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OXYGEN ALSO NEEDS NITRIC OXIDE FOR US TO BREATHE!

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A new study conducted by Jonathan Stamler, a professor of medicine at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, OH, and colleagues has shown that the respiratory cycle involves three gases and not just two. He says their findings will transform our understanding of the respiratory cycle and could save lives as it will alter our treatments of various associated diseases linked to the respiratory system and also affect blood banks.
The current understanding is that the respiratory cycle uses blood to transport two gases – oxygen and carbon dioxide. Red blood cells pick up freshly inhaled oxygen from the lungs and carry it to cells in the tissues of the body; and then they bring back carbon dioxide as a waste product to be exhaled from the lungs.
However their study has proven that without the presence of Nitric Oxide it doesn’t matter how high the oxygen level is, the cells cannot accept the oxygen without it. The researchers show how nitric oxide controls the blood flow in small blood vessels inside tissue in a process known as “blood flow auto regulation.” It is the Nitric Oxide that controls the release of oxygen from red blood cells into the tissues that need it. Haemaglobin in the Red Blood Cells needs to be also carrying Nitric Oxide to enable blood vessels to open and to supply the oxygen it is carrying to the tissues.
Prof Stamler says “Within the tissues, the tiny vessels and the red blood cells together make up the critical entity controlling blood flow. Red blood cell dysfunction is likely a hidden contributor to diseases of the heart, lung and blood such as heart attack, heart failure, stroke and ischemic injury to kidneys.”
If you suffer from a condition where there is a lack of oxygen uptake to your cells, it may not be the answer just to increase the oxygen supply, but to also look at whether your Red Blood Cells are functioning correctly and if there is an adequate Nitric Oxide supply. Then if necessary treat the Red Blood Cell problem in conjunction with oxygen therapy.
The study also has implications for blood transfusions. Recent evidence shows that blood transfusions lacking nitric oxide have been linked to higher risk of heart attacks, disease and death. It’s not enough to just increase oxygen content of the blood via a blood transfusion. If the Nitric Oxide mechanism is failing then the oxygen will not be able to make it to its destination. Blood in blood banks are known to be deficient in Nitric Oxide and transfusing this blood may actually make things worse by plugging up blood vessels in tissues and to solve this the nation’s blood should be replenished with Nitric Oxide.
It may be the case that many sufferers on oxygen therapy in the future could be helped and treated even more by investigating their Nitric Oxide levels, as there could be additional failings in their respiratory system that could be investigated and more successfully treated.

References: www.medicalnewstoday.com and www.sciencedaily.com

Seeing and breathing clearly

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glassesOxygen therapy eyeglasses are designed for those individuals that require supplemental oxygen.  Glasses allows you to “ditch” your nasal cannula, improve your quality of life, and feel better about yourself, while assuring that you are receiving the oxygen prescribed by your doctor.  These attractive eyeglass frames not only hold your prescription lenses, they also deliver the oxygen you need in a way that others will hardly notice.
Oxygen glasses use a special tubing that is nearly invisible. This tubing attaches to your eyeglass frames at the ends of the side pieces. The oxygen travels through the frames to the bridge. At the bridge, it flows through inconspicuous nasal prongs into your nasal cavity. The nasal prongs sit back against your face along the sides of your nose.
COPD patients using oxygen glasses look better and more normal than patients using traditional nasal cannula. This boosts patients’ self esteem. Patients with oxygen glasses use their oxygen more consistently and have more active social lives. Oxygen glasses reduce the stigma associated with oxygen use. Oxygen glasses do not require tubing over the ears or across the face. This reduces skin irritation and sores. Traditional oxygen tubing gets very cold in winter weather. Oxygen glasses make it more pleasant to go out in colder temperatures.

xygen glasses come in full rim and half rim styles. Both styles feature lightweight frames in several sizes to fit different users. The full rim glasses come in gold-tone or brown, and the half rim glasses come in gunmetal, pink, blue and brown. Hinged models fold like traditional glasses and have replaceable rubber seals over the hinge to protect the oxygen flow. Non-hinged models do not fold, but are more durable than hinged models.
Oxygen glasses come with tubing, connectors, nasal prongs and the frames. Take the frames to your optician to have your personal prescription lenses inserted. Available accessories include clip-on shades to turn your oxygen glasses into sunglasses and complementary shoulder bags and backpacks for discreetly carrying your portable oxygen tank.

