Extra Oxygen For Smokers
Health and Fitness August 3rd, 2010
Although the percentage of smokers is gradually going down, there are still many millions smoking daily and every day new smokers join these ranks – and one of the results of this is that many of them will end up with breathing problems.
It is a fact of life that many smokers will end up suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. All smokers run this risk and in fact 20% of them will develop COPD. And of all COPD sufferers, 90% of them did smoke in the past. When you translate these percentages into real figures the results number in the millions – and yet there are new smokers all the time.
One of the effects of having these diseases is needing to receive supplemental oxygen – and many times this is a continuous, all day long, need.
Your best bet is to stop smoking and even if this is not an iron clad guarantee that you won’t develop COPD (the damage has been done), it will certainly reduce the over all damage.
What to do/ Aside from not smoking (I had to put that in), in most cases oxygen therapy is prescribed as part of the overall recovery and treatment process. The results are positive as now patients are receiving the oxygen they require and are able to lead active lives. Both of these issues are vitally important. On the one hand all mammals, and this means us, need oxygen as the most basic survival requirement. On the other hand the need for an active lifestyle cannot be stressed enough. It is important not only for the psychological point of view where it provides at least a minimum of purpose, but also from the physical health aspect. Immobility is not a healthy option.
There are two aspects that need to be highlighted.
One point is that not smoking is the best option. Over the last few years there has developed a much greater awareness of the dangers of smoking and so more and more people are stopping. The figures for new smokers are not so optimistic, but at least the overall scenario is more positive. Over the next few decades the numbers of people who develop lung illness as a direct result of smoking will increase (think of baby boomers growing older).
Thanks to a general increase in quality and design of oxygen delivery systems over the last few years, the activity and quality of life aspects of these diseases has gotten much better, and this is very important (think what your life could be like if you were bedridden). Home units as well as portable oxygen tanks are providing a great service.
It used to be that a patient that needed oxygen full time would be stuck to a clinic. If extra oxygen had to be given on a partial basis (not 24/7), then continuous visits had to be made. Now patients can get home oxygen systems as well as portable ones. This has made a great difference from all points of view – work, social activities and travel, both short distances and even flights. As a point of fact, the FAA has authorized certain oxygen concentrators on board flights.
Various devices such as pulse of oximeters, that measure oxygen saturation, and oxygen flow regulators are part of standard equipment that long-term oxygen patients are using – and as a result they are increasing their potential levels of activity.

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