5 things you must do during lockdown
We are all living through strange times at the moment as the whole world is going into lockdown with Covid-19. As we all learn to social distance and be at home more how can you stop boredom or getting anxiety?
Here are a few things to do to make sure during these times you have a bit of self-care and keep positive, even if you are also dealing with a condition and part of the vulnerable groups of people living with respiratory health problems and using medical oxygen to help you get by each day:
- Daily exercises - maintain your daily exercises and stretching to keep up movement and health. Exercising not only helps you stay fit and strengthen muscles but it will boost being positive and an aid a good routine for the day.
- Be kind to yourself - If you don't feel up to doing anything one day let yourself relax, do not get stressed out by these feelings as you will feel more anxious. We all need a rest and time off now and again so just have that lay in or nap as your body is telling you to do so!
- Keep in touch - Have a system where you keep in touch with friends and family each week - this may be a certain time each day or week or even a virtual call from your computer. Seeing faces and talking to loved ones really keeps you connected and happy. It's always good to talk and also means you can check in with people to see if they are doing OK.
- If you condition worsens or you have problems with your medication, medical oxygen supply don't at all feel like you are being a burden to the GP, Hospitals or suppliers. Your health is important and even more so right now so if you need help or you wake up one day and don't feel right please call and get in touch as it may be important.
- Finally use the time to teach yourself something new. Have you always wanted to learn a language, read that book you never get around to or even plan your next holiday. We have more time than ever to really sink our teeth and thoughts into being a better cook, baking a cake, take up a course online or even just getting creative and reading up on your next plan - its time to plan that next adventure and remember we can still help you on your travels so please do look up our recommendations and links!
Oxygen Therapy and Living With It
For those who need oxygen via a machine living with it sometimes is tough. You need to adapt to a way of life but also not let it hinder your well-being and what you can do.
Oxygen is your life and do not feel you are confined to staying at home as you are connected to a machine.
Oxygen therapy has come a long way but today the smallest and most versatile portable equipment is available. Medical oxygen allows patients the ability to go on holiday, travel, exercise and be on the move 24/7 as you increase your oxygen blood levels that help stop symptoms, breathing difficulties and prevent heart damage.
A few do's and don'ts
Keep cylinders upright at all times whilst at home
Make sure you have working fire alarms and detectors in your home
Don't use flammable liquids and keep away from heat such as gas hobs
Don't let anyone smoke near you whilst you are using your oxygen
For all your oxygen needs here are some useful links and groups plus if you need to travel and go on holiday with your oxygen speak to one of our experienced advisers or let us call you.
Are you gasping for air?
You could have Pulmonary Fibrosis. This is a condition that when you experience shortness of breathe it is due to the tissue in the lungs becoming thick and scarred over time.
Top facts on PF:
- Occurs mostly in the 50 to 70 age group
- Could be caused by environmental e.g pollution, viral infections or chemotherapy, or radiation plus if it is in your family history.
- Symptoms such as a bad cough, shortness of breath, aches and pains and tiredness.
If you are diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis one remedy is using medical oxygen to help with your breathing. Find out here what OxygenWorldwide have to offer and why you should choose us when looking for medical oxygen.
How to keep breathing
We all needs to breath 24 hours a day, every day so some much needed support from oxygen suppliers is needed. The working day may be 9 to 5 and people go home and switch off but when you have an essential, vital need you cant have this added worry especially when travelling abroad with medical oxygen.
That's why OxygenWorldwide offers a 24 hour service for all its customers in English, Spanish, German, French and Dutch. Now that is service and a company that understand and with its years of working in this field they care and understand their customers.
When travelling you would not want the added worry, stress or even language barrier if something went wrong with your oxygen supply or concentrator so let OxygenWorldwide put you at ease for you next holiday.
The science of cluster headaches and how oxygen helps...