There are many companies that sell and market these products, take a look and you may be able to improve your breathing and see more clearly.
Traveling with medical oxygen? Make sure you take a look at OxygenWorldwide.

Having oxygen on holiday

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flying with medical oxygen

How can I take oxygen away on holiday?

Oxygen supplies for holidays in the UK

Before you arrange your holiday, it is important to speak to your doctor to make sure you are fit enough to travel. You should do this well in advance of your trip. This will give you enough time to make any necessary arrangements. Planning ahead will help things go smoothly so that you can relax and enjoy your holiday. At the moment arrangements for supplying your oxygen when on holiday varies depending on whether you live
First, you need to contact the place you are planning to stay to explain what your needs are and get permission for your oxygen or equipment to be delivered there. This is up to you to do. It’s a good idea anyway if you have any sort of medical needs to make sure that the accommodation you choose is suitable. So the chances are, you will have already spoken to them and explained all this before you booked up.
If you are going to need a different type of oxygen supply, talk to your doctor or specialist nurse. You will need another prescription for the new oxygen supply. But they can’t give you something different to what you normally have without a prescription.
There are places where you can’t take liquid oxygen, such as the Isle of Wight or the Channel Islands. But your supply company will be able to explain this and what you need to do. They can also help explain what you need to do if you are going abroad.
If you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland and want to holiday there, the local pharmacist in the area can arrange your usual supply of oxygen. You need to arrange this through your GP at least a couple of weeks before you go away.
Oxygen supplies for holidays abroad
You will need to make your own arrangements for the supply of oxygen if you go on holiday abroad. Although suppliers aren’t required to provide a service outside the UK, they are usually very helpful and will be able to advise you on what to do. You’ll need to allow plenty of time to sort it all out. And again, you will need permission from your holiday accommodation owner for the delivery and installation of the equipment. You will have to pay for the supply of oxygen.
Before you arrange your holiday your doctor will need to write a letter saying that you are fit to travel. You will need to carry this letter with you.

Getting to and from your holiday

You also need to think about the oxygen supply for your journey to and from your holiday destination. This depends on whether you are travelling by
Travelling by car
If you regularly travel by car you may not need to make special arrangements. But it is important to make sure that you are fully prepared, especially for a long journey. If you don’t normally travel by car you should check with your oxygen supplier about what you need, including any specialist equipment.
Travelling by ferry
Ferry companies vary in what they will help with. Contact them before you book to check exactly what they can do. Some are able to help with oxygen supply if they have enough notice. They may be able to get you on and off the ferry first, or have special parking places for people with disabilities.
Travelling by train
Plan your route in advance and contact the rail company you want to travel with. Let them know what you need and who will be travelling with you. They may then be able to offer help with your journey. This may vary between train operating companies.
Travelling by plane
Plane travel is more complicated and airline companies vary in what they can provide. You will need to contact the airline you want to travel with to check

  • Their policy on taking oxygen on the plane including any costs
  • Whether you need to complete a form or get a doctor’s certificate saying you are fit to fly

You may also need to ask them

  • What support is available at the airport
  • Who can help you with luggage and boarding the plane
  • If they supply oxygen at the airport

The airline will need to know how much oxygen you usually need and whether you need it continuously or for short periods only. They’ll also want to know who will be travelling with you.
For more information please contact OxygenWorldwide team on info@oxygenworldwide.com

Putting autistic children in oxygen chambers twice a day improves their symptoms, research finds

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By Fiona Macrae

Oxygen chambers have been improving the symptoms of autistic children, like hyperactivity and anger, research has found (file photo)

Pressurised oxygen chambers, similar to those used by divers, could help treat autism, research shows.
Using a hyperbaric oxygen chamber twice a day for four weeks significantly improved the symptoms of autism in a group of five to seven year olds.
Improvements were seen in 80 per cent of those treated, with 30 per cent rated as ‘very much improved’ or ‘much improved’, the journal BMC Pediatrics reports.
Irritability and hyperactivity eased, while speech and social interaction improved in the youngsters treated in the chambers, which had higher than usual levels of oxygen.
It is unclear how the treatment works but it may be through raising oxygen levels in the brain, while suppressing inflammation and unwanted immune reactions.
The researchers, from the International Child Development Resource Centre in Florida, said the inclusion of dummy hyperbaric oxygen chambers as well as real ones made the results more reliable than those of previous studies.
They said: ‘In the light of the positive results of this study and those of several previous studies, the use of hyperbaric treatment appears to be a promising treatment for children with autism.’
They added that more research was needed to determine if the effects were long-lasting or if on-going treatment would be required.
Richard Mills, of Research Autism, welcomed the research but cautioned that parents can expect to pay thousands of pounds for a course of treatment.
He said: ‘Hyperbaric oxygen treatment has been known to be beneficial with children and adults with a range of neurological conditions and there’s no reason to suppose some individuals with autism won’t show some benefit.
‘But it is not clear cut and parents should be aware of the costs and of the dangers.’
Side-effects include fits, short-sightedness and claustrophobia.

