Living With Cystic Fibrosis

Posted by Inogen One in Health & Wellness Tips | Medical Oxygen | Portable Oxygen Concentrator on February 26, 2013 - (0 Comments)

Somewhere around 30,000 Americans currently suffer from Cystic Fibrosis. Inogen One aims to support people with CF by making their lives easier with medical oxygen. Cystic Fibrosis can often require medical oxygen because the mucus that develops can block airways in the lungs and can cause poor blood vessel function.

Great Strides CF Walk Check-In

 

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is the number one funder of research for CF. The CF Foundation’s website is a fantastic resource for all constituents whose lives have been affected by Cystic Fibrosis. It includes features such as:

-Nutrition

-Staying Healthy

-CF At School

-Get Involved

-Knowing your CF

-Scholarships

-And much more…

The CFF website can truly be customized to each user. By putting in your zip code, entering in other information, and visiting age-specific portals and other specific portals, you can create a resource tailored to your needs.

(Knowing Your CF PDF)

‘Living With CF’ is the CFF’s portal for its efforts to improve the quality of life for people with CF, and the motto of this section is “Adding Tomorrows”. They have specialized care, therapies, and tools for different age groups, and they cite that ‘more than 45 percent of the CF patient population is now age 18 or older’ as evidence that these measures do work, and that “adding tomorrows” is a realistic and attainable proposition.

Check back with the Inogen One blog and Twitter periodically for news and resources not only related to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, but for all things related to this condition.

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Some information courtesy of:

http://www.lung.org/assets/documents/publications/solddc-chapters/cf.pdf

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_131823.html

Photo Credit: Food and registration, Flickr, JoelK75

New Year’s Resolutions for the Medical Oxygen User

Posted by Inogen One in Medical Oxygen on December 26, 2012 - (0 Comments)

Inogen wishes you a very Happy and Healthy New Year. With the onset of 2013, it’s time to set goals and new initiatives for yourself in the form of often-made, seldom-followed “New Year’s Resolutions”. We’ve developed some resolutions for people that use medical oxygen and who suffer from breathing conditions. Share with us on Facebook or Twitter what you’ve chosen for your resolutions and how you’re sticking to them throughout 2013!

No Smoking 1.  Stop Smoking – This resolution is a no-brainer. A popular resolution every January for smokers, quitting smoking is the easiest way to prevent COPD, and it is the best way to slow the progression of COPD if you already have it. If you have an oxygen tank, then quitting smoking should be even more of a no-brainer, but in case you needed another reason to quit: it is incredibly dangerous to have smoke around a medical oxygen tank.

 2.  Go on Spontaneous Trips – One of the greatest gifts that a portable oxygen concentrator offers is the potential to do something unplanned. Enjoy that freedom to pick up and go somewhere. Sometimes the easy choice is to stay at home, but you will be happy that you decided to spend an afternoon out, and those closest to you will be happy as well. If you require medical oxygen and aren’t yet enjoying the freedom of a portable oxygen concentrator, then 2013 is the year to start.

 3.  Connect – Connect with a group or organization of interest. There is great comfort, support, and fun to be had in knowing that you are not the only one living with medical oxygen, a breathing condition, or both. Whether it’s attending an event or making a donation, you’ll feel better after you get involved.

 4.  YogaEat better, Exercise better, Live better -This is a very popular resolution, and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t make it one of yours and follow through with it. You might think that since you have your oxygen concentrator, the rest is out of your control. But when it comes to diet & exercise, there are a number of things that you can do to make things easier on yourself. Eating better will not only improve your overall health, but by eating certain foods and avoiding others, you can make breathing easier for yourself.

5.  Check In – Check in with the Inogen Blog’s monthly “Fun with Freedom” list and try one item from the list each month. We try to highlight things that you might enjoy, particularly things that maybe could not have previously been accomplished with a larger, more cumbersome oxygen tank.

What are your personal New Year’s Resolutions? Share with us which of these 5 resolutions you’ve decided to adopt, and any others that you might have. Here’s to the Inogen One community breathing easier in 2013.

