After what seemed like months and months of permanent winter, the sun has finally arrived and summer is (hopefully!) finally underway.

Unfortunately, summer can be a quite a tough time for many asthma sufferers, with air pollution and other allergens increasing the risk of an asthma attack.

There may be hope, however; a recent study by King’s College London has suggested that exposure to the sun could actually be good for asthma sufferers, with the vitamin D the sun provides calming an ‘over-active part of the immune system’.

Although not fully verified, the researchers claim there is a link between low vitamin D levels and a worsening of asthma symptoms. It would make sense, then, that spending more time in the sun and absorbing some of that vital vitamin D would improve your symptoms.

In fact, the researchers have suggested that covering up too much and using too much sun cream has increased asthma rates.

However, that shouldn’t be taken as a suggestion to go and sit out in the sun all day unprotected. Good skin protection in the sun is vital to avoid sunburn and the potential development of melanomas.

Being outside in hot, sunny weather can also worsen the symptoms of asthma sufferers, especially those who also suffer from hayfever. The good news is that, by taking the proper precautions, you can avoid any major exacerbations and enjoy the sun fully.

Here are a few tips to help you enjoy the summer despite your condition:

• Check the Air Quality Index: DEFRA has a website listing the current quality of air outside; the lower the air quality, the more likely you are to have some problems. Before heading out, check the air quality index and plan your day accordingly.

• Always Take Your Medication: Make sure you have any medication you’ve been prescribed on hand whenever you leave the house; this includes any inhalers as you may require relief. If you suffer from hay fever, make sure to take anti-histamines before you leave the house.

• Check The Pollen Count: Keeping abreast of the pollen count means you can plan your day around pollen levels. Pollen can act as a trigger for a lot of asthma sufferers, so make sure to avoid going out at times where pollen is particularly high.

• Use Air Conditioning Instead of Opening Windows: The natural reaction to being stuck inside a sweltering room or car is to open a window; however, this can allow pollen and other triggers to enter. Use air conditioning instead for a cleaner supply of cooling air.

• Wash regularly: Washing your hair and clothes regularly gets rid of any allergens that may have settled on you, reducing the risk of an attack indoors.

• Talk to your doctor: If you are particularly worried about coping with your condition over the summer months, get in touch with your GP. They should be able to draw up an action plan that will cater for the specifics of your condition.

For more information on how oxygen therapy and portable oxygen could improve your respiratory condition, get in touch with Pure O2.

One of the most important lessons a COPD sufferer, or any sufferer of a respiratory condition for that matter, will learn is how to manage their condition. At first, the breathlessness and struggle to exercise that occurs as a result of the condition can be quite daunting and scary; learning how to manage your condition so that these symptoms affect you less is key to leading a happy lifestyle despite your condition.

Pulmonary rehabilitation plays a big part in this process. Generally offered to COPD patients (but also applicable to sufferers of other respiratory conditions), pulmonary rehabilitation is a programme incorporating physical exercise, psychosocial counselling, education about your condition and nutritional advice. It’s an all-encompassing course of treatment designed to teach you all you need to know about living with your condition.

The benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation are plentiful; completing a course could improve your capacity for exercise, allowing you to do more and lead a healthier lifestyle. The increased understanding of COPD, as well as the sense that there is a way forward, that arises from pulmonary rehabilitation can also improve emotional wellbeing.

Other benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation include a reduction in levels of fatigue and a better quality of life. Although not a cure – and also not a way of improving lung function – the benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation make pursuing a course worth it.

Pulmonary rehabilitation is usually carried out by a team of healthcare professionals across a range of specialisms and overseen by a medical professional. Each programme is adapted on a patient-by-patient basis, taking into account the severity of their condition, capacity for exercise and other factors. The treatment is often carried out in a hospital outpatients facility, although it can also be carried out at the patient’s home if the sufferer has problems with mobility.

A course of pulmonary rehabilitation lasts a minimum of six weeks, meaning that completing the course requires a lot of dedication on the part of the patient. Given that the physical aspect of the course will leave patients breathless and tired, this can be difficult but it is worth it. Pulmonary rehabilitation won’t worsen your condition, but there is a strong chance it’ll make it easier to manage.