What is fit to fly?

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flying with medical oxygen

Most travellers with existing medical conditions are able to fly without difficulty. However, occasionally certain precautions need to be taken.
A fitness to fly form is required to be completed when:

  • Fitness to travel is in doubt as a result of recent illness, hospitalisation, injury or surgery
  • If you have an existing unstable medical condition
  • You wish to use medical equipment or therapeutic oxygen on-board

Most medical cases are straightforward, but some require individual assessment. In certain cases, we may ask that you and your doctor complete a “Fitness to Fly’ Form.

Carriage of a POC:

Passengers carrying a POC should obtain a Medical Equipment Approval & Baggage Waiver letter.   This approval & waiver letter must be presented at the Bag Drop desk or at the boarding gate if travelling with no checked baggage.

Use of POC during Flight:

If you wish to use a POC during flight, for the use onboard you will be required to complete a ‘Fit to Fly’ form which will be sent to the passenger once the requirement has been notified.   This completed “Fit to Fly’ form must be returned between 14 up to 2 days prior to travel for validation. The validated “Fit to Fly form must be carried by the passenger on all flights and produced to our cabin crew on boarding the aircraft.

If the POC is to be used onboard it is the passenger’s responsibility to ensure that they have a sufficient number of fully charged batteries for the duration of the flight and any possible delays, as POC or batteries cannot be charged on board.

Individual airline carriers have their own regulations please check before booking departure for full details.

For further info and back up service please contact our team at info@oxygenworldwide.com or www.oxygenworldwide.com

For an example:

Please see below list of models approved for carriage on Ryanair flights:

AirSep FreeStyle (PDF)
AirSep LifeStyle (PDF)
AirSep Focus (PDF)
AirSep Freestyle 5 (PDF)
Delphi RS-00400 / Oxus RS-00400 (PDF)
DeVilbiss Healthcare iGo (PDF)
Inogen One (PDF)
Inogen One G2 (PDF)
lnogen One G3 (PDF)
lnova Labs LifeChoice Activox (PDF)
International Biophysics LifeChoice / lnova Labs LifeChoice (PDF)
Invacare XPO2 (PDF)
Invacare Solo 2 (PDF)
Oxylife Independence Oxygen Concentrator (PDF)
Precision Medical EasyPulse (PDF)
Respironics EverGo (PDF)
Respironics SimplyGo (PDF)
Sequal Eclipse (PDF)
SeQual SAROS (PDF)

 

Kabba is taking out another loan on Kiva

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Kabba is taking out another loan on Kiva – OxygenWorldwide help third world people to grow their own businesses.ImageProxy
This is an update on ourr loan to Kabba in Sierra Leone.
We wanted to let you know that Kabba has another loan posted on Kiva! Here’s the description of their new loan:
This is 52-year-old Kabba. He is married, and has four children aged 23, 20, 16 and 14. He has one additional dependent, who lives with him and his wife. In 1997, Kabba established his muslim caps and beads business. He began his business to enable him to solve his domestic problem. His business is located in the city center and his main customers are Muslim men and women. Working 7 days a week and 10 hours a day, he earns about Le 650,000 every month from this business. He would like a loan in the amount of Le 4,000,000. Kabba has already received and successfully repaid three loans, and now requires a new loan in order to buy dozens of Muslims caps (Le 2,500,000) and dozens of Muslims beads (Le 1,500,000). He hopes that this loan shall increase his stock level and hence his additional income level. In the future, Kabba plans to complete his construction of his house, to educate his children and to rent a shop.
He thanks you for your support.
You can see Kabba’s new loan by visiting http://www.kiva.org/lend/593927?_te=rlnol.
The Association for Rural Development (ARD) is one of the leading microfinance institutions in Sierra Leone. Established in 1989, ARD has offered individual and group loans to support small-scale businesses across the country for two decades. You can learn more about ARD on its partner profile page, support the organization and its staff by joining the ARD lending team, or lend to another one of its borrowers currently raising funds on Kiva.
Additional notes from Kiva:
1. This update was posted from Sierra Leone by Kiva’s Field Partner, Association for Rural Development (ARD). If you appreciate this update, please consider supporting another entrepreneur listed by this Field Partner.
2. If this journal entry is in a foreign language, you can use an online translator such as Google Translator
3. Also, you can recommend or comment on this journal.
4. You can browse and search through all of the updates to loans in your portfolio on the Updates Tab.
5. And finally, if you do not wish to receive these emails, you can disable them in your account email preferences.
Thanks for lending to the world’s working poor on Kiva!
Best Wishes,
The Kiva Team
Food for thought…
“Knowing that someone out there wishes the best for you is enough to give you drive to achieve your dream.” – Sammy, Kiva borrower in Kenya

