Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and other lung diseases can affect much more than just your breathing. In fact, COPD and other chronic respiratory conditions can cause shortness of breath that can leave an individual feeling weak, fatigued, and/or dizzy. Not being able to catch your breath sufficiently depletes the oxygen in your blood stream and affects the body’s overall ability to function properly.
There are several ways that COPD increases your risk of falls. Oxygenated blood is not properly occurring, which means your organs and brain are not receiving the oxygen they need to function properly and may benefit from the use of an oxygen concentrator. Other symptoms of lung disease that increase your risk of falling include weakness in the leg muscles and impaired balance, both of which are crucial to standing steadily on your feet.
If you or someone you know suffers from COPD or a lung disease with similar symptoms, they may be at an increased risk for losing balance, falling, and even blacking out. A study published in the medical journal Respiratory Medicine, reported that one-third of patients with COPD suffered at least one fall during the six month study. Oxygen Always is an air concentrator supplier and knows that because of the heightened risk of falling, seniors with breathing issues should be prepared in case a fall occurs.
Speak with your doctor about ways to minimize your risk of falling. Individuals that are elderly and suffer from COPD should try to minimize the risk of falling by use of an oxygen concentrator which will help facilitate the oxygenating of the blood stream. You can also invest in a medical alert system that will notify trained response centers in care you do fall.
If you are in need of an air concentrator, Oxygen Always has a wide selection of portable oxygen concentrators, home oxygen concentrators, and recertified oxygen concentrators for all of your needs.
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