While every course of pulmonary rehabilitation will be different according to a particular patient’s needs and condition, there are a few basic characteristics all courses will share:

• Physical training focused on cardio and lower body exercise (walking, cycling, etc.) This will usually consist of three sessions of 20-30 minutes per week, with two of these sessions directly supervised by a professional. Supplementary oxygen from an oxygen concentrator is often provided to the patient.
• Emotional counselling, dealing with any issues arising from a diagnosis and living with a condition.
• Nutritional advice, covering what foods will help you to lead a healthier life and adjusting your diet accordingly.
• Education on the condition; what to expect, what to do in certain scenarios, etc. This will also include lifestyle advice, like guidance on physical relationships. Family and friends will also be included in this part of the process, giving them a greater understanding of your condition.

The programme will usually be adjusted over the course of treatment according to any improvements in your condition, or if you are struggling.

For more information on pulmonary rehabilitation, oxygen therapy and COPD in general, get in touch with Pure O2 on 0870 712 0202.

Over the last few months we have been inundated with patients and family members explaining that they can buy a portable concentrator cheaper online – THIS…ladies and gentleman is your free guide on why NOT to buy from eBay!

Pure O2 have protested directly to eBay regarding the sale of medical grade oxygen on their site and, as of yet, eBay have refused to look into this matter or respond to our concerns.

Patients should NOT purchase medical grade oxygen over the internet without talking to an advisor first. There are so many portable concentrators on the market to date, and not every unit will suite each individual patients needs.

Medical grade oxygen should always be purchased under the guidelines of a medical professional; for this reason, Pure 02 will always request a doctor’s note or medical certificate before any purchase can go ahead.

This note will show what safe levels of oxygen the patient can use. As we are aware, many patients with a lung disease can only take a certain amount of oxygen (litres per minute).  In many cases, choosing your own LPM (litres per minute) without the advice of your doctor can simply prove fatal.

Our findings show that there are many sellers both through eBay and on the internet that do not ask for a copy of a prescription or show any sort of customer care. As far as Pure 02 are concerned, from the initial enquiry onwards, our customer care is second to none.

“Top rate seller Medical Unit £98.00″

How many of you have seen that title and thought: “that is much cheaper than what Pure 02 have quoted?”  Well, I can tell you that these units are low output oxygen devices which are mis-sold as medical devices suitable for oxygen users.  These types of concentrators very rarely pass the 30% oxygen concentration mark and they are not recommended for patients with lung conditions. The price might tempt you, but Pure 02 can assure you that the product won’t.

Second Hand Sellers

In most cases, second hand sellers sell previously used by family members. This always seems like at a good idea to start with; however, as a leading oxygen company, Pure 02 always offers a buy back service for units no longer required. This is a smooth and stress-free way of handing over concentrators that are no longer used.

Independent sellers on eBay are selling medical equipment without even knowing if the device has been correctly serviced or maintained. Pure 02 deal with many patients who got a ‘cheaper’ unit on eBay which was advertised as being in ‘excellent condition’, only to inform us later that the lights are flashing and the oxygen from the device doesn’t seem to be flowing.

This can then become a costly unit to fix.  Most devices are sold with manufacturer’s warranty, but medical manufacturers do not allow the transfer of warranties. Always remember…medical units are sold with a doctor’s note or prescription, you cannot be 100% positive that the unit from eBay is in good working order and last of all…where is your back up? Always use Pure 02, we are here 24/7 is any issues do occur, and guess what? WE can fix them.

Unauthorised Suppliers

There are many unauthorized suppliers of recognized manufacturer medical products floating around the internet still. This can be very dangerous! We have found sellers buying second-hand units or buying imitation cheap products and selling them on eBay with bogus after service guarantees, bogus warranties, and more importantly, imitating themselves as a medical company.  Several months later, these sellers were no longer available or simply no longer supply the product in question.

Here are some questions to always ask yourself before you buy from eBay:

• Do I really know who I am buying from?
• Is it an approved medical product?
• Can I be 100% sure this is the correct unit for my condition?
• Where do I get the unit serviced?
• Does the seller offer back up? If so…How?

If you are thinking of purchasing a portable oxygen concentrator make sure you call Pure 02 first, our specialist team are available 24/7 to answer any questions or queries that you may have.

Pure 02 is dedicated to improving your quality of life!

COPD is one of the most commonly diagnosed diseases in the world; in 2004, the World Health Organisation estimated that around 64 million people across the globe were diagnosed with COPD. The WHO has predicted that this figure will increase dramatically over the next 20 years.

Considering the dramatic nature of these statistics, it’s perhaps surprising that a significant proportion of the general public aren’t actually that aware of COPD, its symptoms and its causes. COPD is rarely mentioned in government health campaigns and warnings.
However, there is no doubt that there is a lot of information available for those willing to learn about COPD. Charities such as the British Lung Foundation do a lot of work to raise awareness of the condition amongst the public, as well as providing invaluable support to sufferers and their families.