  
 
 
 
 
 

Oxygen Travel in Irene's care

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Irene (2)

Name: Irene
1 year anniversary at OxygenWorldwide
Nationality: Dutch
Loves: to take away customer worries and make them feel free to travel anywhere anytime in the world

Hi, my name is Irene and I joined the OxygenWorldwide team in October 2011.
I come from the Netherlands and moved to Spain in 2002, to take care of my mother who suffered from dementia. In May 2011 she passed away at the blessed age of 93 years. I now care for three dogs, of which two were stray. In my spare time I enjoy taking my dogs on hikes through the stunning mountains or along the beach. I have a keen interest in nature and take part in several environmental groups.
What I find the most interesting and satisfying whilst working at OxygenWorldwide is that from one place I can help people from all over the world with their need for oxygen, to take away their worries and make them feel free to travel anywhere and at anytime. It feels like being a spider in a web, able to reach all corners of the world.
On a Sunday afternoon once I received a phone call from a patient who was on holiday in Gran Canaria with a portable oxygen concentrator that had broken down. He had already contacted his insurance company back home, but they couldn´t help him any further. It took some urgent calling and emailing, but I managed to find a replacement first thing Monday morning, this shows how quickly we can help our customers in a time of need.
There was another occasion recently from a customer who´s portable concentrator broke down just the evening before his flight back home. He did manage to get something for during the flight, but he was so afraid he wouldn´t make it through the night! That same evening we managed to deliver a concentrator to where he was staying, so he could have a good night´s sleep and be fit for his journey home.
The strangest request I think was from a patient who wanted to rent a portable oxygen concentrator in Singapore, to be shipped to Japan, so he could take it on his holiday to Singapore and back to Japan again, to then ship it back to Singapore!
If I ever get the chance to travel, I would like to see a lot of places, so I think I would opt for a world cruise… in fact, I might book a permanent place, instead of going into an old people´s home when i retire!
I am very proud to be celebrating 20 years of OxygenWorldwide this year and hope to be helping more people travel this year.
Contact me at info@oxygenworldwide.com for further details and information on travelling with medical oxygen abroad or visit www.oxygenworldwide.com to enquire or read more about our team and how we have been supporting customers for 20 years.

Oxygen Travel in Sophie's care

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Name: Sophie
3 year anniversary at OxygenWorldwide
Nationality: Belgium
Loves: speaking different languages and being able to communicate with customers from around the world

My name is Sophie Proot and I have been part of the Oxygenworldwide team since September 2010.
I was born in Belgium and have been living in Spain since 1998. Eager to discover other countries, I left Belgium first towards England and after France and Greece, I finally ended up in Spain.
In my search for a new job, possibly in another foreign country, I came across a job offer at OxygenWorldwide. Since the day I joined OxygenWorldwide, each day of my life has been a voyage. Today e.g. we started by finishing off a delivery for a patient travelling to India, next you attend to a patients request for Spain, and before you know it you are talking to your colleagues in Chile regarding the next patient travelling to Santiago.
In my previous job, I had come across the services of OxygenWorldwide who at the time was called Care O2. I remember I had experienced it as a quick, swift and friendly service.
Now I have the opportunity to live the experience and on a global level, it makes it oh so much more interesting and exciting. What I get out of the job for myself? To have contact with people all over the world and to communicate in many different languages. Towards the patients, it feels nice to assist them towards achieving the same dream I have myself, which is travelling. When a patient inquires about whether it is possible to travel with O2, it is great being able to simply answer “yes, of course” when really the person enquiring taught this phone call was the beginning of a long and hard search for a solution.
The strangest or most surprising thing I came across during the time I have been working with the company is that, recently a patient enquired by phone. Whilst waiting for my reply, the patient said: “somebody is happy at her job!” I said: Why? The lady replied: “you were singing!” Well, this lady was right!
If I could book to go any part in the world I would choose to travel to Patagonia.
I feel proud and lucky to be part of a company which has quality and service as its top priority and hope to be part of the OxygenWorldwide team for many more years providing a carefree holiday for many people.
I am very proud to be celebrating 20 years of OxygenWorldwide this year and hope to be helping more people travel this year.
Contact me at info@oxygenworldwide.com for further details and information on travelling with medical oxygen abroad or visit www.oxygenworldwide.com to enquire or read more about our team and how we have been supporting customers for 20 years.