Photo Credit: No smoking image, flickr, @andyket
Photo Credit: YOGA! July challenge image, flickr, @lululemon athletica

There’s No Place like Home (Or the Road) for the Holidays in 2012

Posted by Inogen One in Medical Oxygen | Oxygen Concentrator on December 20, 2012 - (0 Comments)

Holiday travel plans should bring excitement, not anxiety

There’s no place like home for the holidays. But they say that home is where the heart is…so where is your heart pulling you this year? Is it across the country to be with family? Or maybe it’s down south or out of the country to warm your heart from the cold. Wherever and whenever you define “the holiday season”, there’s no reason you shouldn’t follow your heart this year. Forget the holidays of the past when your medical oxygen requirements forced you to reconsider travel plans, and the prospect of leaving the house stirred more anxiety than it did excitement. With the help of a portable oxygen concentrator, this season you should be free to enjoy the holiday season wherever your heart desires.

All Inogen One oxygen concentrators are small and lightweight. The latest in the product line, the Inogen One G3 system weighs 4.8 pounds, about the weight of a half-gallon of milk. It is 8.75 inches long, 3 inches wide, and 7.25 inches tall, making it compact for carrying. Included with the concentrator is a carry bag with a protective cover and a shoulder strap for easy transporting.

A DC Power Cable makes the Inogen One G3 extremely portable. Stay charged during your car ride to ensure that you have full battery power upon arrival. A single lithium ion battery lasts up to 4.5 hours, and a double lithium ion battery lasts up to 9 hours. If you’re planning on traveling by plane or train, the Inogen One G3 is approved for travel by all the required organizations and will fit with you comfortably in your seat.

Sometimes the greatest gift for the holidays is simply being together, and Inogen is proud to give that opportunity to so many people who require medical oxygen. If you’re making travel plans this month, consult this guide for traveling with COPD for further information, and it’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor or physician about your travel plans, especially if you might need a “fit to travel” signature for commercial travel.

We encourage the Inogen One community and newcomers as well to spend the holidays unencumbered by medical oxygen equipment. Enjoy the gifts of freedom and mobility made possible by a portable oxygen concentrator. This is a time for relaxation and fun, not anxiety and tough decisions. Whether you’re enjoying your holiday right at home or far away, we hope that you breathe a little easier this season.

Photo Credit: Happy Holidays, flickr, @SteveNakatani

Thanksgiving Travel Made Easy

Posted by Inogen One in Medical Oxygen | Oxygen Concentrator on November 14, 2012 - (0 Comments)

Medical oxygen shouldn’t keep you away from Thanksgiving dinner this year.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and Inogen One oxygen concentrators make it easier than ever to get you where you need to go on Thursday, November 22nd. In years past, you may have had to stay put because an oxygen tank was too heavy and cumbersome to travel with. This may have meant spending the holiday away from loved ones. Or maybe Thanksgiving had to be at your house. That means cleaning beforehand, cooking during, and cleaning afterwards. God bless you if you enjoy that, but if you are looking for a more relaxing way to spend the holiday this year, we urge you to take your oxygen concentrator on the go.

All Inogen One oxygen concentrators are small and lightweight. The latest in the product line, the G3 system weighs 4.8 pounds, less than an average coffee maker. It is 8.75 inches long, 3 inches wide and 7.25 inches tall.

Inogen One G3 Drybag

Included with the concentrator is a Carry Bag with a protective cover and a shoulder strap for transporting. The G3 is a single solution system, intended for on-the-go as well as stationary use.

The DC Power Cable makes the Inogen One G3 extremely portable. Stay charged all during your car ride to ensure that you have full battery power upon arrival. If you’re planning on traveling by plane or train, the G3 is approved for travel by all the required organizations and will fit with you comfortably in your seat.

This November, millions of Americans will give thanks for freedom.  We are thankful that we are able to provide users of medical oxygen with the freedom and independence to travel; to do what you want, when you want. Medical oxygen doesn’t have to be a burden on you or your family members this Thanksgiving. Grab your oxygen concentrator, carry bag, and car charger, and enjoy Thanksgiving from anywhere you please.