Similarly, there are plenty of local support groups and online forums for COPD sufferers and those interested in COPD; these groups provide a wealth of useful information on how to deal with COPD and how to spot the early symptoms of the condition.

Unfortunately, it’s often the case that people only seek out this information post-diagnosis; it’s rare that you’ll find someone unaffected by the condition actively seeking out information. In the US in 2012, a Department of Health and Human Services study found that only 65% of adults had heard of COPD; this figure rose slightly when smokers were questioned, with 74% reporting that they had heard of the condition.

Nevertheless, this means that a quarter of smokers in the US haven’t heard of the condition. While this figure may be lower in the UK (with a significantly smaller population), it’s still a worrying possibility that people aren’t aware of the one of the chief risks they are opening themselves up to when they light up or stand in the direct vicinity of a smoker.

This makes increasing awareness of the condition vitally important, both for those unaffected by the condition and those who might be at risk. More emphasis needs to be put onto the possibility of developing COPD as a result of smoking; a government campaign highlighting the symptoms and causes of COPD, for example, would do a lot to increase awareness.

Similarly, the charities researching and attempting to raise awareness of COPD need more in the way of funding in order to carry out their vital work. You can donate to the British Lung Foundation by following this link.

Part of the confusion and lack of awareness of COPD may result from the fact that COPD refers to two diseases, chronic bronchitis and emphysema. While many are aware of emphysema and bronchitis alone, the terming of the two commonly co-existing diseases as COPD isn’t quite so well known.

For more information on COPD, oxygen therapy and oxygen concentrators, get in touch with Pure O2.

Being diagnosed with COPD can lead to many changes in a sufferers’ life; if you smoke, you’ll have to make the effort to quit; you may not be as active as you were pre-diagnosis and you’ll have to plan many of your activities around your condition.

One of the biggest changes, however, may come with your job. Thousands of working people are diagnosed with COPD every year and this diagnosis can drastically affect the way in which they work. For some, particularly those who work in dusty environments or with harsh chemicals, it can mean leaving their position altogether for the sake of their health.

However, being diagnosed with COPD doesn’t necessarily mean you have to leave your job. In fact, many COPD sufferers continue with the employment they held pre-diagnosis, albeit in a slightly different manner.

One of the most important things to do when returning to work post-COPD diagnosis is to inform your employer of your condition. Although this can seem like a scary thing to do (many sufferers fear that their employer will fire them because of their condition), in most instances an employer will be more than understanding and willing to adapt both your role and the workplace to suit your needs.

If you work in quite a physical role, then you may need to look at moving to a desk-based job where less physical exertion and effort is required. Working at a desk will also allow you to use a portable oxygen concentrator while at work, should you need it.

There are further ways to adapt your workplace environment to help you cope with your condition too. If you work towards the back of the office, or up a number of flights of stairs, request to move towards the front of the office and to a lower floor. This will less physical exertion in getting to your desk in the morning and thus help you to manage your condition.

Most employees who drive into work won’t have a reserved parking space, which can make the morning hunt for a space quite frantic. To avoid this stressful process – and to avoid a long, potentially draining walk to the front door of your workplace – request an assigned spot close to the front of the building. Most employers will be more than happy to comply.

Another hurdle many COPD sufferers face when returning to work is their reliance on oxygen therapy, which can be both inconvenient and embarrassing. Making use of a lightweight portable oxygen concentrator will make transporting your device to and from work much easier, as well as being easy to store next to you as you work.

The embarrassment associated with using a nasal cannula is usually completely unfounded and psychological. Nevertheless, it’s still a good idea to talk to your fellow employees about your condition and the treatment you are receiving for it. Educating co-workers on your condition will help them better understand what you’re going through and the kind of support you might require. It’s also worth teaching your co-workers the proper safety procedures when around someone using oxygen therapy.

For more information on COPD and oxygen therapy, get in touch with Pure O2.

Introduced in 2007, the English smoking ban (which was later extended to encompass the entire UK) has been widely regarded as a success, significantly reducing the amount of secondhand smoke – which has been recognised as a factor in the development of asthma and COPD – inhaled in public places.

Last week, the success of the smoking ban was cemented further with the announcement that there have been 1,900 fewer asthma-related emergency hospital admissions every year since the introduction of the smoking ban. This works out to about a 5% decrease in admissions every year.

