For many Americans, about 30 million to be more specific, a portion of them rely on supplemental oxygen to breath. Supplemental oxygen is essential for individuals who are not getting enough oxygen, in which case all of their organs in their body can be impacted, especially the brain, heart and kidneys. Wearing supplemental oxygen keeps people's organs healthy.

Supplemental oxygen can also help relieve your symptoms. You may feel relief from shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness and depression. After long term oxygen use you may become more alert, sleep better and have an overall better mood. You may be able to do more activities such as traveling, more intense exercises, and social gatherings.

Most chronic respiratory conditions are considered “debilitating.” What this means is that they have a tendency to make the patient weak and physically incapable of certain tasks like rigorous exercise. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one such condition because it prevents carbon dioxide-rich air from escaping the lungs upon expiration. This results in frequent breathlessness, chest pain, fatigue, and more.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of incurable lung diseases that obstruct airflow making it difficult to breath normally without experiencing shortness of breath and incessant coughing. This chronic illnesses also progressive, meaning it becomes more severe over time.

Approximately 14.8 million adults have been diagnosed with COPD, and approximately 12 million people have COPD and not yet been diagnosed, totaling just under 30 million people with COPD in the United States.

Based on that information gathered from vital statistics, health interview surveys, hospital charge records, national publications, and the World Health Organization, COPD is the fourth leading cause of death amongst Americans, exceeded only by heart attacks, cancer, and strokes.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most prominent lung conditions. Worldwide, it affects more than 328 million people and this number is only expected to increase over time. While there are many different treatment options for COPD such as a refined dietary regime, inhaled medication, and pulmonary rehabilitation, oxygen therapy remains one of the best ways to keep symptoms in check.

If you were to honestly ask yourself: What keeps me from exercising? And your answer is the fact that your COPD makes it hard for you to breath without experiencing shortness of breath, this article is for you!

If you have COPD, dyspnea (difficulty breathing) and muscle fatigue are most likely the main reasons you stray from working out or beginning an exercise program in the first place. This is unfortunate because the best way to improve exercise tolerance and decrease breathlessness in COPD is to be active.

In this fast-paced, busy world that we live in, it can be difficult to find the time or the means to practice mindfulness. From going to work to cooking dinner, dealing with family matters, and spending time with friends, we often don’t take the time to decompress and ensure that our thoughts and feelings are in line with what we’re trying to accomplish.

If you’re a respiratory patient with a condition such as COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, or cystic fibrosis, you’ve likely accepted change as a normal part of your life. Being able to implement treatments into your life such as pulmonary rehabilitation, supplemental oxygen therapy, and an improved diet routine is never easy, but it is essential if you want to feel better and improve your long-term prognosis.

The clear and simple answer is that there is currently no cure for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). That being said, there is evidence that shows early diagnosis, combined with disease management programs, can reduce the impact of COPD and slow the disease from progressing into a more severe state.

If you are struggling with accomplishing activities you used to do with ease by becoming short of breath, experiencing chest tightness or low energy, or getting frequent respiratory infections, being diagnosed with COPD can be a blessing in disguise.

Think about your daily routine, it likely involves a number of different activities that range from resting, to moving around and doing chores, exercising, reading, and of course sleeping. If you are using oxygen therapy at home your oxygen flow requirements may vary from the morning to afternoon, from day to day, depending on the season. Even if you need oxygen all day and all night the rate at which you need oxygen may not be consistent.

If you have more severe symptoms associated with COPD or you have overlapping conditions that restrict the proper amount of oxygen getting through your lungs, you likely need a continuous supply of oxygen flow. This means that you need oxygen delivery from your oxygen concentrators to be constantly flowing, even if you are not taking a breath.