COPD or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease can be a tough diagnosis to swallow. From remembering the acronym to simply trying to catch your breath, it can be overwhelming at first. What started as a simple cough now makes it difficult to breathe. Many questions will arise, such as what exactly does having this disease mean for your health?

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

The COPD definition states that it’s a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the lungs. COPD is actually more of an encompassing term for a number of progressive diseases relating to the lungs, including emphysema, chronic bronchitis, non-reversible asthma, and certain types of bronchiectasis.

In addition, all sufferers experience some type of blockages in their lungs, making it more difficult to breathe. The cause of the blockage may vary depending on which type of COPD you have (e.g., emphysema or bronchitis). However, with proper understanding and management, all you’ll need is a bit more attention and preparation to maintain your quality of life and breathe easier when it comes to daily tasks.

What Are COPD Causes?

The truth is that most sufferers who have the disease were smokers. While not everyone who smokes develops COPD about 90% of sufferers were smokers or are still smoking. People with asthma who smoke increases the risk even more (Trying to quit? Get help).

Other causes include exposure to fumes, dust, chemicals, and other irritants that can be found in certain work environments (e.g., being a firefighter). Genetics also play a role in some cases of COPD, especially when combined with other factors such as smoking.

What Are COPD Symptoms?

Difficulty breathing is the most common symptom, however, there are some other symptoms that develop over time that can be early warning signs. If you experience any of the following COPD symptoms book an appointment with your doctor to rule out this disease and to get on track to finding treatment:

Frequent Coughing
Wheezing
Chest Tightness
Feeling Breathless
Blueness in Lips (Cyanosis)
Frequent Respiratory Infections
Swelling in Ankles, Feet, or Legs
Lack of Energy
Unintentional Weight Loss (In later stages)

If you don’t have COPD but wonder what living with the disease feels likes, try the following exercise. Take a deep breath, then only exhale halfway. Then take another full breath but only exhale halfway again. Continue repeating this pattern and soon you’ll feel breathless as breathing becomes extremely comfortable. Unfortunately, this is what sufferers deal with.

COPD Stages

COPD is a progressive condition that worsens with age over time. In general, there are four stages running from mild to very severe. It may begin with mild breathing discomfort and a chronic cough with phlegm in the beginning, it will become more difficult to breathe as the condition progresses.

Stage 1 COPD: Mild stage COPD can be difficult to notice. People may be unaware that they have any issues and continue their daily activities with slight breathing limitations. It’s common to experience a cough with phlegm.

Stage 2 COPD: Moderate stage COPD is when people notice more coughing and more mucus production. This is when people generally seek medical attention for breathing limitations.

Stage 3 COPD: The severe stage COPD when lung function continues to decline and breathing becomes increasingly difficult. By this point, COPD symptoms typically interfere with favorite activities and daily tasks. During this stage, people experience more fatigue and difficulty exercising.

Stage 4 COPD: End-stage COPD is very severe and heavily impacts people’s quality of life. Breathing issues may become life-threatening as sufferers have trouble receiving enough oxygen. This can lead to serious health conditions including hypoxia, cyanosis, and more. Oxygen therapy may be prescribed to help you receive the oxygen your body needs.

Some patients may need additional oxygen all the time, and others may only need it during certain times, like when performing more strenuous activities. Using an oxygen concentrator or portable oxygen concentrator can be essential for treatment and may even help you get your quality of life back. You might actually get back to doing the things you love instead of having to miss out.

COPD Treatment

By properly treating COPD or progressive lung conditions that result in difficulty breathing you can live a full, active life. There are various treatment options depending on which stage you’re diagnosed with. The first step involves quitting smoking as it can cause COPD to get much worse.

You may be prescribed medication to take on a regular basis or as needed. These medications or bronchodilators often come with an inhaler or nebulizer and work by relaxing the tissues around your airways to make breathing easier. While inhalers are generally preferred, home nebulizers can be the most effective way to treat flare-ups. However, both options provide patients with rapid relief from dramatic COPD symptom on sets.

Also, you may be prescribed inhalable or oral steroid medications to reduce inflammation.

