our various organs, but all the muscles in our body. At any given time, all of our muscles are demanding their fair share of oxygen. With limited lung function, our brain “goes into survival mode” and prioritizes where the oxygen is needed most which in most cases is our vital organs. As a result, when we exert ourselves, there is not enough oxygen available to properly saturate the muscles we use during the exertion. That’s why we experience being short of breath.

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Tags: exercise pulmonary rehab
Categories: COPD360coach

Have Trouble Eating with COPD?


This article was reviewed by Senior Director of Community Engagement and COPD360social Community Manager, Bill Clark, as well as certified staff Respiratory Therapists on February 4, 2020.


Dear COPD Coach,
I have stage 4 emphysema. It is impossible to eat without immediately feeling chest tightness or bloated like I am about to explode. I read about how the diaphragm gets pushed by the stomach and how it changes shape as COPD worsens. Does this mean that eventually I won’t be able to eat?

Thank you,
–Worried

Dear Worried,

Thanks for writing. As a patient myself at stage 4, I also experience this. The mechanism you described is exactly correct! To answer your question, you will always be able to eat, however you are going to have to eat a little differently. As your lungs deteriorate, they become larger which then pushes against your stomach. When you eat large meals, your stomach pushes against your lungs and diaphragm which restricts your breathing. The key here is not to eat large meals or large portions, but instead eat smaller meals throughout the day. Also do not eat foods that can cause bloating or gas. Drinking plenty of water during the meals will also help ease the bloating. If you use supplemental oxygen, make sure you use it while you eat. When my wife and I go out to dinner, I tend to eat too much and have a difficult time returning to the car. I have since learned to order smaller portions, especially if I have to walk a long distance after the meal. I also make sure to eat throughout the day, several times a day, even if it is just a light snack. When I do this, I feel far less bloated.

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Tags: eating help lifestyle tips
Categories: COPD360coach

Questions about Portable Oxygen Concentrators


This article was reviewed by Senior Director of Community Engagement and COPD360social Community Manager, Bill Clark, as well as certified staff Respiratory Therapists on January 23, 2020.


Dear COPD Coach,
I have been looking for a portable oxygen concentrator and have noticed that the continuous flow models are much larger, heavier, and have less battery time than the pulse models. My questions are, first why is this so, and second can anyone using oxygen use a pulse model?

—Confused

Dear Confused,
You are correct when you say that continuous flow portable oxygen concentrators (POCs) tend to be significantly larger. There is a very good reason for this and it is really based on simple mechanics.

Oxygen concentrators all work pretty much the same. The ambient air we breathe contains about 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and 1% of other gasses. The concentrator has the job of taking as much of the nitrogen out of the air as is possible while leaving the oxygen. To do this, the concentrator draws in air through the inlet filter where a compressor compresses the air and puts it into the first of two cylinders called a zenolite tower which contains sieve beds. The sieve bed’s job is to become saturated by the nitrogen. A valve then opens (that’s the “poofing” noise you hear) and then the oxygen is pushed into a second zenolite tower where additional nitrogen is removed while the nitrogen in the sieve bed is released out of the unit. The oxygen, now at around 95% purity, also leaves the unit and travels to the user.

In order to produce large volumes of oxygen continuous flow models must have very large compressors and very large sieve beds to absorb enough nitrogen. In the case of a portable continuous unit it must have larger batteries in order to power the larger compressor. Pulse units have much smaller sieve beds and smaller compressors and therefore can use smaller batteries.

Continuous flow units put out a specific adjustable dose we measure in liters per minute. The oxygen put out by pulse units cannot be measured the same since it does not produce constant oxygen for one minute. The output of a pulse unit is determined by the size of the individual pulse (called a bolus) and is measured in milliliters per breath. The other thing that must be taken into account with pulse units is the number of pulses of oxygen they produce in a minute. It is very easy to “over-breathe” these units by trying to take more breaths than they are capable of producing.

Granted, much of the oxygen in a continuous flow unit is wasted simply because we pause between breaths. Most pulse units are designed to produce a pulse when it senses you are taking a breath (conservers work the same).

Another difference between pulse units is the purity of the oxygen and when and how the bolus is released. In some cases the bolus is released immediately when it senses a breath, and in other cases it is spread out longer or occurs later in the breathing cycle. All of this affects how you are saturated with oxygen. If the bolus is released late and you are taking short breaths, some of the oxygen could be wasted.

