Social Media
Our Sponsors
Every summer Arizonans escape the desert heat by flying to cooler parts of the country to visit family and friends. Historically, flying was extremely difficult for passengers suffering from respiratory conditions including COPD. The introduction of portable oxygen concentrators (POC) empowered oxygen users to live active and productive lives by providing a lighter weight alternative to traditional oxygen therapy. Weighing less than 10 pounds, the POC is a self-generating device approved by the FAA and commercial airlines.
There are a few rules and regulations you need to follow when traveling with POCs.
- Notify the airline of your intent to bring a POC on board several weeks prior to your planned flight and request the physician authorization form.
- Airlines typically do not allow passengers with POCs to sit in an exit rowUse of approved POCs may be used in flight and during taxi, takeoff and landing if you have a note from your physician
- Bring sufficient amount of fully charged batteries to cover duration of flight and any unexpected delays (airline is not mandated to allow users to plug POC into aircraft’s power)
- Properly stow POC under seat in front of you during taxi, takeoff and landing.
Now that you know that flying is a piece of cake, buy your plane ticket to a destination that does not have pavement hot enough to fry an egg on it.
When a fire erupts in one of Arizona’s beautiful forests, we automatically think about the risk it presents to homes and the environment. Most Arizonans do not consider the risk it presents to those with respiratory conditions including COPD. Forest fire smoke can irritate your eyes, sinuses, throat and lungs. It is important to monitor your symptoms for worsening lung problems including increased cough, chest discomfort and shortness of breath.
How do you prevent health issues when there is wood smoke in the air?
- Stay indoors with your doors, windows and fireplaces closed (Dust masks do not protect your lungs from the fine particles in smoke)
- Make sure your air conditioner is set to recirculation
- Make sure you keep your lung condition managed and under control
- Talk to your doctor ahead of fire season about an action plan
- If your breathing symptoms are not relieved by usual medicines, seek medical attention immediately
- Pay extra attention to local media outlets and US Forest Service websites. If there is a potential of you have to evacuate, pack an emergency kit including extra medications.
If you would like to receive official information regarding controlled burns, current fires, etc. via email from the Forest Service, please fill out the form at http://www.fs.fed.us/news/subscription.shtml.
By Amanda Gardner
HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, June 23 (HealthDay News) — With record-breaking wildfires scorching the American Southwest, experts are worried not just about the environmental and property damage, but also about health risks both to nearby residents and to those living farther away.
Although at this point reports are anecdotal, people on the front lines of health care in the Southwest are noticing an uptick of respiratory problems among certain groups of people.
The Gallup Indian Medical Center, which sits on the border of the Navajo Reservation in western New Mexico, is seeing a lot of asthma-related complaints, said Heidi Krapfl, chief of the environmental health epidemiology bureau at the New Mexico Department of Health in Santa Fe. (Read more)
Recent studies have shown that the risk of stroke in COPD patients is higher in the weeks following a sudden worsening of COPD, called an exacerbation. The exact reason for this is unknown, but it is thought that a COPD exacerbation increases inflammation, as well as increasing fibrinogen, which can cause clotting in blood vessels. (Read more)