A high-frequency chest wall oscillation vest will help ease your body’s task of discharging harmful excess secretions from the lungs. The Afflovest is a lightweight, portable option that mimics natural chest physiotherapy and doesn’t require a caregiver or respiratory therapist.

If there isn’t enough oxygen in your blood then you may need supplemental oxygen. There are various oxygen options from home oxygen concentrators, portable concentrators, and various sizes and levels of portability of oxygen cylinders.

Deep Breathing

Another helpful exercise for those living with COPD is to practice deep breathing. A respiratory therapist, Mardi Hayden, recommends finding one of these deep breathing exercises that you really like and practice it daily at the same times each day. As your exercises progress, you can gradually lengthen the amount of time that you do the exercise. Hayden recommends this deep breathing technique for those new to breathing exercises:

Pull your elbows back firmly while standing or sitting
Take a deep breath
Hold the breath for the count of five
Exhale slowly and completely
Repeat as needed

As with any exercise regimen, it is recommended that you speak with your respiratory therapist or physician before beginning.

COPD Management

COPD is unquestionably a difficult, and life-changing condition, but with proper management and proactive measures, it doesn’t have to rob you or someone you love their life. If someone you know is suffering from COPD, or if you believe you’re at risk, contact your doctor today. You may qualify for your nebulizer at little to no cost to you through insurance.

To find out if you qualify for your equipment through insurance, simply complete Aeroflow Healthcare’s Qualify Through Insurance form. Once submitted, our Patient Care Representative will work closely with your healthcare provider and insurance company to have your treatment options delivered to your home.

By partnering with an experienced provider like Aeroflow Healthcare, you can be fully assured of access to all of the latest COPD treatment options, as well as easy delivery, exceptional service, and 24-hour support.

It’s important that as a nebulizer owner and user you perform some basic maintenance and cleaning to keep the medical device in working order. But often times the replacement of nebulizer parts is needed to provide optimum functionality, and therefore the best possible treatment.

Here are a few tips for best equipment upkeep and sanitation, and information on how often to replace nebulizer parts.

Insurance Covered Nebulizer Replacement and Resupply

For insured patients with durable medical equipment (DME) benefits, most plans consider the replacement of nebulizers medically necessary on an individual basis if both of the following criteria are met:

The primary care physician and/or specialist confirm that the member has been compliant with the nebulizer and anticipate the need for continued use to prevent a hospital admission or emergency room visits; AND
The warranty has expired.

Generally, if it has been five years and you still need a nebulizer, your insurance will cover it. Contact us and we’ll help make sense of your insurance benefits.

Nebulizer Mask Replacement

Disposable masks are meant to be thrown away after 5 to 7 uses, while regular child and adult nebulizer masks are meant to be used for up to 6 months. You can confirm your replacement schedule with your insurance plan, or call Aeroflow Healthcare at 888-345-1780 and we’ll verify your insurance benefits for you.

Nebulizer Parts to Replace Every Month
Disposable filters in aerosol compressor
Small volume non-filtered pneumatic nebulizer
Water collection device in large volume nebulizer
Tracheostomy mask or collar
Face tent
Aerosol mask
Administration set, small volume both filtered and non-filtered

Edit Table

Parts to Replace Less Often

Nebulizer Replacement	Replacement Schedule
Disposable Nebulizer Tubing	Bimonthly
Non-Disposable Nebulizer Filter	Once a Quarter
Non-Disposable Administration Kit	Twice a Year
Non-Disposable Corrugated Tubing	Once a Year
Ultrasonic Nebulizer Mouthpiece & Dome	Once a Year
Nebulizer	Every Three Years

Edit Table

Maintaining Your Nebulizer Parts and Accessories

Compressor filters eventually become dirty and channels get clogged. Also, the tubing, masks, and mouthpieces will degrade over time. Never use nebulizer equipment longer than recommended, even if they seem fine. Always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for maintaining your nebulizer, parts, and accessories.

Failure to change parts will make your compressor unit work harder than it should and will eventually cause the unit to fail. Be sure to keep extra tubing, mouthpieces, and masks on-hand in case they become damaged or worn in between replacement cycles.

