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managing COPD TM SELECTHEALTH® SPRING 2013 using Oxygen If you have an advanced case of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), you may need to use oxygen to stay active. Supplemental oxygen is prescribed by a doctor when COPD has progressed to the point that it is preventing your body from getting the oxygen you need to function properly. Additional oxygen can improve your ability to breathe, increase mental alertness, and help prevent heart failure. It may even prolong your life, according to the National Institutes of Health and other experts. To receive supplemental oxygen at home, you must have a prescription from your doctor. Once you take a blood test that measures the amount of oxygen in your blood, your doctor will tell you how much supplemental oxygen you need and when you need to use it. Some people use oxygen only when they exercise or sleep. Others need to use it all the time. Traveling with Oxygen Oxygen can be delivered to your home in various sizes of gas cylinders or in liquid form. You can also use an oxygen concentrator, which is a device that separates oxygen out of the air, concentrates it, and stores it. It’s safe to travel with oxygen, but it does require some planning. Follow these tips to prepare for your next trip: • If you are traveling by car, store your oxygen tanks upright. • If you are traveling by bus, plane, or boat, contact the company to let them know you have an oxygen tank. • Bring an oxygen prescription from your doctor. Be sure you also have the phone numbers for your doctor and oxygen supplier. Ask your doctor which type of oxygen you should use. Contact us to find a supplier, such as Intermountain Homecare, that can teach you about the technical aspects of using oxygen. Reference: Intermountain Healthcare. Breathing Better: A Handbook for People with COPD and Other Chronic Lung Conditions. 2010. 1 February 2013. <http://intermountainhealthcare.org/ext/ Dcmnt?ncid=520714671> Reference: American Lung Association Your Lungs: behind the scenes The lungs are the largest part of the respiratory system, which delivers oxygen to the blood so you can breathe. Besides the lungs, the system includes your nose, mouth, throat, windpipe, and airways. When it’s working well, the respiratory system brings in the oxygen your body needs, and it removes the carbon dioxide waste your body can’t use. Below is a look at how that process works in a healthy set of lungs. WHEN YOU INHALE (BREATHE IN AIR) •The diaphragm (die-a-fram), the large muscle at the bottom of your lungs, moves down, pulling air into the airways and finally into the lungs. •Air moves from your nose or mouth into your throat (pharynx [fah-rinks]). •From your throat, the air goes to your windpipe (trachea [tray-kee-uh]). •The windpipe breaks off into two bronchial (brongkee-uh-l) tubes—one for each lung. •The bronchial tubes carry the air deep into each lung. •The bronchial tubes subdivide into many smaller tubes. These tubes end in air sacs called alveoli (alvee-oh-lie), which are like clusters of grapes. •The alveoli stretch and expand like small balloons. •Oxygen (O2) goes into blood vessels that surround the alveoli. •This oxygen is sent through the body in your blood. WHEN YOU EXHALE (BREATHE OUT AIR) Carbon dioxide (CO2) moves from the blood, flowing through the blood vessels into the alveoli. selecthealth.org | spring 2013 | COPD The diaphragm moves up to help the chest push carbon dioxide out of the lungs. This air moves from the alveoli, up through the bronchial tubes and windpipe, and out of the nose. HOW DOES COPD AFFECT YOUR LUNGS? When you have COPD, changes occur in your lungs that affect your breathing. COPD is not just one disease. It’s a group of lung diseases that include chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema. You may have one or both of these. If you have chronic bronchitis The walls inside your airways become swollen and thick. Your airways narrow. Large amounts of mucus form, which can block your airways and may increase the risk of infection. In this case, productive cough is common. As time passes with chronic bronchitis, your lungs get scarred and cannot function. If you have emphysema The air sacs at the ends of your airways are damaged and stiff. Air gets trapped in the tiny air sacs. Continued on next page Continued Your Lungs Those air sacs get stretched too much and break down, causing them to work incorrectly. This leads to the development of a few large air sacs instead of many tiny ones. Not all the air in the larger space gets pushed out when you exhale. Your blood may not get enough oxygen, and you have to work harder to get rid of the carbon dioxide. All of these things cause problems when you breathe. That’s because your lungs have trouble pushing used air out and may not have enough room left to take in new, healthy air. Reference: Content from “Your Lungs: Behind the Scenes,” and “How Does COPD Affect Your Lungs,” provided by Boehringer-Ingelheim Other Conditions You May Have with COPD • Heart disease: Leads to fluid buildup in the lungs and the rest of the body. • Osteoporosis: A disease of bone loss and weakening. • Lung disease: COPD often increases the risk for other diseases, such as lung cancer. • Difficulty sleeping: COPD reduces the amount of oxygen in the body. This can cause people with COPD to not sleep well. • Depression: COPD often makes people feel depressed. This is because COPD can affect your activity levels and increase worry. Eat Well, Breathe Easier Even a small job can take a lot of energy when you have COPD. You can boost your energy with good, healthy food. According to the American Association for Respiratory Care, eating well also can help the body fight infection. Choose foods that are high in protein at least twice a day. Good sources of protein include eggs, fish, nuts, and dried beans or peas. Your body needs protein to maintain strong muscles. If you don’t eat enough protein, your muscles start to break down. That could weaken muscles that help you breathe easily. To prevent shortness of breath, aim to eat six small meals instead of three big ones. You can also try resting before and after eating. This can help your lungs and stomach work more efficiently. Sodium can make you retain fluids, which makes breathing harder. Switch to low-sodium versions of soup, crackers, and canned vegetables. Also, be sure to drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. Reference: American Association for Respiratory Care selecthealth.org | spring 2013 | COPD The content presented here is for your information only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, and it should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. Please consult your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns. The information that is contained in this newsletter does not guarantee benefits. If you have any questions about your benefits or need to confirm your benefits, call Member Services at 801-442-5038 (Salt Lake area) or800-538-5038. © 2008-2013 SelectHealth. All rights reserved. 2091 05/13. May be reprinted with permission. Managing COPD is a trademark of SelectHealth. Ratings are available for family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, and pediatric providers. If a rating link does not appear, data is not available for that provider. in the doctor’s profile. “Satisfaction and Quality Ratings” Search for a provider and click at selecthealth.org/providers. Find these ratings and learn more Do you know your clinic’s quality performance and patient satisfaction scores?