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.

COPD and Breathing

My breathing has gotten really bad from COPD. I have Emphysema and it seems t be getting worse all the time. Am I just out of luck as far a breathing again?
Jim

Hi, Jim!

I guess the obvious question for me to ask is Have you talked to your doctor about this yet?

If your symptoms are getting worse, maybe your doctor needs to reevaluate the medications that you’re on. Are you taking any corticosteroids, like Advair or Flovent, on a daily basis? Medications like those need to be taken every day in order to be effective.

Also, have you considered going to a Pulmonary Rehab program? If not, that might a good thing to talk to your doctor about also…it’s basically supervised exercise, on oxygen, with a Respiratory Therapist.

And if you’re a smoker, STOP! You’d be surprised how many COPD patients still smoke!
There are little things, like the above, that can help with your symptoms. Only your doctor knows the extent of your COPD, so I would definitely recommend going to see him/her to discuss your concerns.

Sincerely,
Lori Peters, RRT
Registered Respiratory Therapist | American Medical Sales & Repair

Scott Ridl

A Patients Perspective of the Inogen One G2 at 5500 feet!

A Patients Perspective of the Inogen One G2 portable oxygen concentrator at 5500 feet. by Roxlyn G. Cole

I tested out the first Inogen One, a few years ago, and I wasn’t too impressed with it, but this one is- WOW! Outstanding!

They really refined and improved every single aspect of the Inogen design/shape/oxygen delivery, carry bag, cart, and even designed a superb backpack carrier for those who have kept exercising with small weights and can carry 12-14 lbs.

Centered on ones back makes for an easier carry than on one shoulder – in my opinion. ALL of the many changes made for a top of the line quality and design product. AND, MOST important, it seems to do much better than the first one, at keeping me oxygenated even here above a mile high.

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Scott Ridl

While You Were Sleeping: What’s New in CPAP/BiLevel Therapy

American Medical Sales & Repair is pleased to announce that we now offer the best in Sleep Therapy to our customers. DeVilbiss, ResMed and Respironics offer the best in patient comfort, reliability and affordability for our patients who require assistance during sleep.

Sleep Therapy is oftentimes prescribed by a physician for the treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). The most common form of therapy is the use of a CPAP machine, or sometimes BiLevel, in order to assist during sleep.

With Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), a physician prescribes a single pressure setting which pushes air or oxygen into the patient’s airway via a “patient interface,” such as a nasal mask or full face mask. This increased pressure in the airway helps to keep the airway open while the patient slumbers. Since the pressure is “continuous,” the patient receives the same amount of pressure on both inhalation and exhalation.

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Scott Ridl

Medicare, Insurers Push Patients to Overpay for Home Medical Equipment

Colorado Public News stopped by our offices and shot a video about home medical equipment and medicare. It features our Customer Service Manager, John More.

Colorado Public News has found that oxygen concentrators, used by patients who have trouble breathing, are a prime example of the high cost of renting home medical equipment. Years of investigations and reforms haven’t fully solved Medicare’s problem with overpaying, partly due to orders from Congress.

Scott Ridl

No Excuses!

No excuses, it’s my fault at least I thought so.

Recently, I blamed myself because one of my buddies cancelled his reservations to go with his wife on that Caribbean cruise they had planned for so long. Ultimately his wife offered the spot to a girlfriend, but because I hadn’t done my part as a patient advocate I felt I had failed my friend. He had lost his battle with his fear about traveling with oxygen and because of that he had sat home. In retrospect, I guess during all our conversations over breakfast, sharing a lunch or dinner we had never talked about the ease of being able to travel with oxygen.

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Scott Ridl

What is the NHOPA?

The National Home Oxygen Patients Association (NHOPA) is an organization designed to provide essential information to supplementary oxygen users. The group was established in 1990 and is managed by actual oxygen users, who form the company’s Board of Directors.

One of the many undertakings of the NHOPA was a decade long involvement with the U.S. Department of Transportation to clarify and standardize the use of FAA approved oxygen units on board aircraft. Evolving from that association, the NHOPA also worked with the Transportation Security Administration to ensure that its security checkpoint guards are properly familiarized and trained with regards to Portable Oxygen Concentrators.

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Scott Ridl

Tuberculosis: U.S. and Around the World

When most people think about diseases of the lungs, what automatically comes to mind are Chronic Bronchitis or Chronic Emphysema, also known as COPD. What most people don’t realize is that Tuberculosis, or TB, is one of the world’s deadliest diseases that mostly affects the lungs.

TB is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. In most cases, this bacterium attacks the lungs, but it can attack any part of the body, such as the kidneys, spine and even the brain. If left untreated or treated improperly, TB can be fatal.

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Scott Ridl

Symptoms and Treatment of Lung Cancer

In its early stages, lung cancer is a silent disease. Most individuals are asymptomatic (without symptoms) for the first several months up to a year or two. Unfortunately, lung cancer is generally in its advanced stages when individuals begin to feel something is wrong.

The symptoms include shortness of breath or wheezing, chest pain that doesn’t go away, a persistent cough, frequent lung infections, loss of appetite and weight loss. Someone with lung cancer may get bronchitis regularly, or pneumonia, as the lungs are rendered defenseless by the malignant tumor.

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Scott Ridl

What is Lung Cancer?

Lung cancer is the presence of malignant cells (a malignant tumor) in the lungs. These malignant cells grow and spread rapidly, destroying healthy lung tissue in the process. Lung cancer is the result of cancerous lung cells, although cancerous cells of other types can spread to the lungs.

Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common form of lung cancer. Around 80% of lung cancer is of this type. While the cells grow more rapidly than normal cells, the non-small cell lung cancer does not grow as fast as small cell lung cancer, which makes up the other 20%.

One major cause of lung cancer is smoking. Smoking causes about 87% of lung cancer cases. This includes both smokers and those who live or work with smokers, inhaling secondhand smoke on a regular basis.

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Scott Ridl