Sterilizing Your Nebulizer Parts and Equipment

Following the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions after each use will prevent any remaining medication in the cup from drying out, which can result in the device not nebulizing effectively. Once a week, your nebulizer will need to be more thoroughly sterilized.

After each treatment:

Wash your hands thoroughly.
Disassemble the nebulizer.
Rinse the mask or mouthpiece with warm water for at least half a minute.
Do not wash nebulizer tubing or compressor.
Shake off excess water and place parts on a clean towel for air-drying.
Reassemble the system and turn on the compressor for a few seconds for drying.

Once a week:

Consult your owner’s manual for specific instructions.
You may be instructed to soak all nebulizer parts (except mask, tubing, and compressor) in one part distilled white vinegar/three parts hot water for one hour (do not reuse cleaning solution).
Rinse, shake off excess water, and allow to air-dry on a clean towel.
Reassemble the pieces and tubing and turn on the compressor briefly for drying.

Some nebulizer parts may be top-rack dishwasher safe; however, a nebulizer mask should never go through the dishwasher. Always refer to the manufacturer’s notes when cleaning your equipment. And when you’re finished performing daily or weekly maintenance on your nebulizer system, cover it and store it in a clean, safe place.

As your baby grows you will notice your tummy not only expanding but getting heavier too. You might feel a twinge of discomfort as your little bundle of joy causes your belly to swell, but you don’t have to wait until their due date for relief. You can get the extra support you need with the help of a belly band.

What’s A Belly Band?

A belly band or maternity support brace is a circular piece of fabric that wraps under the pregnant belly and connects with velcro. They are made out of soft, stretchable fabrics like cotton and spandex to have the ability to stretch and grow with your belly. Most belly bands are adjustable to fit your individual shape and size as an expecting mother.

Some options such as belly wraps are more like tube tops. They’re circular strips of fabrics that are knitted and seamless.

Belly Band Benefits

1. Pregnancy Pain Relief

Maternity support bands are generally recommended to help support the weight growing babies in the womb and to relieve pain due to having a heavier uterus.

This is because during the second trimester your round ligament that connects the groin to the front of the uterus changes to support your growing embryo. As a result, it changes positions and gets placed under additional pressure and may cause dull achy pain in the hip, groin, or abdomen.

During the third trimester, you may have to waddle instead of walk to balance with your baby’s excess weight which puts pressure on your lower back, ligaments, joints, and muscles. In some cases, this pressure can be painful.

The sacroiliac joint (SIJ) is a pair of joints on the sides of your pelvic area responsible for stabilization during physical activities and for absorbing shock to the lower body. During the third trimester, certain pregnancy hormones loosen and stretch the joints to prepare your body for birth resulting in patient pain and possible instability.

2. Comfort During Physical Activities

You wouldn’t hit the gym without your trusty sports bra to keep your ladies in place, right? Well during pregnancy, those who are on their feet a lot can see their normal routine as an exercise. From walking back and forth all over the office to chase meetings to having a physically demanding position such as a cop or nurse, a belly belt or band can help.

By providing comfort with a little compression physical discomfort can be reduced from the uterus and the belly. This will help you get through your work out and help take your mind off discomfort to better concentrate at work.

3. Outfit Hacks

Being pregnant is full of adventures and surprises. For example, one day your favorite pair of comfy jeans fit and the next day they don’t. However, you don’t have to panic and throw them out. You can use your belly band to bridge the gap between your shirt and pants.

It will provide a fashionable layered look with the privacy of covering your stomach. Many women can comfortably cover their unbuttoned pants and relax instead of squeezing into them and dealing with the discomfort of button imprints.

4. Posture Enhancing

Your maternity belt will also help you maintain proper posture, especially during the third trimester when your lower back and spine fall under increased weight. As your core muscles that support the spine weaken you’ll be more prone to extending your lower back. This can occur during your normal daily routine with activities such as walking or even sitting. However, your pregnancy belly band will give you the necessary support to stabilize your lower back and torso.

