Common Conditions That Require Oxygen Services

For more information on the author HCR Manorcare Health Services Fort Myers, CLICK HERE.Did you know that the food you eat may affect your breathing? Your body uses food as fuel to power all the activities you do. Oxygen and food work to process the food you consume. The process of changing food into fuel is called metabolism. Carbon dioxide is the waste product produced from this process. Metabolism of carbohydrates produces the most carbon dioxide and fat produces the least. If you have been diagnosed with COPD, consuming a diet with less carbohydrates and more fat might help you breathe easier.Proper mix of nutrients will help you breathe easier. A well-nourished body is better able to handle infections that might result in serious ailments. A healthy weight also helps manage your breathing and lung health. You should work with your health care team to ensure you have a good variety of foods and a healthy diet plan.HERE ARE SOME NUTRITION GUIDELINES TO CONSIDER FOR HEALTHY BREATHING*:Choose complex carbohydrates such as whole grain bread and pasta, fresh fruits and vegetables.Limit simple carbohydrates such as table sugar, candy, cake and regular soft drinks.Eat 20-30 grams of fiber each day. This can be found in bread, pasta, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables.Eat a good source of protein twice a day. This helps keep respiratory muscles strong. Protein includes milk, eggs, cheese, meat, fish, poultry, nuts and dried beans or peas.Choose mono- and poly- unsaturated fats that don't contain cholesterol. Examples are canola, safflower and corn oils.Limit foods that contain trans-fat and saturated-fats such as butter, lard, fat and skin from meat, hydrogenated vegetable oil, shortening, fried foods and cookies.Check your weight regularly. If you continue to significantly lose or gain weight while following a recommended diet, see your health care professional.If assisting a loved one with breathing or other chronic lung issues, offer to help them shop for food. Choose foods that are easy to prepare. Encourage them to rest before eating and to eat earlier in the day to ensure that they eat before they get tired. Avoiding foods that cause gas or bloating will help make breathing easier. Eating smaller meals four to six times a day helps the diaphragm move freely and lets lungs fill easier. Consider drinking liquids an hour after eating to prevent feeling full.While recuperating in a skilled nursing and rehabilitation center such as Heartland or ManorCare, the dietitian will help to create a meal plan to meet nutritional goals and provide education and assistance on continuing this when returning home. Assisted living centers such as Arden Courts memory care communities will also provide a meal plan that meets the residents nutritional goals as well as the desire for independence while eating.*American Lung Association

Are you or a loved one struggling with a CPAP to treat obstructive sleep apnea?The sad truth is that many people who have had CPAP therapy prescribed to treat their obstructive sleep apnea are unable or unwilling to wear their CPAP every night for their entire length of sleep. While some patients are very compliant and use their CPAP faithfully every night as prescribed, there is research that suggests that non-tolerance/non-compliance with CPAP is over 80%. Once prescribed, there is usually little follow-up for these patients and like Supreme Court Justice Scalia, many will die in their sleep with their unused CPAP on the night stand or in the bedroom closet.Oral appliance therapy (OAT) is becoming the primary treatment for mild and moderate obstructive sleep apnea when patient preference is taken into consideration. When effectiveness is coupled with actual compliance, the true effectiveness of oral appliances meets or exceeds the effectiveness of CPAP therapy.There are over 100 FDA-approved custom made oral appliances for obstructive sleep apnea and both Medicare and standard medical insurance plans cover oral appliance therapy performed by a qualified sleep dentist.Oral appliances need to be both custom-made and adjustable by the treating dentist over a series of visits with a home sleep test administered after 3-4 months treatment to validate effectiveness.It is important to make sure the dentist is qualified to treat obstructive sleep apnea in that they have one of the following designations:Sleep-Qualified Dentist of the American Academy of Dental Sleep MedicineFellow or Diplomate of the Academy of Clinical Sleep Disorders DisciplinesOSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) is found in over 92% of stroke patients and may be a primary cause of A-fib. Treating your obstructive sleep apnea can play an important role in the prevention of cardiac deaths and strokes.If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with A-fib, stroke, recent onset high blood pressure or congestive heart failure and have not yet had a sleep study, it is important to request your physician order one right away.___________________________________________Editors Note: This article was contributed by Terry M. Gordon, DDS Dental Director of PA Center for Dental Sleep Medicine and Sleep-Qualified Dentist of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, Pennsylvania Center for Dental Sleep Medicine.

