Using Portable Oxygen Therapy While Walking and Jogging

Using Portable Oxygen Therapy While Walking and Jogging

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One of the things portable oxygen concentrators are made for, besides traveling and being able to leave your home while receiving oxygen therapy, is being able to exercise outside the home. Some people with chronic lung diseases don’t need oxygen therapy while they are doing normal everyday activities and aren’t exerting themselves. Their blood oxygen level manages to stay above the line that would require for them to use an oxygen concentrator every day, normally.

If you want to be able to go jogging or walking for exercise, around your neighborhood, in a park or a recreation center, you might need to use oxygen therapy if you have a lung disease. This is because when you do a lot of moving, your muscles require more oxygen than normal. If your lungs aren’t bringing in enough oxygen to your blood stream, which is usually the case with those who have moderate to severe COPD, you won’t be able to supply enough oxygen to your organs and muscles while you exercise. This can be very dangerous and cause an exacerbation, or a flare-up and worsening of your condition and even a stay in the hospital.

Jogging or walking quickly on a regular basis is good for you, as long as you are getting the amount of oxygen that your body needs. Doing so has been proven to keep you healthier, and give you more energy in the long run. Getting adequate exercise is always a good idea. In this case, however, only in if you’ve checked with your doctor first, and you go by what he or she tells you to do when using oxygen therapy while jogging or walking.

Talk to your doctor if you’d like to start jogging or power walking, even though you have COPD. Your doctor will likely have you do a physical test to see how low your blood oxygen level drops when you are are physically exerting yourself on a treadmill, at a jog or a brisk walking pace. He or she may also do a spirometry test to see if you will need to get an inhaler if you experience shortness of breath. You would take this inhaler with you when you jog and take it as needed, if it is found that you do need one.

Your doctor will take the information gathered from your physical test and check your blood oxygen level, to see which dosage you will need while getting exercise. From there, he or she will help you choose a portable oxygen concentrator that will meet your needs, while still being small and light enough to take with you when you jog or power walk.

The portable oxygen concentrator you choose will need to come with a strap that will hold it securely against you while you move. You will be given a prescription for the concentrator, and you will be able to purchase it.

Some of the best portable oxygen concentrators for jogging/walking are the AirSep’s Focus, Freestyle and Freestyle 5, Lifechoice Activox, and the Inogen One G3. Just be sure that you have plenty of battery life that will get you through your jogging or power walking work out while you are away from home.

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Scott joined American Medical Sales and Rentals in 2008 as a Web Manager and Content Writer. He is a writer and designer. He is extensively trained on oxygen therapy products from leading manufacturers such as Inogen, Respironics, Chart, Invacare, ResMed and more.

Scott works closely with respiratory therapists and oxygen specialists to educate the community about oxygen therapy products, COPD, asthma and lung diseases. He writes weekly columns and is passionate about educating the community on oxygen therapy and respiratory issues.

About Scott Ridl:

Scott joined American Medical Sales and Rentals in 2008 as a Web Manager and Content Writer. He is a writer and designer. He is extensively trained on oxygen therapy products from leading manufacturers such as Inogen, Respironics, Chart, Invacare, ResMed and more. Scott works closely with respiratory therapists and oxygen specialists to educate the community about oxygen therapy products, COPD, asthma and lung diseases. He writes weekly columns and is passionate about educating the community on oxygen therapy and respiratory issues.

4 thoughts on “Using Portable Oxygen Therapy While Walking and Jogging

  1. I am 71 years old have been having oxygen issues. I rescued someone from a burning house about 10 years ago. Kaiser has provided me a oxygen long connection can use it only at home and provided me with a 3-hour travel oxygen, for stores, visits, etc. I have a obvious black skin “Mark”on my lung which is causing my oxygen shortage? I was diagnosed with PTSD and had a service dog that worked with me for 5 years untiled I retired from the City of Denver. I had to let her go she was 15 years old. I was not able to stay married, no children. M family supported me and still do. I do get a bit depressed no marriage.

    I would like to request any new ways that I could get oxygen while walking shopping, etc. I tried with some that were provided, however not easy to take and can be to heavy to carry? Plus expensive Thank you for your time.

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