5. Postpartum Healing

Don’t put your belly band away after giving birth. It can help with postpartum healing as your muscles and ligaments that stretch during birth need time to heal. Strains and weakness can make it difficult to care for your newborn. The support provided by your belly band can decrease comfort.

How To Use A Belly Band

First, check with your doctor to discuss using a belly band. They aren’t suited for women with hypertension or poor circulation.
Then choose the right size based on your pre-pregnancy size. Many brands have sizing charts that correlate with pant sizes to help you choose the properly fitting option.
If you have a tube belly band slide it over your head and position it over your stomach. Slide it down until it covers your pants line.
For belly bands that have velcro snaps, place the widest point under your stomach to support it and fasten the velcro straps behind your back. Some options attach in the front or on the sides, so refer to the instructions included with your band.
You want to feel gentle compression. If your belly band is too tight it can cause indigestion, heartburn, and impact your circulation and blood pressure.
Only wear your maternity support band for 2 to 3 hours at a time. Becoming over dependent on them can weaken your lower muscles due to too much stretching. Take a break and give your body time to strengthen and prepare for giving birth.
Belly bands should be paired with daily exercise to shed extra pounds and build up strength.
If your maternity support band doesn’t relieve pain or you find daily activities to be painful speak with your doctor to address any underlying conditions. You may be recommended to a physical therapist.

Our very own Michael Trufant, Aeroflow Sleep Therapy Manager, was honored to present at the VPPPA Safety+ National Symposium. He was invited to share his expertise on how fatigue is dangerous and most often caused by sleep apnea.

The Voluntary Protection Programs Participants Association (VPPPA) is comprised of dedicated health and safety professionals empowering occupational safety culture from over 50 different industries. They act as educational resources to strengthen safety culture and prevent workplace accidents, many of which are caused by fatigue.

Fatigue Is Dangerous
Many safety, health, and environmental leaders filled the auditorium to hear Michael speak on the importance of putting an end to workplace fatigue. As a result, they were able to take away information on how to make their industries around the world a safer place.

So, why exactly is fatigue dangerous?
An estimated 13% of all workplace injuries can be attributed to fatigue. The National Safety Council found in their Fatigue In The Workplace: Causes and Consequences of Employee Fatigue reported that 97% of workers have at least one fatigue risk factor, while 80% have more than one.

This is a serious issue as fatigue is detrimental to a person’s health and safety, both on and off the job as it causes the potential for injuries to increase.

Fatigue debilitates people, causing them to be irritable, have reduced energy, the inability to concentrate, lowered reaction times, and more. If someone is suffering from excessive fatigue they may not be able to adhere to standard safety protocols and their levels of productivity decrease.

On top of having long shifts, many people have long commutes to their jobs leading to increased traffic incidents because driving fatigued is the equivalent to driving drunk. Employees often report falling asleep at work and while driving.

Fatigue Is Caused By Sleep Apnea
The largest contributor to sleep deprivation is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) which is caused when your airways become blocked during the night. The fatty tissues of your throat can collapse, cutting off your oxygen supply.

As a result, your body works to restore your breathing. Your chest may heave, your blood pressure may increase, and you might become incredibly restless, all of which is exhausting. This process prevents you from getting proper rest.

With over 20 million Americans currently suffering from sleep apnea, 90% remain undiagnosed. When left untreated OSA can contribute to other serious health issues including:

Obesity
Hypertension
Diabetes
Stroke
Depression
Increased traffic incidents
The prevalence of OSA is growing, especially in OTR truckers. The costs of vehicle motor accidents due to sleep apnea is $15.9 billion a year. The cost only goes up when you total in other workplace accidents caused by fatigue.

But Treating Sleep Apnea Is Easy
Treating sleep apnea saves lives and money. For every $1 spent on sleep apnea, $3.49 in collision claims is saved.

With a simple at-home sleep test your employees can test for sleep apnea from the comfort of their own beds. The test arrives in the mail, is used for one night, then returned to a qualified sleep physician.

If tested positive for sleep apnea, then you may qualify to receive a CPAP through insurance. CPAP machines are the most effective sleep apnea treatment method and along with saving lives, they help greatly improve quality of life.

