COPD Treatment and Air pollution: Understanding the Potential
 Risks and How to Cope with Them

Our understanding of global air pollution levels, and their impact on the health of people around the world, grows from year to year in line with rising pollution levels. In 2020 alone, air pollution was expected to reduce general life expectancy by up to 3 years. 

With air pollution and its effects expected to lead to 8.8 million premature deaths in 2020 alone, and with COPD currently recognized as the 6th leading cause of death in the world, the need to understand the correlation between air pollution and COPD treatment becomes a matter of some urgency. 

The current understanding is that air pollution, both indoor and outdoor, increases the risk of respiratory infections in COPD patients, which in turn can lead to an increase in COPD attacks and complications. 

Outdoor air pollution, specifically that caused by fossil fuel combustion, acts as an irritant and is known to increase the risk of inflammation in the lung, which consequently means reduced pulmonary function. This is something that impacts COPD patients especially seriously. 

What this consequently means for COPD patients is increased risk for Emergency Room visits, a greater chance of hospital admission and longer hospital stays, and possible and potentially serious complications. 

Understanding how COPD treatment and air quality relate to each other can help patients protect themselves as air pollution levels continue to rise, and it is crucial to managing their short and long-term health. This protection can take the form of monitoring outdoor air pollution levels, local AQI reports from the US Environmental Protection Agency are a good place to start with this monitoring as they are region-specific. Many apps record AQI levels, almost to the minute and for exact localities. Avoiding outdoor activities and traveling on high pollution level days is a good way to start protecting yourself. 

The best way to protect yourself from indoor air pollution is to avoid exposure to passive smoking as much as possible. Avoid being in the company of smokers to better protect yourself. 

Supplemental oxygen for therapeutic needs can be provided to patients at home and on the go. It allows COPD patients to respond to daily pollution levels from the comfort of their home, and with customized oxygen therapy depending on their daily needs. 

Low flow oxygen therapy in-home care doesn’t have to be complicated. 

With a lightweight portable 5l oxygen concentrator such as the Oxy-Tec 5s from Chaban Medical, patients can regain some degree of mobility and freedom to move around both within and outside of the home. This allows for an improved quality of life for patients and ultimately better patient outcomes in the long run. As portable oxygen concentrator manufacturers, Chaban Medical has developed an advanced COPD treatment for in-home oxygen therapy. 

Low flow oxygen therapy at home demands a solution that provides a stable oxygen supply, and the guarantee of oxygen provided 24 hours continuously depending on the patient’s specific therapy needs. 

Freeing patients from in-clinic or in-hospital care is crucially important to allow able patients to regain the ability to go about their normal lives as much as possible, to enable them to live their lives regardless of their diagnosis - and regardless of rising air pollution levels. 

Answer the question "how does an oxygen concentrator work?" and more with our helpful guides.