I have had COPD for 5 years and now have frequent shortness of breath- is it time for oxygen?
I have had COPD for five years and have began to have shorter breath upon doing the simplist chores.I take Advair 500/50, Spriva, Singular and hand held Albuterol inhaler. When would I need oxygen?
Expert Answer
It depends on what your oxygen level is, both at rest and when exercising, and it also depends on whether or not you have pulmonary hypertension. You should have your doctor check your oxygen levels while resting and while exercising, and you should also have a physical exam and other testing (like an echocardiogram) to find out if you have pulmonary hypertension.
If you have pulmonary hypertension, you'd benefit from oxygen no matter what your oxygen levels are. Pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure only in the pulmonary circulation system) over time puts a strain on the right side of the heart, which can be very debilitating. So if you do have pulmonary hypertension, you should be on oxygen now.
If you don't have pulmonary hypertension, whether or not you will need oxygen depends on what your oxygen levels are. But if your doctor determines that you need oxygen, you should definitely use it.