Oxygen Travel in Marijke's care

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marijke

Name: Marijke
5 year anniversary at OxygenWorldwide
Nationality: Dutch
Loves: speaking different languages and being able to communicate with customers from around the world

I am pleased to say that I have been part of OxygenWorldwide care team for 5 wonderful years. I really enjoy each and every day of my work with the company and gain fantastic job satisfaction caring and helping our customers plan their travels to many parts of the world.
My nationality is Dutch and I am the oldest (in age) member of the OxygenWorldWide team. I am married with a Spanish husband and have 2 children. My  experience and background has always been to provide excellent customer service and care to all my clients, but my job at OxygenWorldwide gives me the opportunity to regularly translate, speak and converse in the 5 languages I am fluent in. I really enjoy the opportunity to communicate with people from every corner of the world.
Most of all it feels satisfying to be helping people realize their dream to travel abroad and because I am so involved from day one in their plans it almost seems that I am travelling together with them day by day. Clients sometimes send us their holiday photos of all the destinations they have visited from London and France to America and Africa, which I really enjoy receiving.
The strangest experience over the past five years was when we supplied liquid oxygen to Israel/Jerusalem for a patient doing a roundtrip on a tour bus but the itinerary included Palestina/Bethlehem and we were all a little nervous about delivery but also confident that even in certain areas we can still deliver all expectations and care to our customers.
In the future I would love to visit one of  the countries in the Balkan region as I am very intrigued by the culture, nature and a destination that I have never travelled to.
I am very proud to be celebrating 20 years of OxygenWorldwide this year and hope to be helping more people travel this year.
Contact me at info@oxygenworldwide.com for further details and information on travelling with medical oxygen abroad or visit www.oxygenworldwide.com to enquire or read more about our team and how we have been supporting customers for 20 years.

Use Medical Oxygen? Warm those muscles

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We all know that exercising is important for a healthy lifestyle, so get out there and get moving! But before you get too far, remember to warm up your muscles by stretching. Flexibility exercises can help loosen up your body, helping you to feel better and more comfortable on a daily basis. You should stretch before all physical activity, even walking. So follow these simple steps to a more flexible body.
 If you feel pain, stop immediately and consult your physician or therapist. Never bounce while stretching; make steady movements that help your muscles stretch naturally.
Leg stretch: Sit in a chair with your legs bent in front of you. Straighten your right leg as much as possible without locking your knee. Lengthen your spine then lean forward reaching your hands toward your feet. Hold the stretch for 20 to 30 seconds, then rest and repeat with a flexed foot. Repeat the routine on your left side.
Chest Stretch: Begin by standing with your arms at your side and feet shoulder-width apart. Extend both arms behind your back and clasp your hands together, if possible. Stop when you feel a good stretch or sense discomfort. Hold this position for 20 to 30 seconds, then rest and repeat.
Quadriceps Stretch: Stand next to a sturdy chair or a counter with your feet about shoulder-width apart. Use the left hand to hold onto the chair or counter for balance. Slowly, bend your right knee back grabbing your right ankle with your right hand until your thigh is straight up and down. Do not lean forward or backward, but stand up straight. (If you can’t grasp your ankle in your hand, just keep your leg as close to perpendicular as possible and hold the bend, or place your foot on the seat of a chair.) Hold the stretch for 30 seconds then repeat on the left side.
Don’t worry if you can’t touch your toes or stretch as far as others, just do your best and improve over time.