More than 26 million Americans have asthma and experience difficulty breathing everyday. For some it is only a minor annoyance that can be overlooked, but for others it is a major issue that negatively impacts their everyday lives. Asthma cannot be cured and can worsen over time, leading to other respiratory complications and increasing the possibility of a life-threatening asthma attack.
There are several ways to keep your asthma in check so your risk of developing severe symptoms are reduced. Controlling your asthma is especially important if you lead a more active lifestyle.
Oxygen therapy is an excellent way to treat asthma and to open up airways for better breathing. We’ll first address the risk factors and causes of asthma before diving into treatment options such as supplemental oxygen.
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition where the airways inflame, making the passageways to your lungs very narrow and difficult for oxygen to circulate through. Breathing becomes strained and any air trying to flow through your system might trigger wheezing, coughing, and make it hard for you to catch your breath. Over time, the lack of enough oxygen getting to your brain and body can cause serious long-term results.
Everyone experiences asthma differently. Some patients encounter symptoms constantly, while others may only experience it only sometimes, like when they are exercising.
Symptoms of asthma include shortness of breath, wheezing upon exhale, tightness or pain in the chest, a cough that keeps you up at night, or needing to use an inhaler frequently. If you have asthma, it is most likely due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Asthma can be triggered by exercise, airborne substances like pollen and pet dander, or by occupational hazards like fumes and dust. If you have a respiratory infection like the flu or a cold, coughing and wheezing can quickly worsen. Cold air, certain medicines and foods, allergies, and even stress can provoke asthma symptoms.
If left untreated, asthma can lead to the bronchial tubes narrowing permanently, more frequent asthma flare-ups, and possibly a trip to the emergency room for an extreme asthma attack.
If you live with the effects of asthma, then you know how hard it can be to lead a normal lifestyle where you enjoy everyday and each activity. Be sure to consult your doctor if breathing is hard for you, or you experience any of the warning signs we’ve listed.
What about prevention and treatment? Thankfully there are many different ways to ensure your symptoms are managed so you can better avoid asthma triggers and potential attacks.
How Oxygen Therapy Can Help
Patients who have asthma use nebulizers to open their airways during attacks, but oxygen is usually prescribed to patients who experience those attacks on a frequent basis. Your doctor will advise you if your asthma is severe enough to necessitate oxygen therapy as a form of treatment, as it requires a very major lifestyle adjustment.
Whether you need to be on oxygen only while you sleep, when you’re active, or constantly throughout your day, supplemental oxygen is a real game-changer.
To combat the lack of oxygen as a result of asthma, oxygen therapy provides your lungs with extra oxygen. This not only makes breathing easier by opening your airways, it reduces the negative drain on your health that losing oxygen creates. So what are your options?
- Portable oxygen concentrators are lightweight, compact devices that can be taken anywhere you go. You can be as active as you need to be, bring it on flights with you, and live your life on your own terms.
- Home oxygen concentrators are mostly used by patients who stay at home regularly.
Getting an oxygen concentrator is a much more practical form of therapy, as opposed to heading to the hospital every time your asthma symptoms make themselves known. Oxygen concentrators don’t require filter changes and do not need to be refilled. They take oxygen from the surrounding air and filter it into your lungs so you can breathe easier.
Oxygen therapy not only drastically improves the quality of life for patients with many respiratory conditions such as asthma, but it can erase morning headaches caused by sleeping without enough oxygen, improve mental sharpness, boost stamina, and give you that good night’s rest you’ve been searching for.
If you start to experience a sudden asthma attack and your oxygen concentrator is readily available to assist you, the risk of stroke is greatly reduced when your airways are being filled with life-saving oxygen.
Liberty Medical has a wide range of state-of-the-art oxygen concentrators to help you live more comfortably and finally take control of your asthma symptoms. Give us a call at 1-800-375-6060 and we will create the perfect oxygen solution for you. Browse our POC blog to find detailed information on each of the portable and home oxygen concentrators we offer. You have the option to purchase or rent one from our website. Call our 24/7 support line and ask about our helpful financing plans so we can assist you with your supplementary oxygen needs today! www.traveloxygen.com