A rare type of headache that affects about 1 to 2 people in every 1,000
Migraine Trust
- Cluster headache is the only indication for oxygen therapy in the absence of hypoxia
- During attacks patients are often restless, agitated, or both
- Attacks typically last for 15 to 180 minutes untreated and have a frequency of 1 every other day for up to 8 attacks a day
- Using inhaled high-flow oxygen is more likely to result in being pain-free after 15 minutes
- Oxygen therapy can be administered at different flow rates
- High flow oxygen is very effective in some patients in relieving symptoms of an acute cluster headache quickly and safely
- Cluster headache bouts alternate with remission periods, when patients are pain free
- In the majority of these patients, the headaches occur in clusters (bouts) with daily attacks for several weeks
- Oxygen is one of the safest ways to treat cluster headache
5 tips for beating the January blues
Blow away those January Blues
Just because you may have a medical condition such as asthma, COPD, Bronchitis doesn't meant you are more sceptical to the January Blues than others. Its that dark time of year when you can turn the blues into a positive whoever you are:
- Exercise helps the body and the mind and if you do this regularly it will increase your health and your energy as well as your well-being
- Try something new whether this is starting a new hobby, booking that dream holiday or visiting friends that you haven't seen in a while.
- Eating a well-balanced diet can also help. regular meals throughout the day and also a balanced menu will help you feel better, help digestion and give you the correct nutrients and vitamins your body needs for fuel.
- Read more - reading helps to relax, de-stress and also gives you some calmful 'you time' to get lost in a good novel and re-focus your thoughts.
- Get outside - fresh air, daylight and walking will help you mentally and physically and help to blow away those cobwebs.
Asthma Attack back at you!
Here are the top reasons why medical oxygen helps to fight back if you have asthma. For those who suffer from asthma or similar breathing conditions using medical oxygen can help your symptoms and the lack of oxygen you experience throughout your daily life.
- The biggest reason is that using medical oxygen means this gives you more oxygen into your lungs. This is the one thing you do need and the most important. Say yes to more oxygen in your lungs!
- It means you can not be isolated and can travel, go outside and even explore the world. Medical oxygen can be supplied so that you can carry this portable device with you! Great news book your next adventure as your oxygen can be supplied to you at your destination - see here!
- Lastly it helps regain your well-being and health. Be able to breathe again and maintain a good daily life means you will not only be able to do more but this will help you mentally with feeling happier, healthier and remove all those negative effects when feeling down or that there is no way out.
5 tips if you are home this winter and using medical oxygen...
Medical oxygen can help with a variety of needs such as if you have any of the following medical conditions:
Asthma
Bronchitis
Sleep apnea
Emphysema
COPD
Pneumonia
- If you use a cannula make sure you clean it every couple of weeks. You can also use a mask as an option too which should be cleaned or changed after a month.
- If your portable oxygen concentrator has an external filter, this may need to be rinsed out each week. Always check with your oxygen company for the exact recommendations as this may differ by model or brand of machine.
- Stay warm when you are indoors if in a colder climate - keep your temperature at a good level so you do not feel cold and catch other problems whilst sitting at home.
- Try and move if you are not going outside as much as the darker nights draw in. To keep mobile make sure you walk around your house and also try and do chair exercises these are great if you are not very mobile and also mean you can watch your favourite programme at the same time!
- If you are now at home make sure if you are planning your summer trip away as you dream of your next dose of sunshine to check out and message our team at OxygenWorldwide
Why is travelling with oxygen such a challenge and here's how to do it...
Going on holiday mostly does require air travel and when you and many others need medical oxygen this needs to be made as accessible as ever, as we all live longer and also enjoy travel to much more this service is a necessity that should be provided. At first it can seem difficult, daunting and also where do you start?!
Providers such as OxygenWorldwide can help you! Do not worry the best thing is to make sure you have left enough:
- Planning time
- Planning time and
- Planning time
As long as you contact our team with your destination, oxygen requirements and dates of travel we can help source, book and organise all your medical oxygen needs!
Its relieves the stress from your end but we have built up over 20 years experience and relationships across over 40 countries worldwide.
Contact us for your next holiday!
Does oxygen help with sleep apnea?
It is natural for your oxygen levels to fall lower when you are sleeping at night. Although some conditions such as sleep apnea may improve with the addition of oxygen whilst you are sleeping. It is very common that people who have an oxygen level that falls lower than 88% whilst sleeping will require some oxygen at night.
Medical oxygen will help improve those low oxygen levels but you can also try exercising regularly and make sure you are not drinking alcohol before bedtime.
Having a better nights' sleep will improve your mood, decrease fatigueness and overall improve your health.
A better nights' sleep will maintain an improvement in your life - discuss all your options with your specialist or GP first.
If you suffer with deprived sleeping patterns this can affect your daily life and well-being.
It is important to try and improve your energy and mood so you can live a balanced and happy life.
