Respiratory Review - Eating Right: Tips for the COPD patient

For people suffering with a lung disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, eating should not be taken for granted.

According to the American Association for Respiratory Care, a well-nourished body helps fight off infections and may help prevent illness, thus cutting down on hospitalizations.

A proper diet will not cure your disease, but it will make you feel better. You will have more energy, and your body will be able to fight infection better. Good nutrition and a balanced diet are essential to everyone's health, but patients with lung disease must be even more careful than most about following good nutrition guidelines.

Food is fuel and the body needs fuel for activities, including breathing. Because the COPD uses a lot of energy just breathing, ventilatory muscles can require up to ten times the calories required by a healthy person's muscles. This is why it is so important for someone with COPD to eat properly. Good nutritional support helps maintain the ventilatory functions of the lungs, while lack of proper nutrition can cause wasting of the diaphragm and other pulmonary muscles.

The American Association for Respiratory Care offers nutrition tips for persons with COPD. These are general guidelines only. Your doctor is your best source of information on diet and other information about your lung disease.

•Select foods from each of the basic food groups to include fruits & vegetables, dairy products, cereal & grains, and proteins.

•Limit salt intake. Too much sodium can cause fluid retention that could interfere with breathing.

•Limit drinks that contain Caffeine. Caffeine might interfere with some of your medications and may cause nervousness.

•Avoid gas-producing foods that make you feel bloated.

•Eat your main meal early to provide lots of energy to carry you through the day.

•Choose easy preparation foods. Rest before eating so that you can enjoy your meal.

•Avoid foods that provide little or no nutritional value.

•Try eating six smaller meals a day instead of three big ones. This will keep you from filling up your stomach and causing shortness of breath.

•Eating and digestion require energy, and this causes your body to use more oxygen. Be sure to wear your cannula while eating - and after meals, too.

•Eat in a relaxed atmosphere. Try making meals attractive and enjoyable.

If meal preparation becomes a burden, there are agencies in many states that will provide meals for people for a small fee or at no charge. Seek local church organizations or government agencies to see what is available in your area.

Source: American Association for Respiratory Care www.aarc.org

Have you seen the new CPAP from Respironics?

The new Philips RespironicsSYSTEM ONE REMstar Auto brings a wide array of proven technologies together with patient focused enhancements such as advanced humidity controls, mask optimization, and event detection/response which results in a truly intelligent sleep therapy system. The System One REMstar Auto is an Auto CPAP that adjusts therapy levels while the patient sleeps to ensure they are receiving optimum air pressure for a comfortable, successful sleep experience. It includes a wide pr essure range, adjustable ramp, auto altitude adjustment, SD data card, the latest "flex" comfort technologies, a universal power supply, and more. For help getting connected to a local Respironics CPAP distributor contact HMEprovider.com or call us at 800-951-1213.

Do you need help locating a rental wheelchair?

HMEprovider.com has a network of local, community based providers that offer a wide variety of wheelchair rental options. Whether you're looking to rent a wheelchair for recovery from an injury or you are looking to aid in the transport of a loved one for a short term need like a vacation, the HMEprovider network can help. Most medical equipment companies carry a full line of rental chairs from light weight to heavy duty chairs. A short evaluation with a medical equipment provider can help you best determine the chairs that is appropriate for your needs. To be connected to a medical equipment provider in your area for a rental wheelchair or another medical equipment need, visit us at www.hmeprovider.com

What is a lift chair all about?

Med-Lift 35 Series Lift Chair

A lift chair is a device that gradually lifts the person to a standing position or gradually descends the person into a sitting position without causing any injuries. It has the look and feel of a normal recliner which makes it very comfortable for most consumers. The look and design of today's lift chair also allows it to fit in with the rest of the furniture easily without looking out of place. Chairs are available in many different sizes and you can have custom designs by picking out fabrics and colors. Many lift chairs come with additional custom options like heat and vibration. Many elderly and those who suffer from arthritis or limited mobility find lift chairs to be the answer. Lift chairs come in many styles and sizes. Being properly fitted is very important for safety. So what should one consider before purchasing a lift chair? Review the 7 key components listed below as shared by Disabled-World.com 1) One size does not fit all. Each lift chair is made for certain height and weight capacities. A Medicare Approved Provider is trained in fitting each client accurately. 2) Find a local lift chair showroom and try the chairs out. No one would purchase a regular recliner without trying it out first. 3) Lift chairs that are well made usually have a good warranty. Ask about the warranty on each chair and how the chairs are serviced. A big furniture or discount store may not even know the answer to this very important question. 4) Determine the best lift chair for the particular need. Many chairs lay down in a full sleeper position. Zero gravity positions offer many benefits such as back relief, improved circulation, and expanded lung capacity. Also, many chairs are the standard 2 and 3 way positions. 5) Feet should be on the floor when the lift chair is in a seated position. When the chair is rising, feet should not be dangling! 6) Consider the space that the lift chair will fill. Is it small? How far from the wall does it need to be? Is there room to walk past the chair if it is reclined? 7) Make sure there are many fabric options available. Look for regular upholstery, vinyl, leather, microfiber,or new scrubbable fabrics. Many lift chairs are more stylish than ever before. Look for plush Big Man chairs or sleek wing backs. There is virtually no limit in style and comfort in today's lift chairs. There are chairs in every shape and size for consumers of every shape and size! Remember, some insurance companies and Medicare plans reimburse for components of a lift chair based on certain medical criteria. A medical equipment dealer can help you determine if you'd quality. To be connected to a medical equipment dealer in your area, visit us at http://www.hmeprovider.com/ or call 800-951-1213

Taking a bath CAN be relaxing

Reclaim your bathtub!