While this drop in admissions, published in the journal Thorax and compiled by researchers at the University of Bath, is not necessarily as a direct result of the smoking ban, the correlation between the drop and the introduction of the smoking ban suggests a strong link. The study looked at 502,000 emergency admissions in England between 1997 and 2010.

Secondhand smoke is a major cause of asthma attacks and COPD exacerbations; it can also act as a cause of both diseases through prolonged exposure. People who have never smoked in their lives but have been exposed to smoke on a regular basis can even end up relying on oxygen therapy later in life as a result of a respiratory condition.

The smoking ban has gone a long way to reversing the effects of secondhand smoke on public health. A study published a few months after the ban took effect found that smoke exposure levels for children dropped by a staggering 70%. Exposure to smoke at a young age can be a major factor in the development of a respiratory condition later in life.

A study carried out in Scotland found that 15% fewer children with asthma were being admitted to hospital three years after the ban took effect.

It’s not just children who have experienced the health benefits of the ban either. The respiratory health of bar workers, possibly the group most exposed to second hand smoke before the ban, had improved dramatically post-ban.

All in all, the smoking ban has had a dramatic effect on public health, improving the respiratory health of those who were previously exposed to secondhand smoke and making public places more pleasant and healthier places to be.

For more information on asthma, COPD and any other respiratory conditions that can be treated with oxygen, get in touch with Pure O2.

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Being diagnosed with asthma or COPD after a life of smoking can be extremely difficult; an old habit that you may have once associated with relaxation could now lead to a serious life-threatening exacerbation or asthma attack. This means quitting smoking post-diagnosis is absolutely essential to your wellbeing.

However, this is easier said than done and many sufferers struggle to make this daunting lifestyle change. There is plenty of support out there for smokers trying to quit – such as nicotine replacement therapy, support groups and medication – but often temptation and falling back in old habits leads to people picking up a cigarette again regardless of the risk to their health.

This failure to quit often leads people to claim that nicotine replacement therapy and other methods don’t work, despite scientific and medical evidence to the contrary. Nevertheless, some sufferers will often try to struggle by on their own rather than relying on techniques they have no faith in, and will often fail too.

What are E-Cigarettes?

Over the past few years, a new alternative to smoking has emerged – e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that are designed to look and function in the same manner as a normal cigarette; the appearance is often the same and you ‘smoke’ an e-cigarette in the same way you would a normal cigarette. The device even emits vapours and is legal to use anywhere.

Rather than burning tobacco though, an e-cigarette makes use of a liquid nicotine cartridge. This liquid nicotine is heated up when the user inhales, creating a water vapour that is then inhaled and thus gives the user their ‘nicotine fix’. The devices are variously marketed as a way to smoke in a public place, a safe alternative to smoking and a way to quit smoking altogether – it’s the latter that appeals to COPD sufferers the most.

Are E-Cigarettes an Effective Way To Quit Smoking?

In theory, e-cigarettes would appear to be the perfect way to give up smoking altogether for COPD sufferers. After all, they recreate the experience of smoking, physically and mentally, but without the harmful lung-damaging smoke that causes exacerbations and asthma attacks.

To date, however, there has been no solid medical evidence to suggest that switching to e-cigarettes is an effective way of giving up smoking forever. In contrast, the benefits of a well-planned out nicotine replacement therapy scheme are well verified in the medical community.

Part of the issue with e-cigarettes as a form of cessation is that the devices act as a replacement rather than a solution. Essentially, you are replacing cigarettes with a slightly healthier alternative – this has obvious benefits for your health, but doesn’t deal with the psychological addiction that so many smokers suffer from.

Not dealing with this addiction can lead to relapses in the future, as well as becoming dependent on e-cigarettes and going through the same cycle as you would if you were smoking normal cigarettes.

The regulation of e-cigarettes, and the chemicals used in them, has also come into question, not least from the FDA in the US. Some e-cigarettes come without proper instructions on safe usage and without health warnings. There have also been suggestions that the devices may contain harmful chemicals.

Additionally, it has been suggested that the use of e-cigarettes can cause lung damage, although it’s important to note that these findings are based on the early stages of research by the University of Athens in Greece and do not definitively prove that e-cigarettes are bad for your lungs. Far more research is required before any definitive claims regarding the effects of e-cigarettes on the lungs can be drawn.

So are e-cigarettes a safe alternative for COPD and asthma sufferers? In short, we don’t yet have enough evidence to say for sure. While they are undoubtedly safer to smoke if you use a portable oxygen concentrator, the effects of their long term use haven’t been studied well enough to say for sure. As a way of quitting smoking, there are certainly some benefits, but nicotine replacement therapy with the supervision of a medical professional is a more effective and proven route to take.

