Supplemental Oxygen and Smoking

Millions of people have breathing problems as a result of smoking at one time or another, and at the same time a great number of people are still smoking and newbies are constantly joining them. Many of the current smokers and future smokers will develop severe and chronic breathing problems.

These breathing problems can end up turning into chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with all the limitations this entails. 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.

By this time regrets and blaming others, though typical will be next to useless. The vast majority of people with COPD will need supplemental oxygen supplied through a machine.

Smokers have damaged do have damage in their lungs but when the do stop, at least it doesn’t get worse.

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. 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).

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.