To learn more about sleep apnea visit Aeroflow Healthcare and view Michael Trufant’s full presentation here.

You know you need a portable oxygen concentrator, but will Medicare cover it? Unfortunately, this is a complicated question to answer. Upon being diagnosed with needing this oxygen machine or other medical equipment, this probably isn’t the only question you have.

For example, will you receive your equipment at little to no cost? Should you consider purchasing a used portable oxygen concentrator? Who is the best person to contact about your coverage? It’s rare to receive direct answers to these queries, but we’re here to help guide you through coverage solutions.

Will Medicare Cover My Portable Oxygen Concentrator?
The answer to this question is sorta. Medicare has always paid a set amount towards medical oxygen equipment, however, in 2013 their reimbursement rate was reduced by 50%. Usually, durable medical equipment (DME) providers cover the cost of equipment up front and bill Medicare for it later, but this made it too expensive for most supplies to cover POCs.

Because it became increasingly difficult for respiratory suppliers to cover the expenses involved with providing portable oxygen concentrators to patients, many now opt to provider other, less expensive oxygen supplies instead. For example, an oxygen tank is way less costly than a POC. So, depending on your provider, you could have your POC fully or only partially covered.

If you own your own equipment, Medicare will help pay for oxygen contents and supplies for the delivery of oxygen upon meeting Medicare conditions including doctor recommendation, failing arterial blood gas level range and other alternative measures have failed. Medicare helps pay for systems for furnishing oxygen, containers that store oxygen, tubing and related supplies for the delivery of oxygen and oxygen contents, and in some cases Medicare may also pay for a humidifier.

How Much Does It Cost To Rent A Portable Oxygen Concentrator?
You can actually rent a portable oxygen concentrator instead of having it purchased through Medicare. A DME will rent oxygen supplies to you and then bill Medicare a monthly fee for reimbursement of the rental.

Prices vary based on equipment cost and monthly reimbursement rates. Some DMEs will finance the equipment to you with a low monthly cost. This involves you paying a fixed amount out of pocket based on the price of the portable oxygen concentrator you would like to rent and your Medicare reimbursement rate.

Medicare rules have made this process a little complicated. Oxygen supplies are limited to a 36 month (3 years) and according to Medicare guidelines, the equipment must be maintained for 5 years.

This can cause suppliers to be picky about the equipment they provide depending on how long you’ve been on oxygen therapy. Companies will usually only be willing to supply a small portable oxygen if you’re towards the beginning of your rental period so the monthly reimbursements from Medicare will cover their costs. This is still the case for some providers even if you’re willing to pay a monthly rental fee.

Also, if you rent go through with a rental option you will probably be sent a used portable oxygen concentrator with a shorter lifespan. Also, you won’t be building equity in your machine, because you won’t get to keep it. That’s why some DMEs will allow you to finance a brand new POC through them with monthly payments.

Aeroflow is proud to call Asheville home, and this summer we took steps to deepen our connection with our community by purchasing a new building, the Don Hite Fulfillment Center. The Center provides Aeroflow with a new 35,000 square feet of fulfillment muscle. We consolidated product inventories currently housed in two separate Asheville locations to a single centralized distribution center, allowing for increased efficiency and improved rates of delivery to Aeroflow customers.

It also gave us necessary room to grow! We have about 30 open positions that need to be filled by year end, and we were running out of space for people to work.

Without the help of some amazing local partners, we wouldn’t have been able to move in so quickly. The Don Hite Fulfillment center has some unique issues because it was built in 1978. Each one of these local businesses helped solve problems outside of the normal realm.

Asheville Partners

30-year-old HVAC System

There’s a reason Gentry Heating is the Mountain Xpress Best of WNC hall of fame (four years in a row #1). They are a family-owned heating and air conditioning company started in 1963. They had the experience and know how to ensure the HVAC systems were ready on time. There aren’t many people that have the know how to work on a 30-year-old air conditioning system!

