If you need both an oxygen concentrator and a continuous positive airway pressure (or CPAP) machine, you might be wondering: What is the difference? While these therapies seem similar and sometimes treat the same disease, they are different in many ways.
In this brief blog post, we will discuss the main differences between an oxygen concentrator and a CPAP machine. We will also discuss some scenarios in which these therapeutic devices might overlap.
Severe sleep apnea is a serious form of sleep apnea characterized by very frequent periods of not breathing during sleep. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with sleep apnea, or you snore during sleep, you might be at risk for severe sleep apnea.
In this blog post, we will define severe sleep apnea, list the potential complications, and explore options to help you manage it before it gets worse.
In the United States every year thousands of adults get sick, some are hospitalized, and some even die from diseases that could be prevented by vaccines. People who suffer from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or asthma are at a greater risk for severe problems from various vaccine-preventable diseases.
Please note that you should always consult with your doctor to determine what is best for you and your treatment. We are not a doctor’s office and are not providing medical advice.
An essential step to getting and staying healthy is to get vaccinated and here are 3 important reasons why.
Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is still somewhat of a mystery to medical experts, but what they do know undeniably, is that it is caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain. If you are planning a trip to a ski resort high in the mountains, or any other location that has an altitude about 6,000 feet above sea level, AMS can be a threat.
There are a few different ways to prevent AMS is the first place, and everyone is different in how going to a high altitude affects them. One person might get it mildly while another gets violently ill. It can be especially dangerous to those with a chronic lung disease.
Using a home oxygen concentrator might be the best way to prevent mountain sickness since it allows more oxygen to get into the blood stream. You might want to talk to your doctor about doing this, well before your trip to the mountains.
If you are over the age of 50, it might be worth it to you to become an AARP member (American Association of Retired Persons). They offer healthcare benefits, auto insurance, travel benefits, as well as other discounts that help retired and elderly citizens of the US.
If you need an oxygen concentrator, you can get a discount in our store if you are an AARP member. In addition to our already incredibly low prices on new oxygen concentrators and accessories, you can get even more shaved off of the price by signing up with AARP.
If you need to use your oxygen concentrator for many hours each day, you might find that you’ll need to be able to take a shower or bathe yourself while using it. Even though your oxygen concentrator cannot get wet or be around a lot of moisture in the air, you can still enjoy a nice shower or bath while getting your oxygen therapy.
Here are some tips for taking a shower safely while using your oxygen concentrator, as well as somethings you will need to have in your bathroom to make it much easier.
John More gave a presentation on the benefits of using portable oxygen concentrators to a support group for patients who suffer from IPC (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis) at National Jewish. He took the time to explain the differences between units, and how each unit has its own specialties. He really made sure that the patients understood the differences in technologies such as what the true differences were between pulse flow and continuous flow to ensure they understood their own oxygen needs.
While some patients had heard of, or were currently using POCs, others had only recently been diagnosed and where learning about what their true options were for the very first time.
“Run the Rocks” is a 5K put on by the American Lung Association, to help raise research money and awareness for a variety of lung related diseases and important issues. The 8th annual 5K run/walk will be taking place on October 12th 2014 in Red Rocks Park in Morrison, Colorado. This run sounds like a lot of fun, as the runs and onlookers will be treated to live music throughout, as well as the beautiful scenery of the park. The end of the 5K run/walk is at the top of the historic amphitheater, but you’ll have to climb the steps to get there.
Even if you can’t participate as a runner or walker, you can help raise money for the cause by pledging to a participant. You can do this, and find other important information about the event by visiting RunTheRocks.org. You’ll be able to search for a particular team or individual participant by entering their name if you know someone who is participating, or you can just give directly to the cause.
According to the Lung.org website, The Fight for Air Fundraisers are really “a vertical road race”, where participants and teams can come together to raise money for the American Lung Association as well as meet another fitness goal.
Just as with many other fund raising events for a medical cause or organization, athelets have the opportunity to contribute and pay tribute to those who cannot breathe properly, those with chronic diseases such as COPD or asthma, those with lung cancer, and future generations to have better medical technology to treat lung ailments.