Fun with Your Freedom: October

Posted by Inogen One in Medical Oxygen | Oxygen Concentrator on October 23, 2012 - (0 Comments)

Inogen Users know freedom and independence in their everyday lives. That’s what comes with a medical oxygen concentrator with the utmost portability. Each month we provide a few suggestions for things to do that maybe you wouldn’t have thought of doing with your old oxygen tank. Here are just a few ideas for enjoying your independence during the month of October.

 

1. Go to an Orchard and go Apple Picking
A time-honored autumn tradition, apple-picking can also mean pumpkin-picking, hayrides, and cider drinking. It can often require a good amount of walking around, however, so only a portable oxygen concentrator like the Inogen One System will suffice. Inogen products come with a portable carry-bag with shoulder straps. If there are no apple orchards in your region, substitute with a winery or state fair.

 

2. Go Trick or Treating
The ghosts and goblins might spook you, and the total sugar content on the candy labels might make you gasp, but don’t let the prospect of moving around on Halloween frighten you. Get out and chaperone a trick-or-treating mission with the little ones in your life, just take your oxygen concentrator along with you. Or man the door and hand out treats to the hordes of costumed candy seekers. An Inogen oxygen concentrator allows you the freedom to enjoy this fun holiday as you please.


3. Go For a Fall Foliage Drive

We don’t care if it’s to the apple orchard (see #1), a football game (see #5), or anywhere else, just get in the car and go! Depending on what region of the country you live in, Fall can be spectacular for foliage views along the highways, bi-ways, and private thoroughfares of America. An Inogen single battery lasts up to 4 hours but be sure to bring your AC power connector just to be safe.

 
4. Get Out to a Conference for Work or Play
Wedged between the summer months and holiday months, October is a big month for conferences, trade shows, and exhibitions. Whether it’s for recreational or professional reasons, we urge you to get out to a conference or event that maybe seemed impossible in the past.

 

5. Take In Some Pigskin
Whether it’s pop warner, high school, college, or professional, football is in full swing in October. Don’t be afraid to take in a game now that your oxygen concentrator is small, light, and portable.

Photo Credit: Apple Orchard, Flickr, @Anosmia
Photo Credit: Fall Foliage, Flickr, @abi.bhattachan

Pneumonia

Posted by Inogen One in Medical Oxygen on May 18, 2012 - (0 Comments)

We’ve all heard about someone having pneumonia, whether it’s a family member or some famous celebrity, so it does not belong in that category of rare diseases by any means. That said, it still is harmful to a lot of people.
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Boomers – Tomorrow’s Seniors

Posted by Inogen One in Medical Oxygen on April 11, 2012 - (0 Comments)

As a “Boomer” we still think we are young at heart, even though sometimes the mirror gives us a jolt of reality. What does it mean to each of you as you look at your life? Are you preparing for today, or just this week, this month? What is left to do in your career, in your dreams? Have you prepared for aging? That said, how many of us really take a deep breath, pause and consider where we are today, and then, where we want to be tomorrow?
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Difficulty Breathing? Maybe it’s Asthma.

Posted by Inogen One in Medical Oxygen on March 26, 2012 - (1 Comments)

Asthma – most everyone has heard this term or knows someone who has it, but what exactly is asthma? In lay terms, Asthma is a constriction or narrowing of the airways and an increase in mucus production. As a result, it makes it hard for air to enter and to exit the lungs, causing shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing. These symptoms can range from mild to life-threatening and an attack can be triggered by many things.
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The Inogen Family is doing our part to keep your oxygen therapy worry free this Holiday Season

Posted by Inogen One in Medical Oxygen on December 2, 2011 - (3 Comments)

When you or your loved one has been diagnosed with COPD or another diagnosis requiring oxygen therapy you may look at your tanks or that over sized concentrator and think, “There goes our independence!!!” or “Let’s just stay home for the holidays.” Whether your wish is to travel to visit friends and family or stay home for the holidays, don’t let your oxygen therapy make that decision for you!

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Dr. Michael Collins Reclaims His Independence With Inogen

Posted by Inogen One in Medical Oxygen on October 6, 2011 - (5 Comments)

Dr. Michael Collins shares his experience with the Inogen One portable oxygen concentrator. (more…)