The bathtub is supposed to be a relaxing place, but due to physical limitations it's become more of an unsurmountable task. It doesn't have to be!! Check out this AquaJoy Bathlift from Harmar. This bathlift makes getting in and out of the tub a breeze, it's realatively inexpensive and best of all, NO installation is required! You don't need to alter the integrity of your shower and you can move it from bathroom to bathroom! Learn More: The Harmar AquaJoy Premier PLUS is a two-piece battery operated bath lift that can be electronically reclined or stopped at the preferred sitting position. The AquaJoy Premier PLUS is easy to put together and take apart, ensuring ease of use and transportation. With easy release, counter balanced suction feet, the bath lift can be removed from the bath with ease. The fully waterproof floating hand control contains a light weight battery and has large operating buttons as well as an indicator light and an easy to use and simple to understand charger. The 375 lb. weight limit also ensures the bath lift will be suitable for heavier clients. The standard, washable and easily removed covers are padded and comfortable to sit on. Optional Gel Filled Covers which provide extra padding are available for low weight or pressure care clients and offer an alternative solution with more specific needs.

Watch the short clip below to see the bathlift in action!! If you'd like to be connected with a bathlift provider in your area, visit us at www.hmeprovider.com or call us at 800-915-1213

Safety with NO installation!

Did you know there are products available to you today, at minimal charge, requiring virtually NO installation, that can make a world of difference to your safety and your independence at home?

Many people probably don’t have the first clue about where to find simple products that can make it easier for them to get out of bed in the morning or take a bath at night. Many may think of the standard medical equipment like walkers and canes, but there is so much more out there for you!!

Have you ever considered a suction cup grab bar or a tub clamp? These products require no “installation” and therefore no change to the structure of your home, yet they may very well be a way for you to find added comfort and safety.


If getting in and out of bed is becoming a challenge, don’t assume you need to give up the bed that offers you a great night’s sleep, consider a bed assist. This item secures under your mattress and will provide the extra support you need in getting into bed or repositioning yourself.

To view additional products to help you stay comfortable and independent at home visit http://www.hmeprovider.com/

If you don’t see what you’re looking for, give us a call. Our network contains over 3,000 providers nationwide that specialize in meeting your medical equipment needs. 800-951-1213

What “Up” can teach Washington about health care reform

There is scene in the latest Pixar film, “Up,” where two men arrive at Carl Fredrickson’s door intent on moving him from his home to Shady Oaks nursing home. Carl promises he will be along momentarily if the men will wait outside in their van. But instead of surrendering his home, he releases thousands of helium filled balloons tethered to his house, lifting it into the air and thereby escaping society’s push to institutionalize this proud man. It’s a triumphant scene, and one our legislators should see as they debate health care reform.

Our hospitals and nursing homes are filled with people of every shape, size, creed and color. But these people all share a common dream – they all dream of going home. No one wants to be in a hospital, nursing home or any institutional setting; they want to be in their own homes. But rather than recognize this universal desire, our federal health policies discourage home care. While Medicare will pay for hospitalization and physician visits for virtually any reason and Medicaid pays budget-busting sums for nursing homes, home care comprises less than 2 percent of all health care expenditures.

“Up’s” Carl Fredrickson walks with the aid of a cane, and gets up and down his stairs with the benefit of a stair lift. A stair lift is both an assistive device and safety aid. It can be purchased and installed in most homes for less than $2,500. Medicare won’t pay for the cost of a stair lift in the home of a frail senior.

Nor will it pay for any portion of a bath lift, a tub bench, a grab bar or any of a bevy of other assistive devices or companion care that help seniors stay in their home, safely. This is short-sighted health policy. One in three senior will suffer a serious fall, and those falls often lead to a cascading descent in quality of life, not to mention extraordinary health care costs. Medicare will spend tens of thousands to treat a hip fracture caused by a fall in the bathtub, but won’t spend a few hundred dollars on bath safety devices. It willingly spends $2,000 a day on hospitalization for seniors with serious breathing problems, but balks at the $7.50 a day for oxygen equipment and supporting service when the senior stays in the home.

When it comes to health care, Congress and federal bureaucrats often think only in a transactional perspective, not strategically. In refusing coverage for an item like Carl Fredrickson’s stair lift, they see their decision as “saving” $2,500 in health care costs. What they fail to see is that a stair lift costs less than 15 days in a nursing home, or that Medicare could put bath lifts in homes of hundreds of seniors for the price of a slip-and-fall by one frail senior getting out of a bathtub, or that companion care in the home costs less and results in better outcomes than institutionalization in a nursing home. Our “sickcare” system is transactional; homecare is strategic.

Carl, the hero of “Up,” not only avoided the nursing home, he went on to carry out a great adventure while still living in his home. Our seniors deserve the respect and dignity that comes with staying in their home as long as they can. I can only hope our elected officials in Washington see “Up.” It is a delightful movie, and if they pay attention they just might learn a thing or two that helps improve our health care system.

Mike Mallaro is CFO and CIO of VGM Group, Inc., and a regular speaker and writer on national home health care issues.

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