Thursday, March 28, 2024

OXYGEN TREATMENT MAY IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THOSE WITH COPD

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SEATTLE  – More than 11 million Americans live with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including more than 330,000 people in Washington. 

While there is no cure for COPD, there are treatment options that can drastically improve quality of life for thousands.  During the month of November for COPD Awareness Month, the American Lung Association is highlighting the value of supplemental oxygen, or oxygen therapy, a treatment option that may be prescribed by a doctor. 

 

Living with a chronic lung disease and the stress of struggling to breathe can be taxing for both the individual and their loved ones. Lack of sufficient oxygen can result in fatigue and make simple tasks a struggle. Oxygen therapy can help circulate more oxygen into the bloodstream, helping people breathe easier and stay more active

 

Several devices can deliver oxygen at home, and oxygen equipment can also attach to other medical equipment such as CPAP machines and ventilators.  If you or someone you know is living with COPD, keep these tips in mind for oxygen therapy.  

 

• Safety. While oxygen therapy is safe it does contribute to flammability as materials in oxygen-enriched environments burn more readily. Proper storage, along with avoiding aerosols, heat and flames will help keep you safe.

 

• Travel. With supplemental oxygen you are able to travel whether it be by car, train, plane or boat. Make sure to connect with your mode of transportation prior to departure to learn their policies and procedures for carrying oxygen. You’ll also want to make sure you’re able to access additional oxygen once you reach your destination. 

 

•  Support. If you have additional questions you can contact registered nurses, respiratory therapists and counselors on the Lung Association’s Lung HelpLine available at 1-800-LUNGUSA or through chat at Lung.org/helpline. 

 

About the American Lung Association 

The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease, through research, education and advocacy. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to improve the air we breathe; to reduce the burden of lung disease on individuals and their families; and to eliminate tobacco use and tobacco-related diseases. For more information about the American Lung Association, a holder of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Guide Seal, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org.

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