Do You Experience Breathlessness on Oxygen Therapy?

You shouldn’t have to accept the feelings of breathlessness and exhaustion just because you may have a lung condition. Do YOU experience breathlessness on oxygen therapy?

Read more below to see if you are experiencing breathlessness and don’t forget to read more about Inogen’s TAV (Tidal Assist Ventilator) and how it can help alleviate your breathlessness symptoms. 

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Feeling breathless is uncomfortable and frightening no matter when it happens, whether you are accustomed to the feeling or not. If you are still experiencing breathlessness even while receiving supplemental oxygen therapy, it can also be frustrating. It seems like oxygen therapy should resolve feelings of breathlessness, but it might surprise you to learn that your oxygen saturation levels are separate from your feelings of breathlessness. That can mean that even if you are getting the oxygen you need, you may still feel short of breath. Wondering why? Let’s take a closer look. 

Breathlessness is affected by a number of different factors, including your altitude, your emotional state, your heart health, your medications, your stress level, the weather and your overall physical health. We all know what it feels like to feel short of breath after sudden exertion, but have you ever noticed that in times of high stress or anxiety, you feel breathless as well? Breathlessness is not only a reflection of your oxygen saturation levels, and you may need different amounts of oxygen in different situations to reduce the sensation of being short of breath. So what is the solution?

If you receive oxygen therapy, yet still find yourself feeling short of breath during your regular activities, you have a few options. First, stop what you are doing when you first notice that you feel short of breath and work on remaining as calm as possible. Next, try leaning over and resting your arms on your thighs, a counter or a wall to give your lungs more room and make breathing easier. In addition, practice your breathing techniques, like diaphragmatic breathing and pursed lip breathing, to help improve your ventilation, help you breathe with less effort and help reduce the panic and anxiety that often comes with feeling breathless. Stress and anxiety can worsen your breathlessness, so do what you can to remain calm any time you feel short of breath and remember that you have the tools to help combat breathlessness.

If your breathlessness continues, even with the use of these strategies, you may need more help. For some oxygen therapy patients, the Inogen Tidal Assist Ventilation System® is the solution for breathlessness on oxygen therapy. Because the Inogen TAV® provides an extra boost of oxygen right when you need it, it can help reduce feelings of breathlessness, and the anxiety and exhaustion that comes with that breathlessness, for many oxygen therapy users. Participating in your life should not leave you panting and breathless. If you are ready to find a solution for feeling short of breath and gasping for air during your regular daily activities, call our Oxygen Specialists today at 855-MY-INOGEN and find out if the Inogen TAV is right for you.