For more information on COPD and quitting smoking, get in touch with Pure O2.

There’s no doubt that home pulse oximeters are an extremely useful piece of equipment; we’ve blogged in the past about the benefits of oximeters for COPD sufferers and the devices help those suffering from blood oxygen levels to keep on top of their condition and ensure that their treatment is on course.

However, as with any home diagnosis equipment, a misread or faulty oximeter can cause undue panic and worry. Home pulse oximeters are generally less powerful than their hospital counterparts and, although they will most of the time, they don’t always produce a 100% accurate result.

In order to avoid these panics and ensure that your pulse oximeter provides accurate readings on a regular basis, there are a few things to keep in mind:

One Low Reading Isn’t Necessarily Cause For Alarm

The natural reaction to a low oximeter reading is to panic – don’t. A single low reading can be caused by a multitude of factors. For example, a poor signal can be caused by cold fingers, wearing nail polish or even through movement while taking a reading.

This low signal can lead to inaccurate readings, which can be alarming. However, most devices will display the fact that the device can’t make an accurate reading due to poor signal.

In case of a low reading, wait a few minutes (particularly if you have cold fingers) and take another measurement. If the oximeter is working properly and you’ve remedied the issues causing the low signal, you should find your oxygen levels have returned to normal. If not, get in touch with your GP.

Understand What Oximeter Readings Mean

A pulse oximeter takes a measurement of oxygen saturation in the blood, presenting this measurement in percentage form. Understanding what these percentages mean is vital to the proper use of a pulse oximeter.

A young, healthy person will have a blood oxygen level of around  95-100%, although this figure can vary depending on the level of exercise that person partakes in and a range of other factors. Any reading below 90% is generally considered as cause for concern, although it’s important to remember that this figure can be influenced by certain factors and could well be a one-off.

The use of an oxygen concentrator can also affect the reading you receive from an oximeter, inflating the saturation percentage. This is a sign of the oxygen therapy working, but should not be considered a sign of full recovery – rather, it’s helping you live as normal a life as possible.

Establish a Base Reading

Your level of blood oxygen is largely dependent on your lifestyle and health, meaning that the oxygen saturation levels between two people can vary. This makes establishing a ‘base’ or average saturation level essential, as you can use this level to identify any fluctuations in your saturation level.

By taking readings at various points of the day on a regular basis, you can begin to identify trends; you may find, for example, that your saturation is slightly less at night than during the day. By identifying this trend, you can work with your doctor to remedy the problem.

For more information on pulse oximeters, contact Pure O2.

Travel and holidays were once a near-impossibility for those dependent on static home oxygen concentrators; however, the advent of portable oxygen concentrators has allowed oxygen therapy patients to escape the confines of their homes and live as normal a life as possible.

However, portable oxygen concentrators do come with some safety issues not necessarily associated with fixed home oxygen concentrators. Most oxygen therapy patients will be well aware of the hazards associated with using oxygen at home – the ignition risk posed by cigarettes, the importance of proper ventilation – and these are still relevant with portable oxygen.

Unlike home oxygen, though, managing the environment around you while using portable oxygen is a lot more difficult – although not impossible. Here are a few safety considerations to keep in mind when using a portable oxygen concentrator:

Steer Clear of Smokers and High Pollution Areas

Lit cigarettes pose a major risk to those using oxygen concentrators, as they can act as a source of ignition and even lead to explosions. While a home oxygen user is able to negate this risk entirely through banning smoking in their home, the portable oxygen user has to exercise caution and make sure to stay away from areas where people may be smoking – such as pub beer gardens and other smoking areas.

High pollution areas can also pose a risk to those on portable oxygen as pollution is a common trigger for COPD exacerbations and other respiratory problems. You can get a good idea of pollution levels before you head out by checking DEFRA’s regularly updated air quality index.

Avoid Sudden Jolts and Bumps

Portable oxygen concentrators are built to sustain most of the potential knocks and bumps you might encounter on a journey. Nevertheless, it’s still important to treat your POC with care when on the move to ensure that it operates properly on the move, so avoid excessive collisions and jolts. You should also ensure that your nasal cannula is affixed securely so that it doesn’t come loose in the event of a sudden jolt.

