Smokers and Oxygen Therapy
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.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is many time the end result. COPD statistics show that 90% of diagnosed sufferers were smokers and that 20% of all smokers will end up having this illness. When you translate these percentages into real figures the results number in the millions – and yet there are new smokers all the time.
For most people this will mean a lot of suffering, reduced activities, general weakness and the need for a continuous use of supplemental oxygen and the lungs can no longer absorb the required amount (no oxygen – no life).
For those who stop smoking this is not necessarily a guarantee of not developing COPD – but it will reduce the degree of 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. Thanks to this therapy patients are no longer lost in a maze of clinics, but can now keep on practicing most normal activities. Receiving oxygen and being active allows patients to breathe (simplistic but true) and also to be able to maintain a life style with a certain amount of activity. This is recognized to be really important as physical health and psychological well being do go hand in hand.
A couple of things more.
The first is preventive measures. We as a society are much more aware of the dangers of smoking and the legislation and conviction are reduced numbers of smokers, or at least smoking opportunities. This still means that many millions will require oxygen therapy in the future – but at least it’s not as any as could be. (The social costs can only be measured in billions of dollars).
The second relates to activity and quality of life. Home-stationary oxygen delivery machines are available as are oxygen tanks, cylinders and concentrators. These are also been constantly upgraded, bettered and even redesigned all of which will provide greater levels of activity and mobility.
Long-term oxygen therapy is no longer limited to the clinic or to the home. Mobile and portable units are available, are also covered by insurance and even some portable oxygen concentrators are allowed on board planes, as authorized by the FAA.
Aside from these there is a whole range of accessories that are used – these include oximeters to measure oxygen blood saturation, cannulas (those hoses that deliver the oxygen to the nose or mouth) flow regulators.
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