Gentry Heating
68 Grove St #5
Asheville, NC 28801
828-581-4045

Custom Garage Doors

Carolina Mountain Door and Carl Lewis Builders made sure the garage doors were sturdy enough to take whatever is thrown at it and functional to make sure we can ship over 37,000 pieces a month!

Carolina Mountain Door
828-654-9085

Carl Lewis Builders
PO Box 1204 Fairview, NC
828-712-6348

Custom Commerical Repairs

Marco, the owner of Tellez Handyman, handled all the odds and ends the building needed. No job was too big or small. He specializes in all repair needs from the crawlspace to the roof

Tellez Handyman
32 P.E. Drive Building B
Hendersonville, NC 28792
828-337-9147

We were founded in 2001 as an oxygen supplier and since then as we have grown to supply a wide range of home medical equipment across the United States. Because of this growth, we’ve been honored to invest back into Western North Carolina either through job creation, community service, or real estate.

Jennifer Jordan, VP of Sales Operations at Aeroflow Healthcare discusses how many mothers feel like they are forced to choose between breastfeeding or employment and why we need to normalize breastfeeding, maternal health coverage, and give women time to adjust to motherhood.

Aeroflow Healthcare is the premier provider of medical supplies and medical equipment and is committed to improving each of our patient’s quality of life through compassion, excellent service, and exceptional products. We feel that it is our duty, responsibility, and privilege to help each patient regain their freedom and live a better life.

Join Aeroflow Healthcare’s Medical Supply Affiliate Program!

CheapCPAPSupplies was created out of necessity to help our customers save money on CPAP supplies if their insurance deductibles are too high, they don’t have insurance, or simply want to purchase CPAP equipment as they do everything else online. Learn more about the CPAP affiliate program.

8% commission on all sales
30 day referral period

When you join Aeroflow Healthcare’s affiliate program, you’re actually applying for three affiliates in one. The affiliate program is organized around specific medical supplies with its unique commission rates.

Supplied with a variety of banners and text links for your website. Place those on your site and when some of your website’s users click-through, they will be brought to our website to shop. Once a purchase is completed, you will be credited for that referral.

Aeroflow Healthcare has an industry high conversion rate of nearly 30% and is top 5% in earnings in all of CJ.

Breast Pump Affiliate Program

Aeroflow Breastpumps specializes in helping pregnant and nursing women qualify for their breast pump through their insurance and the Affordable Care Act.

Want to help your community of mamas get a breast pump through insurance? Learn more about the breast pump affiliate program.

10% Commission on purchases
$4 per valid lead submission
30 day referral period

CPAP Therapy Affiliate Program

8% commission on all sales
30 day referral period

If your baby is born with jaundice, you will quickly be introduced to the healing power of phototherapy through biliblanket use. Even though it’s incredibly common for babies to be born with jaundice, the experience can be a little nerve-racking for new parents.

However, the use of a biliblanket for jaundice when a newborn infant has elevated bilirubin levels is an easy, at home treatment. You can even hold, feed, and play with your child while using a bilirubin blanket.

Important Biliblanket Dos And Don’ts You Need To Follow

Dos:

Make sure that the light-source machine is on a flat hard surface such as a table, nightstand, or changing table. The baby’s crib or carpet is probably not a good place.
Try to keep as much as of your baby’s skin exposed to the light pad as possible.
Use a disposable light pad cover.
Turn your biliblanket device off and remove the light pad when bathing your child.
Change the cover if it becomes dirty or soiled by your baby.
Always turn the power knob on to the highest intensity.

Don’ts:

Never use the light pad without a cover.
Do not allow your baby to have direct exposure to the light pad.
Do not set anything on top of the lightbox, or on the connecting power chord. This is to ensure proper function.
Never place the pad on your baby’s head. It should only be placed on the back.
Don’t worry about sunlight. Your child doesn’t need to be placed outside.

Biliblankets for High Bilirubin

In all cases, the quick and effective use of a biliblanket can help a baby have a swift recovery. If you’re concerned about jaundice, call the pediatrician immediately. If your baby needs phototherapy, most pediatricians’ offices have biliblankets on consignment. You’ll go home with one so you can start treatment as soon as possible.