Pulse flow portable oxygen concentrators are different from continuous-flow concentrators in that they detect when you inhale and deliver a bolus dose of oxygen on-demand. Concentrators with pulse-flow technology are intuitive and responsive by automatically adjusting the amount of oxygen they deliver based on your breathing rate.

Living with a respiratory disease can make normal activities and hobbies difficult. Traveling, however, can be particularly challenging to do when you suffer from a chronic respiratory condition.

Lung function decline is a defining characteristic of COPD, and it gets worse as the disease progresses. Because of this, most COPD patients eventually have to begin using supplemental oxygen to help their lungs once they become too weak to absorb enough oxygen on their own.

The purpose of supplemental oxygen is to deliver extremely oxygen-rich air to your lungs, usually using a pressurized oxygen tank or an oxygen concentrator. This air, generally about 85-95 percent pure oxygen, allows your lungs absorb more oxygen with every breath.

Supplemental oxygen is a very important part of COPD treatment because it helps your lungs take in enough oxygen to supply your organs and tissues with the oxygen they need. Without it, your blood oxygen saturation can fall to unhealthy levels—a condition called hypoxemia—which can lead to serious, life-threatening complications over time.

For many patients who have COPD, oxygen therapy is a major feature of day-to-day life. If you use oxygen during the daytime, managing oxygen tanks and equipment inevitably becomes a routine part of almost every daily task and activity.

Beginning supplemental oxygen therapy is a huge life adjustment and comes with a lot of new concerns and responsibilities. With all the new equipment and guidelines to follow, it can be overwhelming and confusing at first.