Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Liberty Oxygen and Medical Equipment is presenting a series on various conditions individuals may have. These articles will provide some background information for each and help you understand how our oxygen and medical equipment resources may be best suited for you or your senior loved one’s needs. The human body’s lung system is complex and hard at work, breathing in oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide thousands of times every day. Throughout this intricate system, lung disease can occur when problems arise and tens of millions of Americans suffer from a form of lung disease today. Oftentimes, people associate chronic lung disease with lung cancer but there are many different types. If the airways, lung tissue, or circulation of blood in and around the lungs is compromised, some type of lung disease is involved. Here are some common types:

• Asthma
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Pulmonary hypertension
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Pneumonia
• Lung cancer

Today we are going to take a closer look at chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, commonly referred to as COPD. COPD is a chronic lung disease that affects the ability to fully exhale, thus making it difficult to breathe, and includes bronchitis and emphysema. Typical warning signs of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may include, but are not limited to:

• Chronic cough
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath
• Chronic mucus or phlegm
• Coughing up blood
• Chronic chest pain

If you or a loved one is experiencing any of the above listed symptoms, see your healthcare provider for tests. As with any disease, early detection is key. According to the American Lung Association, COPD is a very common lung disease, affecting millions of Americans and is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Knowing how common this is, along with the fact that it is preventable and treatable, the American Lung Association is committed to supporting those with COPD and offer resources and tools about the disease to help. One resource in Minnesota is the Better Breathers Club, which are support groups for patients and caregivers affected by various chronic lung diseases, including COPD. Liberty Oxygen and Medical Equipment has partnered with Cheryl Sasse, Director, Lung Health with American Lung Association of Minnesota and specifically their Better Breathers Clubs over the years. We are proud to donate to their cause each year on behalf of our customers, many of whom suffer from chronic lung disease and require the daily use of a CPAP mask or oxygen equipment, through our Show Us Your Crown photo contest. Liberty Oxygen and Medical Equipment is the premier home medical equipment provider serving Minneapolis, St. Paul and the surrounding Twin Cities suburbs with quality equipment and outstanding customer service. We enable you to stay safe and live independently in your home by offering a comprehensive array of home medical equipment and supplemental oxygen, including CPAP masks, inhalers and oxygen supplies. Your health and well-being is too important to trust to just anyone. Let the caring professionals at Liberty Oxygen and Medical Equipment assist you with the home medical equipment and other healthcare and oxygen supplies you need. Stop in any of our eight Minneapolis and St. Paul metro locations or contact us today with questions, concerns or comments.