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Tags: concentrator O2 portable oxygen tips
Categories: COPD360coach

Living with COPD and Preventing Accidents


This article was reviewed by Senior Director of Community Engagement and COPD360social Community Manager, Bill Clark, as well as certified staff Respiratory Therapists on February 4, 2020.


Dear COPD Coach,
My mother has COPD and lives alone. I want to do what I can to help her. Do you have any suggestions on how to make her home safer to prevent accidents while I’m away?

–Accident-free

Dear Accident-free,

I can certainly understand your concern about your mother living alone. Here are a few ideas that might ease your concerns:

  • Consider purchasing an emergency medical alert system for your Mom. This would include a pendant she could wear to summon help if it would become necessary.
  • Organize her medications, listed by day and time so you and she can track use.
  • If she is on oxygen, keep an emergency cylinder accessible and instruct her on its use. Make sure her oxygen hoses are long enough for her to be able to get to areas of the house she needs to use.
  • Make sure phones are located in convenient locations.
  • Install safety bars in the bathroom, specifically by the tub and toilet, and slip proof rugs and bathmats. Also consider getting a tug and shower chair.
  • Purchase shower brushes to aid in bathing.
  • Bathing can sometimes cause breathlessness; purchase a terrycloth robe she can wear until she feels up to dressing.
  • Set regular times during the day to call and check on her.
  • Keep a list of important numbers by the phone should an emergency arise.
  • Keep a list of all medications she is taking and the dosages.
  • Try and keep ready-made or frozen meals available for times she doesn’t feel like cooking.
  • Become educated about COPD. Learn to spot an exacerbation before it becomes severe.

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Tags: accidents preventing
Categories: COPD360coach

Is Shingles Common with COPD?


This article was reviewed by Senior Director of Community Engagement and COPD360social Community Manager, Bill Clark, as well as certified staff Respiratory Therapists on February 24, 2020.


Dear COPD Coach,

I am 57 years old and have COPD. Friends of mine have told me that I should consider getting a “shingles” shot. Is shingles common with COPD?

—A “Rash” Decision

Dear Decision,

Shingles is a painful rash with blisters that usually heal after a few weeks but in some people, there is a common complication of shingles which is long-lasting, difficult to treat and sometimes debilitating nerve pain called “postherpetic neuralgia” (PHN); this pain can last months or even years. The shingles rash resembles poison ivy or poison oak and can cause permanent scaring. Shingles forming around the eye can lead to eye infections and vision impairment. Shingles infections inside or near the ear can cause Ramsay Hunt syndrome, where the facial nerves become paralyzed. Ramsay Hunt syndrome can cause hearing and balance problems, as well as weakness of the muscles on the affected side of the face

You can get shingles only if you have had the chicken pox in the past as the virus that causes it (varicella zoster virus) remains dormant in your nerve cells. If at some point later in your life your immune system weakens, the virus awakens (reactivates) and causes shingles.

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Tags: chicken pox shingles vaccine
Categories: COPD360coach

How to Conserve Your Energy with COPD


This article was reviewed by Senior Director of Community Engagement and COPD360social Community Manager, Bill Clark, as well as certified staff Respiratory Therapists on February 4, 2020.


Dear Coach,
My question concerns conserving energy. I’m only 56 years old and I really enjoy a shower and shampoo, yet the exhaustion of that activity wears me out so badly that it takes me 1-2 hours often to get my energy back. It’s hard to enjoy something when it results in such debilitating fatigue.

Thanks so much for your help in this matter and the assistance you provide so many in need.

—Need to Regain My Energy

Dear Need to Regain,
The only way I know how to handle energy conservation—in addition to maintaining strength in the muscles of your arms, legs and hands—is to do things smarter. For example, you could invest in a shower or bath chair and take your showers while seated. Use warm water as opposed to hot. Use water to get yourself wet, turn it off to lather up, and turn it on again to rinse. Have a terrycloth robe close by to dry off as opposed to using a towel. Also, many find that a hand held shower is easier to use. And if you require supplemental oxygen, wear it in the shower. Don’t worry about getting water up your nose.

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Categories: COPD360coach

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