Transient nocturnal desaturation, also known as nocturnal hypoxemia, is defined as a temporary drop in oxygen saturation during sleep. The condition is a significant problem in COPD, affecting a relatively large number of COPD patients. In fact, one study suggests that 27-70% of COPD patients with daytime oxygen saturation levels of 90-95% experience substantial desaturation […]
View ArticleOxygen therapy is a lifesaver for people with COPD and other chronic (ongoing) illnesses, its benefits known to increase survival, relieve symptoms, increase exercise tolerance, improve health-related quality of life and more.[1] But what happens when you get too much oxygen? And under what circumstances could this occur? Let’s explore this further. History of “Pure […]
View ArticlePhysicians and other medical experts agree that people with chronic (ongoing) lung diseases like COPD should remain as active as possible, despite their need for oxygen therapy.[1] Thanks to advances in medical technology that have made it possible to create oxygen delivery sources with mobility and portability in mind, it’s never been easier to stay […]
View ArticleChest tube thoracostomy, commonly referred to as “putting in a chest tube”, is the insertion of a hollow plastic tube into the pleural cavity (space around the lungs) to drain air, blood, pus or other fluids. Whether the excess air or fluid is the result of a traumatic injury, cancer, pneumonia or another condition, insertion […]
View ArticleIf you want to see the exact spot where earth kisses the sky, it’s in a little wooded grove just north of the red golden gate. This primal forest has been a federally protected National Monument since 1908, but it’s genesis began long before. It’s truly a majestic ecosystem of gigantic proportions! Wooded crowns reach […]
View ArticleIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an incurable lung disease in which fibrosis, or scarring, occurs in the lungs making them thick and stiff. As lung tissue thickens, the lungs have difficulty moving oxygen into your bloodstream, resulting in a decreased amount of oxygen to your brain and other organs. Sometimes doctors can determine what’s causing […]
View ArticleYes. Hypercapnia, also known as hypercarbia or CO2 retention, is a condition that occurs when there are elevated levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the blood. CO2 is a by-product of metabolism and is usually removed from the body in sufficient amounts through the lungs when you exhale. Although it can be caused by a […]
View ArticleBreathing. It’s something that most of us take for granted. But understanding how oxygen-rich air enters your lungs where it’s exchanged for carbon dioxide is an important part of living with COPD. Let’s take a tour of the respiratory system so you can see how it works. The Respiratory System The respiratory system is composed […]
View ArticleHurricane Irma has been deemed the most intense hurricane to hit the Atlantic since Dean in 2007. Although it may have been downgraded to a tropical storm earlier this week, it left an estimated 16 million Floridians without power, some indefinitely. For most people, power outages are a mere inconvenience. But for people who are […]
View ArticleWhen dealing with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), certain flair ups akin to that of an asthma attack, can occur that can cause varying levels of stress to the body ranging from noisy heavy breathing to harm requiring hospitalization. These events are referred to medically as “exacerbations” to a pre-existing COPD ailment and are known […]
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