After a hospital stay, an older adult may need help with daily routines, mobility, meals, medication reminders, transportation, and follow-up appointments, even when skilled medical treatment is no longer required. The right plan starts with the hospitals discharge instructions and a clear understanding of what the person can safely manage at home. For families in Meridian and the Boise area, planning these details before discharge can prevent confusion during the first days back.   Start With the Discharge Plan, Not a Generic Checklist Before leaving the hospital or rehabilitation facility, ask the clinical team what changed during the stay. Can the person walk, use stairs, bathe, and prepare food as before? Are there activity restrictions or new equipment needs? Which symptoms require a call to the medical team, and which require urgent attention? Request an updated medication list, instructions for any prescribed treatments, and dates for follow-up visits. Make sure family members know who to contact if questions arise. A written plan is especially helpful when several relatives or paid caregivers will share responsibilities.   Which Daily Tasks May Need Extra Support? The most useful home-care plan is based on tasks rather than a broad label such as needs help. Consider these common areas: Personal care: bathing, grooming, dressing, toileting, and moving between bed and chair. Food and household routines: shopping, preparing meals, laundry, and clearing walking paths. Medication routine: organizing questions for the pharmacist or clinician and providing allowed reminders. Getting around: arranging rides to appointments and assistance during ordinary activities. Observation and communication: noticing changes, sharing concerns with family, and following the clinicians guidance about warning signs. Not every person needs all of these services. Some families need short visits for meals and hygiene; others need longer hours because the person requires frequent assistance or supervision. The care plan should be reassessed as recovery progresses.   How Is Non-Medical Home Care Different From Home Health? This distinction matters. Non-medical home care helps with everyday activities and personal support. Home health services, when ordered and appropriate, are clinical services provided by qualified professionals, such as nursing or prescribed therapy. A person may need one, both, or neither. For example, a physical therapist may recommend mobility exercises or equipment, while a home caregiver assists with daily routines within the care plan. A home caregiver should not independently alter medications, diagnose complications, or perform skilled procedures outside their role. Clarify the division of responsibilities with the discharge team.   What Should Families Check in the Home? Walk through the spaces the person will use most. Check the path from bed to bathroom, lighting at night, loose rugs, clutter, and access to frequently used items. Consider whether the person can get into and out of the shower safely and whether recommended mobility equipment is in place. Meal access is easy to overlook. Someone who can technically cook may still become too tired to prepare food during recovery. Plan simple meals and decide who will shop, cook, and clean. If the older adult lives alone, arrange a reliable way to reach family or emergency services.   How ComForCare Home Care (Boise) Fits Into a Transition Plan ComForCare Home Care (Boise, ID), based in Meridian, describes a non-medical hospital-to-home transition program. Its published services include reviewing discharge instructions for a personalized care plan, medication reminders, assistance arranging follow-up appointments, help with bathing and dressing, meal preparation, light housekeeping, identifying trip hazards, and communication with family and care professionals. The office also lists flexible personal care, safety supervision, and respite services. Families can ask which services are available for their address, how soon care can begin, and how the schedule can change if the person becomes more independent or needs additional assistance. When Should the Plan Be Revisited? Review the arrangement when the persons mobility changes, a new symptom appears, a follow-up visit leads to different instructions, or daily tasks become harder or easier. New or concerning medical symptoms should be discussed promptly with the treating clinician; serious emergencies require immediate emergency care. It also helps to ask the older adult directly what is working. Recovery support should preserve as much choice and independence as the person can safely manage while giving relatives a practical way to coordinate responsibilities.   Plan for a Safer Return Home To discuss non-medical support after a hospital or rehabilitation stay in Meridian, contact ComForCare Home Care (Boise) at (208) 297-5016. The local team can explain available transition services and arrange a personalized consultation. Visit https://www.comforcare.com/idaho/boise/.