Plan Ahead

Planning your journey ahead of time is essential if you are using a POC, especially if you’re going on holiday or will be away from your home for some time, so that you have an adequate supply of oxygen at all times. In order to do this, determine when you’ll need to recharge your POC’s batteries or refill your oxygen and schedule a time and place when you can do this – if you aren’t sure, get in touch with either your doctor or your oxygen supplier, who should be able to help you draw up a travel plan.

Consider Your Environment

Venturing out into the world while on oxygen therapy means facing all kinds of different environments, some of which will require different levels of oxygen use in order to keep going – think high altitude locations or places with quite a lot of pollution. Accounting for the fluctuations in oxygen use between different places can be difficult, so it’s a good idea to ask your doctor or oxygen provider for more information and to draw up a usage plan.

Carry Spare Nasal Cannulas

Generally, unless you’re going away for an extended period of over a week, you won’t need to change your nasal cannula while using a portable oxygen concentrator. However, ruptures and tears can pose a risk so it’s always worth carrying a spare cannula just in case.

For more information on portable oxygen concentrators and oxygen therapy in general, get in touch with Pure O2.

Air quality is typically thought of as being an ‘outdoors’ issue; poor air quality usually conjures up images of smoggy cities with congested roads or of a factory with chimneys pouring out smoke into the atmosphere.

One place you probably don’t think of as having poor air quality is your home. However, indoor air can be as polluted as the air you breathe outside, albeit for different reasons. Poor indoor air quality can be detrimental to the health of COPD and asthma sufferers, acting as a trigger for asthma attacks and exacerbations.

Every asthma and COPD sufferer has their own set of triggers for exacerbations and asthma attacks – while one sufferer may have their condition triggered by dust, another may be completely unaffected. Knowing your triggers helps you to determine what you need to change about your home environment in order to make managing your condition easier.

There are a number of factors in the pollution of indoor air, and most homes will have different factors contributing to the quality of air. Here are a few common contributors to poor indoor air quality that every sufferer of a respiratory condition should be aware of.

Smoke

If you suffer from asthma or COPD, it goes without saying that you shouldn’t smoke. However, second hand smoke can be as damaging to your health as smoking a cigarette yourself. Banning smoking from your home entirely will eradicate a potentially dangerous trigger to your condition and improve the quality of the air within your home immensely.

If you receive oxygen therapy via an oxygen concentrator then it’s important to banish smoking from your home – while an oxygen concentrator doesn’t contain oxygen and therefore does not pose as much of a safety risk, smoking near oxygen cylinders can cause fires or explosions.

Mould/Damp

Mould and damp can have a detrimental effect on the air quality of your home, with mould spores floating in the air and irritating the lungs if breathed in – this can be especially distressing if you already suffer from a respiratory condition. Mould usually occurs in a home due to excess humidity or moisture, but can also be caused by leaking pipes or a lack of ventilation in the home.

Reducing the effects of mould is, thankfully, relatively simple. Start by cleaning up any existing mould using a dedicated mould cleaner and a cloth – it’s recommended you wear a mask while doing this as spores released by the cleaning process can act as a trigger.

There are two main ways of preventing mould in the home; either by decreasing the humidity in your home through ventilation or by increasing the temperature of your home so condensation is unable to form according to the time of year. Both actions will improve the overall air quality of your home.

Dust

Dust is unavoidable but that doesn’t mean that you can’t actively reduce the levels of dust in your home. Dust mites are the principle cause of irritation resulting from dust, with their droppings and shedded shells acting as a trigger for many people with respiratory conditions.

The best way to alleviate the ill-effects of dust is to make sure you regularly wash your bed linen and reduce the humidity of your home as dust mites thrive in humid conditions.

Chemicals

Although you might not realise it, the average home is full of chemicals courtesy of cleaning products, paints and other aerosols. These chemicals can present a major issue to COPD and asthma sufferers.

That doesn’t mean you need to stop using cleaning products and paints entirely, however. By making sure your home is well-ventilated when using products and wearing a mask when spraying chemicals, you can avoid inhaling any chemicals that may set off your condition.

Other common factors affecting indoor air quality include wood fires (although these are mostly prohibited in indoor areas), dust-ridden carpets and pet hair. Like the other entries in the post, reducing the contribution of these factors to indoor air pollution is relatively simple; make sure your wood fire expels smoke safely, vacuum regularly and clean up after your pet.

Another way to improve your indoor air quality is to invest in an oxygen generator. These devices improve the air quality of a room by generating low levels pure oxygen, making the surrounding air more breathable.

For more information on how air quality can affect your condition, call Pure O2 on 0870 712 0202 or email info@healthoxygen.com.

Image credit: Josh Semans